Impromptu and Colorful Prediction Pablo Amirá
1
Impromptu and Colorful Prediction
Copyright: © 2010 Pablo Amirá All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher. 2
Also from Pablo Amirá
Mysteries Anywhere Mentalism for unexpected performances
5 Miracles with 5 ESP cards Psychology and Parapsychology in perfect harmony.
3
Impromptu and Colorful Prediction
Written by Pablo Amirá Cover Art by Manuel Farias Revised by Mauricio Jaramillo and Mike Kempner
Thanks for respecting this art and keeping this document to yourself.
4
This document is dedicated to the late Tony Corinda. I didn’t have the opportunity to meet him, but I know that Someday I will have the chance to say to him: “thanks”
5
6
Introduction
Hi! Before a technical explanation, I suggest that you just ENJOY the ideas in here. In this eBook you will find 2 effects in which I am able to know in advance the outcome of random events or influence in them, better known as a Prediction. AN INCREDIBLY difficult theme to sell.
I personally think that in Prediction effects we need to be “Credible in the incredible”
That can be achieved via giving a pseudo explanation (influence, NLP, psychology), or placing all focus on the experience and the drama and not in the prediction itself. In that way the important thing is the relation that you create and not the “trick”.
7
The art of Magic is a wonderful art because it teaches us how astonishment needs to be part of our lives BUT I feel that magicians today (or at least 60%) fail in this purpose BECAUSE they don’t understand the importance of the mystery AND they just want to show off with their ability.
In the art of Mentalism we create mystery and mental experiences WITH and IN the minds of our participants, and with Prediction effects you need to sell the idea that you can either influence or know future events.
“Who will want to pay for a fake psychic?” (As Mr. Cassidy says).
I hope that you understand the ideas in this document, expand your consciousness to new dimensions and create your own masterpieces.
I predict that you will enjoy what follows in this eBook.
Pablo Amirá
8
Index
First Experience in Precognition
1. Impromptu Prediction: Predict thoughts in any situation. Give meaningful moments of mystery and imagination just using borrowed objects.
Essay C.C.C. : A theory about performances.
Second Experience in Precognition
2. Colorful Prediction: 3 Colored Envelopes, 2 participants, 1 moment
of mystery and laughs. A minimalistic approach to the classic “Technicolor Prediction”.
9
A Joke… (A classic classic Latin cartoon called “Mafalda”) “Mafalda”)
10
11
“The best way to predict the future is to invent it”
Laurence J. Peter
12
Impromptu Prediction I want to have something meaningful in my repertoire that can be more than a prediction. I work with a LOT of different ideas and techniques. This one is the ONE.
Audience and Participant Perception
The mentalist receives some ideas and writes them down on a piece of paper, which is isolated in his wallet or in an envelope. Later on, the participant is asked to think of an important person in his life. The mentalist claims that he will pick some characteristics of the thought of person. After a few revelations, the mentalist takes the paper from the wallet and reveal the prediction of the initials of the person that the participant is merely visualizing in his mind.
Effect Precognition. The mentalist is capable to predict the initials of a thought person.
13
You Need 2 pieces of paper, Pen. SAW 1.1 Wallet or a Window or Slit Envelope.
How? Oof… this effect was a real journey for me. Yeah, the effect is simple and classic, and I enjoy every step that I took in the past. The effect that you just read is just one effect from the ENDLESS possibilities that you have. I prefer the effect that I describe, but imagine the options: “Prediction ACAAN”, “Prediction of a thought of place”, “Numerology/Graphology Prediction”, “Prediction of a Pet” , “Prediction of a Death Person”, Etc. Maybe, and just maybe this sequence of ideas will be to BOLD to some people, but I invite you to JUST try this one and experience the prediction with your participant.
14
More than one effect or a lot of different effects, this “Impromptu Prediction” is more like a way of thinking.
So, take all these ideas and be aware that maybe your ways of achieving effects will be changed, not because I have an ultra genius mind, but because our art is extremely beautiful and subtle.
First of all (before any methodology) just think of the effect and the memory that the participant will have: (This will be the POV of your participant)
“You (put your name here) wrote something on a paper and put it in your wallet. Later on I visualized in my mind a friend and you read my mind about a few things. Finally you took the paper and in the paper were the initials of the friend that I was thinking of!”
What an incredible experience for him.
The methodology here is relatively simple… Double Writing (from now on DW) with a Stealth Assassin Wallet 1.1.
For more sources in this technique (DW) you can consult:
Al Koran´s Legacy by Hugh Miller Brainstorm Series Vol. 2 and 3 Confabulation Routines John Riggs` Work 15
I used 2 crucial techniques (for me of course) to use DW in a subtle way:
1. Misdirection: “Control the attention of you audience and don’t be caught in moves or trickery”.
This explanation can sound a little obvious, but it’s necessary that you put all the theory that you know and use all your tools to create an interesting performance. For example, humor in an intelligent manner to direct attention, or any “internalization” (the participants thinks of something, or remembers a memory, etc).
2. Indirection : “Communicate important information in subtle ways and be accepted in the subconscious of your audience and participants”.
A concept created by my friend and mentor Kenton Knepper, that I think is crucial to create profound experiences and not just cheap tricks and just “pretend to read minds”.
16
A few performers are critical to Koran´s performances of “Gold Medallion” because the DW moment is “too” obvious, but I think that he was SUCH A WONDERFUL PERFOMER that the participants and the audience didn’t focus on his moves, just in his charisma and words. I have a few subtleties that you can use to put more psychology on top of your actions. DW subtleties:
1. One great subtlety is Andy Nyman´s “Dry pen” idea. I learnt this subtlety in Luke Jermay´s version of the Koran Medallion.
In less casual performances (paid gigs or in other contexts where I’m a little more prepared) I use another “original” add on from the original subtlety from Nyman that I call “Cap Subtlety” (real original name).
For example at the start of any effect where I use DW, I use a “red Sharpie” (in reality it’s a black sharpie but with a RED CAP). In an indirect way I communicate that this marker is red and perform the Nyman Subtlety. I “try to write” (in reality DW the called out number), and realize that the sharpie is “dry”.
