181 Edited by: Lee Earle Copyright©1996 SYZYGY 2901 N. 55th Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85031-3301 Telephone: 602 / 247-7323 voice 602 / 247-4665 fax & data E-Mail: America On Line - LeeE7 Internet - [email protected] Subscription rates: $38.00 per year Canada: US$48.00 per year Overseas (airmail): US$55.00 per year Reprints: $2.50 per issue Terry Parrett Boris and Natasha “Did you know,” questions the Mentalist, “that the former Soviet Union’s intelligence agency, the KGB, recruited psychics in an attempt to locate secret installations in the United States? They were the world’s second largest employer of psychics – after Dionne Warwick.” The performer continues, “I read about one of their training exercises which is very easy to duplicate. Want to try? Good!” He takes two business cards out of his wallet and draws on their backs identical (more or less) outlines of the United States and hands one of them to the participant. “First, I’ll indicate my secret base’s coordinates on this map,” informs the Mentalist. “Don’t peek while I mark its location.” When the participant closes his eyes or averts his gaze, the performer writes on the map side of his card, turns the card to the vertical and writes something across the end of the card then crosses it out and rewrites a word on the other end of the card. Then he places the card map-side down on the table. Handing the pencil to the participant the performer remarks, “This is the very same instrument with which I recorded my clandestine site. Perhaps, in some odd space-time continuum psychometry, it retains the information. Take it and allow it to circle freely over your map. When you feel its impulse, lower the pencil to the paper and make an ‘X’ on the map.” When the participant has finished, the Mentalist retrieves the tabled business card asking, “By the way, would you rather be Secret Agent ‘Boris’ or ‘Natasha’ ? Natasha? Did you consider the other name a moment? I thought so. Let’s check your accuracy.” The two cards are turned map-side up. The participant’s ‘X’ is placed exactly on the location of the performer’s ‘secret base’! And, as a kicker, the Secret Agent code name is written on one end of the card with the other choice crossed off! Write the name “Boris” on one end of your card, pretend to draw a line through it and then write “Natasha” on the other end. Once you see the location marked by the participant on his card, you can ‘X’ your card in the same location using a nail writer, swami gimmick, Boon writer, Scarab, etc. Ask for his agent’s moniker and stroke out the other one on your card before you hand it to him for comparison. Issue # 38 Volume 3, Number 2 Terry’s timely routine is a presentation which converts your business card into a memorable souvenir.
182 Lee Marelli Penta-Preview “Sometimes,” begins the Mentalist, “we get a preview of the future. It usually happens in a dream and becomes a deja vu experience. Other times it comes as an intuitive insight.” Pulling a single business card out of its plastic case, he continues, “I’ve just had one of those flashes, so let me take a moment to record my impression.” He draws something on his card, superimposed on the crystal ball design in the corner. The card is then returned to the plastic case. “In this case,” the performer puns, “I have perceived a compelling image coming from someone at this table...” Pointing to one of the participants he states, “...and it’s your thought I’ve been receiving. Would you like to help me prove it?” The participant agrees to assist. The Mentalist opens the business card case again and pulls a single business card into view, turning it face down on the table. He takes his pen in hand and sketches five symbols on the back of the card: a circle, a plus sign, a triangle, a square, and a star. “I’ll give you a hint – one of these symbols is the same as the one I drew earlier,” he claims, “and my hunch is that’s the one you will choose. Consider all the options and then put your finger on one of them.” The participant points to the star. “That’s amazing,” says the performer. “let me show you the sketch I made earlier!” He removes all the business cards from the case and spreads them. Drawn on the one in the center of the spread is a star! The method makes this one simple to perform on a moment’s notice. Four of the business cards are as shown in the illustration above. The fifth card is specially constructed (or specially printed) as in the illustration at the right. Both sides of the card are the same, making it a diagonal 50-50 double faced card. Draw one of the symbols in each of the four crystal balls on the gimmicked card and place it in the center of the group of four cards. When you remove the packet from the business card case, spread the cards to reveal the drawing. If you hold the cards from the other end when spreading, a second option appears. Turn the packet over for the spreading and two more possibilities become available. The fifth symbol is drawn on the ungimmicked business card which was returned to the case, the same one you pull out later when you draw the five symbols for the participant’s choice. If the symbol drawn on that card is selected, just turn the card over. Feel free to use the crystal ball artwork for your own business cards. That’s why it is reproduced full size.
183 Alain Nu Double Delight Approaching a table of guests in the restaurant, the Mentalist asks, “Have all of you put your business cards in the bowl near the receptionist’s station? One name is drawn every month for a free dinner for four.” Several diners indicate in the negative. “I’ll be happy to collect them from you now,” offers the performer, “and I’ll put them in the bowl myself.” As several people in the close-up audience open purses or wallets to supply their business cards, he hands a pen to someone who has a business card ready and asks, “Just for fun, would you draw or doodle something on the back of your card? Keep your image secret from everyone. We’ll mix the card drawing-side-down among the others.” When all the business cards have been gathered, the Mentalist pulls out his wallet and unzips the money compartment. He picks up the stack of business cards, shuffles them a bit, and then inserts the entire stack in the compartment which is then zipped shut. “A wallet looks pretty empty with no currency in it,” continues the performer, “so would someone offer the loan of a nice, crisp dollar bill for a few moments?” One of the diners offers a dollar bill and the Mentalist adds, “Please keep the bill turned so that the picture is facing the table.” He takes it and places it on one side of the open wallet and then folds the wallet closed. The performer announces, “Thanks. We can all agree that there is no way anyone could know either the bill’s serial numbers or the doodle on this gentleman’s card. But, just for fun, let’s try.” He reopens the wallet and withdraws one of his own business cards. He says, sliding the bill onto the table, “Look for yourself - it’s impossible to view the number through the back side of the bill.” Taking pen and his own business card in hand, the Mentalist asks the person who made the doodle to take the bill and look at the serial number. “Please read the serial number aloud,” instructs the performer, “but for several of the digits, substitute your own. Sort of like Liar’s Poker.” The participant recites eight digits which the performer writes on his business card. “I detected a pause before three of the digits and a tremor in your voice for a fourth. You gave the serial number as B72849678W, but in fact, only the 2, 4, 6, and the final 8 were truthful, yes?” The participant agrees. “As I suspected,” exclaims the Mentalist, “Now concentrate on the real numbers.” He scribbles quickly on the card and holds it so everyone at the table can see the writing and asks, “Read aloud the complete serial number.” It matches the number written on his business card! Please turn to DOUBLE DELIGHT, page 184 Put that old Bendix Bombshell wallet to use in Alain’s clever sneak-a-peek routine.
