Gods With Feet Of Clay (1-5) by John Riggs

What are the roots that clutch, what branches grow

Out of this stony rubbish? Son of man,

You cannot say, or guess, for you know only

A heap of broken images, where the sun beats,

And the dead tree gives no shelter, the cricket no relief,

And the dry stone no sound of water. Only

There is shadow under this red rock,

(Come in under the shadow of this red rock),

And I will show you something different from either

Your shadow at morning striding behind you

Or your shadow at evening rising to meet you;

I will show you fear in a handful of dust.

--T.S. Eliot, The Wasteland

Gods With Feet of Clay -- an iconoclastic look at Mentalism.

My philosophy behind this series is a bit different than the usual modern production. I have no studio audience filled with overenthusiastic stooges presented in a contrived setting. These DVDs will not be slick studio packages with expensive production values. Consequently, these will not be mass-marketed to magic shops, internet stores, nor any other venue where any 12 year old, curious reporter, or skeptical debunker can walk in and purchase an education in the secrets of mentalism. I make each one of these by hand, for you. I wanted these DVDs to be a discussion between me and you, in an intimate setting, discussing a topic of interest to us both: the art and performance of mentalism.

VOLUME ONE : IMMACULATE IMPRESSIONS

It's been almost ten years since the prototype of the Brown Hornet was created. In that time, I've developed several variations on the basic theme of a good, reliable and innocent-looking professional tool.

In this, the first of a multi-volume DVD series, I discuss and demonstrate all aspects of each impression device, along with handling tips, presentations, and many ideas that I hitherto only shared with a few friends.

This is a multi-camera shoot, with extensive close-ups, over-the-shoulder and insert shots to make every handling crystal-clear. I'm very proud of this DVD; it's head-and-shoulders above my previous videos.

Playing time is over one hour, with scene selections and fully operational interactive menus so you can replay or jump to the topic that interests you most.

Covered in this DVD are:

• The Brown Hornet
• The Cicada
• The Butterfly
• The Baby Hornet
• The Skeeter
• Peeks, peeks and more peeks
• Repair tips
• Handling tips
• Much much more

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Gods With Feet of Clay -- an iconoclastic look at Mentalism

VOLUME TWO : FLASHES FROM THE VIOLET HOUR

This volume contains several ideas, some from my books (expanded and demonstrated) and some from my secret notebooks. Some of these techniques I've held close for years and only showed to a couple of very close friends.

Contents include:

• Ouija Whiteboard: a utility device that doubles as a visual aid and audience creepout ploy. This little number single-handedly provoked several complaints from Christian schools when I used it in a showcase at APCA one year. Ya gotta love something that creeps out the norms.

• Riggs Multipurpose Wallet: This is a gimmicked wallet you make yourself from a regular wallet cheaply obtained from Wal-Mart or other retail outlet. This is not a peek wallet, but one that I originally designed for Card-to-Wallet and went on to use to load a folded prediction. It's a new weird concept, very easy, and with no slits or openings. It takes advantage of the natural design of a bifold wallet.

• Bumbershoot Q and A: Explained and demonstrated.

• Book Test stuff: using cheap ungimmicked books and an idea I've held closely guarded for a long time.

• Several business card effects.

• Sneak Peek Envelope: this is the item worth an arm and a leg, in my opinion. I kept this secret for years despite the begging of many friends. Information written on a business card and sealed within two completely opaque envelopes can be peeked instantly. Two unique applications other than the obvious ones.

• My nifty James Bond PW Device.

• Ostin clip handlings and techniques, including my Visual Retention Billet Drop, which will delight you.

• Key Shocker, from Heavy Mental, my one and only mental bending innovation.

• Vintage footage bonus track.

• And more, of course. This is a multi-camera shoot, with extensive close-ups, over-the-shoulder and insert shots to make every handling crystal-clear.

Gods With Feet of Clay -- an iconoclastic look at Mentalism

VOLUME THREE : MACHINATIONS AND MODULATIONS

Contents include:

Slow-Motion Gellerism -- a slow-motion silverware bending method.

Another Peek at Jaks -- discussion of some revolutionary handling for the first and best of the peek wallets.

Psychological Bank Nite -- simple methods combined with psychological ploys.

The Marvelous Mucking Peek -- a peek I've held close for years. A thought is written on a business card which is held in full view on the palm of your outstretched hand. it's briefly covered with your other hand and you gain the information. This is no exaggeration. This is the item worth the price of this DVD in my opinion. I truly had pangs when I let this go, but it was on the verge of being tipped by someone to whom I showed it, so I thought perhaps it was time.

Reviving Room Service -- one of my favorite openers given a new life and a new handling.

Whillicker's Last Trick -- for the first time the complete handling of my SWITCHLESS razor blade trick is explained, complete with performance. This was partially described in Heavy Mental but several key points were omitted because I couldn't bear to part with them. Here, everything is explained step by step.

Like the others in this series, this is a multi-camera shoot, with extensive close-ups, over-the-shoulder and insert shots to make every handling crystal-clear. 

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Gods With Feet of Clay

Volume Four -- Thoughts from a Distant Star

This was shot in a special orbiting location between the Earth and Moon to eliminate distractions and baffle eavesdroppers and unwanted eyes. It includes:

Blindfold work, including improved peeks and ways to render obnoxious audience bullies powerless.

Swami Work, including aquitments and concealments, introducing the Boon Beetle: a Holdout device for a Boon Writer in TWO forms.

A secret ink for marking index cards and envelopes that you can remove at will, leaving no smoking-gun evidence

Inexpensive Pocket Writing implements.

Impromptu mentalism with playing cards (blasphemy!)

An opener with jumbo ESP cards, including how to make them.

And more, of course.

I took a different approach to this one. It's more relaxed; a breathing spell before I hit you hard with a very serious and solemn topic in Volume Five, one which strikes at the ethical and moral foundations of Psychic Entertainment. This is the penultimate DVD in this five-volume series. Volume Five will be on performing readings for entertainment.

Warning: There is some adult language and content in this volume.

Volume Five -- the last one -- is finally ready!  It's entitled MUTUAL ASSURED DESTRUCTION and has a subtext of social commentary befitting the iconoclastic theme of this series. It includes, but is not limited to:

• The Bivalve Billet Envelope, a nifty envelope that allows you to load a billet into what appears to be a solid, sealed envelope.  This includes a routine with Tarot cards and gemstones that I've used for decades strolling, a bank nite, and aheadline prediction.

• A revival of the MENTALIST'S ECTOPLASMIC DEVICE, an item that had a very limited release several years ago.

• A discussion of several variations of Bob Tripp's Phenomenal ESP Perception, with especial reference to Syd Rieley's Teleperception and variations.  I've included a stage presentation you'll enjoy.

• The Embryonic Thought and techniques thereof.

• Birds of a Feather Together Again, from Heavy Mental, with updated handling.

• And more.

Running time is little over an hour.