“It doesn’t work”, while I’m shaking the pen. 17
After that bluff I pocket the “red sharpie” (remember it’s just a black sharpie with a red cap).
And take another real red sharpie from my jacket pocket and write the called out number (or whatever) in red ink.
So the DW number will be written in black ink, so it creates a very interesting logical disconnect from the method.
2. Another finesse that you can use is a “Printed Prediction” finesse that I use in my confabulation routine.
At the end where the paper falls from the balloon (I use a variation from Luca Volpe´s Confabulation with a balloon) I point out the fact to the participant on stage that:
“A few days ago I PRINTED some facts that I KNEW in advance would occur in this show”
(I fooled a lot of magicians that attended my last show).
18
The participant CONFIRMS that ALL the information is printed (in that moment I just cover the DW info). So with that subtle Dual reality idea I can create the memory to the audience that the prediction was printed and not just written in sharpie.
Back to the effect….
I LOVE this technique (DW) more than any other secret writing techniques, because you don’t need little pencils or plastics with leads. You just need a pen that becomes very handy in casual presentations.
In some effects I prefer to use PW instead but in this type of prediction where I need to write 2 or 3 characters, I prefer DW and not being “too perfect”, not predicting the whole name.
When I took the idea of being capable of predict anything, I played with different ideas. Some with special setups, post it pads, notepads, etc.
19
I try these different ideas a few times, but as usual I wanted more. When I purchased my SAW Wallet some time ago, I LOVED it because of the simplicity of one thing…. The SUC Portion.
What a wonderful thing! You can pocket write, nail write, load billets, steal billets, hold billets, peek information, etc. One day I realized that you don’t need to palm the billet where you double write the important information and load it in the wallet (as in the traditional approach) …
YOU JUST USE THE WALLET AS A SUPPORT FOR A BRIEF MOMENT AND DOUBLE WRITE the important information.
And from this part started the new rethinking of this effect.
(If you don’t have a SAW Wallet, don’t worry! Take a window or a slit envelope and use the envelope as a support and use the same handling. For obvious reasons the envelope needs to be rigid).
20
First of all, you need to have a GOOD MOTIVATION to write another thing after your prediction. In the specific effect that I describe I use 2 approaches: 1. I sketch a caricature of the thought of person,
or
2. Read the mind of the participant in more serious manner
I will explain the second one because it’s richer in finesses.
In this approach I use “real mindreading” (NCMR, fishing, etc.) to take some characteristics from the person (Gender, relationship, etc.) and use that motivation to write the revelations that I DW the initials of the thought of person.
(Now starts the explanation of the mechanics) You can borrow a piece of paper or use your own business cards. You need 2 pieces of paper, one for the prediction and the other for the excuse to double write.
Take a moment. Believe in yourself and try to really take your mind and move thru time and see the future (importance of the subtext). That can sound a little weird to some people, but do it.
21
An important bit that I almost always do is to NEVER label the prediction as a prediction. Just write something on the paper as “something for later”.
On the paper that you will put in the SUC portion of the SAW Wallet write something like: “I predict that you will experience a great moment of mental mystery, Also, I predict that you will remember this performance and the initials_.__.”
In the “__” part, just keep a blank space with 2 dots. (Photo 1)
(Photo 1)
The points are a nice psychological factor that function as an “indirect anchor” to the fact that you wrote the 2 initials at that moment.
As a joke, while I write the prediction I say:
“Dot …and dot” 22
In that manner the participant could connect that ridiculous moment of saying “dot” with the memory to write the prediction.
Now, you have some options. You can bend the card in half and put it in the SUC Portion, or just insert it as usual. (Photo 2 and 3)
(Photo 2)
(Photo 3)
Now just FORGET this thing, and focus completely in your participant’s experience. You can invite him to close his eyes and visualize the thought of person in his mind`s eye, or just with eyes open.
Start to stimulate his imagination (vivid mental pictures) and let the fun start.
Take the other paper that you left on the table and use a psychological force (color red, carrot or whatever) to synchronize a little bit with your participant. 23
Now comes one important part. Try to write RED or CARROT, or whatever Psychological force, and in your SUBTEXT say:
“Oh… I can’t write without a support. OH! , I can use the Wallet”
And use the wallet as a support on the table. (Photo 4)
(Photo 4)
After that experiment in thought projection or telepathy (however you want to frame it ) ask your participant to focus on the gender of the thought of person ( as you can see, this bit has complete logic, because if you really predict the initials TC (for example) you cannot know what the “T” stands for).
If you miss in this part, it’s fine. Just keep your performance alive.
Again, use the wallet as a support. (Photo 5)
(Photo 5) 24
After this say something like:
“Ok, now WE know that it’s a male that you are thinking of… by the way…WHAT IS THE COMPLETE NAME OF THIS PERSON? TELL ME “
As you can see, I use “WE” and not “I” because “WE” (mentalist and audience) can NOW know the gender. With that mood (the audience and the mentalist want to know more) just say the 2 nd line in capital letters as an afterthought and with a little bit of indifference.
The last little line “Tell me” strengthens the command and doesn’t give your participant any room to doubt.
You can use a CT, AN, Billet Switching to obtain the info, but just ASKING in the middle of the routine is more direct.
Your participant will say (for example).
“Tom Cruise”,
I REACT really astonish and said:
“Really! That’s really weird”
and continue with the last part, the
relationship with that person.
25
Ask to your participant to think in his relationship with this person (or any other topic that you want to use), and in this moment in your SUBTEXT say:
“I will use the wallet again to support my writing”
And just take the wallet without giving much attention. (Photo 6) (Photo 6)
Place ALL importance in the participant`s visualization and now turn the wallet to the SUC portion,
and at the moment to write the relationship that you will pick up on, just write TC in the correct space. (Photo 7)
(Photo 7)
26
In that business card I wrote: After that, again, without placing too much
RED FEMALE
importance , leave the wallet on the table. FRIEND
(Photo 8)
Now, a SUBTLETY. You can put the pen in the wallet and place another level of “impossibility” to the isolation of the prediction. (Photo 8)
If you guess the relationship correctly, GREAT! , but if you miss, just keep up your performance. Now, the final part. Another important thing, the recap. Create false memories, (remember that it’s what they remember, not what they saw), and let the participant agree with you.
