fuonronhotlfitlT ITN KARMITOIJICI| 2011 Mentalism lecture notes
Copyright O 2011
All marketing lights
t'cservccl.
My Red / Black Test Most pcrfonners arc familiar with Paul Curry's Out Ot This World. In
fact, many fellow performcrs Welcome to my lirst lecture outside of the Psychic Entertainers Association! As my way of introducing myself to those performers who may be unfamiliar with my work, I've decided to share what many consider to be some of my signature effects. I've chosen effects that I believe will appeal to both close-up and stage performers. I've also included an effect that has served me well for many of my media appearances. All of these routines have been audience-tested hundreds of times over the years with a couple of the routines dating back decades.
All of
these routines have evolved
over the years and what is presented here is the curent handling for each of the efTects. I hope the ideas presented here serve you well and excite and inspire you with their simplicity and directness.
You'll find that the methods employed are simple and subtle and allow thc pcrlormcr to put all of his attention on their presentation.
As always, I would love to
hear
back from lolks who perform thcm and any other thoughts or handlings that may occur as a result of your performances. Enjoy the routines!
have conre up with their own hancllings and methods for this classic efTect. There
are even a numbeL of ef'fects on the market which employ gimmicked or gaffed cards to achieve this amazing effect.
Many years ago I came up with
an
idea of applying the effect whereby the performer, as opposed to the spectator, is able to separate the reds from the
blacks rvithout looking. This rvay, the pedormer would be able to display HIS
gut instinct or intuition to sense tlre color of each cnrd. Understood?" The spectator nods and begins to lay cards
face-down olte at a titne on the two guide cards.
The spectator can go at his own to reallY go with his gut instinct. Unlike the traditional Out Oi This World, there is no pace, but encourage him
stopping at mid-point.
The spectator simply continues to deal though all of the cards in his hand until the fifty cards are face-down on
the two guide cards. "OK. Let's see how well you've done," the performer says.
Picking up the pile of cards that have been placed on the red guide card, the performer turns the pile face-up and begins to count them one at a time out loud as he places them onto the table.
uncanny psychic ability and get the credit.
While it is possible to perform this effect with one's own deck, it really should only be presented when the performer has a chance to borrorv some-
The cards that are correct from this pile are placed face-up back onto the
one else's deck.
red guide catd as the performet'counts, "One, two three, etc." as each correct red card is acknowledged. The incorrect black cards ate placed facc-up in a pile ofT to the side as the performer comes to each.
The perfonner says that people often ask him how he 1:ractices his abilities. "I-et me show you one of the things I like to do," he says. He asks the spectator to thoroughly mix the cards. Aftcr thc spcctator is satisfied that his very own cleck is thornughly mixed, the perforrner asks him to lay down onc rcd card face-up to his left and one black card face-up to his right. The performer continues, "I'd likc you to go through the entire deck trying to get a sense if the face-down ciud is red or black. You'll go thtough the entire face-down deck, from top to boltom, trying to separate the rcds from the blacks. Il you think a card is red,
put
it
card.
The performer counts all of
ed from this pile. Thc pcrformer
you think
lect between both piles." At this point there should be three piles of cards on the table . The original black-card pile which has the face-up
black guide card and the face-down cards the spectator thought r,vere black. These have yet to be turned over and counted.
it is black, put it
face-down on this black guide card. You'll go through the entire deck' You can go fairly quickly, but use your
2
says
sornething along the lines of, "Foufteen correct. That's sliglttly above average' According to the laws of chance, you should get about twcnty-five cards cor-
face-down on this face-up red
If
the
cards in his hand. Let's say that a total of fourteen rctls cards lrave been count-
Then there's the pile of correct red cards from his guesses. These are face-
3
up on top of the lace-up lccl gr,ridc card.
Duling this time, and rvhile thc pcrtormer is talking with all o[ thc attention on his facc and not his hands, the 1:crlbrmer turns both piles lace-down giving the entire pile o1' rcd cards a good, but not too obvious, lcngth-wise
And {inally, a fircc-up pile of black
calds. Tlrcsc wcrc thc incorrect guesscs.
'l'hc pcrlbrrncr now picks up
the original black guide card and thc gucsscs that are ur top of it. He places the black guide card lace-up on the pile of all-black cards ort thc tablc. Thc performer is now going to count
downward crinrp. He continues his patter as he irnmcdiatcly lil e-shul'fles the two piles ol red ancl black cards togcthef.
thc nurnber of correct black cards that the spectator got in this pile (continuing his count from the fourteen cards thut the spectator has already gotten right).
