Prelude… In 2009, I was invited to lecture to some of Germanys Elite mentalists in Hamburg. The premise of that lecture was the following… The Pack Horse Problem Pronunciation: (pak'hôrs"), —n. 1. A horse used for carrying goods, freight, supplies, etc. 2. A person who works hard or bears a heavy load of responsibility. 3. A mentalist who feels the need to carry more equipment than he/she will use.
The term ‘Packhorse’ was commonly used in Yorkshire (the region of the UK that I grew up). It was frequently used as a slang term, typically when a husband had the unfortunate job of carrying the shopping bags as his wife stopped at every shop window on the way home; “Tha’s got me as a bloody Packhorse woman!” The ‘Packhorse’ term is also one I have coined to describe the Mentalist or Magician who takes far more props to a show than he will actually perform with. It is a common mistake and if you stop and think about it for a moment, you will have done this at some point in the past. I know I have! A typical walk around gig might consist of 250 people split into groups of 10, sat around tables having a 3 course meal. (This is typical of a corporate Christmas party in the UK.) If the performer is booked for 2 hours, then he will only have on average 4.8 minutes with each table. Taking into consideration that some tables will be served with their food in the middle of your performance, you may only have as few as 2 or 3 minutes with each table. Instead of filling your pockets and bag with as many effects and props at you can physically carry, it’s time to re-evaluate just exactly who you are as a performer and what you want to communicate to your audience. The time spent with your groups may be short, but not too short that you cannot leave a strong leave an impression. An impression that can either make or break you as a performer - try to keep this in mind each and every time you approach a table. The following is a 4.8 minute routine (it can be shorter or longer depending on you) that is simple, strong and covers a range of effects or ‘abilities’. It also minimises any pocket space, since the whole set utilises just a small stack of your business cards, a pen and a small manila envelope.
Welcome to 4.8 minutes – A Lecture in Minimalism
I’m going to need someone who has a strong mind, someone who believes that their choices are their own… Do you believe your choices are for the most part, your own? Or are they controlled by something else? Let me give you an example… If you were to imagine yourself in a supermarket, standing in the middle of an aisle, you turn to face a shelf, you walk up to that shelf and take a product down... what do you take? Sweet corn. Sweet corn? Is that a choice you made right then and there as a response to my question? Could it have been predestined for you to say sweet corn at this moment in time before you were even born? Let them explain their thoughts and continue with… I think you will be perfect for this... do you have some personal items on you? Good, please place a handful of different objects here on the table... I’ll come back to you in a moment… Turning to face a different participant, the performer explains: To be fit and healthy we must train our bodies and exercise. For a mentalist we must keep our mind as active as possible, and exercise it… We can’t just jump in and do this though, we need to warm up. I’d like to play a little game with you now, almost as a mental warm up… Do you prefer words or numbers? Words – Great! Would you please write a word on my business card and turn it over so I can’t see it. Numbers – You prefer numbers? Excellent I will write a number on my card and see if you can perceive it. I prefer words, so would you please write a word on this card and turn it over so I can’t see it. Inset both cards into a window envelope, ensure participants card is the bottom of the two, so the peek will be available when needed. Don’t seal the flap; just openly drop the envelope onto the table, isolating the ‘two thoughts’. OK. Look at me. I’d like you to visualise in your mind’s eye a field. The field is covered completely in thick white snow. In the middle of the field is a child, a young boy of about three years old. He is drawing in the snow…
It’s a number between one and ten… what is it? Seven Write this number on the back (non window) side of the envelope and proceed to pull the first (top) card out of the envelope. Turn it to face the participant and at the same time turn the replicated number on the envelope, so they can see both and the obvious match. This gives you a sneaky opportunity to peek through the window to see the participant’s word. Now have them focus on their word. You can present this so that it is congruent with your character. I love to use Banacheks “Letters in a Word” ploy from Psychological Subtleties. It seems so real if delivered properly. If the focus is on your ‘receiving’ the thought, make sure you congratulate your participant for correctly ‘transmitting’ it in the first place. Once you have revealed the word, casually remove the remaining card in the envelope as if you wish to check you are correct, then toss it on the table and crumple the envelope and place it in your pocket. Turn to another participant and hand them a business card and a pen. Ask them to produce a doodle or a drawing of something and to not show anyone. Whilst they are engaged in that, focus your attention of the participant you first asked about the supermarket. By now he/she will have some personal items out on the table. Look at the items on the table, if there are less than 5, ask if he/she can add a couple more, ideally you want between 5 and 7. A typical list of items would be: Male Watch Phone Wallet Cash / Coins Credit Card Ring Keys