27
“Well... I don’t get to many characteristics of the thought of person BUT you had a nice visualization, right?” YES
“BUT the impressive AND memorable thing comes now. Remember that I wrote something on a paper AND placed it in this wallet?” YES
(That’s called a YES SET)
And now just take the paper AND give this subtle line that creates another great image: “For the FIRST TIME, tell us just the initials of the person you are THINKING of”
Just analyze this line a little bit:
1. For the FIRST TIME: With this line, you can create the false memory that you NEVER asked for the complete name in the middle of the visualization.
28
2. tell us just the initials:
Again, “Tell us” is used as a way to involve the entire audience and have another motivation to ask the initials (you don’t want to the response “ You are Mindreader, you tell me”).
3. person you are THINKING of Again reinforce the idea of the “thought person “not the “named person”.
And if you completely analyze that line, it’s completely honest, because it’s truly the first time the participant will say the initials. Your participant will say: “ T.C .”
Open the paper, give it to your participant and just ask: “Please read it out loud to everyone”.
The participant will read the prediction and release the natural tension with applause for them. “WOW, you have a great imagination. A big applause for him. Keep this paper as a reminder of this person and this moment”
29
That’s the basics for “Impromptu Prediction”.
I experience myself some GREAT profound moments of mystery with this piece and also of course gave mystery to my participants.
As you clearly see, this effect has a LOT of thinking, so PLEASE give it the necessary practice to all the little finesses, rehearse your own script and if you don’t have a SAW wallet, spend some money and buy one!.
It isn’t cheap, but you can create a LOT of powerful mentalism with it.
30
Possible Dialogue
(Premise) Give me a moment ( Pause and write your prediction on the paper) Dot … and dot.
(Put the prediction in the SUC portion or in the envelope) (Visualization) Let’s do something fun. Just think in someone that is close and important in your life that I cannot possibly know, ok? Mmmm Ok Ok, just close your eyes and see this person in your mind’s eye (participant closes
his eyes) (After that you take your paper, use the wallet as a support and write COLOR RED) (Psychological force) See this person in your mind, and see a white box that he or she is holding. Now the white box turns into a BRIGHT color box. Tell me the color, quickly.
Red
Great, and as you keep your eyes closed, just focus on this person.
31
Repeat just MALE or FEMALE in your mind, ok?
Ok
(Support the paper on the wallet again, and just read the tells from your participant or take a guess, in this case “FEMALE”). Tell us if the person that you are looking at is a male or female. Male
Ok (disappointed face). Ok, now WE know that it’s a male that you are thinking of… by the way… WHAT IS THE COMPLETE NAME OF THIS PERSON? TELL ME Tom Cruise Really! (Face of happiness) That’s really weird Now, the last bit. Just think of relationship that you have with this person
(Take the wallet in the inverted way, so you can write “Friend” or whatever you want on the paper AND write T C on the card ) (Leave the wallet on the table) Ok I already wrote my answer. In a loud voice tell everyone the exact relationship that you have with this person
(Ambiguous language with “this person” and not “Tom Cruise”)
32
Friend Great. At the count of three (in this moment you can put the pen on top of the wallet) just come back to us. 3…2….1… open your eyes. “Well... I don’t get to many characteristics of the thought of person BUT you lived a nice visualization, right?” YES BUT the impressive AND memorable thing comes now. You remember that I wrote something on a paper AND placed it in this wallet? YES.
For the first time, tell us just the initials of the person you are thinking of T.C Incredible ( At this moment just take the paper from the wallet and give it to
him) Please read it out loud to everyone (Participant reads the entire prediction) WOW, you have a great imagination. A big applause for him. Keep this paper as a reminder of this person and this moment.
(End)
33
Ideas
1. You can alter the handling a little bit (if you don’t have a SAW Wallet and you don’t want to use an envelope). Imagine: A stack of business cards with your prediction on top.
A normal wallet (used as a support) in where you will DW because you have 2 business cards as one (a double). After your reading and visualizations from your participant, just use the wallet and switch the card OR load the card on top of the stack. You have the same effect, just play with the idea.
As I told you this effect is basically created to open the possibilities, and also the awareness of the importance of the verbal and psychological finesses in performance.
34
2. I referred to this effect as Impromptu because I ALWAYS carry my wallet, so for me fits that criteria, BUT another impromptu handling that you can use is this one: Write a prediction and put it in your right pocket (in reality you do a false transfer and keep the billet in left hand finger palm) Now you can take the other piece of paper and put it in your left hand and use your hand as a support (this image from Al Koran´s Legacy will be inspiring for you).
I would use my “Numerology/ Graphology Prediction” for this handling, where I instruct a participant to think and write without any conscious thinking a number between 100 to 999 in a big numbers in the card (or 10 to 99) . In the middle of the reading and the annotation of the characteristics of the person via the reading, you DW the number in your palmed billet (as you can see, if you had my eBook “Mysteries Anywhere”, this idea is very similar to “IDS”).
After that you give the Paper with the big number to your participant, pretend to take the paper from the pocket (take the invisible billet) and pretend to put it in your left hand and show your prediction.
35
With that, everything looks as it should be and you finish with the SAME effect, but without wallet or envelope.
3. Another idea that you can use is a billet switch to accomplish the effect, although I prefer the approach from “Impromptu Prediction”. In this way, you lose impromptu nature of the effect a little bit, but it’s a valid option. A GREAT eBook on this subject is Elliot Bresler`s “Switchcraft”.
I personally use Sankey`s Paperclip Switch for this approach.
4. Predict anything in ANY situation? And what about the angles? It’s 180º, but not 360º?
Well. If you follow along, you can hide the protruding paper from the SUC part with your other paper, so for a brief moment you can flash the surface of the wallet.