The correct black cards
will
He hands the dcck to the spectator and asks him to mix them (pantclmiming an overhand shuflle) as he does. The spectator mixes the cards. It would be best if he used an over-
hand shuffle, but even a riffle-shuflle should not remove the length-wisc crimp from the red cards. The pcrformcr once again asks thc spcctator to lay out one face-up red guide card and one face-up black guidc card. The perforrner takes the rest of the deck back, and now HE will attcmpt to separate the reds lionr the blacks. Coing through the dcck from top to bottom, the performcr holds cach card in his hand and calls out if it is red or' black. And turns it facc-up placing it on the appropriate guicle. The pcrf
be
placed on the pile of face-up black cards now on the table, and the incorrect rcd cards rvill be placed fnce-up on top of the pile of red cards that are now on thc able. "Fiftccn .... sixtccn.... scventeen" etc. the performer continues.
l,et's say that the total numbcr ol' concct cards, betwecn both the red and black piles, comcs to twcnty-eight. Thc con'ect cards havc bcen countecl and tlrere shonld now only be two pilcs ol lirce-up cards on the tablc. Onc comprises all ol' thc rcd cards fronr thc deck. 'l'hc clthcr cornpriscs all ol' the black cards from the deck. Let's look at what has bccn accomplished up to this point. Thc spoctator has mixcd his own deck and attcmptcd to separate thc reds from thc blacks. Thc colrcct cards flom cach pile have been conntcd and totalcd. All ol thc rccl cards are now in a larce-up pilc and all ol'the black cards arc now in thcir own face-up pilc. Now comes the only 'move' in thc routinc. As tlre performel is coniurenling on the accuracy, or lack there of, ol' thc spcctator's choices, the perlbnncr begins to pick up both pilcs of cards
otrt thc color and then turns the card ovcr so that the spectatots can sce him getting thc card colors corrcct onc after anothcr. Il'thc cald has a slight crimp, it is rcd. ll'not, it is black. Ol'ten, l will allow the spectatclr to hold the deck and rcmove a single card face-dowrr liorn thc top. One can oftcn SEE thc crimp ancl call out the appropriate color. I've also clone the separation blindlbldcd or with thc deck held under the
table or behind my back as it is also easy to f'eel the crin'rp. I call out the col-
lrom the table.
or and then bring the card forward turn-
4
ing it lircc-up. Thcrc is no necd I'or any-
ftrll-view. Rcaching into his pockct, tlre performcr l'cnovcs n handful ol'coins, sclccts trvo (zr dimc and a pcnny), arrd placcs thc rornaining coins back in his
one t0 count out loud thc numher of cards that thc perfurmcr gets right as
thc audience is sccing his spcctacular
pocket.
hits along thc way. I rvill usually purposely miss one or two, although therc mery bc a couple o[' carcls rvhere the crimp is not as noticea-
'Ihe perlbrnrcr continucs, "l'nr going to place both of these coins bchind
my back. I'll bring one coin forward in rny closed fist and it's your job to usc your intuition to detcrmine if the coin I'ni holding in my closed list is the
ble and thesc bccome actual rnisscs.
The arnount of crirnp
I put into the I think I can
cards is based upon rvhat
get away with. I want it to be noticeablc, but not obvious. When pclforming this for lay people, tlre bend is greater than when I'm showing this to fellow pelformers. At the end of the routine, I casually give the deck an upward bend taking the crimp out of the red cards so everything is examinable. I've lboled a lot of mentalists and magicians with this ovcr thc years. And
lay people, well, they don't stand
dime or penny. Understand?" They say they dcl and the pcrformer places botlr coins and both hands behind his back. After a pause, he brings one hand fbrward. lt's closed in a fist and held in front of him finger-side down with the back ol the hand held uppermost.
The hand holds one coin and the group must determine which coin is held in this hand. Thc other hand is hcld behind the back and contains the
a
chance. I hope you enjoy performing this as rnuch as I do.
other coin.
Thc performer asks the group to try to get a scnse of which coin is helcl in
The Dime & Penny Over the years I'vc come up with
tlre fist. Hc asks them to namc, one ert a timc, which coin thcy bclieve it is. Onc at a timc, tl"rey put lorth thcir gucsscs.
a
number ol' routines rvlrerc thc spectators arc givcn a chancc to llex their intuitivc powcrs. I likc this bccause it gets thcm involvcd trnd allows tlre pcrformer to ultinratcly give evidencc cll
his psychic abilities. 'Ihis is one
Lct's say the first $pcctator says, "Dimc." Thc ncxt says, "Penuy." Thc next also says, "Pcnny."
srrch
And thc last says, "Dirnc." Thc pcrlornrcr opcns his hand ancl shows that it contains the clime. "Well, two of you got it corrcct. Let's try it a
routine.
