Bridge Extended - Contributors wanted

[aalexander]

A month ago I released an effect called Bridge. Bridge is a tool that can become an effect on its own or used in magic, mentalism and hypnosis demonstrations.

I'm organizing a follow-up project that builds off the same foundations. The idea is to get as many people as possible to contribute ideas, and contributing an idea/routine gets you access to everyone else's work (so no cost, but also copies are not just free to any Muggle). There's already been quite a few quality submissions already, and more brains at work will only make that better.

If this interests you, you can find the project page here. For anyone who has not heard about the original project, I'm posting some of the reviews here:

"The applications are limitless. Using no props and telling no lies, Bridge is as close to real magic as anything I?ve ever encountered." -Dr. Bill Cushman

"I'm really taken with, stunned by and inspired by this piece (and the author's work in general). I haven't adopted anything this good and valuable in a long, long time...and as I told Aaron, I knew instantly this would be one of those "forever" pieces in my toolkit and arsenal. It's amazing. " -Jerome Finley

"When you see it being performed you can feel a thickness in the air, like something special is happening. The act of it is more than the sum of its parts. Unlike a simple trick, which requires the audience only to watch, Bridge not only invites you, but requires you to participate. It is in this participation, that something is brought to life." -Ian Pidgeon

"Brilliant. The introduction is imaginative and poetic. The Bridge itself can be described as poetry between two people." -James Luce

I rolled with Bridge again yesterday strolling before a performance, and it's hilarious, in under 30 seconds I had this huge tattooed and pierced guy feeling crazy things from 15 feet away. And yet again, another guy was going through the same thing soooo quickly. This is making suggestibility tests and instant inductions look "dial up" slow, and Bridge is working like Google Fiber. -Sean Bott

"This effect is one of those rare items in which the method and principles employed will act as a seed from which much can be reaped. If you want to create a truly organic experience that is unique and unexpected for the spectator this is it!!! I love the thinking in both the methodology and the execution. The style is unique, bold and fresh for this style of performance." -Gavin O'rourke-Soccorco

"Bridge is one of the first 'Real magick' principles that I can see myself using.... I would have no hesitation recommending this to people who, like me, struggle to find the perfect way to make their performances more 'real.'" -Steve Young

"This is not an effect, but an event. It is a process that establishes a deep connection between you and the spectator you are performing for. This is extreme thinking that can be used as a way to focus any effect you decide to present. Wonderful and fascinating thinking walks on this Bridge." -Greg Arce

"I had good expectations for Bridge and holy hell man. Aaron, add another fan to the list." -John Arcanum

In the trenches (by that I mean aside from just paid shows, I'm talking the difficult dive bars I go to in Columbus as well) and with perfectly random strangers, I have yet to not have a response of anything but utter amazement and connection with my audiences. My final review of this purchase summed up in three words, "Amazingly Under Priced" and in a simple number scale, for me personally, it turns it up to 11/10. -Jakob Michaels

"[Bridge] is a different level of magic. [Regarding the instruction] ...It's as if he's in the room talking to you. Everything is so clear and so precisely explained that you could read the book once and go out and perform it... Beautiful. -Brett Maskill

I have to say that I am very impressed with this work. Is something that I will use for sure as process for a LOT of things. -Luca Volpe

"I'm doing this product a disservice by labelling it as "mentalism", but I would expect it would sit alone if I created a blog category called "the closest thing to real magic". If you're looking to create a "real moment" of awe, connecting with a person on a real deep level, then read on." -Stephen Shaw (full review on www.magicblog.org)

Contact me here or through my website if you're interested or have more questions. Links to most of the full reviews are on the page for the original Bridge.

 

[Justin.Morris]

Can you expand a bit on what this is and why it is 'extended'? Is it a magic book with various contributors? What is the effect? More info would be helpful. The reviews are not really helpful in explaining what I get, and I'm past the stage of buying the latest effect. If I'm going to spend money, it needs to add to my show in some way. From what I read I don't have a clue. Though I would like to hear more.

