So I recently got a download of Watermark from T11, and it's my first experience with a Theory11 product. The effect was just as much as what I expected it to be. In the hands of the right performer this effect is lethal.
So I was performing at the Bar Show at Magicopolis in Santa Monica last night for a private party. Nobody informed me prior to showing up that the party in question was from a Lutheran college. That may not seem like a huge point, but once you get through this set up and to where I'm going it'll make sense later.
I performed my usual set of geek magic and decided to close my show with my adaptation of Watermark.
First the props.
1) Watermark napkin.
2) Devils Doorway. (A miniature business card sized Ouija board - Out To Lunch method)
3) Tarot Deck
4) Wine glass of water (to which I was seen drinking from all through my set)
Let the fun begin.
I set the effect up by doing some story telling. I ask if the audience believes in ghosts, spirits, ghouls, or demons, and then regale them of a permanent marker that I recovered from a doctors office in an abandoned haunted hospital in down town Los Angeles. (I'm not making this story up. The pen really came from that place.)
I then tell them that spirits have been known to communicate with the living for centuries, and many methods are used to do so. Among the most popular is the Spirit Boards. I introduce the Devils Doorway prop.
I also point out that answers can be divined through other oricals as well such as Tarot cards. To which I introduce my deck of tarot cards wrapped in the delicate Watermark paper, tied with a black ribbon.
I remark that I know there are non-believers out there. That people don't think spirits can REALLY communicate with the living. So I purpose a test. A scientific test, to which a question that we can verify the accuracy to, is asked of the spirits, so we can challenge a response.
I have my mark sign her name to the Devils Doorway card, and I remove it so she may hold onto it. I shuffle the Tarot deck and ask her to select a card. She does. I impress upon the group the importance to remember the card. If it has a name, remember the name. If it has a number or a suit, to remember that. Try to attach some kind of personal image or emotion to the card. Most important.... to not forget it.
I ask the spirits if they are here tonight from the hospital. Did they follow me attached to the marker I removed, unable to move on in the after life? Then beseech the spirits to reply with the answer to my question: "What was the selected card?" I wait for a reply. I instruct the spectator to turn over the pocket sized Ouija board, to which there is a slight gasp.
The little spirit board has now manifested marks under the word "Yes", and the letters "P"- "A" - "E"- "R".
I ponder the meaning to the spirits cryptic answer. I eventually purpose that the reply could be PAPER and the spirits intended the letter P to be used twice. But the only PAPER around is the tissue paper my tarot deck was wrapped in. But the paper is blank! I show it on both sides.
Clearly the spirits need more help to manifest their message. I look around. Water I recount, has been known for centuries to be a conduit between our realities. It's liquid nature allows it to flow fluidly through our worlds. Perhaps if I sanctified the water we could use it to help the spirits bring their message through to us in a more clear manor. I make a cross over the water, and say the blessing "E nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti" and then begin to splash the water onto the tissue paper.
Quickly the letters begin to reveal themselves to spell D...E...V...I...L. The Devil I say. Was that your card?
Silence.
A pin could have dropped 3 blocks away and you could have heard it. I wait for a few beats, no one moves. No sound. Silence. I say thank you and take a bow. They then applaud.
Now here's my question... Did I just succeed beyond the point of vocalizing appreciation and amazement or did I leave them sitting there saying "So what?"
Now I've had stunned silence when working with people one on one. I've had people just tell me "okay" like they don't care. But I with this group I can't really tell... I've never had a full room go dead silent like that on me before. I tell you not a single one of them reacted, and there was probably close to 20 of them.
Thoughts? Perhaps I over killed the effect? Perhaps it was watered down? (pardon the pun) I don't know.
So I was performing at the Bar Show at Magicopolis in Santa Monica last night for a private party. Nobody informed me prior to showing up that the party in question was from a Lutheran college. That may not seem like a huge point, but once you get through this set up and to where I'm going it'll make sense later.
I performed my usual set of geek magic and decided to close my show with my adaptation of Watermark.
First the props.
1) Watermark napkin.
2) Devils Doorway. (A miniature business card sized Ouija board - Out To Lunch method)
3) Tarot Deck
4) Wine glass of water (to which I was seen drinking from all through my set)
Let the fun begin.
I set the effect up by doing some story telling. I ask if the audience believes in ghosts, spirits, ghouls, or demons, and then regale them of a permanent marker that I recovered from a doctors office in an abandoned haunted hospital in down town Los Angeles. (I'm not making this story up. The pen really came from that place.)
I then tell them that spirits have been known to communicate with the living for centuries, and many methods are used to do so. Among the most popular is the Spirit Boards. I introduce the Devils Doorway prop.
I also point out that answers can be divined through other oricals as well such as Tarot cards. To which I introduce my deck of tarot cards wrapped in the delicate Watermark paper, tied with a black ribbon.
I remark that I know there are non-believers out there. That people don't think spirits can REALLY communicate with the living. So I purpose a test. A scientific test, to which a question that we can verify the accuracy to, is asked of the spirits, so we can challenge a response.
I have my mark sign her name to the Devils Doorway card, and I remove it so she may hold onto it. I shuffle the Tarot deck and ask her to select a card. She does. I impress upon the group the importance to remember the card. If it has a name, remember the name. If it has a number or a suit, to remember that. Try to attach some kind of personal image or emotion to the card. Most important.... to not forget it.
I ask the spirits if they are here tonight from the hospital. Did they follow me attached to the marker I removed, unable to move on in the after life? Then beseech the spirits to reply with the answer to my question: "What was the selected card?" I wait for a reply. I instruct the spectator to turn over the pocket sized Ouija board, to which there is a slight gasp.
The little spirit board has now manifested marks under the word "Yes", and the letters "P"- "A" - "E"- "R".
I ponder the meaning to the spirits cryptic answer. I eventually purpose that the reply could be PAPER and the spirits intended the letter P to be used twice. But the only PAPER around is the tissue paper my tarot deck was wrapped in. But the paper is blank! I show it on both sides.
Clearly the spirits need more help to manifest their message. I look around. Water I recount, has been known for centuries to be a conduit between our realities. It's liquid nature allows it to flow fluidly through our worlds. Perhaps if I sanctified the water we could use it to help the spirits bring their message through to us in a more clear manor. I make a cross over the water, and say the blessing "E nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti" and then begin to splash the water onto the tissue paper.
Quickly the letters begin to reveal themselves to spell D...E...V...I...L. The Devil I say. Was that your card?
Silence.
A pin could have dropped 3 blocks away and you could have heard it. I wait for a few beats, no one moves. No sound. Silence. I say thank you and take a bow. They then applaud.
Now here's my question... Did I just succeed beyond the point of vocalizing appreciation and amazement or did I leave them sitting there saying "So what?"
Now I've had stunned silence when working with people one on one. I've had people just tell me "okay" like they don't care. But I with this group I can't really tell... I've never had a full room go dead silent like that on me before. I tell you not a single one of them reacted, and there was probably close to 20 of them.
Thoughts? Perhaps I over killed the effect? Perhaps it was watered down? (pardon the pun) I don't know.
