Master Billet Course

THE BLURB:
The use of Billets in Mentalism is often regarded as a
hidden art...until now. Allen Zingg offers this four volume
course on the use of Billets. Billets are small slips of
paper that information is written on, this is the
information that will be the thoughts that the Mentalist
will use for the performance. The Mentalist will secretly
gain access to this info using the techniques taught on this
DVD set.

There are many variations on each of the techniques offered
giving the performer many options. In addition to exhaustive
teaching on the techniques that make this type of work
possible, there are many routines that exploit them.

Plus! You'll get a visit with Kenton Knepper and Allen Zingg
as they continue to discuss the Five Questions that are
rarely asked, but will make all the difference in your
performances.

Allen Zingg is a highly regarded creator & performer of
mentalism. His credits include books, periodicals, and
creating tools & effects for working mentalists. He has also
consulted for television internationally. Allen's creativity
is valued by top names in the field, including Kenton
Knepper, Barrie Richardson, Ted Karmilovich & Banachek.

Disc Contents:

Volume 1: Peeks & Center Tears

A Great starting place!
Simple handlings with devastating results.

Volume One Contents Include:

    * Acidus Novus
    * Password
    * Starpower II
    * The Tibetan Wishing Box
    * Speed of Thought
    * Barrie's Double Billet
    * Billet of El Zorro
    * Psychic Birthday Card
    * The Telescope
    * Barrie's Versatile Billet
    * A Dollar for Your Thoughts
    * First Dollar Your Earned
    * Crossword Puzzle
    * On the Record
    * Classic Center Tear
    * Seven Deadly Sins
    * Free Will

Running Time Approximately 2hr

Volume 2: Switchwork

Here you will be introduced to Allen's Acting-Naturally
approach to designing and performing physical actions.

Volume Two Contents Include:

Techniques Include

    * Natural One-Handed Switch
    * Drop Switch
    * Automatic Fold Switch
    * Coordinated, Two-Handed Switch
    * and More!

Routines Include

    * Drive-In Movie
    * Long Distance Telepathy Influence!
    * A Dream Comes True
    * Distant Memory
    * Dual Perception
    * The Big Wish
    * Wine Glass Telepathy
    * Starpower I
    * Fourth Dimensional Telepathy
    * Stand-Up Epic

Disc One Running Time Approximately 1hr 42min
Disc Two Running Time Approximately 1hr 12min

Volume 3: Jazz Dancing

Allen's original handlings of a brilliant billet technique.
Only one card, naturally folded, and yet - you see all!

Volume Three Contents Include:

Techniques Include

    * Basic Read
    * Another Basic Read
    * Pinch Open and Close
    * One-Quarter Technique
    * Half Billet Technique
    * Full Billet Technique
    * No Dummy Switch
    * Paper Chase
    * and More!

Routines Include

    * Think of a Friend
    * Palm Reading
    * Author! Author!
    * Chakra Reading
    * The Time Machine
    * Strangers When We Meet
    * Kind of a Feeling
    * Q&A Dancing
    * and More!

Running Time Approximately 1hr 14min

Volume 4: Q&A With Billets

The culmination of the Master Course in Billets. The
pinnacle in mentalism - Q&A. You will learn how to perform
Q&A for anywhere from just a few people to a large audience.
With just a few moves, you will devastate your audience. The
highlight is the Stand-Up Q&A which is structured to provide
ever increasing pace and impossibility, leading to a
stunning conclusion.

Volume Four Contents Include:

    * Umbrella Move Unbound
    * R.U.Switch
    * Close Quarters Q&A
    * Stand-Up Q&A
    * Holiday and Aura Q&A
    * Close-Up Fourth Dimensional Telepathy
    * Sealed Message Q&A
    * and More!

Running Time Approximately 1hr 30min

MY COMMENTS:
Technically, you couldn't get much worse than this. This
looks homemade and shouldn't. And we're talking everything
from the sound to the video to the menus to the DVD cover to
the background music choice. The live shoots aren't very,
um, lively; the sound is hard to hear; the menus could have
been far more professional; and the decision to put
background music behind Alan when the sound was poor to
begin with was an absolutely horrendous one. Sure, you get
used to it, but why should one have to "get used to it"?

The good news is that everything is visible, that you can
hear what you need to, and that the material is first-rate.
This is certainly no encyclopedia on the subject. Think of
it more like a handbook. Five discs only scratch the
surface of the subject. It can't, as some think, cover most
everything. This would be like saying a five-disc teach-in
on card magic covers everything. But it does cover many of
the more important billet techniques and it provides the
basics of billet work that mentalists use: the peek, the
center tear, and the switch. Also, many of the techniques
are presented for the first time by Allen Zingg, who is
amiable and does a good job of teaching the material.

Check out the list of the contents. It's accurate. And
since billet work is one of mentalism's greatest tools, this
is a must-have reference work for the professional
mentalist. 'Nuff said.