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Mr Amazing Special user 617 Posts |
"Madame, would you please come up to the stage. What is your name?"
"Well you're the mind reader, you tell me!" What to do? For women and in certain situations I have joked it off with, "Ha ha, we both called eachothers honey last night, so..." (and in the off-beat follow with "...no, seriously what's your name" and "We have never met before, have we") but this obviously doesn't work under all circumstances. Do you have any suggestions for quick verbal ways to get out of this? I don't want to encourage further challanges by turning her/his question into an effect (i.e no booning stuff etc) Thanks /Matias |
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Philemon Vanderbeck Inner circle Seattle, WA 4694 Posts |
Since they told you to tell them their name, go ahead and do so!
In other words, guess! Use your intuition and play your best hunch. Sometimes you get it right and have a miracle on your hands (you'll know when this happens, because your volunteer's eyes will bug out). If not, play it as a joke, but insist on calling them by the name you given them throughout the entire routine.
Professor Philemon Vanderbeck
That Creepy Magician "I use my sixth sense to create the illusion of possessing the other five." |
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Tony Razzano Inner circle South River, NJ 1600 Posts |
I usually say something like, "Please tell the audience your name." Or "Please tell everyone else your name," suggesting that I already know it.
Best regards, Tony Razzano
Best regards,
<BR>Tony Razzano, Past President, PEA Winner of the PEA"s Bascom Jones and Bob Haines Awards |
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Marduke Kurios Veteran user Vancouver, Canada 316 Posts |
In the movie, "Being John Malkovich", there is a scene in which John Cusak guesses his co-worker's name. This is the most brilliant part of the movie! If anyone hasn't seen it yet, please do so. With a good knowledge of first names, it does seem possible. (though your audience might think you're very strange for doing it!)
Good luck!
Live well,
Laugh often, Love always. To the world you might be one person, but to one person you just might be the world. Without Prejudice, All Rights Reserved. |
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ravi Elite user Germany 413 Posts |
great thoughts trinity.
I N D R I D C O L E
DEAD AnD GONE |
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Mr Amazing Special user 617 Posts |
Marduke, I saw the film (loved it!) but I can't remember the spiel. Could you please explain a little further how it went? (We're not exactly talking anything secret here).
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Ian Rowland Special user London 889 Posts |
I haven't come across this situation very often, and Trinity's suggestion would seem to just about cover it.
Further thoughts... First of all, unless you actually need to know the participant's name, you have the option (all too rarely considered) of not actually asking for it. If you watch enough magic acts, it can sometimes seem a bit odd how often the performer asks for someone's name and thereafter never makes any reference to it. some would say "It's just common politeness". Maybe, but equally many would say, "Just get on with the [expletive] routine". Back to the original question, one option is Kreskin's pleasantly jokey escape clause, "What do you think I am, a mind-reader??". If you really need a good-natured out, then if it's a MAN you could try suggesting an overtly girly, feminine name like "Samantha" or "Wendy". Ask if you're right. He says not. You say, "Huh, oh... that's just on those weekends away, I get it". If it's a WOMAN, do the same in reverse, suggesting "Norman" or "Harold". Works for some audiences, not for others. Here in the UK, there's always an out of saying, "Well, according to your underwear you're called St. Michael". This is a universally understood joke here, but probably sounds impenetrably dumb anywhere else. If you're really against the wall, simply say "Sorry, I'm good, but I'm not THAT good" and then ask again. This time they'll tell you.
www.ianrowland.com . Working Magic.
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Philemon Vanderbeck Inner circle Seattle, WA 4694 Posts |
Quote:
On 2002-04-10 13:19, Ian Rowland wrote: The U.S. version of this joke would be "Calvin Klein."
Professor Philemon Vanderbeck
That Creepy Magician "I use my sixth sense to create the illusion of possessing the other five." |
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E-Leoni Veteran user USA 358 Posts |
I've had this happen to me as well.
I usually say. .."Yu don't think this stuff is reall do you ?...The clue bus called they want to know why you're not on it!" or "Get a life, will you, now tell me what your name is or I'll just refer to you as the bit**" Actually I say all that inside. On the outside I just say .."Alright Jane, you're right. Let's not pretend" and I proceed with the name I just made up through out the routine if and untill she corrects me. By that time she's having a great time. E-Leoni. |
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Drewmcadam Inner circle Scotland 1239 Posts |
How about using Dunninger's trick of introducing yourself quietly and asking the participant his name as you bring him to the stage? (Of course, those who know about this will be aware of where it goes from there!) The point is, introducing yourself first, means you are not asking "and what is your name" but rather "and you?" with less chance of them coming back at you with the smart-ass line that if you can read minds then you should know.
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Alex Reeve New user 63 Posts |
Don't forget to look at your participant. you might get lucky. she can have a necklace, a bracelet or a ring with her initials on it. then you can go on and try to guess from there.