184 Lee Earle at the Editor’s Desk Although it wasn’t planned to be, this issue has turned into a “Business Card” special. If feedback indicates that subscribers like themed issues, perhaps more can be assembled in the future. Burt Sperber enclosed the personalized bookplate at the right with a recent piece of correspondence. I think it’s marvelous. We need a term to describe a participant chosen during the performance who has neither been subjected to preshow work nor tampered with in any other manner. “Pristine?” I don’t think so. “Virgin” and “Clean” both have a certain snicker quotient. An “untouched” participant brings to mind Brahmans or Elliott Ness. Larry Becker is releasing “Thot Scan” (the improved, commercial version of “No Brainer Q & A” - see issue #10) for $38.50, which includes shipping and handling. This classy effect features reusable laminated question cards and includes nonsmear, easy erase pens to use with the presentation. Contact Larry at (602) 488-0980 or write to: P.O. Box 6023, Carefree, AZ 85377. If you have a World Wide Web browser for your computer and extra time on your hands, you may find one web site interesting: http://members.aol.com/LeeE7/LeeEarle.html. Wise Words: Mentalism’s Four Factors: Force it, Fake it, Find it out, or Fill it in. Pasqual Perrino DOUBLE DELIGHT, continued “Wait a moment,” the Mentalist says, “you also sketched on your business card. What was it?” When the participant replies, the performer moves his fingers which were covering the corner of his own card. Underneath them is a near-duplicate of that drawing! Write the serial number from a not-quite-new dollar bill on one of your business cards which is placed on top of the others in your Bendix Bombshell wallet. Place the bill with it’s face toward the wallet’s center panel, the one with the access slit in it. Close the wallet and reopen the matching duplicate section when it’s time to gather the audience’s business cards. When you mix the cards, shuffle the card bearing the drawing to the bottom of the stack. The entire stack goes inside the unzipped “money compartment”. The drawing (on the bottom business card in the stack) goes face-to-face with the dollar bill already there. Borrow a bill of the same denomination and appearance and place it on the open wallet which is then closed. When you open the wallet to get one of your business cards you access the side which contains your bill. Remember, the bill’s serial number is pre-written on the back of the top card. The bill will be laying directly on top of the stack of their business cards you collected, as in the illustration. Raise the wallet just a little as you slide the bill onto the table so the audience’s eyes don’t see the stack of business cards beneath it. Glimpse the drawing on the uppermost (formerly bottommost, before the wallet turnover) business card as you close the wallet and put it in your coat pocket.
185 Edited by: Lee Earle Copyright©1996 SYZYGY 2901 N. 55th Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85031-3301 Telephone: 602 / 247-7323 voice 602 / 247-4665 fax & data E-Mail: America On Line - LeeE7 Internet - [email protected] Subscription rates: $38.00 per year Canada: US$48.00 per year Overseas (airmail): US$55.00 per year Reprints: $2.50 per issue Lee Earle Dream Scheme “From the earliest times to the present day,” whispers the Mentalist, “dreams have been perceived as messages from within. Interpretation of dreams is a question of decoding the message so that it makes sense. “It is possible to condition yourself to remember, upon awakening, the experience and images from your dreams. It’s uncanny how accurate such nocturnal premonitions can be.” The performer says, “In fact, it’s fun to compare these nighttime musings against later occurrences to link premonition with fact. I asked my contact with your group, Mr. Bill Smith, to write down, privately, some of his recent dream visions. He had them notarized and sealed in a tamperproof envelope and has that notarized statement with him tonight. Please welcome Mr. Smith.” As Mr. Smith steps on stage, the Mentalist remarks, “You have a sealed envelope and a book, both in your care since we first talked, weeks ago. Is that correct?” The participant agrees. “Please open the envelope and, for the first time, read aloud the notes you made describing your dream images,” instructs the performer. The participant reads, “Crowds - Water - Fire.” “Those images,” reminds the Mentalist, “are the product of your dreams, subject to interpretation. Let’s look up what they mean.” The book entitled “Interpret Your Dreams” is opened to the index and the page numbers for the three images are noted. Opening the book to the indicated pages, the performer says, “Please follow along by reading silently over my shoulder as I read the information aloud. It says here that dreams involving crowds often represent ‘the establishment’ - government, employers, or even family. “Your next dream image of water,” he continues, turning the page, “symbolizes either dealing with a problem or ‘washing one’s hands’ of a concern. “And finally,” he says, opening the book to the third referenced page “fire represents energy, a vigorous solution to a problem.” Please turn to DREAM SCHEME, page 186 Issue # 39 Volume 3, Number 3 This high technology routine may be beyond the reach for many, but it’s certainly within the grasp of all.
186 DREAM SCHEME, continued The Mentalist, putting it all together, says, “Let’s see – government – dealing with a problem – a vigorous solution; let’s compare that to today’s headlines.” He holds up the front page from the daily newspaper so all can see it. It reads, “VOTERS MAKE CLEAN SWEEP!” The Mentalist concludes, “I guess that’s close enough. You are more psychic than you know!” And he leads the applause. The dream interpretation book is gimmicked. This presentation requires that you have a computer, software, and laser printer which can duplicate the text as typeset in the book. The book should be a small one which is mostly text, as opposed to one with heavy graphic content. The pages (and the index, if one is used) which give your interpretation of the participant’s dream objects are printed, on the same paper used in the book. On the day of the show (after you read the daily headlines) you replace a similar page or pages which you remove from the book. You learn his dream images through the use of a Mentalist’s clipboard, an impression device which makes a secret carbon copy of whatever is written on a piece of paper clipped to its surface. Arrange your first meeting at a notary’s office and make sure you arrive first. That’s when you place your clipboard at a spot in the office where you can access it when you need it. Suggest that your helper make a private notation of his dream images which he should sign and date. The Notary Public official will stamp and countersign the document which is then sealed in an envelope. Hand the participant a copy of the dream book (take it out of a bag bearing a popular bookstore logo) and a larger, self-sealing mailing envelope in which to put both the book and the ‘dream image’ envelope. The real purpose of the mailing envelope is to keep his hands off the notarized statement and the book. The clipboard’s secret copy allows you to compose the appropriate interpretation for the dream book. During a preshow meeting ask your participant to tear open the mailing envelope. “I forgot,” you say, handing him a pen, “to have you initial the inner envelope at the Notary office.” While his attention is on affixing his initials, take the dream book and apparently put it into a fresh mailing envelope. Actually, you switch the book for your duplicate with the favorable pages. The second mailing envelope, which already contains the gimmicked book, is laying in your open briefcase. You pretend to put the first book into the mailer (actually it goes behind the mailer) and then lift the mailer clear of your briefcase and hand it to your participant. You can remark, “You must be able to verify that only you and the notary ever handled that envelope, so please note that I have never so much as touched it.” A nice nuance is to have duplicate cash-register receipts (with appropriate dates) stuck between the same pages of both books.
187 Dave Arch Place Setting “Often it’s not the important, life-or-death matters which seem to be the subject of spontaneous telepathy,” informs the Mentalist. “Sometimes the totally trivial is what triggers thought transfer, perhaps because the conscious mind is otherwise engaged. I’ll show you what I mean.” “Clear a space in front of you and place, in a horizontal row, a knife, a fork, and a spoon. You can arrange them in any order. I won’t look as you do it. Please listen carefully to these brief instructions. They are intended to occupy both your left and right brains, allowing your midbrain, the subconscious, the freedom to project its images.” Once the participant is ready to begin and has the flatware laid out on the table in a row in front of him, the performer continues, “First, exchange the spoon with the item on its right. If there is no item on the spoon’s right, leave the spoon where it is. All you need to do is to change the spoon’s position with the item on the spoon’s right if something is there with which to exchange.” The switch is made by the participant. “Next,” continues the Mentalist, “exchange the knife with whatever is directly to its left. Should there be no item on the knife’s left, please leave the knife where it is. If there is an item on the knife’s left, swap the two.” He pauses while the exchange is made. The performer goes on, “For the final possible exchange, switch the fork with the item on its right. Obviously, if there is nothing on the fork’s right, nothing happens. Let me know when you’ve done that.” He pauses until the participant advises the work is done. “Now we start having fun. Pick up the item on the far left end of the row – and carefully sit on it,” the Mentalist instructs. “The sharper of the two objects remaining on the table goes in your right hand and the final object should be picked up in your left hand. “Please stare at the object in your left hand. Picture yourself using it. I’m receiving an image of you eating a bowl of breakfast cereal. No one eats breakfast cereal with a knife or fork; so you must be holding the spoon in your left hand.” The participant agrees. “Shift your focus to your right hand. Can you see yourself using that utensil? With the spoon out of the way, the choice should be simple. Of course. Your right hand holds the fork! “That means you must surely be careful as you reach underneath yourself and remove the knife. How did I know you were sitting on the knife?” asks the Mentalist. “It’s simple – hindsight!” This one couldn’t be simpler. Just repeat the instructions given above for the same outcome. Dave’s earlier telephone script was so well received that a second helping is warranted. Enjoy.