While this could bc pcrfbrmccl on I prclcr to use it in close-up situ-
stage,
ations and walk-around. Thc pcrformer says that hc'd like to test the intuition of a few spgctators. He chooscs four
ferv more times," hc says. "Plcase kccp track ol how mauy tirncs you gct it correct," he tclls them. And the performcr does it three or four morc tirnes each time having the individuals call out their gucsses before opening his hand to rcveal which coin
people frorn thc group and asks for their namcs. Lcloking the group over, he removes a pcn and picce of paper from his pocket.
He jots something down on
the
is there
paper, folds it up, and places it aside in
.
After four or five tries tlre pcrformer
5
('S0,
says, lct's see how cach of yon have clonc." He asks cach to announcc horv many thcy got con'ect.
side lacc-up.
l-et's say the l:irst pcrson says, "Thlcc." The next says, "All of thenr. Fivc ont ol'five." The next says, "Two."
other dinte. The gimmickcd coin is slightly smaller than a real penny and
is obviously displayed with thc dirnc(Note: Always usc tlre clinre/penny gimrnick with a penny and NOT anwhen displayed alongsidc a real pcnny appears to truly be a dimc in tcrms ol'
And thc last says, "Thlee out I'ive." The perforrner congratulatcs the one person who got them all correct. He says, "So, Lisa is the only person to get them all correct. Would someone open
size.
Also, rnake sure that the coloring of the real penny matches thc coloring of' the gimmicked coin. You don't want to have one nerv-looking penny and darker, dirtier one.)
the piece of paper on the table and read it out loud."
The paper is unfolded and read. "I feel that Lisa is the most psychic of the group. I believe she will get them all correct." Not only has the performer predicted who would be the most psychic, he has also sensed exactly how well she would do!
You can perform this routine with three, four, or five people. With only t\.vo, it's not that impressive wtren you predict which one of the trvo is most psychic.
When performed with more than fivc people, the routine can seeln to drag. I find four to bc the optimum amount. Ask the spectators lbr their
To accomplish this effect, the perlbrrner needs to purchase a locking Dime & Pcnny set, This set comcs in two parts. A penny shell, and'a coin that shows a dime on one sidcl and a
names. Look them ovef as if you'rc trying to get a sense of who rnight be thc
most intr.ritive.
I genelally list thc second person as the most psychic. 'lhc rcason lor this is
penny on thc other.
'l'hesc scts are availablc lrom most nragic dcalers. You arc not going to be u.sing
a
that as I go around thc group asking for thcir guesses, I have plenty ol' time in my mind to plan lbr hor,v I'm going to
thc shell, only thc climclpenny
gaff. In your pockct placc a ferv coins. I norrnally havc a quafter, a couplc ol' nickeis, a psnny, and the dinrc/pcnny
open my hand and clisplay the girnmicked coin.
Obviously, it is thc girnrnicked coin that is brought lbrward in thc closed l'ist cach time, I know that the coin is held on my fingers with the dirne-sidc
gimmick. As pcr thc routine, the coins arc renroved liom thc pocket and thc pcnny
and dime/pcnny ginrrnick
up insidc thc clenched flst. If the target spectator says climc, it's arn easy matter to pivot my hand opcn and show the dime on my fingers. lf she says the penny, it's simply a rnatter of turning my list finger-side up and then opening my lrand. Now the
selectcd. (These are easy to locate as they arc thc only dime and penny therc. That's the rcason lbr using a quartcr ancl nickcls as the other coins). 'I'he quarter and nickcls arc returlred
to lhe pocket. Thc penny and
dime/ pcnny girnmicked are displayed on the open palm. Thc dimeipenny gimmick
penny-side
will
be displayed.
So, pcrlbrrn as describcd abovc. Whatever coin the target spcctatol' gucsscs, show that sidc of thc ginr-
trrcn, they call it hunclres or gut l'cclings," hc says. He clisplays I'ivc 6x9iuch mirnilla cnvclopes scerlccl by their
mickcd coin.
clasps.
Having thcm guess thrcc
Handing thcm to tlrc spectator or host, he continucs, "l'd like you to mix the cnvelopcs up. Each one contains a different Polaroid photograph. Four o[ the photos are of random outdoor slrots. One, horvevcr, was taken at the sccnc of a horribly tragic accident." Alier the spectator has mixed thc envelopcs, they are placed down on the table. The spectator is requested to pick up the envelopes one at a time, and to hold each betwcen his or her hands.
four times usually climinates the possibility of sonrconc gucssing the sarnc coin as thc targct spcctator cach time. If that should
pcncd
to mc), allow the trvo to go
head-to-hcad with their guesses until the target spcctator is triumphant.
