Forcing a Letter

stovermagic · Mar 24, 2011

Hey guys, I need your help. I'm trying to do an effect that requires me to force a letter off of a label. Now, I would PREFER it be a fool-proof mental force, however, I realize that stuff has its limits. I don't want to do a simple number force (they pick 2, go T-W-O to get to the 3rd letter, for example). I just want something convincing and logical, but I've been stumped on this.

Thanks in advance for your help!

-Collin Stover

Aaron.Williams · Mar 24, 2011

If you want to force a letter on a label, people usually think of the second letter or a letter that stands out near the middle.

stovermagic · Mar 24, 2011

Aaron.Williams said:
If you want to force a letter on a label, people usually think of the second letter or a letter that stands out near the middle.

What about when that doesn't work?

Luis Vega · Mar 24, 2011

stovermagic said:
What about when that doesn't work?

Then you design a way out...psychological forces are not always 100% acurate...

stovermagic · Mar 24, 2011

Luis Vega said:
Then you design a way out...psychological forces are not always 100% acurate...

Yeah, that's what I figured. I'm just trying to think of a good way out. Guess I'll jsut have to think about it!

Luis Vega · Mar 24, 2011

stovermagic said:
Yeah, that's what I figured. I'm just trying to think of a good way out. Guess I'll jsut have to think about it!

Maybe if they pick a different letter you could tell them to think on an animal or color with that letter to narrow it...just saying...

D ICE R · Mar 25, 2011

Firstly if it is a psychological force then it is usually a hard constant towards the end but not the last letter.

Do you need to force the letter or just need to know the one they are thinking of.

Either way banachek PS 1 is your best friend for this.

The Tumbleweed · Mar 25, 2011

Yeah, mentalism isn't the thing to do if you like effects that are 100% guaranteed to work.
However, a good method would be to use a sentence using a lot of alliteration with that letter before asking them to think of one. If that makes any sense.

JDENredden · Mar 25, 2011

I think DICER made a good comment. Do you need to force it? Or do you simply need to know what letter they chose? Impression pad? Peak? All more reliable and easy than a psych force. Or use them as your 'out'.

J.

D ICE R · Mar 25, 2011

The Tumbleweed said:
Yeah, mentalism isn't the thing to do if you like effects that are 100% guaranteed to work.
However, a good method would be to use a sentence using a lot of alliteration with that letter before asking them to think of one. If that makes any sense.

Most mentalism is 100% in method however mentalists fish for information that is not written to heighten their performances

Steerpike · Mar 27, 2011

Mentalists also like to miss a couple times to add verisimilitude to the performance. Something a lot of wannabes here could stand to learn.