36
5. Another approach is: Put the billet in the SUC portion, steal it in your finger palm, do your DW and finally load the billet to reveal your prediction (you can do this handling with a window or slit envelope). As you can see, this approach is more demanding in sleight of hand, but it’s another option that you can use if you don’t feel too bold some day. 6. Other ideas for effects:
a. Prediction ACAAN: Have a borrow deck shuffled. Write your prediction without a label as that one (“something for later”). DW the card and the number named (6C- 34) as you write in the other card: “The card is the six of clubs and the number is thirty four”.
The participant goes thru the deck and fails to find the six of clubs at position 34 (if you nailed it, take the credit). Explain that the random shuffle of cards cannot be influenced BUT the decision of a participant can be. Take the billet and reveal your prediction.
b. Numerology/ Graphology Prediction: Write your prediction and ask your participant to write a number between 10-99. You take the written number and start your reading using graphology and numerology.
37
In that BIG motivation that you have to write some things below the big number from your participant, just DW the named number as you use the wallet as a support.
c. Prediction of a thought of place: Write your prediction but don’t label it as that. Invite your participant to visualize a place where he felt happiness and peace. Take your other card and draw the visualization of your participant. In the middle of that moment just ask: “In one word how you will describe your happy memory? Tell me. ”.
Hear the word, react, DW subtly as you draw the complete scene, reveal your drawing (almost as a joke) and reveal your prediction of the word.
The other ideas that I give in the beginning can help you figure out the effect.
38
Credits and Inspiration
Inspiration comes just in the idea to predict more profound ideas. Credits to a lot of different thinkers. First of all Al Koran and his wonderful medallion, Mark Strivings for the SUC idea, Peter Nardi for his awesome wallet, Andy Nyman and Luke Jermay for the “dry pen” subtlety and Kenton Knepper for all his work in the use of words. SAW Wallet can be purchased from Peter here: www.alakazam.co.uk www.alakazam-USA.com
39
40
“Artists can color the sky red because they know it's blue. Those of us who aren't artists must color things the way they really are or people might think we're stupid”
Jules Feiffer
41
C.C.C. A theory about performances (successful performances I hope)
I love this art. It’s so personal and plays with something so profound and mysterious in nature. For me performing this type of experience on somebody is really an honor and a responsibility.
Don’t take me as the “perfect” guy. As a matter of fact, I learn almost all my techniques in failed experiences. For that reason I know that suggestion and psychology is SO important for a successful performance.
I created this performance theory after condensing a lot of different observations after different performances throughout the years. I find that the 3 things that I need to start and develop any solid performances (close up, stage, informal) can be labeled with concepts that start with “C”.
42
C.C.C. stands for 1. Confianza 2. Comunicación 3. Complacencia
In English those 3 concepts are: 1. Confidence 2. Communication 3. Compliance.
Let’s analyze in brief, the function of each one in performance.
Confidence 1. Belief in yourself and your abilities;
2. A state of confident hopefulness that events will be favorable
Confidence is one of the strongest characteristics that we need to achieve to confront our audiences, give a good “first impression” and perform successfully. 43
At the start of any performance, we need to show ourselves COMPLETELY positive about the results. Without any word, just with our body language we can say:
“I know what I am doing, because I am a good performer and I will give it my best”.
I love to watch old vintage videos from Al Koran, Kuda Bux and other performers (also magicians like Fred Kaps or Tommy Wonder) just because they look so secure about themselves and interesting just because they said:
“I’m talented” without a single word, just with attitude.
Confidence? But I’m NERVOUS! I’m about to go onstage, I’m in the middle of an equivoque procedure; I’m about to DW the info.
Well … to achieve confidence we need STUDY and PRACTICE. We need 10000 hours of work as Malcolm Gladwell said, so practice gives us confidence. 44
Confidence can create great rapport, but if you project a false image of yourself, you can create the contrary expected answer from your participants and loose all the connection and communication.
Antonyms for Confidence? Shy, timid, unsure. I personally don’t suffer from extreme nervousness when I perform because of my personality and also because of my way of performing, but you can get a great tip for convert nervousness to confidence in Rob Domenech`s “Tip and Tricks”. Also you can find a nice article here: http://ezinearticles.com/?The-3-Steps-to-Quickly-Building-Self-Confidence&id=4276431
So, in conclusion, be aware that you need to project a very confident image of yourself (because it’s obvious that you need to know who you are and know your character as a performer) and keep the performance interesting just because you look interesting and completely secure.
45
Communication
1, a connection allowing access between persons. 2. Something that is communicated by or to or between people or groups
“Everything is communication”
Gregory Bateson
What an incredibly simple quote. I studied a little bit the work of this great man and I can tell you that he has incredible tools for our art in terms to how to communicate effectively our messages. I can’t really explain all the points in this concept because I don’t have all the necessary knowledge and experience but I can share with you the awareness about the real importance that communication has. How you dress communicates. How you speak communicates. How you treat your participant communicates.
46
How you approach a table communicates. How you present (Verbally and non-verbally) onstage communicates something at a conscious or unconscious level. Communication in performance starts with the first impression that your participants take from you (even without knowing you as a performer). As Corinda said to us in 13 Steps:
“Think that your audience are excellent cold readers”.
The first 5-10 seconds are crucial to your creation of solid rapport with your audience (as some investigations say). If in your business cards you appear as a “Mindreader” and you have in your hand a magic wand… sorry but you are communicating only one thing: “I do tricks”. What do you communicate if you go onstage with a dirty briefcase, with dirty shoes and excuse yourself because your car has a problem? Well, that you are unorganized and clearly you will not get the gig again in that club. If you use interesting words in your scripts you will gain interest as a knowledgeable performer and with that you communicate confidence and security.
47
Of course that point can be used in reverse. You can destroy all your possible connection with your audience if you start to talk like a robot and say:
(With an incredibly weak posture, without making eye contact, without any signal of interest) “In 1930, parapsychologists started to investigate Extra Sensory Perception. I have the ability to do Telepathy, Clairvoyance, Precognition, Psychokinesis, Psychometry, see with X-Ray eyes, Answer question that you have and clean your bedroom” .