One final note. I perlonn this ror"rtine with the dime and penny as they seem the most natural things for rne to
"As you hold each envelope," the pcrlbrmer continues. "I rvant you to try to gct a sense of the photo inside. You will probably not feel anything from four of tlre five, but one of thern shoulcl
carry.
Tlre routine can also be per"formed using a coppcr/silver half dollar/ English penrly. It can also be pcrformcd using kcys, as found in Gregory Wilson's FreaKey.
feel differ-ent than the others. I want you to try to sense which envelope feels different. You may sense a coldness or uneasy leeling." Hc nrentions l:ow psychics are often
And finally, my good friend l-arly Bcckcr has had grcflt success using a coin that is sold in rnany nragic shops. It is the coin that is a US quarter on one side ancl a Chincsc coin on thc other. Thc Chinese coin appcars to havc a
used
The spcctat
difl'crcnccs bctwcen bo1l.r coins cvcn morc dcccptive.
fhe perforrner rcachcs iuto his pockct ancl rcmovcs a folclcd picce of papcr.
Sensations This routine, much likc thc Dinrc
[-Ic opcns it up and displays a Xeroxecl copy of a newspapcr arliclc rvith thc hcading "l'ot Recovcrs Flom Swing
and Penny, allows the spcctator to tcst
his or hcr intuitive skills. I havc uscd this for many ycars, mainly as a piccc
Accident'. Thc performer summarizes thc gist ol'the story. A toddlcr, whilc playing around a slvingset in the park, had fallen and had been struck in thc head by one of the fast-moving swings. While things appcarcd critical at
hrr meclia appcaranccs. I have used it on the radio ancl for television appearances, as wcll.
The pcrlbrmcr bcgins by explaining tl-rat cveryone has
to assist police in missing pcrson
hon-ricidc cases. "See if you can scnse which envclope contains the one photo that has ncgativc cncrgics associatcd with it," he says.
or
holc going completely tlrlough it, wherr in rcality, l'olks sce through to thc quartcr sicle which has bccn paintcd flcsh color in the ccntcr to makc thc apparent
"In
6
or
an intuitivc scnsc. it intuition. In
women, thcy call
7
first, the child has been making a slow l'ecovery. Obviously, this set ol' srvings was thc spot of something very scary.
The performer has the
spectator
open the four unchosen envelopcs one at a time and display each photo. Onc envclopc contains a photo of a train crossing. Another contains a photo of a
dock at a ntarina illet. One envelope contains a picture of a mall parking lot. And the last contains a photo of a large set of courlhouse steps.
original routine, the perfomrcr lvould simply spot thc marking on the chosen envelope and then tcll a tragic story that would nlatch that photo. The same hcre. The site and nature of the tragcdy is not revealed by the performer until atter hc has spotted the mark on the selected envelope. I perlormed it this way lor many years. Evcntually, I dccided to add the
newspaper articles as I felt it added something more. A bit of a convincer so-to-speak.
I
have included newspaper articles in this set of lecture notes to match the images that I have selected. Xerox
The spectator opens the chosen envelope. Inside is a photo of a swing set
li'om a local pa*. The spectator has corectly sensed the one envelope con-
these and index them on your person.
I
taining the photo taken at the site of the accident reported by the newspaper!
normally place them in five different pockets so it's easy to quickly remove the applicable article without any fum-
Bascom Jones, the editor of the legendary Magick tnagazirre, once told me that this was one of his all-time lavorite effects. He said to me, "This is what good mentalism is all about. Presentation and simplicity of method."
bling. Someone once suggested to me that it's best to avoid associating death with
the tragedies, so I have ended each trargedy with a positive outcome or with one that was moving in that direc-
The n'rethodology is ils follows.
tion.
Each envelope contains a different photo as stated earlier. These are the photos that I use, but you can comc up
Again, lct mc state, it is not imperativs to usc thc arlicles. You can just verbally tell the story associated with
with I'ive ol'your owtr. I preler to use Polaroids as it givcs thc routinc a ccrtain flavor, but arny photos would be
the chosen photo after you have spotted the rrrarking on the envelope.
line.
