theory11 — Magic Tricks & the World's Finest Playing Cards

What's your favorite mental trick?

Michael_Brown

Michael_Brown

Jul 14, 2014
8
1
I'm interested in mentalism and trying to search really great effects.

What could you recommend me? Except svengali, invisible deck, simple deck memorisation and etc - without common things. Something as fair ACAAN, for example:


I'm not beleive in hypnosis, but trying to find something about distributed reality, but was not succed in it - no books, videos or something else.

I will be glad to see your comments.
 
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Now I don't do anything with mentalist effects a lot, but the Book Test is the most common mentalist effect, I doubt that really helps though. Metal bending may be considered mentalism, though not sure. I am however planing to put out a card effect that would be a mentalist effect, so look out for it.:cool:
 
A very strong effect you can get right here is Psycho by Spidey. I think it's only $5, and it's a truly brilliant effect. I've gotten some of the greatest reactions I've ever gotten with that effect, it's something that will stay with you for the rest of your life.

I've been performing hypnosis for about 6 years fairly successfully, so I don't really see why so many people have such great doubts about it. It's not really something to believe or disbelieve, it's just kinda something that is. It certainly has it's limits, it isn't mind control, but it's truly amazing what you can do with it. Before you definitively state that you don't believe in hypnosis, do some research, watch tutorials, get an idea of what it actually is, then try it for yourself. I think it might change your mind.
 
Let's distinguish between Mental Magic and Mentalism.

Mental Magic is a magic trick that has a pseudo-psychological explanation as part of the presentation. I'd put pretty much any card trick that people call mentalism in this category. If it involves a deck of playing cards -- its a magic trick. This includes ACAAN, Open Predictions, etc.

Mentalism is the demonstration of psychic skills. A book test is mentalism. A Dead or Alive routine is mentalism. A Question and Answer routine is mentalism. The difference is that mentalism must be presented in a manner that is plausable and doesn't appear to be a trick.
 
Thank's a lot. I'll look deeper in Book Test, Psycho by Spidey and Hatline Prediction (bought last 2 effects).

If you interested in my view of magic, let me tell this. I think that spectators doesn't watch tricks from logic
point of view. If the first ball appears in hand - it's amazing. If the second ball appears in hand - it's more amazing.
But if third ball appears in hand - it's obvious for spectators (from view on trick as on magick perfomance act).
Spectators think, that if it's obvious, that it's logic and they 'know' how it's done (they were just now able to predict appearience of the 3-d ball). And no matter what was you doing. So now I'm a little disappointed of Psycho by Spidey, becouse if spectators see you something writing near selected card, this image saves in their heads, and in the end they can just say - 'you just write my words on my card' or any other not logic stuff - and no matter what was you actually do. Now I'm looking how to separate writing a predoction with deck of cards. (Honestly, I was expecting much more stunning from Psycho by Spidey)

AmberGraci said:
I've been performing hypnosis for about 6 years fairly successfully, so I don't really see why so many people have such great doubts about it. It's not really something to believe or disbelieve, it's just kinda something that is. It certainly has it's limits, it isn't mind control, but it's truly amazing what you can do with it. Before you definitively state that you don't believe in hypnosis, do some research, watch tutorials, get an idea of what it actually is, then try it for yourself. I think it might change your mind.
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I've no idea about your view of hypnosis. As for me hypnosis ends in classic force and simular psychological tricks. Or when spectator is so excited beeing acting in trick that he could do anything you want. Or this is distributed reality. I know only one book about mentalism and it's "Corinda 13 steps to mentalism". Do you know something else?

As for me, my favourite thick (that will stay with me for the rest of my life) is this:

 
I don't see an issue with using playing cards, as long as it fits your character.

For example, my character is blessed with a superb memory and happens to know his way around a deck of cards, but nothing fancy like flourishes.

I use a very simple "memory" routine with cards and I'm actually using my memory. The participant shuffles any deck, and gives a number between 1 and 52, (here is where I used to practice number psych forces which you'll get into later), after they've given a number I "remember" which card was at the number given by the participant. This could easily be done with something other than playing cards.

If I had to recommend a "mental trick," you would find it in Self-working Mental Magic by Karl Fulves. The effects in this book will force you to come up with plausible presentations.

It's called "Sleight of Mind," now, this effect in the book is done with playing cards, but with a little imagination you can see how I turned this into a multi-participant "think of a word" routine.
 
Check out Theo Anneman, his books are great. Jay Sankey has Hemispheres and 22 Blows to the head, both are great. They are full of good mental magic.
 
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