Female Watch Phone Purse Cash / Coins Lip Stick Jewellery Keys
Look over the items as if you are studying them and turn the stack of business cards so the backs are towards you. Hold them close as if you are guarding what your write. To the audience you are making your prediction for the next effect. In reality you are completing a pre-filled prediction with the words ‘sweet corn’ from earlier (or whatever their response to the supermarket question was). Once you have filled in the card, your thumb folds it length ways by moving it down an inch or so (see image). This action is aided by the bent corner of the card; it allows your thumb to grip it easily. This movement jogs the folded card to the left a little. Keeping the stack close to your chest, slide out the second
from bottom card and place it face down on the table. (This is the card with ‘Mobile Phone’ pre-written on it). As you table this card, bring the stack close to your body and use your chest as a lever to give a second fold to the supermarket card. You now have a card folded into quarters which you can ditch into your pocket in a moment. Once the attention is on the tabled card, casually flip the stack over so it sits atop the folded card which should be in position for a finger palm. Reach over with your other hand to take the stack and table it, leaving your ‘prediction’ palmed and ready to ditch. This can now be ditched in your pocket as you focus your attention back on the participant who has done the drawing/doodle. Ask them if it is picture-side down and to confirm that no one has seen it. Take this drawing face down and insert it into the middle of your stack. Immediately flip the stack over and grab the pen. By flashing the bottom card of the stack you are unconsciously satisfying a slight moment of doubt the artist of the doodle may have in regards to you being able to see their drawing. Look at the artist and have them visualise their doodle. As you make eye contact slightly jog the bottom card with your left thumb. Reach over to take the bottom card with your right hand and glance down as you do, its at this moment you take a sneaky peek at their drawing through the hollowed out stack. It’s very important you don’t appear to pause as you peek. Look down as you take the card, peek and continue to look at the card you just took whilst pocketing the stack in your left jacket/trouser pocket. It should be a very fluid movement. Duplicate the doodle however you see fit. Be it Psychological or Psychic ensure you are congruent with your persona/character. Turn back to the participant with their personal items out on the table. Reintroduce the concept of free choice by playing a game with them. So, the reason I asked you to help out with this is because I needed someone who is strong minded and makes their own choices in life. You have already made several choices by selecting these personal items. You’re right handed yes? Pick up and hold any item with that hand. The participant picks up his wallet. And with your other hand pick up another object. This time the participant picks up the mobile phone. Great, now turn to face me. You have made a further two choices by selecting these items. For your final choice, hand me one…
The participant hands the performer the mobile phone. With your free hand, pick up the face down business card and hold them both out a moment, so all present can see you with one item and one card. Have the participant place the remaining items back in their pockets. And continue: Most people believe at some level that their choices are free. There is some truth in this, but one must realise that any for any choice made there must be a consequence. In this case, a series of his choices have resulted in me standing here with a personal item of his in one hand and one of my business cards in my other. Here I have a mobile phone... And here, I have written, the 2 words... Mobile Phone! Turn the card around to show everyone the correctly predicted item. It’s a natural applause cue so allow that to occur and subside then hand the card and item back to the participant. They will more than likely pass comment on the effect, there are times when the equivoque procedure has been quick, i.e. the first item picked up. This can create a very strong impression on the participant and cement your questioning of the nature of their ‘free choice’ as discussed earlier. Even if the equivoque procedure was the worst case scenario (and let’s be honest, we have all experienced equivoque procedures that have resulted in the force item being selected in the longest way), as long as your patter and method of equivoque is sound (I recommend Docc Hillfords E’Voque) you will still have a super strong and unexpected killer finish to hit them with (not literally!) Collect your pen and thank your table or group for their time and attention and then just as you are about to leave, stop. Look back at the participant who you have just performed the equivoque procedure with. What was it you said earlier? When you were imagining being in a supermarket and buying just one item... Sweet corn. Openly, slowly and fairly reach into your pocket and pull out the folded business card. Hand it to the participant and say. Wait till I’ve gone...