(The last one is optional… but you get the idea).
If you are interest in enhancing your communicational abilities, just spend less time searching for the “perfect” effect and read some books on this theme (Persuasion, influence, communication).
So be aware that all the things that you do and not do communicate are characteristics of you as a performer.
48
Compliance
1. a disposition or tendency to yield to the will of others 2. acting according to certain accepted standards
The final step, compliance. I understand this concept a little more and started to use it consciously when I started to study hypnosis in my university and also for entertainment purposes. The importance that this concept has is amazing and allows you to create this asymmetrical relation between you and your audience harmonically.
Simple details like suggestibility tests, asking for relaxation before a mindreading moment, positioning your participants at a specific point onstage, creates obedience in your participants and also makes them understand that you are in control and their only concern should be listening, obeying and enjoying. You can read more about this topic from Robert Cialdini, Milgram and his wonderful experiment, and in general, social psychology. 49
In conclusion, I need to say that this model will always be a theory, completely debatable and subjective, but as far as I understand, with these 3 concepts my performances feel different and I notice this response verbally and non-verbally from my participants.
I can write more of these concepts, but the purpose of this essay is to share my point of view and STIMULATE your investigation in these areas.
This is just the beginning for you the reader to try them out, change things a little bit and add your own experience.
50
51
“Even in darkness, every color can be found”
Joss Whedon
52
Colorful Prediction My version of the classic Technicolor Prediction Credible and Incredible routine
Audience and Participant Perception The mentalist presents 3 small colored envelopes, each one with an accurate prediction inside. A woman from the audience selects an envelope, followed by a man selecting an envelope. Both participants remove the papers from their envelopes, proving accurate but funny predictions, such as “You will select this envelope” or “You will select the yellow envelope”, but at the end you provide a mysterious moment when you reveal the exact prediction about the free choices .
Effect Precognition. The envelope left for the mentalist has a paper which predicts exactly the decisions made by the participants. 53
You Need 3 Color Envelopes with funny predictions inside. “PA #1 Billet Index” (or any billet index).
How?
The original effect (as far as I know) is published in Martin Lewis` “Making Magic” Video Volume 1.
I don’t have the original source, but my investigation tell me that his version is only for stage performance because of the necessary props.
I love this effect; it’s very comical in nature and also allows for a credible prediction of events.
54
I tried different ideas (using DR or NW), but this is my final solution and the one that I use.
I wanted to have this effect in my repertoire with a minimalist approach: No wallets. No special envelopes. No ripped envelopes. Just 3 envelopes in my hands, no special prop to hold them. Instant Reset.
The first 4 ones fit this effect. This approach isn’t an instant reset, but you need just 3 sec. preparation to perform it again, so it’s great for walkaround, parlor, or casual performances. I know that Martin Lewis´s version uses the board to accomplish the 6 different options. I don’t have material from him so I don’t know the working behind this method, but I can accomplish the same effect with a billet index.
55
I will explain the construction of the” PA #1 Billet Index”. This index is based on Annemann`s billet index from PME.
(Photo 1)
Take 7 cards and cut them like stairs. (Finally the publicity cards have a purpose) (Photo 1)
At the base just put some staples to keep everything in order.
56
The Size of the Index depends on your own requirements. The longest card (the card in the back) is ¾ from an original card, and the ladder descends 3/16 inches each one.
That’s it, very simple to construct. The billets stay in this space very tightly but comfortable enough to find the proper one at the right moment.
Another option (if you don’t have any billet index) is the “Matchbook Billet Index” from Annemann.
You need to have this weird thing in your right pocket. If you have 7 cards, obviously you will have 6 pockets, where you can have each possible outcome.
(Photo 2)
(Photo 2)
Of course that you can add more pockets and have more outs, but for this effect you only need 6. 57
At the moment where your two participants decide on a color, you know which billet is the correct prediction, so in that moment you riffle off with your right thumb at the correct slot and just take the proper billet in finger palm in your right hand . (Photo 3)
My billet looks like this.
(Photo 3)
(My prediction is in Spanish of course you need to write yours in your language. If you don’t do that… sorry but the effect will not work).
I ask a few very intelligent people what the possibilities in this effect are. The majority say “1 in 9”, but in reality it’s 1 in 6, so you need the 6 possible outcomes and put the billet index in one pocket.
58
I use this order in the billet index: In the first two slots, the billets say that the woman chooses GREEN, in the other 2 the woman selects the ORANGE, and in the last 2 the woman selects the YELLOW, so after the woman’s decision, I just have 2 options to decide in which space the proper billet is in.
If the woman says GREEN (for example), I know that I need to take either the billet from the first slot or the second. If (in this case) the man ORANGE, I know that I need to take the first billet, and if the man said YELLOW, I need to take the second billet (basically it’s just an alphabetical mnemonic).
Also, you need 3 colored envelopes (any color, of course). I made my own envelopes with size 3x3 inches. approx. (I have a few, for that reason it all really depends on the context).
59
You start your routine talking about the psychology of color, the meaning of color or just showing the colors (it’s up to you, right?).
You give the lady an option (I start from the lady because that’s my mnemonic) and give her this choice.
After that I give the man an option.
Recapitulate the free choices of the colors, and after that, direct attention to the envelopes. They can open the envelopes and carefully read the message. It’s a very fun moment, and leaves you in the PERFECT position to do your move.
60
At the moment where the man is taking his paper and reading his prediction out loud, you put your right hand (if you are a righty) casually in your pocket, find your proper billet in the index (your right thumb riffles off the correct number)and palms it in your fingers .
After that you just need to load the billet BEHIND the envelope. Just push the billet with your thumb. As you can see in photos 4 and 5.
(Photo 4)
(Photo 5)
In the “Photo 5” position, you just need to create the illusion that you take the paper from inside the envelope. In reality you are just miming that action.
61
Insert your 4 fingers in the envelope, REALLY touching the billet from inside the envelope, and just mimic the movement while the right thumb pinches the billet from behind. The illusion is PERFECT.