'I'hc cnvclopcs arc markecl, I sintply usc a pencil dot in a difl'ercnt location on the outside ol'cach cnvelope. I prefer to use manila envelopes with clasps so that I can usc the same cnvelopes over and over. Also, the marks I use are located on the top edge of the flap of each cnve-
use
of thc newspaper articles. In
brown
"'lhis bag contains a numbcr of folded slips of paper.
In a
moment,
I'm
going
to
rvalk
Thc pcrfornrcr continucs, "Once they'vc acted or:t thc little sccnc, l'11 ask thc victim to return the book to the chair and rcturn to his or her scat in the audience. The murdercr rvill place the glove and knife back orr thc chirir and also rcturn to his or her seat. At that point, someone will come and gct thc c
return,
I will
attempt
to solvc the
crime, Becatrse I will bc picking up imprcssions and rvorking off of the ob-
it
is crucial that only
aside.
jects involved,
He asks those people who have chosen a slip to raise their fist. "Good.
the pcople involved handle the items.
"In
No one else should touch the book, glove, knifc, or slips of paper. Only those people involved. Also, once I
the audicnce.
walk back into the room, plcasc do not look in the direction of the people involved. I don't want to be given anY
That's about thirty of you," he
says.
a moment we're going to conduct a murder mystcry." This statement usually generates an excited response from
clues."
"All of the slips are blank,
except the slips is wt'itten
Once the instructions are under-
for two. On one of the word, 'murderer'. On another slip
stood, the performs exits the pcrformancc environment with a committee of two or three to make surc he docsn't
is lvritten the word, 'victim'. In a moment I'm going to be escorled out of the loom by a committce.
cheat.
Another person is chosen to inform thc con'rmittee oncc the mut'der has takcn placc and instructcd to bring them back along with thc performcr.
chance to move down the hall to another loom, I'm going to ask each of you holding a slip to open it. Norv, if your slip saYs 'victim', I'd
Oncc we'vc had
a
When thc pcrfonner is safely awaY in another location under the rvatchful eycs of the cornmittcc, thc audience members open their slips and act out tl-re murder sccne. They retum to thcir
likc you to come up ['ront, sit in this chair, and pagc througlr this Agatha you to come up liont, put on lhis glove,
thumtr on the outside), he proceeds,
I
the
I've always loved the idca of incorporating r muldcr mystery into my performancc. This routinc dcvclopcd out lunch bag to the audience. Holding it open at the top (fingers on the inside,
the
Thc performer movcs about
room in no set pattern and has people reach into thc bag and removc a slip until all of the slips are taken. Walking back to the ftont, the pcrformer crumples the bag into a ball and tosses it
Christie novel.
The pcrformer displays a
the envelope that the spectator chooses. My original routine did not make
orrs pcople. l[ I stop at yott, plcasc reach inside the bag without looking, and takc out a single folded slip. Don't opcn it. Don't show it to anyone. Just kccp it in your closed fist."
Murder, He Wrote
of that desire.
lope going across thc top liom left to right. It makes it easy to spot the dot on
through ttrc audiencc appnraching vari-
ll
your slip says 'murdctcr', I'd like
pick up this dcadly butter knife,
scats and the committce and mcntalist are now surnmotred back. Back in lront of the crorvd, the Per-
and
makc a stabbing motion above the vic-
tim. 'Ihe rsst of you are going to
lbrmer has the committec verily that thcy could not see or hear what had transpirecl. Thcy verify that they don't evcn know who the actors arc and these committee mcmbers return to
be
lvitnesses.
I want you to remernber as manY details as you can about both participants. Notc if they'rc nralc or fcmale. What color clothes they'r-e wearing. If they wear gla^sses. If they have facial hair, if it's
thcir seats in the audience. Standing alone on stage, the Per-
a guy."
9
former looks at the placetlent of the
props on the chair as if trying to get a scnse just lrom their arrangement. He says, "Let's see what I can Pick up about the victim." He picks up thc Agatha Christie novel and runs his hands over it as il attempting to receive vibrations from the book, "l'm going to
try psychometry," he explains to
the
audience.
'ol'm sure you've heard of psychics lvho work with police departments on
murderer actually put on the glovc and pick up the knife?" The audience responds with a 'ycs'. o'Hmmnl," he says. "I'm getting some mixed impressions. Let me do this. I'm going to go into the audience and approach various people. I will ask them, 'Are you the murderer?' If you'rc not, simply say 'No.' lf you ARE the murderer, LIE to me and say, 'No.' So, everyone 's response should be,
truc murdcrer eliciting gasps and
Well, therc you have, word-forword, my handling of thc murder mystery routine.
