I second Robert Blake's recommendations -- especially as regards Bob Cassidy's "Fundamentals of Professional Mentalism." The "Rt. Rev. Dr. Bob" is one of those who has been a major source of inspiration for me and someone whose insight and understanding of the art, as well as his skill as a performer, one could do well to emulate.

Thanks for the recommendation. Right now, I'm reading 3510 but the Cassidy Book should be the next.

I come out and ask "Who has good intuition?"

I pick the most enthusiastic hand and launch into the instructions for that 5-numbered cards in envelopes thing...(Bob Mason, I think).

It's quick, the instructions are very clear so everyone knows what's going on...no wiggle room for me or them... and it has the very nice surprise reveal which gets everyone. By its end, they've either had the time to settle down or they've seen a good intro effect that surprises them. Anyway, the reveal seems to lock their attention onto the show.

Quick, direct, very visual and lets them get into attention mode. The effect is not gangbusters or a closer, but it is clean and clear and no way to fake it (other than the way to fake it).

Plus it is self working, so I don't have to think.

And you can then take the opening line "Who has good intuition?" in a hundred different directions, suiting your purpose.

Works for me...it's ideal.

One season I opened the show with Slate Of Mind (the one with the slate and 6 cards) only I had 3 of them onstage, and did S.O.M. 3 times quickly: 3 quick selections, setting the cards on all 3 slates, then did the 3 reveals at once. It worked much better and stronger than a single S.O.M. and was a fine opener. I prefer the cards and envelopes now, tho they have less flash onstage than the 3 slates.

Slate of Mind is a bit Mental-Magikky, but the audience doesn't mind. If you do your mental-magic stuff early and get the props offstage or out of sight, you can swing into the more ephemeral stuff without a hitch.

My most often used opener is the good old nw. I enter the stage without saying something. then I present a businesscard and pretend to write something on it with a pencil. then I lay down the pencil so that apparently I am just holding the businesscard

then with a serious face expression I point to a person and want her to count their loose money.

when she tells out loud the amount I immediately give the bc to a person sitting near stage to read out loud the words.

of course the amound predicted is correct but it is best to miss it by just a few cents. this opener served me well in the past an the ovations at the beginning are great and I have established my abilities to read minds.

greetings
thomas rudolfo

I use the TOD.

In fact, I used it tonight with spectacular results in front of 500 Hindu's at a Diwali celebration. The best reaction I got is when the one of the volunteer's forgot the names of the cards I called out. I was going to name all 3 cards again, but as soon as I named the first card, the lady just shook her head yes and sat down...it was a direct hit and the crowd gasped !

Anyways, I found this routine a strong way to start a set. It really looks like mind reading, and there's a ton of flexibility to tailor to your own needs IMO.

Thomas, tonny van Dommelen (fism award winner 1958, vienna) did also something like that but with a balloon. he enters the stage with a balloon in his hand. he asked the 3 spectators to give a number under 10. he pops the balloon and somebody reads the card. perfect hit. I like this because it is direct - you have a bang - multiple people working with you - visual.