188 Lee Earle at the Editor’s Desk Your 8 x 10 glossies wanted! A Quarterly Supplement on the practical considerations of promotional photography is in the works and I need your examples to show and write about. If you have a promo photo featuring a well-known name from the past, I’d love to use that, too. All photos will be treated with tender, loving care and (if you want them back) they will be returned promptly after they’re scanned into the computer. Haven’t seen it myself, but Mark Roberts, of Bag o’ Trix in Carrolton, TX, describes his new Blown Away as a nice pocket watch which will set itself to any time called for by a participant without being touched by the performer (no ballpoint pen required). He says it’s about four times as fast (and twice as visible) as a wristwatch version currently available. Look for The Informant – a new item from Denny Laub – to be advertised soon. I’ve seen a pre-release version and I’m impressed with Denny’s thinking. Basically, it’s a utility item which allows the performer to see what’s written on a card inside an opaque envelope; no chemicals, cuts, or windows, either. The final selection of SYZYGY’s BEST! for 1996-1997 has been made and the material assembled for this year’s lecture tour. As before, the subscribers nominated a superb field. Congratulations to these very creative contributors. They are, in alphabetical order: Dave Arch Quintuple Leo Boudreau Picture Show Ted Karmilovich Bold & Beautiful Prophecy Earl Keyser The “IQ” Test Ty Kralin Anywhere-Whenever John Riggs Dream Design As you read this, the lecture is touring: New Zealand (Sept. 17 - 21), Australia (Sept. 22 - 28), and Hawaii (Sept. 28 & 29 - no, this isn’t a typo, the International Date Line is responsible for messing up linear-temporal continuity). Help me bring SYZYGY’s BEST! to your area. Provide the name and phone number of the appropriate person in your local group which could sponsor the lecture and I’ll take it from there. It’s more efficient for me to contact the key individuals directly (at my long-distance phone expense) rather than the reverse. Experience has shown that the good dates will fill up fast, so time is of the essence. Call right away if you can help. Mark Strivings recently showed me his Sight Unseen Case, a simple but clever business card case which falls into the category of ‘utility item.’ It facilitates billet switches, peeks, nail-writing and more. Manufactured by Roy Roth of England (the same fellow who makes Larry Becker’s leather goods), this top quality item is something I’ll use myself. It sells for $45.00 plus $3.00 postage. Contact Mark at 520 774-0804 or write to: 3309 N. Grandview, Flagstaff, AZ 86004. Wise Words: Learn to give clear, concise instructions – or take up juggling instead! Norm VanTubergen
189 Edited by: Lee Earle Copyright©1996 SYZYGY 2901 N. 55th Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85031-3301 Telephone: 602 / 247-7323 voice 602 / 247-4665 fax & data E-Mail: America On Line - LeeE7 Internet - [email protected] Subscription rates: $38.00 per year Canada: US$48.00 per year Overseas (airmail): US$55.00 per year Reprints: $2.50 per issue Graham Kite Scents and Sense “One of the newest scientific discoveries,” sniffs the Mentalist, “is the impact of various aromas on the mind and body. There is an entire specialty called ‘Aromatherapy’ which claims that one’s health and well-being can be affected by the scent of certain essential oils.” Placing a small velvetcovered box in the table, he continues, “Perfumers contend that exotic blends of essences, oils, and fragrances bypass the logical brain and directly affect the emotions. Only recently have experiments shown that there is some validity to those statements. A preference for one scent over another is deeply rooted in the human psyche.” Opening the jewelry box, the Mentalist explains, “In earlier times it was the fashion of young ladies to wear a pendant made from a glass vial on a necklace, keeping the essential oils at body temperature and ready for instant application. One such container is threaded on this gold chain.” He tips the box and a portion of the golden chain spills over the edge of the box. Turning to an attractive young woman at the table, the Mentalist says, “The five most recognized aroma-oils are citrus, cinnamon, mint, vanilla, and lavender. Please recall from your memories an experience which had an emotional impact on your life. No one else will learn of your choice; it will remain entirely private and within your mind, so you are free to recall something pleasant, peaceful, exciting, or perhaps even erotic. Tell us which of those five scents you most closely associate with that event.” The woman replies, “Cinnamon.” “Interesting,” replies the performer. He grasps the loop of chain dangling from the box and lifts it clear, elevating the attached vial for all to see. “Please open the container and sniff it. Then tell the rest of us what aroma you detect.” She does as instructed, smiles, and exclaims, “Cinnamon!” Please turn to SCENTS, page 192 Issue # 40 Volume 3, Number 4 Graham is not only one of Australia’s new crop of Mentalists, he is also a ballroom dancer and a jeweler.
190 Grocki Safely Sealed “To quote Groucho Marx,” offers the Mentalist, “‘Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read!’ Three members of the audience were earlier given current bestselling books and large manila envelopes. Would they please stand?” The participants arise, each holding a large sealed envelope. “The three of you were asked to find a challenging word from any page in the books you hold,” states the performer, “and once you marked your choice, you sealed your book in those envelopes. Correct?” All three agree. “Will you confirm that this process took place while you were apart from everyone and that nothing was ever written down?” Each participant agrees. “Please pass the packages forward,” instructs the Mentalist, “so I can write something on the envelopes.” Once the three manila envelopes are gathered on stage, the performer gazes at each standing participant and then writes a word on an envelope using a broad-tip marking pen. The audience cannot see what is written. The Mentalist says, “Three words which come to mind are ‘parallel’, ‘constructive’, and ‘refrigerator’. Are those your words?” Each participant shakes his head, indicating a complete miss. “Then perhaps each of you can tell us the word in your mind,” suggests the performer. “Fissionable,” says the first helper. “Categorizing,” informs the second. “Insurance,” remarks the third. “That’s what I thought,” smiles the Mentalist as he turns around the envelopes to reveal the word he has written on each one. The words are: fissionable, categorizing, and insurance! He hands the envelopes back to the participants and says, “Please accept the books as my thanks for your participation.” Obtain two copies each of three current paperback novels. The second copy of each pair is for backstage reference. The gimmick involved is that silicone novelty toy contained in a plastic egg, Silly Putty. It has the marvelous property of lifting ink from the printed page when pressed into contact. Because it is (more or less) flesh colored, a small patch of it on the pad of your middle finger is invisible until employed. In working with your preshow participant, pick up a paperback book, clearly & openly turn your head aside, and riffle the pages until your participant says, “Stop.” Ask him to pick the longest and most challenging word on the top line, indicating the top of the page by placing your middle fingertip there, directly on top of the page number. Instruct him to take the book, dog-ear the corner of the page, circle the word, and then seal the book in the envelope (which has been pencil dotted for identification later). Backstage, you read the mirrored page number impression on your finger and refer to your copy of his book for the right word. This routine evolved from a technique Grocki uses with gimmicked books such as “Flashback”.
