These effects are designed to be performed from the intimacy
and casualness of your friend’s living room to the trade
show floor or the professional stage. Here Banachek presents
mentalism like a home-cooked meal . . . something for
everyone and sure to be enjoyed by all. From mentalism to
mental magic, Banachek shows how to make mentalism fun and
friendly.

Meet Banachek in a personal interview and learn how he
started in mentalism and how his career developed as he
traveled from England to South Africa ultimately immigrating
to the United States.

EFFECTS & EXPLANATIONS This ’n That • Lorayne’s Buck • Add A
Number ESP Card Opener • PK Writing • Loco Logo Picture
Duplication (Close- Up) • Number Duplication

INTERVIEWS Career Path • Personal History

Volume 2 - Mentalism for the Casual Performer - Part 2
Make the value of a spectator’s playing card slowly appear
on your arm in blood red . . . anywhere, anytime! Reveal a
thought-of number from across the distance separated by
phone lines. Engage two people in a fun routine where the
performer predicts a page number and a word “seen” by a
volunteer on an invisible Palm Top computer. Become a human
lie detector in a thrilling and comical adventure. This DVD
continues from Part 1 with close-up, stand-up and stage
mentalism and mental magic with additional routines
including anywhere, anytime effects plus staggering
psychological ploys. Learn a multi-phase routine weaving
audience direction and sleight-of-hand into one smooth
effect. Also, learn the “inside” secrets of what Banachek
considers one of the most powerful tools in the mentalist’s
arsenal … Pocket Writing. This DVD includes Banachek’s
discussion of his “Buried Alive” escape, his Bullet Catch
illusion now used by Penn & Teller, the difference between
mentalism and mental magic plus comical anecdotes about
blindfold drives. You will also see a television clip of
Banachek’s “Buried Alive” escape hosted by William Shatner
and TV footage of one of Banachek’s early Blindfold Drives.

EFFECTS & EXPLANATIONS Ring of Truth • Phone Psychs • Word
of the Ring Number Reversal • Stigmata • Invisible Palm Top
Picture Duplication (Stage) Bonus Explanation of Q & A
Routine

Volume 3 - Psychophysiological Thought Reading - Muscle
Reading
Do you want to find a needle in a haystack? Using the power
of your mind and a little help from your volunteer, you can
find anything through your heightened sense of touch. Almost
anything you can do in mentalism can be re-enacted using
Psychophysiological Thought Reading. This DVD also includes
Banachek’s first national television appearance. Here he
uses the Psychophysiological response to find a playing card
hidden in a shopping mall.

Additional material included in personal interviews explain
how to work with agents, getting booked on the college
circuit, trade shows and restaurants, performing on the
radio, getting publicity, using disclaimers, accepting
challenges and more.

EFFECTS & EXPLANATIONS Poker Chip Detection • Finding Your
Check Finding Numbers • Which Hand? Non-Contact Mind Reading
Audience Expectations What if You are Wrong?

INTERVIEWS Radio Magic • College Circuit • Trade Shows
Restaurants • Agents • Improvising Publicity Disclaimers •
Scottish Girl Terms of the Trade • Challenges

Volume 4 - Psychokinesis
Learn how to bend cold, hard steel with the “power of your
mind.” Make physical objects move, twist and curl up like a
wet noodle at will. In true Banachek style, each move,
gesture and psychological subtlety is covered in detail.
This DVD stands alone from Banachek’s previous work by
presenting new, additional details and methods on bending
silverware. This also includes methods of bending coins
keys, nails, and spikes plus moving objects like pens and
pencils. Included is the true story behind Banachek’s
participation in the Alpha Project, a four-year study that
culminated with scientists validating Banachek’s “psychic”
powers that propelled him into the national spotlight!

EFFECTS & EXPLANATIONS Nail Bends • Key Bends • Coin Bends
Silverware Bends • PK Pen Permission & Warnings for Keys
Displays (for maximum reactions) Bending Coins • The
Volunteer Feels It Why Quarters? Putting the Physical Bends
in Coins Where to Bend & Display Coins Silverware & Bag
Method Spoon Bending (new method) Switching Spoons • Stage
vs. Impromptu Whose Silverware To Use • Angles Pencil PK •
PK Pen About PK • Audience Perception

INTERVIEWS Alpha Project • Too Much Power

MY COMMENTS:
To begin, let me just say that these terrific DVDs are
essential for any mentalist.  Hopefully, that will put
things in perspective as I lay down some nitpicking which
is quite minor, perhaps petty, but I feel I must point them
out.  The blurb does contain an accurate and complete
listing of all the contents, so I'll just focus on the
contents themselves.

First, some may be disappointed at the absence of Banachek's
well-known routines, specifically Psychokinetic Touches and
Psychokinetic Time (which was featured on a David Blaine
special). Also, in some routines, due to the lighting and
camera work, it is difficult to view the predictions or
writing.  However, due to subtitles and insert shots, you
always know what's being shown.  And even though there's a
discussion of the Bullet Catch and the Buried Alive
illusions, Banachek does not reveal the methods and that may
disappoint some.  Also, the very fascinating, invaluable
discussions on theories, presentational subtleties, and
other ideas pertaining to mentalism are almost frustratingly
short.  You come away wanting much, much more.  And there
was much more filmed.  But, due to the limitations of the
format, only so much could be included.

What makes this DVD set invaluable, besides being able to
see one of our top mentalists at work, is the one DVD
devoted entirely to psychophysiological thought
reading/muscle reading (the first DVD exclusively covering
this subject) and the inclusion of detailed discussions on
the art of mentalism by one of mentalism's leading thinkers.
Specifically, there are discussions, with examples, of
pocket writing, muscle reading and metal bending
(psychokinesis).  There are discussions on radio magic,
trade shows, the Alpha Project and many more theories and
insights which, I fear, many novice performers and beginning
mentalists will overlook.  Although much of this info is
already known to working pros, I feel these discussions,
short as they are, are the real gems of this DVD series.

I know that many may want to compare this DVD series to
Richard Osterlind's first set of DVDs, which seems to have
set the standard for mentalism DVDs.  However, there really
is no comparison.  The Muscle Reading DVD (vol.3) and
Psychokinesis disc (vol. 4) have material and techniques
that are not found on Osterlind's set, which makes these
unique and incomparable.  Also, Richard Osterlind included
many of the very strong routines from his act.  Though
Banachek provides strong material, most of his effects (the
ones in the first two volumes specifically) work better in
close-up or intimate settings and probably will find their
way into your repertoire but not your main act.

Finally, rest assured that there is very little overlap in
volume 4 (the one on psychokinesis) with Banachek's earlier
work, Psychokinetic Silverware.  In fact, if you're
seriously interested in this subject, you should get and
view this work first, if you haven't already, before delving
into this volume.

As I said, all of the above gripes are minor and should be
inconsequential in your consideration of purchasing these
must-have DVDs.