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mastermindreader 1949 - 2017 Seattle, WA 12586 Posts |
There is a thread down in the Penny Forum about the classic Bank Nite routine. I felt I had to post this excerpt from "The Artful Mentalism of Bob Cassidy" as it is easily the most practical routine yet devised.
DR. BOB'S BANK NITE Dr. Bob seemed totally devastated, which was quite understandable considering that he had just burned fifteen hundred dollars in cash. “Why,” I asked him, “did you have to do the bank nite bit with real money?” “I don’t want to talk about it right now,” he answered as we left the banquet hall. Just then the organizer of the event, a fortyish-looking woman, grabbed him by the arm. “It’s such a shame that had to happen to you. Your demonstration was just wonderful, though, so we took up a little collection to help offset your loss,” she said, as she handed him about two hundred bucks in fives, tens and twenties. “I do hope you will join us again.” “Better luck next time, right?” he answered sadly. When Dr. Bob booked the show, they asked him if he could do the bit where they hide his paycheck in an envelope which is mixed in with a bunch of other envelopes that contain only blank paper. Using his “psychic powers,” he’s supposed to decide which envelope contains the check and the remaining envelopes are burned. If he picks the wrong envelope he ends up with a blank piece of paper and no paycheck. He offered to go one better than that and asked that his fee be brought to the show in cash. “What’s the point of losing a check?” he asked. “It’s only a piece of paper. It’s a lot more dramatic to do it with cash. Pay me with fifteen one hundred dollar bills. Put cut sheets of newspaper in the other envelopes and mix them up. I’ll point to one envelope and you can barbeque the rest.” “Isn’t that risky?” they asked him. “Not at all,” he said. “Not as far as you’re concerned. If the cash gets burned, we can both write the whole thing off as a loss. Don’t worry, I can afford it. Besides, I have faith in my psychic ability.” Of course, Dr. Bob always looks like he’s got money to burn, but the fact is that he’s in debt up to his butt. “What were you thinking?” I asked him when we got into the car for what promised to be a silent trip back to the hotel. “How did you screw that up anyway? I couldn’t believe it when you opened the only envelope that you didn’t throw into the fire and took out a bunch of newspaper!” “Well, look at it this way,” he said with a weak smile. “At least they won’t think I was just doing tricks. A failure like that once in a while helps convince them that my powers are real. If they weren’t - if it was just a magic trick, for example – I’d be right all of the time, wouldn’t I? Isn’t that what you said in your last book?” “Yes, I said that all right. An occasional mistake does reinforce believability, but I certainly didn’t mean you should screw up an effect like “bank nite” and burn up your pay! You’re lucky they tipped you two hundred bucks out of sympathy. That’ll at least cover the hotel bill.” “I guess,” he said. “And it’s a good thing they’re writing it off as a loss rather than sending a 1099 to the IRS. I’d hate to have to pay taxes on a bunch of ashes. I should ask the lawyer if I can write my end off as a loss, too.” “No you can’t,” I replied. “They didn’t file the 1099, remember?” “So that’s tax free money, right?” “What’s your point, Doctor? Tax free or not, you incinerated it!” Dr. Bob started laughing as he took the envelope from his jacket pocket. “You mean I can’t spend all of this newspaper?” He tossed the opened envelope onto my lap and the contents slid out – fifteen one-hundred dollar bills! “You crazy son of a b!tch. You mean to say you intentionally made them think you screwed up the trick?” He looked puzzled. “Tax free plus a sympathy tip. What’s wrong with that?” Good thoughts, Bob |
C.J. Inner circle There's a lotta rambling in my 2366 Posts |
Oh dear Bob,
I can't help thinking that you've just nudged some of the young Anakins a little closer to the Dark Side... :lol:
Connor Jacobs - The Thought Sculptor
Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur Be fondly remembered. |
TonyB2009 Inner circle 5006 Posts |
Bank Night might just work it's way back into my act! Great yarn.
Check out Tony's new thriller Dead or Alive http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alive-Varrick-Bo......n+carson
http://www.PartyMagic.ie |
kinesis Inner circle Scotland, surrounded by 2708 Posts |
Ha Ha! What a brilliant story. Nice one Bob.
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Paul Shirley Inner circle Melbourne, Australia 1206 Posts |
Brilliant.
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David Thiel Inner circle Western Canada...where all that oil is 4005 Posts |
Made me smile...wonderful story.
David
Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Except bears. Bears will kill you.
My books are here: www.magicpendulums.com www.MidnightMagicAndMentalism.com |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The November 2011 entrée: Bob Cassidy » » Dr. Bob's Bank Nite! » » TOPIC IS LOCKED (1 Likes) |
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