191 Joseph’s original contribution was modified with an idea from Tim Conover. Joseph White By the Numbers “Gambling,” decrees the Mentalist, “is often a pastime which separates the optimists from the mathematicians. Take a lottery, for example. The odds against any particular individual winning the jackpot are astronomical.” Addressing a front-row member of the audience, the performer says, “Your chances are much higher here, because rather than guess in advance each individual number, you only have to try for a total. But let’s keep it in a countable range, otherwise our audience will lose patience with us. Please tell us your name and then say aloud a number between 100 and 200.” The participant responds with, “My name is Larry and I pick 137.” Performer takes from his case a small opaque plastic bowl and a clear plastic package of round key tags, each about the size of a poker chip. One and two digit numbers are written on one or both sides of each chip. “Reach in and take a numbered tag,” instructs the performer, “and drop it in the bowl. While you’re at it, take another. And another.” After a few more numbered tags have been dropped in the bowl, the Mentalist asks, “Larry, have you any idea how many tags you’ve taken? No? I assume you also have no clue as to the total of the numbers on the tags? Neither do I. Spread out the bowl full of tags on the table. We’ll add up their numbers, then we’ll turn them over and continue with the numbers on their other sides.” Speaking to the audience, the performer says, “We’ll keep a running total as Larry calls out all the numbers he selected.” The participant reads aloud the number showing on each tag, then turns all of the tags over and gives the numbers from the opposite sides of the discs. The final total is Larry’s target number, 137! Enabling Larry’s fantastic feat requires a gimmicked plastic bag with a clear panel which divides the bag into two separate compartments. The tags in one side of the bag have numbers on both sides which total 25 (i.e.: 2 & 23, 17 & 8, 25 and blank, etc.). Those tags in the other compartment bear digits which will add up to 10 (i.e.: 3 & 7, 10 & blank, etc.). Larry takes the tags from the “25” compartment while you maintain a mental tally, “25 - 50 - 75- 100 - 125.” If the next “25” tag would push the sum beyond the desired total, the remaining tags are taken from the “10” side, in this example one more tag brings your mental total to 135 (125 + 10 = 135). When you go into your case for the bowl and bag of tags, you do the same arithmetic and take, from a foam rubber index of 9 tags, the one which will bring the total to the desired number, in this case, 2. It is held against the inside of the bowl, hidden with your fingers, until there are enough tags in the bowl to provide cover.
192 Lee Earle at the Editor’s Desk There remained among us for a while one dwindling connection to the vanished inner circle of Dai Vernon, Charlie Miller, Faucett Ross, Paul Fox, and other greats of that golden era. And now there are none; Danny Dew died last September 25. His grace, humor, and charm made him a person everyone loved. Danny was the embodiment of a Southern Gentleman and the only truly humble man I’ve ever known. He will be missed. The winter sky has dimmed by yet one more star. Something new will be added to the menu at lecture stops for SYZYGY’s BEST! Individuals who are seriously interested in advancing their skills to the next level can arrange personal and/or group coaching sessions with yours truly. Topics include, but are not limited to: performance technique, marketing, routining, staging, structuring, graphic design, or promotion. While not inexpensive, this personal, one-on-one mentoring will be an investment which pays dividends over the long term. Details on SYZYGY’s World Wide Web site http://users.aol.com/LeeE7/. Scheduled lecture dates are: Nov. 6th, Phoenix, AZ (Bob Bluemle 602 947-6765); Nov. 7th, Washington DC (Barry Taylor, 301 949- 3881); and Nov. 8th, Louisville, KY (Earl Bullard 502 895-7286). My New Zealand lecture tour coordinator, Alan Watson, shared a delightful idea with me during the drive from the airport to his home in the suburbs. Remember the old Out of This World card trick? When done with a Tarot pack (minor Arcana) it has an impact totally out of proportion to its method. Give it a try. Hollywood’s Diego Domingo and Allen B. Brannum have been buying and collecting Robert Nelson originals for quite some time and are compiling material for a book on that most enigmatic of personalities. If you have personal anecdotes, stories, or just reminiscences of the Columbus, Ohio master Mentalist & merchandiser, of Nelson Enterprises, or of his wife Betty, contact Allen and tell him about it at (213) 965-7858. Wise Words: Routining is easy; just put a bunch of stuff together and perform it. Your audience will tell you which items to keep in the act. Danny Dew SCENTS, continued The beautiful thing about this presentation is that the lady does, indeed, have a completely free choice among the five scents. The vial shown is permanently affixed to the box’s display panel, its short chain is secured behind the panel. Five other vials are concealed within the box, behind the display panel, all threaded on the golden necklace chain with a loop made of thin jeweler’s wire closed with a single twist. When you pull the chain out of the box, finger pressure on the thin bottom of the box retains four of the five hidden vials behind the display, allowing the chain to be pulled free of their wire loops. The vial containing the selected aroma is lifted free and presented as a gift to the lady.
193 Edited by: Lee Earle Copyright©1996 SYZYGY 2901 N. 55th Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85031-3301 Telephone: 602 / 247-7323 voice 602 / 247-4665 fax & data E-Mail: America On Line - LeeE7 Internet - [email protected] Subscription rates: $38.00 per year Canada: US$48.00 per year Overseas (airmail): US$55.00 per year Reprints: $2.50 per issue Mark Garetz Cold Readers “The ancient Tarot cards,” informs the Mentalist, “were used by medieval gypsies who depended upon the Tarot’s mystic symbols to help them interpret fortune, fate, and future. “Our common playing cards are direct descendants of that arcane Tarot deck. Many people who are not otherwise superstitious feel that some of those magical properties are still associated with all cards.” The performer pauses, then asks, “How would you feel if one day you found the Ace of Spades slipped under your front door?” “In fact,” continues the Mentalist, “certain cards do seem to have an affinity for particular personality types. Or perhaps it’s the other way around. Are you game for a simple experiment? “Take these modern playing cards,” offers the performer, “and thumb through them until one of them feels ‘right’ to you. It helps if you don’t search for a particular suit or value; let the card select you, as it were. When you’ve located your pasteboard counterpart, place the others aside and put your selection on the table with your hand touching it. There’s no need to reveal it just yet.” As the participant is looking through the deck, the Mentalist goes on, “Already, I sense that your affinity card will indicate that this is a time of change for you – that circumstances have forced you to modify plans. You still hold on to your dream but sometimes feel frustrated that fate keeps putting obstacles in your way...” The participant has, by now, found the one card and has placed her hand over it. The performer lightly places his hand over hers and says, “In fact, those impediments are solidifying in you a strong resolve to persevere. It’s likely that you will be drawn to a red card. The fact that you are becoming more emotionally assertive lately – I can hear you saying to yourself, ‘I’m not going to be anyone’s doormat any longer’ – shades your personality more toward the hard diamond as opposed to the soft heart. You need fewer complications in your life right now which would draw you to a two or a three. What card did you select as your cardboard companion?” She turns over the card to reveal the Three of Diamonds! The modus operandi is a marked deck. Combine well-timed cold reading lines with your participant’s selection of a card and it seems that your comments predict rather than react to her choice. Issue # 41 Volume 3, Number 5 As simple as the method is, this presentation is one which connects with your participant on a primal level.