They of course will be desperate to look inside. You should be making your way to the next table by the time you hear a loud and strong response, turn and acknowledge their reaction with a slight bow, smile or head nod depending on what’s natural for you. Their reaction will create interest for the table you are approaching and make your introduction that much easier. Methods For this set, you will require very little but at the same time, quite a lot. Here’s how it breaks down from the audience’s perspective: • • •
Stack of Business Cards Pen Envelope
From our point of view, things change a little bit, here’s our list: • • • •
Stack of business cards (approx 10) with the centre hollowed out Pen (and a back up pen in case it runs out) Small manila Coin/Pay envelope with a window cut out of the address side 6 extra business cards
Preparation To prepare the hollowed out stack, you can use a sharp scalpel or craft knife to cut out the centre of 10 of your business cards. Ensure the centres cut on each card are as consistent as possible. I use a laser cutter to cut my cards perfectly, if you have access to one or even a milling machine please utilise it. If not, get the craft knife out. The manila coin envelope is prepared in the following way. Insert a business card inside the envelope and turn it address side up. Using a scalpel or craft knife and a metal ruler slice a rectangle approx 50mm by 30mm. Remove the business card and you’re ready to go.
Write ‘Mobile Phone’ on one business card. Write ‘I will make you will choose ___________’ on another card and fold it into quarters both ways to loosen the card up, making it easy to fold in any direction. Then in the top right corner of the card put in a small bend. This will make the handling for the folding move later much easier. Set Up Place a card on top of the stack, this will be the one the participant draws a doodle on. On top of that place 2 more cards, these will be the words and number cards that go into the envelope as part of the warm up sequence. On the bottom of the stack will be a further three cards: • One to duplicate the doodle (3rd bottom) • One that has the predicted personal item written on it (2nd bottom) • One that has the predicted Supermarket item on it. (bottom card) The cards are in the above order on the bottom of the stack.
The Moves Setting up the Prediction Ask for a participant who has a strong mind, someone who makes their own choices in life. When someone has been selected, or more than likely nominated by the rest of the group, ask them if the choices they make are their own. Give them an example scenario to respond to, for example: Imagine yourself in a supermarket… you are stood on an aisle staring at one product. What is it? Imagine you’re on a plane heading somewhere… where are you going?
You’re sat watching your favourite football team playing in the cup final… what’s the score? You’re in a casino, you have just bet on a single roulette number, the ball settles and it comes up… what number is it? As you can see, you can predict ANYTHING you want. You can tailor this for a trade show or a corporate event, a wedding or a birthday, whatever fits in with the theme of the event. Once the participant has responded to your scenario, pause, act a little unsure about using this particular participant but decide you will try and see if this works. Ask them if they have any personal items on them, When they respond, invite them to join you. (If in the rare case they don’t have any personal items, ask the group to each contribute an item to form a small pile in the middle of the table, ensuring each item is different). Once this participant is next to you, ask them to remove their personal items and place them on the table. Turn your attention now to another participant, ready for the mental warm up. The Mental Warm Up You can utilise any psychological force you like to ‘transmit’ to the participant during the mental warm up. The following come to mind and would be suitable: • • • • •
Number between 1-10 (seven) Number between 1-5 (three) Circle & Triangle Colour Blue/Red (PS1 – Banachek) ABCD Test (Writing the ABCD on the envelope)
You use a subtle equivoque / magician’s choice to ensure that you get to transmit the psychological force. You need to always ensure the participant is the one that writes the ‘word’. For example, if I am performing the mental warm up with the 1-10 force, I will say something along the lines of: Do you prefer Words or Numbers? Whatever they respond you can direct the participant to write a word. You prefer words… OK, please take one of my business cards and write a word on it, any word you want… Or
You prefer numbers… OK, I’ll write a number on my card and see if I can transmit it to you. I prefer words, so can you write a word down for me… Once the word has been written and you have filled out the psychological force of choice on your business card, place yours face down on top of the participant’s card and insert them into the peek envelope you have constructed. Immediately table the envelope, apparently isolating the two thoughts before you begin the ‘transmitting and receiving’ presentation. Whatever the participant’s response, write it on the envelope in full view, reach into the envelope and remove the top card. This will be the psychological force card. Turn both the card and envelope towards the participant so they can see hopefully a 100% match. As they look, you glance down and look through the window cut out on the envelope to peek the word they have written. It’s a perfect combination or misdirection and time delay. You can reveal the word however you prefer. The Doodler At this point, ask for someone in the group is who is a doodler. You may get some blank looks but explain that in life there are 2 types of people, doodlers and non- doodlers. Doodlers are the creative ones, those that like to doodle, sketch or draw things, usually when they are in meetings or on the phone. You will get a response from at least one person at this point. Hand them the next card in the stack with a pen and invite them to secretly doodle something on the card, being careful not to show it to anyone. Turn your attention back to the first participant, the one who has a strong mind.