 

[aalexander]

Can you expand a bit on what this is and why it is 'extended'? Is it a magic book with various contributors? What is the effect? More info would be helpful. The reviews are not really helpful in explaining what I get, and I'm past the stage of buying the latest effect. If I'm going to spend money, it needs to add to my show in some way. From what I read I don't have a clue. Though I would like to hear more.

One of the reasons it's hard to describe is that Bridge is a tool and an approach to performance, not just one effect. That said, in the original Bridge there are 4 routines and 8 specific effects described in detail, as well as tools/principles to build your own. Most of these are in various videos or mentioned on the site. They include building strange sensations, mirror movements between you an audience, some subconscious cuing that can be used as a sort of invisible instant stooging, and more.

Without giving too much away, Bridge blurs the perceptual line between another person and you. I don't believe it's been done like this in magic/mentalism before. There's a lot of interesting science behind why this can happen, but in practice it makes it possible to do things like read minds in various ways or have separate people feel the same sensations, emotions, or otherwise share experience in an unusual way. The document is written in a way that allows you to create these genuine sorts of effects with no fear of failure, and as part of a show or propless impromptu.

So to answer your questions fully, yes: Bridge Extended is a collaborative project with several authors . Anyone who submits something gets the whole project for no cost. One of the most common bits of feedback I got from people is that they're worried that Bridge might be lost on the "next trick" generation of magicians. It is definitely not just another trick, as I'll try to describe I think it's something useful that many people will be using through their careers.

I hope that clears it up a bit. If it helps, there's 3 review links on the website (bottom, next to videos). Brett is a classic magician who dabbles mental, Steve is a hypnotist, and the other link is to a whole bunch of mentalists reviewing. Depending on what exactly you practice, one of them may give an idea of whether Bridge will suit you.

 

[WitchDocIsIn]

So - For people who have The Bridge and have created unique 'tricks' with it, this will be a way to share ideas? Or is this going to be something that one can buy, get the Bridge, and also have access to these other ideas?

 

[aalexander]

Both. The focus is on people sharing ideas, but you can also purchase a copy. It's not a big release with big marketing and names, and the people who have bought a copy are (as you can probably see) really passionate about it. BE is a way for all of those people to share ideas, whether or not they do a write-up of their own. For this month the cost of BE for non-contributors is especially low so that all the original takes of Bridge can get a copy without breaking the bank.

I'm especially excited because while there's some pretty well-known people pitching in, but there's also a few unknowns who have created some amazing and beautiful ideas. It's so much good thinking that I would never have been exposed to otherwise because I wouldn't have heard the name or reputation. That's definitely been the most rewarding part of this project so far.

 

[Craig Browning]

aalexander. . . you've made it nigh impossible to contact you. Would you please message me so we might discuss your system a bit more privately or at least exchange emails.

 

[Craig Browning]

I should make note that I purchased this item yesterday and have yet to see it and too, the email address on your site is kicked back as non-existent.

I've asked Jerome to contact you on my behalf, I hope that don't prove to be a dead end as well.

 

[WitchDocIsIn]

Craig - I'm sending you a PM

 

[aalexander]

Sorry for the confusion, but Bridge Extended is going to be released on April 30. The original Bridge e-book is what is out right now. Craig, I did get your order for BE the other day. I'm sending a PM now.

As for my email, I'm not sure what could be going on there. I have been getting emails all weekends. There are 3 accounts that you can reach me at, "aaron" "info" and the Gmail account that I use for orders. If anyone has a problem, send me a PM here, though email is the best way to get in contact (I'm new to this site and didn't know I had to enable them).

For everyone else, I get a notification each time an order comes in. So even if I'm slower with responding to written emails some days, always I send orders within a few hours unless I happen to be away from the computer for awhile. As always, more than 48 hours and your order is free.

-Aaron.