194 T.J. Osborne Dowsing Duplicates “Dowsing is an ancient practice in which one seeks hidden objects or information using the principle that ‘like attracts like’,” mentions the Mentalist. “The usual image which comes to mind is searching for underground water using a forked sapling branch.” The performer collects six business cards (all printed on plain, white stock) from those around the table. He tears the face-down stack in half and mixes the twelve pieces before dealing them on the table in three rows of four pieces each. “Remember the children’s pastime with a pack of cards, ‘Concentration’? The object is to look at one of the pieces and then guess which of the others makes a match. If you pick correctly you may choose again but if turning over two pieces results in no match, you turn them face down and your opponent gets a turn. The trick is to memorize the positions of the unsuccessful guesses so that you can make the matches when it’s your turn again.” “Dowsing often has the uncanny capability of locating the matching pairs but we often ignore these techniques out of skepticism. If you will let me interpret your dowsing response, I think we’ll make a believer out of you. Pick up any one of the cardhalves, look at it, and hold it in your closed hand. Good. Extend the first finger of that hand to serve as a pointer. I’ll hold your wrist lightly as you move your pointer over the rows of pieces remaining and let you know when I sense that particular response.” The participant, with the Mentalist lightly touching the extended finger’s wrist, moves his finger over the card pieces on the table. Over one of the pieces the performer says, “Stop! Pick up this one and conceal it in your hand with the other piece. Let’s run the same procedure with another person.” The process is repeated four times until only one pair of pieces is remaining on the table. The performer turns them over to show that they match! “Each of you open your hands and check your results,” instructs the performer. All five pairs of pieces also match! When you tear the cards in half, place one set of torn pieces atop the other, making a twelve-piece packet. Your ‘shuffle’ pulls three pieces, one at a time, from the top of the packet into your other hand, each successive piece going on top of the one just pulled off (exactly like running 3 single cards in an overhand shuffle). Place the entire remaining packet on top of those three pieces. Repeat the procedure with two pieces (run 2), drop the packet on top of them and then deal three rows of four pieces each. The pieces will now be in an order identified by the mnemonic at the right. Each letter represents the piece at that position. The piece in column one of the first row (S) will be the mate of the one in the second row, third column, etc. After your participant picks up a piece, stop his finger at the position which matches his choice. T.J. acknowledges the influence of ideas by T.A. Waters and Phil Goldstein on this routine. SPOT NEST OPEN
195 Danny is the owner of the Magicians Lecture Network, a booking agency for lecturers. Danny Archer Do Not Pass Go! Placing a small, cloth drawstring pouch on the table, the Mentalist says to one of those around the table, “Remember playing the Monopoly® game? This bag contains the house & hotel tokens. Please reach inside and remove some of each, then count your properties beneath the table by touch.” The participant complies. “You’ll need a piece of real estate upon which to place them,” continues the performer. He fetches from his case a small box containing a sealed envelope, four individual players’ game tokens, and a pack of Monopoly® property cards (‘deeds’). Slipping the rubber band from around the stack of cards and thumbing through them, he comments on their relative values, and then squares the packet requesting, “Cut the pack to select your property.” The participant cuts to a card near the center of the pack and takes it. The Mentalist instructs, “Refer to the rental schedule on your deed and arrange your assets so that you can collect the maximum amount of rent. You can put up to four houses or four hotels on your acreage; zoning laws don’t allow mixed usage, so place any leftovers back in the pouch.” He does so. Emptying the box containing the four players’ tokens onto the table the performer adds, “There are only two of us playing, so grab a couple...and return them to the box. Pick up the remaining two, one in each fist. Actually, only one of us needs a token, so open one hand...and drop that one back into the box. “Let’s recap: You chose one deed out of the dozens available, picked a random number of houses and hotels to set the amount of rent you can charge, and even selected the top hat token I would use to move onto your property. As for the rent –” he picks up the card and reads the side of the card with the rent prices, “...let’s see...Marvin Gardens...two hotels...the rent is $625!” The performer asks the participant to open the envelope and read the note inside. It says, “I have the uneasy premonition that my top hat will land on one of the yellow properties, and will be assessed a very high rent. I’ve enclosed the proper amount in the appropriate currency.” He counts $625 in Monopoly® cash! Once you purchase the Monopoly® game, place four hotels and eight houses in the pouch; your instructions guarantee that he takes at least one hotel. While he is counting his hotels & houses under the table, place your palm on the bag to push it aside. The hotels, which are larger, can be felt and counted through the cloth. When you get the box of cards & tokens, you also add one of four envelopes with identical predictions inside. The first envelope contains Monopoly® money for Marvin Gardens rental with one hotel, the second envelope contains the rental with two hotels, etc. The ‘deed’ card is forced (i.e: crosscut); the participant is steered to the proper playing piece via equivoque. ®
196 Lee Earle at the Editor’s Desk High demand has made the previously out-of-print King of the Cold Readers by Herb Dewey and Bascom Jones available once again. It’s a cold reading classic and one leg of the trilogy (Red Hot Cold Reading and Psycho Babble are the other two) which should be on every Mentalist’s bookshelf. Order your copy for $45.00 plus postage from Herb at 304 Unity Lane, Annapolis, MD, 21401. Subscriber Craig Bender-Rovinsky advises that if you’ve ever wanted to work one of those 1-900 psychic telephone lines, this may be your opportunity. He tells me that Steven Logan is recruiting personnel for one of the major national lines and can be contacted for an telephone tryout at 409 245-3764. Lee Marelli (of metropolitan Denver, CO) writes to inform that he, Allan Few, and other unindicted co-conspirators have formed the Rocky Mountain Mentalism and Bizarre Magic Association. I can only hope that they choose a more memory-friendly moniker as they join The Thirteen, The Six and One-Half, The Elders, and The Minnesota Mind Psi, all local groups promoting Mentalism. Any others out there? At the Psychic Entertainers Association’s convention last summer, historian Charles Buckner gave a presentation featuring little-known facts & tidbits about Joseph Dunninger. Since then, he has compiled photocopies of all the materials (flyers, promo sheets, tic sheets for the advance man, press book, press releases, advertising endorsements, etc.) into a hefty, 3/4-inch thick volume (about 140 pages) which he is making available for a short time. Write to him at 1118 Berwick Road, Birmingham, AL 35242. At $40.00, it is a steal! Mark Garetz e-mailed to say that he has the Ted Lesley Working Performer’s Marked Deck available, as well as the marking material. His “web” address: www.hoptech.com/magic/lesley.html; his postal address is: 6 Dover Court, Danville, CA 94506. Leonard Hutchens reports of his success in using Rocco’s D’Lights during the dark portion of his séances. The key, he says, is to keep the hand moving before, during, and after the light is activated, for the shortest duration possible. The units are never used for more than two brief bursts of light, which are seen flitting around the Medium’s head. Christian Chelman was in Phoenix recently and was treated to lunch by some of the members of the fabled Six-and-One-Half (Dr. Juris, Kenton, Gene Urban, Christopher Caldwell, Mark Strivings, Larry Becker, and Lee Earle). I’m excited that he has pledged to contribute material to SYZYGY for upcoming issues. It would be easy to become envious of Marc Salem; he reports lucrative bookings from American Express, Revlon, Merril Lynch, General Mills, and Calvin Klein. Contemporary Mentalism pays! Sad late news: Creative genius Stewart James of Canada died November 3rd, at age 88, from complications following a stroke. Wise Words: Those who can, do. Those who have done, teach. Those otherwise, criticize. Anonymous