.\
Now to the how. An ordinary brown paper lunch bag is used. For most audiences, I place about thirty slips inside. I generally take fifteen sheets from a white 3"x5" pad and tear them in half. Twenty-eight of the slips are left blank,
)
'No'."
cases.
folded into quarters, and dropped in-
They usually work off of objects and
and knife, the per{ormer moves into the audience. "Are you the murderer?" he asks one person. "No," the audience member re-
side the bag. Written on one of the remaining two
attempt
or
homicide
to pick up impressions
about
those involved."
Still handling the book, the performer says, "I'm going to say out loud the impressions that I'm getting. I'd like you, as an audience, to say out loud if I'm correct." o'I sense that the victim... He begins, is definitely in this room." Responding to the laughs and chttckles he says, "l gift." Continuing he says,
know,lt's
a
"I
victim was fernale." The audicnce responds all together,
"Yes!"
"I scnse that she has blonde hair.'. and wears glasses." Again, this information is confirmed vcrbally by the entire crowd' "And I'm gctting a red dress. Would the victim plcase stancl," hc sarys. Sl'tc does con-
firming his impressions which
are
grceted with a big tound ol'applause!
"Now for the hard Part," hc saYs'
"The murderer." He Puts the book
down and picks up the glove and knife' He picks onc up in each hand sensing vibrations. He continues to handle thern moving them back and forlh from hand-to-hand. He appears to be having
difficulty.
He addresses the audience, "Did the
around the room. Have a person who you think would rnake a good'murderer' reach in and remove this slip. Walk well away from this person and allow your fingers to push down the 'victim' slip so that it drops into the bag. Allow an appropriate 'victim' to remove this slip, Make sure you remember who these two people are. You'll need to describe the victim later and go into the audience to identify the mur-
slips is the word 'murderer'. Written on the linal slip is the word'victim.' These are folded in quaflers to
sponds.
He moves further along to another "No,"
match the others, but are NOT dropped inside the bag. I next place a small paper-clip on the top edge of the open lunch bag.
Approaching a sweet-looking older woman, he asks her if she is the rnur-
more easily blends with the color of the
person.
"Are you the murderer?
asks. She, too, says,
he
The clip that
I
use is copper so it
derer.
bag. For all intents and purposes, the clip is never seen, but because I'm going to have thirty people reaching in, I want it to be as camouflaged as possi-
derer.
believe the
sorreone should accidcntally grab ask them to simply pass onc off to two, another person. Continue in this fashion until the twenty-eight slips have been drawn. Now, using the lingers that are holding the bag by it's upper-edge and concealing the clip and slips, force the outermost stepped paper (murclerer) down into the bag. It is dropped as you make your rvay
plause from the crowd!
Continuing to hold both the glove
missing person
If
ap-
When she says,"No," he continues
with, "Actually, you don't look the type." Alter the laughter subsides, he approaches the biggest, scariest-
blc. Next, I tuck the 'victim' slip into the clip on the inside of the bag. I now tuck
looking rnan in the room. "Are you the murderer?" He says,
"No," and the performer continues with, "Actually, you look thc type, but you didn't do it."
the 'murdercr' slip on top of the 'victim' slip, but step it down about a quat'ter of an inch.
Finally, the perlormer stops in ftont of one last person.
As it stands now, therc arc twentyeight fcrlded slips in the bottom ol'the bag. The two key slips are slightlY
He asks, "Are you the murderer?" Ttre spectator says, "No." The perlormer once again asks this same individual, "Are you the murder-
er?" Again there is a'no' response. The pertbrmer pauses and then says, "Actually, you couldn't be. Do you know why? Because HE is!" The pertbrmer wheels around and points to the
10
stepped and held inside the bag at the top by the paper clip. Follow the routine as printed above. Move about the audience in a haphaz-
\
l
ard fashion allolving people to reach into the bag, one at a time and with their heads tumed, to select one of the twenty-eight slips on the bottom of the bag.
11
Walk
a
bit away and then peer down
if checking on how many slips remain. Walk to the front and crumple the bag and toss it aside, During the crumpling of the bag, it is a sirnple matter to remove and pocket the paper clip. into the bag as
(Note: You may be wondering
if
people who reach into the bag can tell when therc is only one slip left as the final thrce people havc only one slip to choose from, Thcy can't. As they l'ecl around, they maY assurne that a slip or two may have been caught on the llap on the bottom of the bag.
