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abbeylane Regular user 139 Posts |
I just finished watching the current American version of "Penn & Teller Fool Us". (August 17th, 2016)
A magician on the show did a mentalism trick about knowing the color of underwear/panties that people on stage were wearing.. Here is a link to the trick to explain it better: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYGF5hBAyY8&feature=youtu.be (Ignore the other side videos; strange links come up when you search. LOL) Do you know what this trick is called or where I might get it? |
Doug Trouten Elite user Minnesota 471 Posts |
I think that with just a tiny bit of research, you'll be able to come up with the name of the trick, and its creator. I would suggest starting your research by reading the caption for the YouTube video you cited. Once you have that information, you'll be able to find related discussions on the Magic Café, including some posts from the creator himself.
It's still magic even if you know how it's done.
Terry Pratchett |
abbeylane Regular user 139 Posts |
Thanks Doug.
i didn't see the caption when looking on my iPad, but when I used my desk computer I was able to see the full display. LOL After a brief research, it looks like none of the major supplies sells the book/DVD anymore. |
Doug Trouten Elite user Minnesota 471 Posts |
Yes, it looks as though the book is out of print. You could buy a used copy, but it's going to be a bit pricey. One Amazon dealer has it listed for $175. The author is a member of the Magic Café. I suppose you might PM him and see if he has any personal stock. You might be able to find a used copy on eBay. You might post and "Want to buy" notice in the books forum under the "Let's Make a Magic Deal" section of the Café. And you might look into his current book, "Mind Blowing," for more examples of his thinking.
It's still magic even if you know how it's done.
Terry Pratchett |
abbeylane Regular user 139 Posts |
Someone told me that the trick is in the book "13 Steps to Mentalism" by Corinda.
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Doug Trouten Elite user Minnesota 471 Posts |
You won't find that precise trick in Corinda, but the book you mention covers a lot of territory, including a basic principle that was probably behind the effect that interests you. A related effect was discussed in the Jinx newsletter by Ted Annemann, years before Corinda was published, and was collected in Annemann's book "Practical Mental Effects." You might want to ask this question in the "Inner Thoughts" forum in the "Banquet Room" section, since people are a little more free to discuss methods there.
It's still magic even if you know how it's done.
Terry Pratchett |
danaruns Special user The City of Angels 808 Posts |
I thought that trick was kind of off-putting. And I'm no prude. Perhaps women generally feel differently about that, I don't know.
"Dana Douglas is the greatest magician alive. Plus, I'm drunk." -- Foster Brooks
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Doug Trouten Elite user Minnesota 471 Posts |
I'm with you, Dana. I suppose it's a fast way to get into a psychometry routine, since all (or nearly all) of your volunteers will have an answer to the question "What color is your underwear?" But I think there's a world of other things one could do with the same principle. Why not have people write down their favorite food, or movie? You could have some fun with those answers, and it wouldn't be as intimate (and thus potentially uncomfortable) for the volunteers.
It's still magic even if you know how it's done.
Terry Pratchett |
abbeylane Regular user 139 Posts |
Doug, I agree.
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RobertlewisIR Veteran user Colorado 367 Posts |
I didn't find it off-putting, but certainly there are other ways to use the same principle. And honestly, whether you like the routine or not, I reckon it belongs to someone else. I like the underwear plot, but I wouldn't do it simply because someone else is already doing it. I want my show to be different. So if I used the trick, I'd do what Doug suggested: I'd ask what they had for lunch, the last book they read. Or maybe I'd go totally bizarre and ask something totally weird and ask some completely off-the-wall question just to see what kinds of funny answers I get.
And what I find so interesting about this is that to us as magicians, those are exactly the same trick. They can be done with exactly the same method. But if you ask audience members, they won't remember the guy who knew what they ate and the guy who knew what color their underwear was as having done the same trick AT ALL. Granted, if you did them back-to-back, they'd start to catch on. But if they see different shows on different days, they won't recognize that it's the same trick behind both routines.
~Bob
---------- Last night, I dreamed I ate the world's largest marshmallow. When I woke up, the pillow was gone. |
Blackwood Special user Mind-Play 528 Posts |
Actually, I was rather shocked to see this performance. First, it was almost a verbatim lift from another Canadian magician, patter and all. Second, the trick has been debated and referred to many times here on the Café over the last ten years or so. There is little doubt that P&T do not know of it. Third, even if they didn't, the method is so simple and so established in magic literature, how COULD they be fooled? And, yes, that's not to mention the perceived tastelessness (which has been debated on this site a LOT.)
Not trashing the performer, just surprised when smart performers do standard tricks and classic illusions and expect to win. |
Andy Young Special user Jersey Shore, PA 813 Posts |
Quote:
On Aug 25, 2016, Blackwood wrote: The contestants don't always get to pick their effects that they do. |
danaruns Special user The City of Angels 808 Posts |
Quote:
On Aug 25, 2016, Andy Young wrote: Really? How is that? I have a couple friends who have been on that show, and neither of them said they couldn't do whatever they submitted. What are the details?
"Dana Douglas is the greatest magician alive. Plus, I'm drunk." -- Foster Brooks
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Doug Trouten Elite user Minnesota 471 Posts |
Dana, one recent example is Dan Harlan's appearance on "Fool Us." He said the producers specifically requested that he perform "Card Toon." It was his initiative to come up with a twist on the trick to fool P&T, but the choice of what to perform was strongly influenced by the producers. I'm sure they don't request particular effects all of the time, but I've heard they sometimes are looking for a specific effect.
It's still magic even if you know how it's done.
Terry Pratchett |
danaruns Special user The City of Angels 808 Posts |
Ah. Thanks, Doug. I can see that happening, especially with someone like Dan.
"Dana Douglas is the greatest magician alive. Plus, I'm drunk." -- Foster Brooks
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Blackwood Special user Mind-Play 528 Posts |
Actually, I think the show is a classic Penn & Teller misdirection. The whole "fool us" aspect is just a hook to get contest-loving viewers. The actual purpose of the show is to present more excellent magic performers in a half-hour than you could sell to a TV network any other way. Especially in the American version, P&T seem to really enjoy letting some performers they admire get worldwide exposure. Let Dan Harlan show off his masterpiece. Let Paul Gertner perform a signature effect Penn has tried to perfect for years. Look at the love-fest between them and Mac King.
P&T has found a way to revive the old variety show format and share a lot of magic with us. I say "bravo!" |
abbeylane Regular user 139 Posts |
I've purchased the book 13 Steps by Corinda and the DVD set by Osterlind by can't seem to find the theory behind the "panties" trick. I would appreciate if someone could point me in the proper direction or chapter.
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Doug Trouten Elite user Minnesota 471 Posts |
PM coming your way
It's still magic even if you know how it's done.
Terry Pratchett |
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