The Forcing Sequence / Enabling The Prediction By this time there will be a small arrangement of personal items on the table in front of the participant. Look over the items for a moment and have them reaffirm they have a strong mind and make their own choices. Confirm this by saying something along the lines of: Well clearly you have made a series of your own choices here, you chose to remove the Visa card from you wallet and have 2 separate items there, most people would have just left the wallet as a single entity… I’m not sure if this will work with you but we shall give it a try… Take the stack of business cards and bring them close to apparently make a prediction. In reality you are going to fill in their response to the “supermarket” question, you will then secretly steal that card away under the guise of placing the prewritten (second from bottom) card onto the table. Proceed with your equivoque procedure. I’m sure you all have your own ways of doing this. I use Doccs E’Voque and recommend those who don’t know it to give it a try. Some of you may prefer the PATEO (Pick Any Two Eliminate One) force which will also work well here. Replicating The Doodle Taking the doodle card back from the participant and ensuring it is face down, cleanly insert it into the middle of the stack of business cards (the hollow stack). Turn over the stack and take hold of the pen. By doing this you are satisfying an unconscious curiosity that somehow you may be able to see what they have drawn.
Clearly you cannot as it is hidden inside a stack of cards. However if you jog the bottom card out of line slightly you will be able to peek through the hollow cut and see the doodle. This of course will be done under misdirection and patter. Mine usually goes something like this: Remember playing the game of 20 questions? Well I have a much more condensed version of that game… It’s called 2 questions. Your response to those 2 questions should give me an insight into what you have drawn… I’m currently about 75% accurate… First question: I need to know the category that your drawing fits into. Is it Organic, Man-made or Abstract? I openly write their response (or at least the initial, i.e. O for Organic on the top of the card). OK…second question: if you could give this a colour, what comes to mind? As I’m saying this I’ve outjogged the card and began to take it with my other hand. I casually glance down as I’m doing this and peek their drawing. The stack goes into my left jacket pocket as I focus on the business card in my right hand. Whatever response to the colour question I get, I write it openly on the card also. I can now continue to duplicate the doodle in any way I see fit. The Big Finish – Bringing it Full Circle OK, so now you have apparently completed you set, you have demonstrated the following to the group: • • •
Mental warm up – transmitting and receiving a thought Duplicating a hidden drawing Predicted the actions/choice of a participant
You are now ready to unleash your surprise ending. Thank the group for their attention and effort and as you are leaving stop and take a step back to the group. I almost forgot! Right at the start… what did you say? Sweet corn was it?
That was your free choice yes? Then this, my friend, is for you… wait till I’ve gone! Hand them the folded billet from your pocket and leave with a knowing smile.
Credits & Inspiration Let us not forget that no matter who we are, we in some way are inspired by others. We stand on the shoulders of giants and we must ensure we give credit. In no particular order • • • • • • •
Bob Cassidy Dr Jacob Daley Barrie Richardson Bill Pugley Ken Kline Fred Kolb Larry Becker
Tabula Mentis IX – 16/04/2011 4.8 Minutes – A lecture in minimalism by Looch www.looch.co.uk