Also, you want to do your best to NOT call attention to the last two peo-
ple choosing slips. You don't want people to realize that these last two people are the ones with the key slips later on. On occasion, I have actually tucked three slips into the paper clip with the
gun (wartel pistol) as the tnurder wcapon of choice. He ancourages the murderer to
vcry last slip droppcd into thc bng bcing blank lo lhrorv ol'l'thosc who may bc watching too closelY.)
squirt thc victim on the seat of the pants so later there is no visible mark
Follow the routine as printed above giving instructions to the audience and selecting committee membcrs. 1 woulcl like to mention that the
io be seen on tlre victirn's clothing. I started performing this routine in the early 80;s. It was during this time that interactive murder mysteries in-
wording is very imporlant when warning thi audience that no one else should touch ANY of the ProPs (in-
volving staging and actors
cluding the sliPs). This is KEY as You don't want People exchanging slips or passing their *liot to others' This is one of the rea-
feign dilliculty and say. "l'm getting mixed impressions," while [olding the glove and knife. This is rny out, or excuse, if the person who sclect-
sons
t
ed the'murderer' slip does, per chance,
pass it off to someone else when I'm outside the room' Leave with the courmittee. Return with the committee. And I'inish ths presentation as written above.
A few final notes. This routine was
feature years.
a
in rnY act ftrr many, many
It offcrs a lot of
entcrlainmcnl
value for your audicnce.
Feel frcc to use the jokes that I've inclurlecl above. You may use other props ftrr the murderer and victim' I've ot*uyt used the mulder mystcry novcl, glove, and butter knife.
One last note. During the time I was performing this routine as part of my regular show, I was also performing a
segment that involved stealing
Q&A billets from audience members
in the mid-90's when I routine ftom mY act' It the dropped seemecl that lvhelr people saw the
and
opening and reading them secretly. I found that the time I was out of the room during the commission of the 'murdcr' gave me amPle time to oPen the stolcn slips and trans{'er the information to a Pad. Of course, the cornmittee tnembcrs wcren't in the roonr with me. ThcY simply stood outside the closed door.
was a time
glove
and knile sonleolle would always shout out "OJ!" in referencc to the OJ Simpson trial.
'I'hat is rro longer the ca-se. I knorv ouc pcrlortrtcr who has used a squirt
12
i
became
quite the rage at parties and dinners. Often I would receive calls from cli ents rvho told me they lvere trying to decide between booking a murder mystery and a mentalist' Because I offered a murder mystery as Part of mY show, they often hired me.
Make sure that the glove is large enough to accommodate a man's hand' I woultl like to mention that there
.l
Tot recouers frum swing accident Billy
Mathers, the three-year old hurt in last week's accident at Crove Park, is on his way to a miraculous recovery doctors say. It was just six days ago that Mathers had fallen from a swing while visiting the park with his mother, Joan Mathers. The swing sttuck young Billy in the head as he started to get uP from the
fall. EMS workers were able to stabilize the young boy and stem the bleeding. Hc was rushed to Mernorial Hospital
where doctors performed emergency surgery. Dr. Hal Smith commcnted,
"The surgery went very well. No longterm damage is expected." His parents are very happy with the support they've received frorn friends and family. They are also amazed at
the outpouring of good wishes from
townspeople and strangers. "The cards, balloons, and stuffed an-
irnals have really picked up Billy's spirits," said his dad Robert Mathers. They are hoping to bring their son homc later this week. If home by the weekend, the clrild would be able to celebrate his fourth birthday in the company of Iamily and friends'
Teen recouers from dock mishaP Witness assaulted 0n courthouse steps The third daY in the trial of Vince Nardone ended with a key witness for the prosecution being stabbed on the steps of the courlhouse.
ioe Densi was slashed on his chest and arm by a man waiting for him just outsidc the courthouse. Officers on site were able to call for an ambulance and the attacker. irpprehend The witness was rushed to Shore Hospital where he is expectcd to make a filll recovery. Sherifl' Hal Johnson said that charges against the assailant wsrc still pending, but ',vould likely inclucle assault and attempted muldcr.
The suspect was identified as New-
ton resident Troy Hafner. Hafner, no stranger to trials, has a lengthy rap sheet himself.
His past includes stints in state prison for robbcry, assault, drug possession, and money laundering.
He faces arraignment on
TuesdaY
with bail expected to be over $200'000. He was released just last Ycar from Upper State Prison and was currently on parole lbr a number of crimes invr:lving organized drug dealing and lunning a plostitution ring.
Jonathan Miller, the sixteen-year old
who nearly drowned in a dock mishap at Grover's Bay last week, is said to be making a strong recovery. It was just six days ago that Miller,
who had fallen into the inlet after an evening of underage drinking, was pulled from the cold waters. People on the sccne were able to revive him while they waited for EMS workers to respond.