197 Edited by: Lee Earle Copyright©1996 SYZYGY 2901 N. 55th Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85031-3301 Telephone: 602 / 247-7323 voice 602 / 247-4665 fax & data E-Mail: America On Line - LeeE7 Internet - [email protected] Subscription rates: $38.00 per year Canada: US$48.00 per year Overseas (airmail): US$55.00 per year Reprints: $2.50 per issue E. Raymond Carlyle Midway Dream “Almost everyone enjoys the games of skill on a carnival midway,” asserts the Mentalist. “Whether we’re attempting to pitch pennies onto dinner plates, toss wooden rings around the necks of Coke bottles, or throw darts onto a grid of numbers to reach a high score, it’s likely that the games are far more difficult to win than they appear to be.” After showing three small stuffed toys, the performer points to an audience member and says, “You are the first to play for a prize. Please tell us your name.” The participant says, “John.” The Mentalist picks up a set of three blank index cards and writes that name on the top card, turns it over and secretely writes a figure on the reverse side. Then he flips the card name side up and transfers it to the bottom of the stack of three cards. Pantomiming holding a plate in his free hand, the performer says, “I’ve written the number of pennies you must toss into this imaginary plate to win a prize. How many do you think you need?” John says, “Four.” “You’re next,” says the Mentalist, pointing to a second person. “What’s your name?” She answers, “Anne.” Her name is written on the top index card. As he writes a number on the unseen reverse side of the card, the performer says, “You will need to ring this many bottles to beat the game. In your mind, how many rings do you see on bottles’ necks?” “Seven,” she says. “The dart game requires a steady eye and a clear head,” informs the Mentalist pointing out a third helper. “Your name is...” “Percy,” replies the participant. Once again, the name is written on one side of the top index card and a number is inked on the back side. Each of the three cards is leaned, name side out, against one of the plush prizes. The Mentalist picks up a numbered chart and says, “Percy, you have five imaginary darts to toss in order to get the highest score possible. Where does your first dart land?” When the participant replies, that number is circled and all other numbers in the same row and column are crossed out. Please turn to MIDWAY, page 198 Issue # 42 Volume 3, Number 6 Carlyle, pictured above, is a founding member of “The Elders”, group of Mentalists in the Los Angeles area.
198 MIDWAY, continued “You didn’t think,” grins the performer, “that a ‘carnie’ would let you just hit only the five highest numbers, did you? Now toss your remaining four darts.” As each imaginary dart’s point of impact is circled, row & column are crossed out as before. “Let’s run a total of your five numbers...21, 2, 18, 14, and 10. That adds up to 65,” says the Mentalist. “Let’s recap. John figured that four pennies would win the prize, while Anne thought it would take seven ringed bottles. Percy threw darts which totalled 65. How well did you all do?” He turns the name cards around to reveal the figures 4, 7, and 65! The three prizes are given to the successful players with a round of applause. Carlyle uses a combination of two methods, the first of which is a derivation of Peter Warlock’s three slate move. After each name is written on the top card, you apparently turn it over to write on the back. Actually, you turn over two cards, as in a double lift. On the back of the first card (actually the blank, double lifted card) you write 65, a number which will be forced later. Turn the pair over again and place the two cards as one on the bottom. Don’t flash the underside of the stack. Have John toss his imaginary pennies on your imaginary plate and ask how many he chose. Remember the number. Write the second person’s name, Anne, on the top card and do another double turnover. When you write, you are actually writing on the back of card #1, so put down the number of pennies. Again, flip the pair over and transfer them to the bottom. Anne is asked to say aloud how many bottles were ringed in her imagination. When you repeat the writing process with the third helper, fill in the Anne’s number of ringed bottles when you write on the double turned card. This pair is turned name side up and the three cards are placed against the three prizes. To force the number 65, make up a numbered chart like the one shown in the illustration and proceed as described. You can also copy the chart from SYZYGY’s Internet page: http:// www.Lee-Earle.com/SYZYGY.html. Editor’s note: Richard Ganstwig, also of “The Elders”, phoned not long ago to suggest that this issue of SYZYGY be dedicated to Ed Fowler (E. Raymond Carlyle) who is relocating to the Virginia Beach, VA area. Southern California’s loss is Virginia’s gain. Richard submitted several contributions from that group, including one of his own. Due to the length of Carlyle’s routine, the others had to be retained for future issues. Thank you, Richard.
199 Paul Green is a working pro who created “The Fortune Teller’s Book of Dreams”. Paul Green Option Call “There is a phenomenon,” begins the Mentalist, “known in the sales trade as ‘buyer’s remorse’. It’s the second guessing and self questioning that occurs within a customer’s mind after making an important purchase, wondering how much better the deal might have been if only other options had been explored.” Placing his wallet on the table in front of a participant, the performer begins shuffling a deck of cards and advises, “I guarantee you will experience that sensation in a few moments, even though we will do everything possible to prevent it. Hold out your hand.” One by one, the Mentalist begins dealing cards into the participant’s outstretched hand. He says, “Stop me at any time.” When halted, the performer remarks, “I don’t know if you were counting...but I was. There are exactly 17 cards in your hand. Later tonight, when you rethink this moment, you will wonder what would have happened if you had asked me to deal a few more. Should I?” The participant declines. “As you are driving home, you will question what might have been the outcome if you had opted to stop me sooner. Would you like me to take back some of the dealt cards?” “Take back two,” directs the participant. The performer complies. “In the morning,” predicts the Mentalist, “you will ponder what alternative outcome might have been achieved if you had decided to have me deal more or fewer cards. Would you care to have me add or take back any cards?” The participant says, “No.” “It’s your turn to do some of the work,” smiles the performer, “So divide the cards into two piles, as if you were dealing a two-handed game.” The participant does as requested. “Select either of the two piles by placing your hand on it,” instructs the Mentalist. “Sometime tomorrow, you are going to reflect on these events and contemplate the outcome if you had chosen the other pile. You may do so if you wish.” The participant switches to the other pile. “Turn over the card immediately under your hand,” requests the performer, “so that we all may see the result of your random pattern of choices.” As the helper is flipping over the card, the Mentalist opens the tabled wallet to reveal a single, face down playing card. When turned over, it is revealed to be a duplicate of the participant’s choice! Start with any two cards on top of the deck and their duplicates stashed in opposite sides of a Himber style wallet. Your shuffle retains the two cards on top and the rest is self-working until the point at which you open the wallet to the appropriate card.
