The original Acidus Novus was created by Millard Longman in 1979 and introduced to the community by the legendary Al Mann. Since then, this simple-yet-ingenious methodology has become a classic in the field and a favorite for countless working professionals.
Here's what Al Mann had to say about it when it first came out (and is, of course, still true today):
"Gentlemen, this is the 'Acid Test' for the Thought Reader! This is one of the most advanced techniques in Billet work ... a Space-Age technique that was not known by the past masters. A spectator is asked to write down their private thoughts on an index card or business card and then to fold the card twice. The performer then takes the folded card and holds it openly at his fingertips for just a moment and then passes the still-folded card back to the writer. The performer then proceeds to reveal the thought letter by letter.
This technique is not a child's toy. It is not for the curiosity seeker. It is strictly for the professional Mentalist and the serious student. It is not a temporary fad that will wane with time. Once you learn it, you will have a powerful weapon at your disposal and you will use it for the rest of your life." |
Simple? Yes.
Powerful? Undoubtedly.
Without a doubt, the original Acidus Novus was a breakthrough and continues to be a major player in the contemporary world of billet work.
It is perfect for stage or closeup, impromptu or prepared. Plus, as Millard says, "It is the easiest and most direct billet technique known to Man."
However, if you've been in this field for any length of time, you probably already know the basic Acidus Novus handling, and you may be thinking, "Why should I be interested in this new release?"
Well, to paraphrase the old commercial, "This isn't your father's Acidus Novus!"
Even if you already know the basic handling and think you've already exhausted all the possibilities, you're in for a pleasant surprise.
The New Acidus Novus Bible
To begin with, Thought Reading with Billets, Volume 1: The Complete ACIDUS NOVUS adopts a truly multimedia approach with a 90+ full-size page electronic book (delivered as an Adobe PDF) that includes:
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For the newcomer and professional alike, the video clips show you exactly what to do and when -- from the performer's point of view, so there's no time lost trying to match your hands to what's on the screen. You will quite literally be able to do this within minutes of opening the book.
For a quick refresher, the full-color photographs illustrate everything you need to know to perform a flawless peek each and every time.
The descriptive text explains everything, including the perfect paper to use, how to prepare the billet for optimum effectiveness, psychological suggestions, as well as why Acidus Novus is the perfect solution to the problems inherent to billet work.
As good as the original Acidus Novus was, this book will show you improvements and additional handlings that will allow you to take your billet work to the next level -- immediately!
Take a look at this partial Table of Contents:
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Once you've mastered the deceptively-simple Acidus Novus technique, you'll be able to apply it to countless different presentations. To get your own creative juices flowing, there are over a dozen complete routines and presentations that were contributed by seasoned professionals. These routines cover everything from impromptu to stage situations, and include presentations incorporating body language, palmistry, astrology, ESP, pendulums and book tests. There's even a presentation in which the performer literally doesn't even LOOK at the billet!
In addition to these top flight contributions, you'll find fully-illustrated chapters on how Millard uses the Acidus Novus for additional presentations including impromptu work with business cards and serial number divinations.
Perhaps the greatest value in this book, however, is the chapter entitled, "The Acidus Novus Question Answering Act", which describes in detail how Millard prepares and choreographs the performance of one of the easiest Question Answering acts you'll ever present. This act alone is, as they say, worth the price of admission to the working pro. If you're not currently including Q&A in your act because you hate pre-show, billet switches and one-aheads -- all of those reasons have just left the building!
BONUS #1: The Acidus Novus Templates
To get you up and running as quickly as possible, we've included ready-to-go Microsoft Word templates for the perfect Acidus Novus billets that will allow you to identify thought-of numbers, colors, cards -- you name it! If you value your time the way we value ours, you'll appreciate the work that's gone into these templates.
And by copying these template files to your own hard drive, you'll be able to easily customize the professionally-designed templates for all of the presentations that you'll be coming up with after you've read the book.
BONUS #2: The Longman-Mann Papers
As a very special bonus, we've included the actual correspondance that began when Millard wrote to Al Mann with what he considered to be an improvement to a billet technique that Al had published. These letters are both hand-written and type-written, and offer a unique insight into two very creative minds. Over the course of three years, Millard and Al discussed many ideas, some of which made it into various Al Mann Exclusive publications, as well as some which have remained unpublished.
BONUS #3: The Longman-Schubert Analysis
We thought it would be interesting to send the Longman-Mann Papers to Roy Schubert, who is one of the most knowledgeable experts on Al Mann today, to see what he might have to say on the subject. The result was an audio interview that will be of interest to anyone who is serious about mentalism and its history. Admittedly, the quality of this recording isn't anywhere near professional standards, but the ideas come through loud and clear nonetheless.
SPECIAL BONUS UPDATE
Millard is, without a doubt, one of the most generous people I know. When the time came to release his "Symbols in the Path: Psychic Readings with Runes", Millard wanted to get it into as many qualified hands as possible, and suggested that we send it absolutely free to everyone who orders one of his offerings -- including his legendary ACIDUS NOVUS. As they say in the infomercials, "... that's a $25 value, yours free if you order NOW!" Actually, you could order tomorrow, too, and still get this valuable bonus. Or next week, for that matter. But why wait?
THE BOTTOM LINE
The price for Thought Reading with Billets, Vol.1: The Complete ACIDUS NOVUS delivered via digital download is $97.
As Al Mann wrote over 25 years ago, the Acidus Novus methodology is strictly for the professional Mentalist and the serious student -- individuals who will be able to justify the expense of this package because they will be using it.
In all reality, our goal is not to sell a bazillion of these to the community at large, and so the price has been set at a point that many potential buyers will balk at. And that's fine -- exclusivity is rare in this business, and as such it carries great value for the working professional.
For the serious worker, however, the initial cost of Thought Reading with Billets, Vol.1: The Complete ACIDUS NOVUS becomes a no-brainer. Think about it. If you perform even a SINGLE walk-around gig -- PERIOD -- you've more than paid for the investment.
The more realistic scenario is that you will use what you learn in this package all the time. In fact, it's probably safe to say that since it's the BEST billet reading method available today, you'll be able to save a bundle of money, since you'll no longer need any expensive wallets or peek cases!
If you're ready to order Thought Reading with Billets, Vol.1: The Complete ACIDUS NOVUS, simply click on the "Add To Cart" button below.
The Complete ACIDUS NOVUS
ORDERING INFORMATION & FINE PRINT PLEASE NOTE: All Pro Shop orders are processed the old-fashioned way -- by a real live person -- and typically in the morning, Monday through Friday. If your order is placed Monday through Friday, it will most likely be processed within 24 hours. Orders placed on a weekend will be filled on Monday, unless that's a holiday. 1) To order this package of digital materials, simply click on the "Add To Cart" button for the item you want. |