You can pinch the billet that’s really inside of the envelope just with your left fingers and not show 2 billets and create a weird new effect: “Magical Billet Appearance”
Indirections in this routine During the moment where you take the billet from “inside” the envelope, just say a few words creating “indirection” from the fact that you’re trying to do the move in a credible way. If you state directly: ” If you see the paper, comes from INSIDE the envelope ”, people can debate that statement,
62
BUT if you say something like:
“Each one of you chose a colored envelope with a paper inside “,
and in that precise moment you remove the paper, it’s OBVIOUS on a subconscious level that the paper comes from the inside.
You can use another participant to read the contents of your prediction, and give a very fun and mysterious moment of precognition.
After the applause moment, you can take your billet and put it again in your envelope, creating a “full circle” that strengthens the illusion that the paper really comes from inside the envelope (another indirection).
If you want to reset the effect, just put the billet in the correct slot in the index, put the other billets in the envelopes and you are ready to go again.
63
Possible Dialogue
(Premise) Now an experiment in Color Psychology and a little bit of influence (show your 3
envelopes). Inside these envelopes there’s a very special thing that we will see later. Colors can communicate a lot about us. For example, people who wear and use a red cloth can be more passionate about their hobbies, and black can represent a more serious person with an introverted personality. In fact with a simple profound look I could know which of these 3 colors you will choose.
(Decisions from the participants) For example …You (point to a lady ), if you had the option to choose yellow, orange or green, which one would you choose? Green. Ok, please take hold of this envelope AND don’t open it yet. .
(Point to a man) Sir, if you had the opportunity to choose either yellow or orange which one would you choose? Orange.
64
Great. I will give you 5 seconds to change your Mind. 1….2….3….4…..5.
You still want the color orange?
Yes.
Great. As the first participant, take your envelope AND don’t open it yet.
(Brief Reading from the colors) (To the woman) Your decision of the color green told me that you enjoy nature, right? Yes. Also I could say that you are very close to art, you played an instrument as a child, right? Yeah, the piano.
(To the man) Your decision told me….. That you have sexual problems. (I use that gag only where it fits correctly, if not just do another color reading).
65
(Recapitulation) Everything was fair, right? Each of you (point to your participants) chose color envelopes with total freedom. Well... Those colored envelopes have a function. Each one contains a completely accurate prediction about what is about to happen.
(Creating expectation ) It would be AMAZING, if those papers were completely correct, right?
(To the woman) Please, kindly read the paper out loud. “I predict that you WILL CHOOSE the GREEN envelope”
(Laughs from the participant and the audience)
It’s amazing isn’t it? (With a completely funny tone of voice) A 100% accurate prediction. Now you sir (the other participant ).
Please be kind and read with your best voice the paper that is inside of your envelope
66
(This is the perfect moment to put your hand in your pocket casually, find the correct slip of paper and palm it) “I predict that you will choose THIS envelope”
(Laughs and low expectations because the audience and the participants start to think that this was all a joke) Yeah. Another accurate prediction. Well. I said that it would be accurate, not amazing. But , I know what you are thinking, and THIS will be amazing, because each one of you chose a colored envelope with a paper inside (at this point, do your move) and knew in advance that you would leave me with the YELLOW envelope, so in this one I put the REAL amazing claim Please (with another participant to verify what you read), read with me. “The woman will choose the GREEN envelope, the man will choose the ORANGE envelope, and the YELLOW envelope is for me!” WOW, you are amazing!
(At this point you can return the billet into the envelope, creating that “full circle” idea). You (to your participants) deserve a big applause.
(End)
67
Ideas
1. You can use the”PA #1 billet index” Index for different effects.
As a matter of fact, if you have Mark Striving`s “37 Revisited” from Brainstorm Series Vol 1. , you can modify the billet index a little bit and create a monster tool for mentalism.
2. If you want to expand the ideas, rather than colors you can use Logos (corporate work), famous TV Stars, Singers, etc…
3. In your show (or if you are perform just 1 effect and you will perform Colorful Prediction) state that you don’t use stooges.
This looks so direct and clean that you NEED to state directly that nothing is planned with anyone, so you aren’t accused of using stooges.
68
4. If want to watch a video of this effect you can check :
http://vimeo.com/13874728 Pass: tony
As you can see, in the video the cameraman (really a cellphone cameraman) places ALL attention on the 2 nd participant while I was taking the billet from my pocket, but you will get the idea.
5. If you want to use bigger envelopes of course, then you need to modify the predictions because it doesn’t make any sense to have big envelopes and tiny billets.
Jus modify the “PA #1 Billet Index” using bigger cardboard, and use thin paper for the predictions (That way you can fold the billets more and use up less space).
69
6. Dominik Parth, a fellow mentalist from Germany has given us an idea that you can use and you can thank him for his thinking:
“I have an idea for you which might be of interest.
Once you have loaded the billet behind the envelope, you can open the flap and say to your spectator:
"Please hold your hand palm up"
and by saying this you turn the envelope with its opening upside down and drop the billet. This should create the illusion of the billet falling out of the envelope.
Go on with reading the prediction and put your billet back into the envelope, creating the illusion of the “full circle”.”
70
Credits and Inspiration
As I said, this effect is inspired completely in “Technicolor Prediction “from Martin Lewis. I came up with this method years ago completely independently. Other published approaches for TC are:
John Cesta`s ULTIMATE Technicolor Prediction, Martin Lewis`s Pocket Technicolor Prediction. Greg Arce`s STP.
Max Maven has also a similar routine in his booklet “Notions” called “ The Coupon Caper”
Credits for “PA #1Billet Index” go to Annemann`s “Construction of the Annemann Billet Index” from Practical Mental Effects.
71
72
If there's any message to my work, it is ultimately that it's OK to be different,
that it's good to be different, that we should question ourselves before we pass judgment on someone who looks different, behaves different, talks different, or is a different color.
