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Jaime New user 91 Posts |
I recently failed an effect and somehow found a way to get myself out of trouble only to find that the subject was even MORE impressed than subjects usually are when I succeed right away. I have since observed several mentalists, and especially my favorite, Derren Brown, only to find out that they often do fail a little bit, just to make the effect appear more real. That seems like a powerful technique!
The effect I wanted was to have a card selected by the subject, then placed back in the deck, which I cut a few times, then act as if I am looking for the card but can't find it, and finally "let the spirits help me" by placing the deck flat on my right hand and have the deck cut itself without touching it, at the subject's card position. Well I knew the subject's card was the seven of diamonds, and when the deck cut itself she was very impressed just to see the deck move by itself. I told her to pick the card where the deck was cut, and asked her if it was her card, and she said "no". So I asked to look at the card and she showed me the nine of diamonds. I was stunned, as if I had done the trick properly she should have had the seven of diamonds in her hands... but rather than giving up, I started my mentalism: ME: "That's odd - it usually works pretty well - so your card is not the 9 of diamonds, you are sure?" HER: "Yes, sure". ME: "Ok, really odd - I guess it can't be that far off though - let me concentrate - you know, I see a 2?" HER: "No, it's not a 2 either" ME: "And yet I still think this card (the 9) is good, but I see a strong 2... you know what that could be is that it's only 2 off with your card.. was your card the jack of diamond? Or seven of diamond?" At this point she jumps screaming, and REALLY think I'm reading her mind, much more so than if the deck had been cut at the seven of diamond right away!! To the point that I am wondering if I shouldn't always perform that particular trick with that 2 off mistake routine! |
Silvertongue Inner circle One day I will die leaving behind 2426 Posts |
The art of flim flam will never die... lol, great story.
Keep it up as I know you are just starting out in this field...
For as long as space exists,
And living beings remain in cyclic existence, For that long, may I too remain, to dispel the sufferings of the world. -Shantideva Engaging in the Conduct of a Bodhisattva |
LLL Inner circle 1574 Posts |
Jamie, sounds like you did well thinking on your feet... the question you need to ask yourself is; which reaction was better? If you feel that reaction was better then of course stick with it.
mescalito
The basic tool for the manipulation of reality is the manipulation of words. If you can control the meaning of words, you can control the people who must use the words.
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burst Veteran user Memphis, TN 308 Posts |
Or combine them and create a multiphase routine.
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Jaime New user 91 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-09-24 13:23, burst wrote: That's a great idea! I guess I could have a 2 on the ground at the beginning, and then when the card is off by two, act dumbfounded, and then "realize" that a 2 was missing from the deck, which explains the offset... hmmm... interesting, gotta find a mentalism routine for that! Thanks. |
bobser Inner circle 4178 Posts |
Well done Jaimie, in a way you've just discovered one of the differences between magic and 'well presented' mentalism. Keep up the good work... and keep thinking.
Bobser.
Bob Burns is the creator of The Swan.
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Rory Raven Special user Providence, RI 514 Posts |
I recently screwed up a 3-envelope routine (a routine which I've only done a zillion times), and when I got to the third person, who was concentrating on a place, I had no clue what he was thinking of. So I guessed at NYC. Turns out he was thinking of New Orleans, his hometown.
But ... he came over to me after, fairly well feaked out. He explained that before coming to the show, he had spent a good two hours with a friend discussing NYC and his plans to move there. It had been on his mind a lot and he was surprised that I picked up on what he had "really" been thinking. The annals of mentalism are filled with stories like this, I'm sure. So yes, sometimes being a little off can greatly enhance what you're doing. But try to be off intentionally, not because you've inexcusably screwed up a routine you've been doing for years .... Have fun. Rory
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." -- Groucho Marx
visit www.roryraven.com today! |
Jaime New user 91 Posts |
Rory, that's a great story! Shows you some people will go to lengths to pick up connections when there aren't any.
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Lee Marelli Special user Aurora, Colorado 876 Posts |
Jamie. Great thinking. Now you must think, were you doing Mentalism or a card trick that went wrong and you did an excellent recovery. The only reason I say this is that if you wish to become a mentalist then you need to do mentalism effects. Best, Marelli
"Mentalism is a state of mind." Marelli
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Jaime New user 91 Posts |
Well I guess it was a magic card trick with a mentalism effect applied to it, since I have the deck cut itself at the right (or should have been right) place. You could present it as power of mind over body, I simply presented it as asking the "spirits" to help find the card I couldn't find.
When you see the deck start moving by itself without touching it, it really looks more paranormal than you ordinary magic card trick. |
Rory Raven Special user Providence, RI 514 Posts |
Yes, it's a great story NOW ... but when I was in the middle of it and realizing that this was about to go south on me ... it sucked!
But I was lucky and can laugh about it now. I've always liked Haunted Deck effects, myself. Good luck with it! Rory
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." -- Groucho Marx
visit www.roryraven.com today! |
Jaime New user 91 Posts |
That's usually how great stories start: with situations that are pretty sticky.
I noticed you employ a plural: are there other haunted deck effects? Where can I learn more about them? I love that effect but that's the only one I know. |
Rory Raven Special user Providence, RI 514 Posts |
There are probably others more able to answer that than I am. Based on my fairly limited knowledge, there seem to be several methods for achieving the same basic effect. You might do well to check out the card various card fora here on the Café. Do some searching on "haunted deck" or "haunted pack".
Please note, I'm not withholding any knowledge -- I just don't have much experience with the effect in question, so don't have much to tell you. R
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." -- Groucho Marx
visit www.roryraven.com today! |
Jaime New user 91 Posts |
Sounds great, thanks for the suggestion, will start searching now!
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