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Marduke Kurios Veteran user Vancouver, Canada 316 Posts |
Hello Matias,
This doesn't read well, but I'll try to explain it. Cusak asks his co-worker for an after work drink. She tells him, if you can guess my name, I'll go. He begins to form the beginning sound of many different names. At the same time he reads her responses to each sound. As she responds positively, he homes in on the name - working toward the hit / dropping the miss. If anyone understood that, then you'll love to say this very, verrrry slowly...aanndaafffggghaarrrnnnlaaamooomaarrrmaaxxine! Okay, this might be a crazy idea after all! I just thought it was great in the movie. I guess you had to be there!
Live well,
Laugh often, Love always. To the world you might be one person, but to one person you just might be the world. Without Prejudice, All Rights Reserved. |
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Mr Amazing Special user 617 Posts |
LOL Marduke - I have to agree it doesn't sound too impressive. Guess I'll have to see it again.
Thanks everyone for your great thoughts so far. (Keep'em comin') /Matias |
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Hal Weaver New user 56 Posts |
Thanks, Drew, for reminding me to introduce myself first. I don't have much trouble with asking first -- I suppose it is my age -- but going first, so to speak, is a better idea anyway.
Hal |
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mastermindreader 1949 - 2017 Seattle, WA 12586 Posts |
If asking for someones name is a breach of privacy wouldn't reading his mind be a far greater, and ruder, breach?? If people tell a performer to mind his own business, I would say he has a serious deficiency in either his performing or social skills.
Best regards- Bob Cassidy |
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Didier Chantome New user FRANCE 57 Posts |
IMO, it's interesting to work to avoid the situation Matias describe.
When you want someone to do or tell something, you don't aprubtly ask her (him).... First of all, before saying something, you've carefully chosen your helper, according to visual clues and experience... This is in the firsts magic lessons... Then, you can ask a few polite questions where responses are always affirmative... It's a kind of acceptance process... here is a little example : "Good evening, madam, would you help me for an experiment" -yes "thanks a lot, I'm sure you have ever read an horoscope, didn't you ?" -of course "as you may know, Tarot cards can also tell the future, sometimes with more precision than stars... Would you please cut this pack of Major Arcanes ?^" -ok "look, I put the rest of the card on your packet, crosswise, to mark YOUR action". Now, I'm asking you to make an important choice, you're with me ? -yes Thank you very much, tell us you name, please ?" - Mary - Thank you Mary, now let's.... and so on... (it's only a little example, not a trick !) --- I hardly believe than the management of audience (and, of course, helpers)is fundamental in mentalism... In my example, the lady has been implicated in a process, if she stop, she is against the audience... not against the mentalist... and she knows that. I hope this post is understandable despite of my very bad english ! best regards Didier |
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Andy Leviss Inner circle NYC 1179 Posts |
I highly beg to differ with Larry. Asking and then remembering and using a person's name is one of the basic techniques for getting a person to like you, as a matter of fact. It's one of the first things Dale Carnegie teaches in his classic book How to Win Friends and Influence People.
People like when you have the courtesy to ask their name, and like it even more when you then continue to use it to refer to them.
Note: I have PMs turned off; if you want to reach me, please e-mail [email]Andy.MagicCafe@DucksEcho.com[/email]!
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Mr Amazing Special user 617 Posts |
Andy, there definitely are cultural differences in this matter. For example, in many Asian countries they are very sensitive about people using their names. They even come up with special names to be used by strangers.
In Europe we feel that the Americans are known to be the opposite: if we forget an Americans name, it is seen as more or less an insult. (Here it is not as big a deal, even if unfortunate). Another example is how American e.g tele-marketers etc are encouraged to use the persons first name. Here this is considered very intrusive. I personally feel that it's a "cheap trick" when some for me unknown salesman is using my first name (and constant reference to my last name would feel contrieved). Bob - you asked if having their mind read wouldn't be more intrusive. Well, probably yes if they think about it. I don't think they do though. /Matias <---- real name is actually Jorgen Schmorgen von Haagendazs |
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Vision Veteran user London 395 Posts |
I can't really answer this for all countries, but I've found, that if you do it the right way, people don't get insulted. If you do it in a friendly and disarming manner, it works just fine. I don't think I really can add much to this topic, but being polite and asking with the right attitude and at the right moment, usually solves this bit.
And Matias, or I mean Jorgen, isn't Haagendazs a brand of icecream? Sincerly yours, Daniel Young
www.awonderfulmind.blogspot.com
check it out for new products. |
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Fred Darevil Elite user 446 Posts |
I feel very sad to hear that some people can find it rude to be asked their name. Very sad from a humanist point of view that culture, whichever, can cause people to react like that.
I sympathize with these so uptighted persons, they would feel so much better if they could forgot their internal tensions. Fred |
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