Johnny Depp
73
Conclusion
2 children left their home today. Now they are independent and can be yours if you treat them nicely. As you can see the moves in these effects aren’t difficult but as you know already, the “trick” isn’t the important thing. Practice your script, your rhythm, and after the necessary time (only you know when) perform these demonstrations and baffle your audience. In performances rather than follow exactly all the words, I study the real emotion or moment that I want to create and memorize specific words (verbal finesses or “Linguistic Deceptions” as Kenton says).
In “Impromptu Prediction” the rhythm is crucial to double writing the information at the right moment and in “Colorful Prediction” it’s the moment where you take the billet from your pocket.
74
I remember one time when I was performing one of the many older variations for “Impromptu Prediction” where I predict the initials of a thought of friend for an older woman (a guess in my home). I just guided her to visualize that person, and went on with the routine. The lady literally started to cry in the middle of the performance, and at the moment of the revelation she told me that her thought of friend has some unconcluded issues with her and that moment helped her to realize that she needed to talk with that person. After a few weeks, that person (the thought of friend) died in an accident and she literally said to me: “Thanks for reminding me of my forgotten friend ”.
That`s one of the nicest moments that mentalism has allowed me to experience, and who knows?, maybe you will have a story like that to tell me some day. Thanks again for your interest in my ideas. If you have ANY ideas or questions, just contact me at
[email protected]
Pablo Amirá
75
On this page page you you can find
a LOT of goo good d stu stuff ff..
76
77
Impromptu and Colorful Prediction New Ideas
78
Impromptu Prediction
I.
Other presentational ideas that you can use with “Impromptu Prediction”.
I suggest different presentation that you could use for different moments. Here you can find more ideas.
1. Prediction of a thought hour :
You can introduce the idea of “time travelling”, and use that premise to perform an interesting experiment in precognition. Wrote your prediction, and leave the last part for the hour.
XX: XX
In this manner, you can use the “indirect anchor” with the 2 points.
79
The participant will visualize a clock face in his mind ( you can use the “Blind Participant” idea from Mistake Deck) and in the process of draw the big watch with the other paper, just DW the 4 numbers that you need to write to accomplish this feat in “Chronoprecognition”
2.
Nostradamus Prediction.
Nostradamus is the classic reference that we as a mentalist could use (with Rasputin, Geller, etc.) just because all this characters lives in the “collective unconscious “of everyone.
You can share a little bit about this great man who writes a lot of different ideas and now these ideas become “prophecies”. You can share about the “retroactive clairvoyance” and start your performance.
The interesting thing about this prediction is that you can use the way that Nostradamus writes, known as “quatrains”.
80
You could use this presentational idea for a lot of things.
Predict a thought number. A thought country. Etc…
Just any thought that you can relate in a logical manner with this character and his documents. (Don’t use this presentation for an ACAAN… don’t have any sense).
You can create with your participant the idea to “create a quatrain” and with that motivation DW the necessary information. Of course in the moment of the revelation you can compare similarities with the quatrain and obtain another climax for your prediction.
Nice inspirations can be found here: http://weeklyworldnews.com/headlines/11662/20-new-nostradamus-prophecies/
81
3. Free association :
This one is very fun.
You can play as you were a psychoanalytical psychologist, and your participant will be a patience (or client)
After that the premise is presented, you just write something for later (your prediction that can be anything…. for example a simple shape), and save that for later in your wallet.
Now you can play with your participant a “free association “ game, in which he will say the first thing that comes to mind when you ask something ( great way to practice psychological forces also).
82
Each answer that your participant will give you In any moment (in the middle preferably) you ask a question about the prediction that you “wrote before” (in this case the participant will say “Cube” for example).
After that you continue the game and finish with the revelation of your successful “free association” prediction.
You can give a pseudo-explanation via influence of the different answers that the participant gives you, Believe me, at that moment, they will believe anything.
83
II. Using the “Cap Subtlety” for Impromptu Prediction (with the cooperation of Norbert Gábor).
One of the things that I don’t expect with the release of this document is the nice comments that I receive from the “Cap Subtlety”. That fine moment where you DW in other color create an incredible logical disconnection. These are a few personal ideas and another idea from a performer called Norbert Gábor.
What you need: A red marker with a red cap and another red marker with black cap. A pre-drawn billet (black marker) with some "doodle" on it (f.e. house, smiley face, cat). I prefer to use the no-method drawing duplication images from Ian Rowland lecture notes. And of course your wallet. 84
You begin with the usual stuff with writing your prediction. You do this with your red marker with red cap.
Next you get the red marker with the black cap, suggesting the spec that you've just switched colors , get your pre-drawn billet with the images (just don't flash it towards her) and ask the spectator to concentrate on any image that comes to her mind, and of course pretend to draw it with your "black" marker.
Now just ask for the name, write secretly the initials at the correct place, and put away the wallet with the pen.
Now the revelation.
The pre-drawn picture is up to you. Ask the spec what image they've been thinking of and try to fit it with your "doodles". Don't worry if it’s hard, you are a mentalist no just some photo-copy machine, and of course the best part is the correct initials on your prediction.
85
Colorful Prediction
I.
A surrounded version
Just a little subtlety can give you the ability to perform this routine without any angle problem.
Perform the steal of the correct billet from the index, load it behind the envelope and just put the envelope parallel to the floor. With that your only bad angle is from below you.
After that you go with the routine. Enjoy the moments with your participant and laugh about the “accurate predictions”, and in the end just do the “take move”.
86
Here you can watch a video where I show you the handling of this “Surrounded” idea.
Video:
87
II.
Norbert Gábor ideas
Norbert is a performer who enjoys “Colorful Prediction”. After a few weeks, he came up with a few ideas that share it to me via e-mail.
“Your take in “Technicolor Prediction” is my favorite effect in the book. I use a different presentation, but no I will share to your some ideas.
1. The “No thumb” subtlety:
You don't need to put your billet behind the envelope and holding with your thumb, if you're using a minimal amount of saliva on the billet. It'll stick to the envelope, so you can freely show your hand empty - all of your fingers will be visible suggesting that you don't have anything in your hands.