200 Lee Earle at the Editor’s Desk Loyd Auerbach (510 652-5906) of the San Francisco Bay area has penned an excellent book for the laymen entitled Mind Over Matter. His material from author Martin Caidin makes a compelling case for psychokinesis. It’s published by Kensington and can be found in your local bookstore or from Loyd for about $15.00. Loyd’s other activities involve his work with his Séance Fiction Theatre. Production artwork is shown here. John Riggs (423 521-6705) has penned yet another volume in his Lessons in Mentalism series; PW – The Mentalist’s Secret Weapon. It’s a nice treatise on pocket writing; 39 pages, 81/2 x 11, comb bound. Volume One in the series, by the way, is Phrenology for the Psychic Entertainer, same physical stats. If you have a Museum Store in a mall near you, look for a wonderful conversation starter or office prop, a ceramic head with phrenology zones clearly marked. These stores are a great source of relatively inexpensive reproductions of old world artifacts. Kenton’s Wonder Words Volume Two - The Real Work is simply awesome; 4 audio tapes and a 22 page booklet open the door to a universe of semantic meanings and hidden messages in the language we use. Includes an Invisible Deck routine which uses only imaginary cards (a truly invisible deck) and kills ‘em. This set is priced in the neighborhood of $65.00. Order at (602) 957-6375. The classic word test using a selection of pieces from a torn newspaper predates even Al Koran. In his Tabloid Psychic, Denny Laub (219 657-5695) manages to combine the best of several methods. It’s $20.00 and contains several nice touches. Mobile Mentalism is being offered by Mark Strivings, a 56 page, 81/2 x 11, comb bound book featuring close-up, strolling Mentalism. Contributors are Ed Fowler, Docc Hilford, Anthony Lindan, Terry Nosek, John Riggs, Gene Urban, Robert Waller, and Richard Webster. Reach Mark at (520) 774-0804. How about Methods of Mentalism from Ty Kralin? Subtitled as “A course on presenting great psychic readings,” this comb bound, 47 page, 81/2 x 11 book offers tips, routines, sound advice, promotion ideas, and much more good stuff from a working pro. Get yours from Ty by calling (908) 752-9865. One more: The Invisible Eye has been called “a breakthrough gimmick for cards” and is the modus operandi behind the ‘Out of This World’ that fooled Paul Curry! This clever utility gimmick is available for $40.00, postpaid from Dennis Marks; (213) 851-2375. Richard Webster is a new, first-time grandfather at the ripe young age of 50. Congratulations, Richard! Kaplan, Louisiana’s newspaper ran a full page, with two very large photos - one ‘above the fold’ - featuring Ken Meaux (it is pronounced, ‘moe’) as a paranormal investigator. What a spread! SYZYGY has a new World Wide Web address on its editor’s virtual server. Check the masthead on the front page. Wise Words: There is no market for a fake Mentalist. John Riggs
201 Edited by: Lee Earle Copyright©1996 SYZYGY 2901 N. 55th Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85031-3301 Telephone: 602 / 247-7323 voice 602 / 247-4665 fax & data E-Mail: America On Line - LeeE7 Internet - [email protected] Subscription rates: $38.00 per year Canada: US$48.00 per year Overseas (airmail): US$55.00 per year Reprints: $2.50 per issue K.H. Fossgreen Minefield Issue # 43 Volume 3, Number 7 “You may be surprised to learn,” begins the Mentalist, “that there are over one hundred million active land mines buried around the world! These military explosive devices are buried in shallow holes in the ground and covered with topsoil. They explode when stepped on, when a vehicle rolls over them, or when something snags the mine’s tripwire. Some activists want nations to outlaw land mines as legitimate weapons. The absolute minimum should be requiring decay devices which would render them inert after a certain time, preventing injury to innocent civilians.” The performer places five small cards on the table. Every card has a section of map printed on both sides. He explains, “These are not unlike the pocket sized map segments that military engineers use when marking minefields they emplace. Such maps are vital in case soldiers must clear the minefield in the future. Take this marker and put an “X” on one of the maps to indicate where a secret minefield might be placed then turn that map over.” The Mentalist continues, placing five manila envelopes on the table, “Slide each map into one of the envelopes. That will hide the evidence, much like layering dirt over the deadly explosive. When you’re through, mix the envelopes thoroughly.” The participant seals each map in an opaque envelope and shuffles the envelopes. Picking up the five envelopes, the performer deals them in a row in front of the participant and asks, “Do you know which ground is harmless to walk upon and which is deadly?” “Hold out your left hand,” the Mentalist instructs, “palm down over the ‘soil’ and sense what’s safe and what’s not. Place that hand on one of the five concealed maps – and do the same with your right hand. Lightly! Use your imagination. If this were real, one mistake would render you into component molecules!” The helper places one hand on each of two envelopes and the performer tears the other three into pieces, saying, “You have narrowed your choice to two possibilities. Hand me one of them – and tear the other one up as I did the last three.” Please turn to MINEFIELD, page 202 K.H. Fossgreen is a European subscriber and a performer with a sense of social responsibility!
202 MINEFIELD, continued The performer suggests, “Let’s see how successful you are at locating hidden danger...” The envelope is opened and the map withdrawn. It is the one marked with the minefield. “I had a hunch that you would place the minefield there,” remarks the Mentalist as he withdraws a sixth envelope from his pocket. “Compare the coordinates I marked earlier to your minefield’s location.” A map-card is pulled from the envelope. The participant’s minefield is in the exact spot as a broad, black “X” on the performer’s map! For a contemporary, double-hit presentation, this one is surprisingly easy to accomplish. You learn which envelope contains the map bearing the mark of the secret minefield due to the Filman Principle and then guide the participant to locate the same envelope via equivoque. The sixth envelope has a cutaway face panel which allows an “X” to be secretly inscribed with a Swami Gimmick (nail writer, Boon, etc.), shortly after the envelope is withdrawn from your pocket. The Filman Principle takes advantage of the fact that heavy card stock has, like a thin veneer of wood, a grain; it is easier to flex across the grain than against the grain. If one cuts cards out of this stock on a 45° bias, then two diagonally opposite corners will be relatively stiff when flexed and the other two corners will be more flexible, even when tested through the envelope. A commercial variant of this principle is the magic trick, “Tel-a-Color” cards. Photocopy any map onto both sides of the cards so that the top of the map is at the same end on both sides. Test the corners before performing to ensure the cards are aligned with the grain running in the same direction. After one of them is marked with the participant’s minefield, it is turned over (side to side or end to end) which reverses the grain bias. Even within envelopes, the stiff corner among the flexible corners (or the flexible corner among the stiff corners) locates the marked map. Mix the envelopes to place the minefield second from the participant’s left as you deal the envelopes in a row in front of him. That position is psychologically “hot” and the most often selected. If his left hand doesn’t find the minefield, then ask him (without appearing to have intended otherwise) to place his right hand on an envelope. Should his right hand cover the minefield envelope, praise him for his skill in narrowing the choices to two and destroy the remaining three envelopes, continuing as in the patter above. If both hands cover unmarked maps, instruct him to destroy both envelopes. Then have him extend an index finger to sense among the remaining three. If he fingers the hidden, marked map, say, “You were lucky with the first two. The fingertips are much more sensitive and you’ve probably found the minefield.” Tear up the other two envelopes. If his finger finds an unmarked envelope, proceed with his other extended index finger, repeating the procedure you used for the first two envelopes. Filman Principle template
203 Christopher Caldwell Carded! “From our choice of wardrobe to our preference in stationery,” begins the Mentalist, “Every action we take, intended or subconscious, reflects our personality, taste, and style. Choices made with apparent free will may actually have been ‘programmed’ into our personality years before.” The performer takes a stack of about 40 holiday greeting cards and thumbs through them while occasionally glancing into the audience. He approaches one person and asks him to hold the bundle of cards. After learning the participant’s name, the Mentalist displays a single, brightly colored envelope and explains, “You were chosen for a particular reason. You’re easy. To read, I mean. That red envelope contains something which will prove that point in a few moments. Those cards run from the tasteful to the brash and feature themes from the religious to the irreverent.” The performer goes on, “Please hand me the top greeting card in the group you hold. For the benefit of those of you who cannot see it, it’s a reindeer in harness. Now give me the next one – it’s a snow-laden tree. And another – this one’s a Santa Claus cartoon. As you can see, they share the same Christmas theme, but otherwise none are the same.” The participant agrees. “Continue handing me the cards,” instructs the performer, “one at a time, until you feel the urge to stop. There? That’s a lovely card; little golden angels with tiny wings. This tells me you are, at heart, a traditional person who is quite creative, perceptive, and versatile. You have a strong attraction to nature and can be somewhat of a perfectionist. You are your most effective when things are in a clearly defined order. Is that true?” The participant verifies. The Mentalist continues, “You’ve had dozens of different cards from which to choose, but you elected to select the golden angel card. Let’s look inside that red envelope.” He removes the card inside and shows it to the audience. It’s a duplicate of the participant’s choice! The cards are arranged in a Koran 5-Star setup to force one of four different cards. Start with a holiday card assortment of 25 or so greeting cards. You should also obtain at least five each of four more, different cards which will be your force cards. Interleave 16 force cards into the assortment so that, beginning with the 8th card, every card at an even position from the top is one of your force cards. Rotate among the force cards so that duplicates are 8 cards apart in the final stack. Please turn to CARDED, page 204 Christopher is one of Arizona’s busiest ‘voice-over’ artists with tons of industry credits for commercials.
