Reviews of products by Scott Xavier

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The Grind: How to Make Sideshow Gaffs

Overall customer rating: ★★★★★

reviewed by Elliot Gorton (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 01 October, 2022)

This is a beautiful book. Great job.

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365

Overall customer rating: ★★★★★

reviewed by Christian Fisanick (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 10 June, 2016)

There's an old adage that if you buy a book of effects, and you find one useable one, you've gotten your money's worth. 365 by Scott Xavier clears that low bar because I really liked his PK effect using Laffy Taffy. I will incorporate it into a stage act one day. As for the rest, there are some ho-hum card things, a trick that is outdated because cellphones are not manufactured the same as when the book was written, instructions for using a PK ring (how original), and information on how to accomplish the carny thing of holding fire on the palm of your hand. (Go ahead, work on that if you are brave. You will burn the hell out of yourself at least once. I know that I did.) In other words, this ebook was disappointing, though at $22, it was cheaper than the now almost de rigeur price of $30 for a small book of mentalism effects. But hey, your mileage may vary. You might like some of these things more than I did. One more note: While I give Scott a thumbs up for trying something different, the writing style was really off putting to me. He wrote up each effect from the spectator's perspective, for example, "Scott asked a spectator to select a card..." and "After using his mystical powers, Scott recants a mystical phrase..." Oh brother. A whole book where he is referred to in the third-person makes him sound weird, just like former Vice President Bob Dole, who also spoke about himself in the third-person.

Chris Fisanick says, "Meh to 365."

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Out Cold

Overall customer rating: ★★★★★

reviewed by Ken Buscho (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 11 August, 2014)

This title was a disappointment, I've seen much better produced, more informative and more professionally done items for free on YouTube. Absolutely nothing new here, I would be embarrassed to put out something this sloppy. I really believe in helping new folks get a start, but this title deserves to die. Whoever approved this for sale online much have been drunk, or owe this guy a favor. Don't waste your money.

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PK Sense

Overall customer rating: ★★★★★

reviewed by Bill Dekel (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 14 February, 2011)

While this is not a single effect that encompasses all senses as I had originally thought, this is still a worthy collection of useful effects. Some of the principles include things that I've known about, but never seen applied to mentalism before. I'm quite sure that I will be incorporating at least some of these into an act soon.

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Untitled

Overall customer rating: ★★★★★

reviewed by Matt Cummings
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 23 June, 2006)

First reaction after reading this:

"Wow"

Scott is a great thinker, his stories, his advice, his tricks, his methods are all achievable. This ebook is genius and well underpriced.

His presentation on revealing thoughts was pure genius.

Hype has a lot of potential.

You'll get some card effects, an interesting chair prediction test, a bullet catch, tons of advice, all for 18 bucks. This man is crazy.

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Untitled

Overall customer rating: ★★★★★

reviewed by Richard Waters
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 26 March, 2006)

The effects are clean and simple with an emphasis on the performance and making something that the audience will remember and that, in my opinion, is what its all about. I don't think anybody could be disapointed after reading and performing the effects in this book.

For someone that has some training in business - like I do - the business plans are a little basic... ...but then again, there were a few things even I took away from this book that Im sure will help me as well. A lot of magicians/mentalists dont have any training in business and this book would be a very good start!

The writing style is not something a lot of people will find easy to get into but I think this is where the book might stand out - it makes you want to read it a second time and "catch" what you might have missed the first time, and youre bound to find something new the second time around.

I have already started practicing "BULL" to add to my parlour/restaurant shows and "CHAIR'ISHED" for my stage show - Im sure they will go over well!

This is by no means a "basic book" and I wouldnt recommend it for beginners at all as some sections expect you to know certain effects and principals - but for intermediate to advanced magicians/mentalists, Im sure they will love this!