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By Neil Tobin
"Neil Tobin's device is an astounding accomplishment and will be embraced by magicians and mentalists - I love it!" -Ben Harris
An Indispensable New Utility Device for Mentalists and Magicians
Discover a new utility device, one that's already being used by performing mentalists and magicians who appreciate its understated power and seemingly limitless possibilities. Utilizing the subtle principle illuminated in Kenton Knepper's manuscript, X, and launching it into the next dimension, the Xpert makes possible a wide variety of miraculously direct and virtually sleight-free effects, including:
Out of Body Xpert
A borrowed coin is chosen from a handful of change, marked with a participant's initial, has its date noted, and is tightly held in anybody's hands- yet the performer invisibly extracts the coin; it is soon found in the pocket of another participant some distance away!
Xpert Epic
The performer clearly and boldly numbers the blank sides of three postcards one through three. Picking up each numbered postcard in proper sequence, the performer shows the number on top and then writes his thoughts beneath. At the conclusion, all three postcards are shown to have correct predictions and may be given away afterward. No forces necessary.
Xpert X-ed Card
A card is freely selected (no force) and kept facedown while its back is visibly marked with a bold X. The cards are mixed, and the performer not so amazingly locates the X-ed card. But then comes the surprise-although the performer is no sleight-of-hand wizard, he is a mentalist: the X-ed card is turned face up to reveal the words "My Prediction" printed on its face. All the cards may be examined or given away. Instant reset, ends clean, no switches.
Xpert Vampire Hunter
A participant selects and signs a card to represent her in the role of "vampire hunter." To represent a vampire, another card is signed with an ankh, the ancient symbol of the immortal; it is then lost within a packet of cards. The participant inserts here card face up into the packet anywhere she chooses: if she's a successful vampire hunter, the vampire will be found just beneath her card. But when the cards are spread, the vampire card is gone! Yet she's successful after all-her signed card is turned over, and inscribed on its back is the vampire symbol! This card is given to the participant as a truly bizarre souvenir. No specially printed cards, no palming, no swamis.
"The Xpert device is the missing ingredient to my work on the X principle. No working magician or mentalist doing any X work can afford to be without this!" -Kenton Knepper
You receive the staple-bound, 16-page, illustrated manuscript and gimmick.
REVIEW FRON ON-LINE VISIONS:-
Did you ever have one of those "kick me" moments? You know, where, after you read all the dealer ads and analyze the effects to death, you buy something, get it, see it, and then kick yourself for a week because you didn't come up with something so clever, so utilitarian, and so powerful in its application on your own?
"The Xpert" by Neil Tobin, did that for me.
As a user of Kenton Knepper's "X" principle, when I saw this I was automatically excited.
Then I sat down and read the booklet. As they say, the scales fell off my eyes and I began to see just how powerful this little device is. It's been said over and over about many things, but this is something which belongs in the arsenal of every mentalist and magician. The stuff you can accomplish with this is just too slick to ignore.
To give you an idea of the flexibility of "Xpert", take a look at the four routines provided with the gimmick.
In "Out of Body Xpert", you borrow a coin from a spectator's hand full of change, mark the coin with the spectator's initial, and note the date. The marked coin is given to the spectator who holds it tightly. That quick, the coin is gone from the spectator's hand and found in the pocket of another spectator. This one went straight into my act.In "Xpert Epic", three postcards have their backs numbered "one", "two", and "three". You pick up each postcard in sequence, writing some notes on each one. In the end, all three postcards are shown to have correct predictions written on them. Yeah, that's what I thought, too, until I realized there was no forcing whatsoever.
Then there's "Xpert X-ed Card", where a card is freely chosen and marked with an "X" on its back; the "X" is perfectly visible. The cards are mixed and you find the card (not so shocking: it's the one with the "X"). When the card is turned over, on the face is written the words "My Prediction" are written on the face of the card. Everything's examinable and there's no switching involved.
"Xpert Vampire Hunter" is a great piece of "bizarre-lite". In it, a spectator is asked to play the part of a vampire hunter and signs a card to serve that purpose. Another card is marked with an ankh to symbolize the vampire; this card is lost in a packet of cards. The vampire hunter card is placed face up in the packet. The goal here is for the spectator to -- somehow -- place this card next to the vampire card. Things don't work out that way, though: when the cards are spread, the vampire card is gone and, when the spectator turns his card face down, on the back is the ankh. When I read this one, two thoughts came to mind, but the "Xpert" makes them moot: there is no palming and there is no nail-writing.
These four routines, as diverse as they are, show the wide range of effects which are possible with this gimmick. Each one shows a different handling, a different aspect, of the "Xpert", and each gets the gears in the cranial cavity moving a bit more.
That's the best part about the "Xpert" -- there are so many things which can be accomplished with this, the only limit is your imagination. And as great as the effects supplied with the gimmick are, there's the hint that something even more incredible is just around the corner, waiting to be invented.
Now, as with any utility device, the "Xpert" does have one requirement of its own. No, nothing like angles to worry about or having to wear long sleeves or making trips to the bathroom to reset it. Actually, the only drawback with the "Xpert" is slight: you can't use it with "professional-grade" decks. If you're planning on using it with a card effect, you'll need to forget about using Bicycles or Bees or Steamboats or the like. Not a huge drawback, this; make a trip to a local store and buy a cheap deck and "Xpert" will work just fine. However, if you're bound and determined to use only those high-class cards, you'll have problems (unless you wait for "The Xpert Deck", which Tobin teases in the documentation).
The next thing you'll need to know is you will be buying replacements if you perform with the "Xpert" often. This is a necessity because of the nature of the gimmick and has nothing to do with the superior workmanship of the device. Think of it more as a refill than a replacement.
Both of these are nothing compared to what this device accomplishes, which is good, powerful magic. The hype surrounding this is, for once, right on the money. If any of the effects strike your fancy, then this belongs in your possession; once you have it, your own effects are only a short hop of creativity away.
"The Xpert" is a solid keeper that delivers.
Neil Tobin's "The Xpert"
In a Blink: 10 Out of 10
Practicality: 10
As with all utility devices, a lot depends on what you do with it. Regardless of the hoops you put this through, "Xpert" will not be the cause of any impractical handlings. Likewise, it comes with no baggage of its own -- no need for special situations or dress to make the most of this gadget. Throw it in your pocket and you're ready to go.
Workmanship: 10
Tobin did a job above and beyond with "Xpert", even making a very nice, very subtle touch which wasn't needed for working or handling, but which shows a lot of concern for the consumer. He deserves a medal for that.
Documentation: 10
The booklet accompanying "Xpert" is sixteen pages, with four routines using the device. Tobin writes excellently and explains the use of his creation flawlessly.
Effect: 10
This all depends on what you do with it. Looking at just the routines supplied with it, they knock spectator's perceptions for a loop. With any luck -- and a bit of thought -- you'll end up creating something just as effective.
Presentation: 10
The presentations given with "Xpert" are wonderful, but the real presentation points come from creating a visible, handled gimmick that does everything it needs to in plain sight.
Originality: 10
This is strikingly original. Tobin gets a bucketful of points for coming up with something to obvious yet so new.
REVIEW WEBSITE: http://www.online-visions.com/reviews/0404xpert.html
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