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Taylor Imagineering
by P. Craig Browning

The dream of most all Psychic Entertainers is to be able to deliver the impossible in as clean and unexplainable a manner as possible one of the people making this possible is Canadian Mentalist and innovator Christopher Taylor, a small built and obviously well-educated gent sporting a salt-and-pepper ponytail which hints at the fact that he’s just another eccentric old hippie like a lot of us. But then, when you hear him speak the image of another long-haired multi-talented Canadian comes to mind – Doug Henning. Christopher’s voice, size and characteristics all are reminiscent of said master (though I’m confident Christopher is much taller than Doug was… then again, most people are).

I’d have to say that my favorite thing about Christopher stems from his ability to transmute the old into something new. This is a factor found in his book "Unconventional" as well as his more recent DVD release under the title of "Outside the Conventional". His skill in exploiting the “practical” proving to be his greatest asset when it comes to the development of ideas, new effects' systems, etc. But there is more.

Christopher is a geek. He loves to tinker and create; his passion for technology is bringing into our realm a plethora of unbelievable advantages that are comparatively inexpensive. I’ll give you an example straight from Christopher’s web site…

Imagine being able to execute the Kurotsuke effect without touching the balls, the bag, etc. or, a similar demonstration using coins and a small leather pouch…
Is this not mentalism in the purest of meaning?

Now if you think that’s cool just hold your horses for a minute… well, at least until February of 2008 when he’ll be introducing his newest gem know as T-3 (Blackpool). I can assure you, I’m chomping at the bit on this one in that you can be 30 or so feet away with your back turned, etc. the participant can choose anything you may wish to employ -- beverages, candy, or just general items -- you can instantly describe the tastes, texture, and even name the item or flavor chosen. The T-3system lending to the creative mind a plethora of Psychic advantages that will transform everything you do in your act.

Of course it’s electronic, this is the kind of things techno-wizards like Christopher enjoy playing with. But the system is unlike anything currently available to us and incorporates a slightly different version of market technologies than we’ve been limiting our selves to.

I realize my endorsement of Electronic Effects Systems seems rather strange given my doctrine of Old School thinking but I’m confident that the con-men and charlatans of the 19th and early 20th century would approve of what Taylor Imagineering delivers and then some. Especially when you have the ability to transform the classic Parlor Ghost Touching routine (PK Touches) into a real time event… then again this one piece has proven so popular that Christopher is (as of this writing) sold out and quickly trying to meet the public demand. After all the Real Ghost unit lends to the performer a number of alternative advantages that go outside the PK Touch idea and into the realm of creating actual Poltergeists or alternate psychokinetic manifestations. But let’s get back to my point and why I’ve singled Christopher out:

"I Prefer To Employ The Simpler Technologies Available.
Of Course, Simple Is Relative."
-- Christopher Taylor

Ignoring all the high-tech gadgets he has either out on the market or soon to be released, Christopher has an amazing cornucopia of traditional concepts and approaches to Mentalism for which the electronic toys are but an accent. His personal philosophy being very much akin to my own when it comes to having that little something that delivers a potent punch but not being overly dependent upon such things. The axiom of “less being more” definitely applies in this case and it seems to be a prevalent constant in Christopher’s own philosophy as a showman; one that seems to take a preference to the parlor vs. the grand stage.

Whenever I contact someone about doing a feature on them I ask for some notes about themselves and their philosophy as both, a performer and designer. Like his products Christopher gave me a very simple and to the point perspective that is so sound, I can’t say more. So here it is in his own words…

Craig: I hope this is helpful...

The products which I market are created from the inside out, just like the title of my first book. I now begin with the end result clearly in mind and set about developing a method which will achieve the effect in the cleanest way possible using what ever means I have at my disposal. Yes this often, but not always, includes electronics. But even then, I do not jump immediately to the most sophisticated means available. In fact, I prefer to employ the simpler technologies available. Of course, simple is relative.

A perfect example of the inside out approach is the first device I released, Equinox. Soon after falling in love with the classic concept of four white stones and one black stone, I realized I wanted a way to reserve the revelation to the very last participant who was holding a stone. I tried several approaches which met that end (two of which appear in my second book, Unconventional) but still was not happy. Something was missing. I wanted to avoid touching the bag or the stones at all; Kurotsuke’s “Holy Grail.” Going to electronics was then the obvious answer. I needed those earlier attempts to clarify just what I wanted. It wasn’t too long before the idea of a business doing this inside out stuff occurred to me.

After performing with my device for nearly a year without a single failure, I realized I had something other magicians might be interested in. I contacted Peter Nardi, whom I had met the previous year at MindVention, to pitch it to. Interestingly, he had recently spoken to a performer who was looking for a way to perform Kurotsuke with a totally hands off method. Peter had told him that it could not be done. I was smiling from ear to ear when I informed him that that was exactly what I was offering him. Now I am looking for classic effects for which I can provide an ultra clean method. And I believe I am finding them, Real Ghost being a case in point.

I am currently working on a number of new effects, some of which are all mine and others in conjunction with other performers. I particularly enjoy producing custom devices for mentalists and have done so for a number of very high profile performers.

Cheers
Christopher

Like many I find myself anxiously awaiting one particular piece that Christopher has for us come the early spring of 2008 and the famed Blackpool Gathering in the UK… let’s face it, we pack-rats Mentalists live for the idea of finding the next magical device that will empower us in doing miracles that our peers are dumbfounded by, don’t we?

Catch you next month.

Craig Browning

 

 
 
 
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