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Waterloophai![]() Inner circle Belgium 1340 Posts ![]() |
If I have a prediction in a sealed envelope, I sometimes give the spectator the choice at the end:
to open or keep the envelope closed and therefore never to know whether the prediction has come true or not, so that it will remain a mystery forever. This method is not mine, but I once read it somewhere Is there anyone who knows who first published or used this (Phil Goldstein?) ? |
jdub![]() New user 56 Posts ![]() |
Not sure who came up with the idea, but curious what the impact would be on the audience if the individual chooses to keep it a mystery? What would it do to the strength of the effect?
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ParkinT![]() New user Orlando, FL USA 74 Posts ![]() |
I really, really like this idea. My first contact with this (and I am certain NOT its origin) was Chris Ramsay's "Red Pill". There it is very effective.
You have demonstrated to the spectator that an impossible object probably has been created by magic. The draw of human curiosity versus perceived value of a sealed box is intriguing. |
Frank Yuen![]() Veteran user 393 Posts ![]() |
I believe it was Jon Allen who first put this idea into print in his book, Experience: The Magic of Jon Allen. He was inspired by J.J. Abrams' TED talk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpjVgF5JDq8 |
Jonathan Townsend![]() Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27226 Posts ![]() |
The "Mystery Box" discussion was in an issue of Wired Magazine where J. J. Abrams discussed how he keeps the item he bought unopened as a reminder of the power or mystery.
https://gizmodo.com/the-jj-abrams-issue-of-wired-5220590 Though you might also like to look at the movie Repo Man ![]() Doing a card trick for someone as if you are just repeating something you did for them a while ago and giving the envelope back to them as if they asked you to keep it... well ... ( This is where a blank card could also come in handy ![]()
...to all the coins I've dropped here
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Luke Wolf![]() New user 54 Posts ![]() |
That's a very interesting idea I never came across! I wonder if we could combine it with an effect like Turner's Chinese cookie. Either you read it now, or you can keep it for later...
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landmark![]() Inner circle within a triangle 5131 Posts ![]() |
I wonder what the date is on the first performance of the Penn and Teller segment where they give the audience the choice to close their eyes and be mystified, or keep them open and learn the secret.
Click here to get Gerald Deutsch's Perverse Magic: The First Sixteen Years
All proceeds to Open Heart Magic charity. |
korttihai_82![]() Inner circle Finland 1831 Posts ![]() |
Jon Allen routine was published almost a decade before his book came out in his VHS video "Spectators don't exist"
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