Dr. Bill Murray commented that Miller lvas extremely lucky that he re-
ceived CPR lrom people that night. "If they had simply waited for EMS to ar-
rive, he probably wouldn't have made it." he said. Jonathan, a sophomore at Madison High School, is a starting receiver on the school's football team. "The fact that he is strong and in great shape probably helped him," said his coach
Bill Daily.
Jonathan
is
expected to
make a full recovery.
Besides being a member of the school football team, Miller is also president of the school's speech and debate team.
He also stared in last Spring's production of Macbeth in the school's Jim Dunning Theater.
Train rams stalled Gar Fortunately, he was able to exit his vehicle before a northbound train clipped the front end of his stalled Chevy Blazer.
couple of moments and I wouldn't be here talking to you.o' No one on the freight train was in* jured and conductor Joe Benson told reporters that he did his best to try to avoid a collision. "l hit the horn and the breaks, but I
down on him causing gashes and brck-
where," he said.
A Hartford man is luckY to be alive aftel his car stalled on train tlacks in the torvn of Mapleton FridaY'
Debris from the accident rained
en bones to both his leg and
uPPer
back. Paramedics on scene were able to contrcl the bleeding and ultimatcly provided transportation to HiU Crest Hos-
pital.
Dan Farley, 57, the driver of thc stalled Blazer said, "I'm just so happy I was able to get out when I did. Another
saw that the car wasn't going
anY-
With twenty years in the railroad industry Benson, 46, said that was the lirst time he had encountered a stallcd czrr
on thc tracks.
"Could you inragine if that was sorne sort of gas or ProPane truck? That's thc first time this has happened to me and I hoPe the last," he said'
Woman mugged in mall lot A Springfield woman was assaulted late Monday evening in the parking lot of Valley Mall just outside the Macy's store,
Finishing her shift at the popular store, the woman exited to her car only to be conlronted by a man with a knife.
He
demanded money and credit
cards befbre pushing the woman to the ground and assaulting her. Video surveillance showed that the attacker was in his early thirties r,vith tattoos covering his arms and hands. He was dressed in jeans and sneakers and was wearing a Boston Red Sox
baseball cap. Police say they have a number of possible suspects based upon tips they've received. The woman, 34, who is recovering at Florence Medical Center, was able to provide police with crucial information regarding the attack. She should be released from the hospilal shortly. "I've always felt safe at the mall," she said. Mall security have leleased statistics backing up her claim' There had been no reports of as-
or robberies at the mall dating years. The last rcport was of live back saults
a car that was broken into.
Adfian Bint ploy for MOAB 1.0 (Fatal Sinsl Here are the S-words plus a few alternatives. In some cases, there is not an S-word as such, because I utilized a partial word in the target word itself e.g; drugstore - store. I have asterisked those. Apartment
Suite
Bartender
Servant
Candlestick Drugstore
Stick*
Eyeglasses
Spectacles
Store*
Firecracker
Sparkler/Smoke
Graveyard
Stone/Shrine
Handkerchief Illustration
Serviette/Square
Jackhammer
Sledgehammer
Kitchenware
Saucepans
Loudspeaker
Speakerx
Mountainside
Side*/Ski-slopc
Newspaper
Sheet
Optometrist Photographer
Spectacles Snapshot
Receptionist
Secrctary
Snowflakes
Snowflakes
Television Underwear
Screen
Videocassette
Spools
Weightlifter
Strongman
Sketch
Shorts
lllloTtlrR or M BuorTrsm
2.0 nv Trn Knnurtovtctt
l'he Book Test. Hedefined. Atklress
Siate_
City
Zip
Counlry MOAB 2,0
Quantity
$395"00
_-
Subtotal:
Slhipping is $5.00 per book U.S. & Canada, arrd $10.00 per book overseas (airmail)
Shipping: TOTA[:
METHOD OF PAYMENT;
__*
Cash
__.
Gheck **
Money
order -"- Visa
--_
Masler0ard
Make checkimoney order payable to MINDREADERS Exp date
Credit card #
Orders paid by credit card will appear on your monthly stalement under the nirme, 'Mindreaders'. lf paying by credit card or check, and there is a problem prccessing your order, we will need to contact you. Please fill in the following inlormation so we can get ahold oi you without delay.
tmail
Phone # Pr[YPAL
lf you want to order via PayPal, you don't have lo fill out this form. Just go online to the PayPal site. Send payment lo
[email protected]
Email
[email protected]
Phone 732-750-4377
Fax
732-750-4377
Mail MOAB 2.0 Box 120
Marlboro, NJ 07746
