Choosing the Right Words

[RDChopper]

So its been a while since I started a new thread or since I posted something interesting, so I want to share something with you guys that may prove useful to you...

CHOSING THE RIGHT WORDS

I have found out lately that the use of certain words just before the climax or during the routine can enhance a lot the reactions you get from people, furthermore, the use of some words can even make them believe that something "magical" if you will, is really happening, for example...


I was performing to a group of girls that I just meet and just before my frist trick ("here then there") I presented myself and I asked each one of them their name (building rapport anyone?) so after they picked a card, card is lost bla bla bla.....

Just before the actual "transposition in their hands" I told them..

"this kinda FREAKY, you may FEEL SOMETHING"

my intention there was not to scare them but to plant an idea in their head,for example, the idea of using the word "freaky" is to make them put more attention in the actions that follow, because in their heads they relate that word with paranormal things, things that are not normal and therefore things that are interesting to them... Next we have the phrase " you may feel something', that's its a very direct suggestion to their heads, that people before them have feeled something and therefore they could feel something too, so they kinda get ready to "feel something".

so I continued with the trick as usual and then the girl started to scream that she was actually "feeling something" strange in their hands, they saw that the cards changed places and voila! great reactions and lots of kisses( just joking).

Anyway I have been toying and experimenting with this and I can tell you that it works 60% of the cases, because there are people that are less susceptible to the "suggestion" you are trying to plant, or just because they are more logical that other people and they just don't believe in that kinda of bull-poopoo.

Just like the soil needs to be prepared just before planting the seed, you need to kinda make the "ambient" for your words to work on people, because they may not take you seriously when you are trying to be serious, it depends on the kind of performer that you are.

Just try it and see what happens.


I hope that this can be usefull for some of you guys out there, just trying to give my grain of salt to the forums

Choose your words well people =)

 

[James Smith]

Very interesting. I've thought about this, but not to this extent.

 

[CaseyC]

So very true. It's amazing how this totally flies over most people's heads. I've used the "you might feel something" line with much success before. Yet another example of how important the performance of magic really is.

 

[slieghtlyimpossible]

You sound like you really know what you're talking about.. Have you read much of Luke Jermay's stuff? Because he is really big on suggestion and that type of phycology.

I actually use the same principles in my 2 card monte routine.. My basic patter is that i can make you see and think things that aren't really happening. So after all the "moves" are done and the trick is "done" (they just don't know yet) I'll use the line "this is going to be a really weird.. make sure that i don't let me do anything to your mind ( that last statmentl, even though if you think about it it seems really corny, really seems to make the reactions double or triple)... Then i will cast a shadow/wave my hand/do something else "magical" over their hand holding the cards.. They turn the cards over and are really amazed...

Anyway that's just an example.. Great idea for a thread though!

 

[RDChopper]

Then i will cast a shadow/wave my hand/do something else "magical" over their hand holding the cards.. They turn the cards over and are really amazed...

Anyway that's just an example.. Great idea for a thread though!

Thanks man, I have actually read some of Derren Brown and Morgician stuff

You actually touched a point that I forgot to mention, that is the action we make or the gestures, if we make a big deal of a simple wave of the hands, it can help the overall reaction of the effect, if we believe in it, they WILL believe in it.

 

[RasmusAndersen]

I remember Brad Christian mention this in some of his DVD's; let's say in a simple 2 card-transpo routine, if you just place the card in their hand, and take one yourself, and just boom show that you have their card, and they see that they have your card in their hands, it really gets a sloppy reaction. Because then they will know that all the magic happened when you gave them their card. Therefor you must create a magic moment (wave your hand over theirs etc.) and really put some effort in, to make it look as though something really magical and powerfull is taking place. Then they will think that all the magic happened when you waved your hand over theirs or whatever magical gesture you might use, and that get's a MUCH bigger reaction.

 

[Steerpike]

What you've come upon is a big part of the repertoir of Kenton Knepper, Luke Jermay, and Docc Hilford.

I first started working with this concept from Docc Hilford's Ball and Tube booklet. From there, I started branching out more starting with Miracles of Suggestion. Kenton's Mystery by Association remains one of my favorite titles.

Most recently, I started boning up on stage hypnosis, which is really the genesis of suggestion in magic and mentalism.