88
2. 2 Billet Idea
This requires a presentation change, so you'll be the first who gets one of the envelopes.
When the first choice happens and you got your envelope, you are left with only two options, pull out the two correct billets. (Example: The lady has chosen the Red envelope for you, the two options are: Mentalist-Red/Lady-Green/Man-Blue; Mentalist-Red/Lady-Blue/Man-Green), and put (stick) both of them on the envelope you're holding. When the second and final choice happens between the participants, you only need to remove one of the billets.
This way it'll be seen that when you touch the envelope and the heat is on you, your hand is always empty. Removing something much more easily than adding something to envelopes. When the first two billets are added the heat is not on you but on the two participants.
89
III. Joaquín Gasa´s ideas
Joaquin Gasa is a mentalist from Spain. We chat and share ideas and performances experiences He wants to give this nice and credible presentation to this supplement. Enjoy!
‘Is curious how easy influence people are without even they could imagine. This knowledge is well known for publicist who use different influence techniques for his selling purposes and convert his product into the more attractive product in the market.
The same thing happens in the supermarket design. Nothing is placing it just for chance. All is designed for create need to buy from our part.
Even something innocent as a kid`s song can influence our actions. .'
(The performer picks one lady and one man from the audience) 90
Humpty Dumpty.
(Or anyone. Your preference)
Let see how this song can influence your decisions.
(The performer ask to the public to sing any kid`s song, or play the song in a radio, or anything that you want to use)
Here i have 3 colored envelopes. After that you listen the song i want to choose (to
the lady) one of the envelopes. (The woman selects and envelope)
Ok. This chooses is apparently free, right? Yes
(The man chooses an envelope and you ask for the apparent freedom of the decision. Remember that the premise here is that the song influence the decision, so smile and act as you already knew it the decision when the participants say the color).
So the lovely lady choose envelope red, the man the envelope blue, and i had now the green envelope-
91
Now you ask, as in the original presentation, to open the envelopes and find the funny predictions. In that moment of course just go to your pocket and palm the correct billet.
After that you read the prediction from your envelope that now reads like this.
Is really inevitable that after that the participants listen the “Humpty Dumpty” song, the lady choose red, the man choose blue and i have in my hands the green envelope.
A big and loud applause for the participants, you deserved it
(End)
92
My ideas from Joaquin presentation:
What a great presentation!
1. As an afterthought, you could use preshow to know in advance the song, and with that you could do a double prediction. You just ask for a participant (a preshow participant) to whisper any child song to the participant in the ears, just because only them needs to be influence. In this way no one’s knows the thought song. In the moment of revealing your prediction, just miscall the thought song and immediately ask for an approval about that first prediction.
2. In that same idea, you could use a list of song and just force the required song. In that way you don’t need to miscall.
93
IV. Other effects with the “PA #1 Billet Index”
As I said, you can expand your options in your billet index and made more pockets, but if you just have 6 pockets as the original, you can use them to create other great mysteries
1. Invisible Dice Predicted :
For this effect you need to have 5 different billets in your index, with big numbers from 1 up to 6, but skipping the 3. Write a billet with a big “3” and put it in the table or in participant hand. Take from your pocket an “invisible dice”. Let one participant rolled it a few times just because some people would think that the dice is loaded with the number “5” ( a little gag that in a subtle manner erase the number 5 as an option). 94
Now, use the verbal finesse:
“Tell me quickly any number between 1 (cue with your hand one point at your right) and 6 (cue with your right hand one point at your left), any in the middle”.
As you can see, the word “quickly” and “between” are in bold, because you need to emphasize that words.
Quickly because you want to put pressure and use the classic
statistical/psychological force for the 3, and between because with that word you erase in a subtle manner the 1 and 6. With that idea, you gave the option to numbers 2, 3, 4, and 5, and because you say a few moments later the number 5, the participant will say (70-80%) the number “3”.
The “between” finesse is enhance with the visual cue that you gave with your hand and the final phrase “any in the middle” that is in lower font because you need to say that line almost without conscious effort.
95
That is the best case, but if your participant says other number, just take a moment, ask a relevant question while you take the proper billet from your index, switch the billet and give your revelation.
2.
No Force Triple Prediction
You could use the same idea from “Invisible Dice Predicted” for gaining your one ahead and with that doesn’t need a force for your triple prediction performance.
A nice idea that you could use is a triple prediction routine with a “Casino” theme. Imagine…. A rolled dice, a hand of poker and the name of your new girl in Las Vegas are predicted. That’s right! 96
3. The Armchair Bowler meets the “PA #1Billet index”
If you had the wonderful “Prism” book, in page157, you can find the outstanding routine from Max Maven called “The Armchair Bowler”.
An interesting premise and a genius method!
Of course that i will not tip the solution from Mr. Maven, but if you have this wonderfull book, you can think how you could mix the use of the billet index in this effect and create a different methodology for this prediction.
97
4. Interesting ESP Prediction
What a weird name!
You will understand why I call this idea like that. First of all, have 4 billets ready in your index. In the first one a billet with a big circle, in the second space a big cross, in the third a big square , and in the fourth space a big star. At the beginning of your performance, take a billet and with a cover draw 3 wavy lines. Why with cover? Well… some participants are innate mentalists and know how to pencil read and sound read. If you ask (I try it and it works) to any participant to select a ESP symbol via this question:
“Choose the one is the most interesting for your, quickly”
70% participants will choose either the Wavy Lines (is just as a psychological force)
98
Why? Because all the ESP symbols are geometrical shape, except the wavy lines, so for that I figure that participant choose that one as the most interesting.
And… what if your participant says: “Circle”?
Well.. You can say: “You had an incredible boring life!”
Or
Recapitulate the conditions creating false memory and say that you ask for any symbol and not just for a “interesting” one and use your billet index for finding the correct one, switch it and reveal your correct and interesting ESP Prediction.
99
100
Conclusion
Once again, many thanks for your support, for your interest in my ideas and in know that you will enjoy thinking and performing these pieces. If you have any theme to talk, just contact me in
[email protected]
Bless!
101