204 Lee Earle at the Editor’s Desk Mark Garetz of the San Francisco Bay area sent in a great tip for those of you working restaurants. The restaurant’s reservations book often lists guests’ telephone numbers which can be crossreferenced via CD-ROM phone directories or Internet searches to yield lots of material to add spice to “impromptu” readings. Lee Earle offers the latest version of his well known Clone Pad design dupe. It’s no longer a gimmicked sketch pad; it’s two vinyl clipboard/folders and offers improvements such as instant reset, a protected clone surface, replaceable paper & gimmick, and it’s even examinable. Clone Pad was great; The Clone Folio is even better. Priced at $150.00 plus shipping. See more on the SYZYGY website. In an earlier issue, I teased The Rocky Mountain Mentalism and Bizarre Magic Association about their word-heavy title. Still, I was surprised when Lee Marelli wrote to inform that they will henceforth refer to themselves as the PSI Clones. Clever. Two Colorado groups will host SYZYGY’s BEST!: Fort Collins (contact Ed Hurtibis - 970.223.8767) and Denver (Lee Marelli - 303.751.4603) on March 6th and 7th, respectively. Lee is also ramrodding a half-day workshop in Denver on Sat., March 8th. Saturday, December 28 was the day Mark Strivings married April Canter. A lovely ceremony and a strikingly beautiful bride. Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Strivings. The Best Man was none other than SYZYGY contributor, Robert Waller. The clan Flora was also in full attendance; Brian, Jan, Ian, and Hillary. Got lots of nice feedback from subscribers (and audiences) on Carlyle’s Midway Dream. It’s a keeper. Correction department: The phone number given in the last issue for Loyd Auerbach is incorrect. Contact him at 415.616.5501 or via e-mail at [email protected]. Also relating to the same issue, Paul Green credits Monte Smith for the idea behind his routine. In addition, Paul’s commercial release is more accurately entitled, “The Fortuneteller’s Book of Days”, not Dreams. Wise Words: The audience was drunk; half of them saw two of me and the other 50% didn’t notice anything at all, so things rather evened out. Patricia Fripp CARDED, continued After the participant has dealt the first seven cards into your hand, suggest that he may stop at any time. When he does, one of the 4 force cards will either be at the top of his stack or will have just been handed to you. You indicate the force card as his ‘choice.’ A flap divides the envelope into two compartments. Within each compartment is a single card, made by gluing two of the force cards back to back. End on, the glued cards resemble the letter ‘z’, making a double-sided card which behaves like a Himber style wallet. When you access the envelope to remove the card, simply open it to the appropriate compartment and remove the card inside. Lightly pencilled cues help you remember to have the appropriate side of the card facing up when you pull it into view. The Clone Folio
205 Edited by: Lee Earle Copyright©1996 SYZYGY 2901 N. 55th Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85031-3301 Telephone: 602 / 247-7323 voice 602 / 247-4665 fax & data E-Mail: America On Line - LeeE7 Internet - [email protected] Subscription rates: $38.00 per year Canada: US$48.00 per year Overseas (airmail): US$55.00 per year Reprints: $2.50 per issue Dr. Juris Juris Prudence The ‘last item’ anticlimax common to many pseudo-psychometry presentations is avoided in this spellbinding routine. “Much like the fabled Phineas Fogg,” begins the Mentalist, “it’s been my privilege to visit some of the most remarkable places on the planet. Every culture has its own shibboleths and saints; curses and charms, which I gather as others would accumulate postcards.” As he recounts his travels, he places an open-topped, polished hardwood box on a table at one side of the parlor. He carefully removes six items from within the box, gently extracting each from its cloth drawstring pouch. A small paper scroll is attached, using an elastic band, to every item. All six scroll-bearing artifacts are returned to the box, out of sight. Indicating five persons seated in the audience, the performer continues, “Each of you please step over to that box and remove one artifact. You may choose an item at random, because it’s pretty, or perhaps you feel somehow compelled to select it, but touch and take only one item. Pull the attached paper scroll free and put it in your pocket for now, then conceal the artifact in a cloth pouch to prevent anyone from knowing your choice. Place the bagged artifacts back in the box and return to your seats with my thanks.” The participants, one by one, comply. “A shaman, sorcerer, prophet, witch, or medicine man would tell you that a true amulet is attracted to the person and not the reverse,” informs the Mentalist, “Let’s test that theory.” Speaking to someone sitting near the box, the performer asks, “Please hand me one of the pouches.” He opens the pouch given him and withdraws the item inside (for example, a carved ebony totem). He explains its alleged mystical properties, how it was obtained, and maybe a personal recollection. The Mentalist goes on to describe in detail the type of person to whom the amulet might be attracted, then turns to one of the participants and says, “That description seems to fit you. Unroll your scroll and display what’s written on it.” It reads, “Black, wooden good luck totem.” A perfect match. Please turn to JURIS, page 208 Issue # 44 Volume 3, Number 8 Dr. Juris’ home is more like a private museum, displaying curiosities from around the world.
206 John Riggs The Compelling Key “Every home in the country has a ‘junk drawer’ somewhere in the house,” proclaims the Mentalist. “Ours is in the kitchen and serves as a repository for an assortment of nuts, bolts, screws, connectors, washers, and nails. And keys. Then, when we discover an old padlock, we must try every key in the drawer in order to find the correct one. Surely, there’s an easier way!” The performer removes a padlock from a small paper bag and remarks, “There are a half-dozen keys in the bag, one for each of six persons in the front row. When it’s your turn, reach into the bag and remove a single key. Be sure to keep it tightly closed in your fist so no one can know which one you’ve chosen.” One by one, six participants remove a key from the paper sack, taking care to conceal their choices within their hands. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could use our intuitive processes to shortcut the search for the key which fits?” asks the Mentalist. “Perhaps we can. Hold out your fists.” Walking down the row of extended fists, the performer touches several, saying, “One potato, two potato, three potato...no, that seems too silly. Eeny, meeny, miney, mo...nah, that’s even worse!” “History is full of stories,” continues the Mentalist, “about dowsers, scryers, and seekers. One of those techniques employs a pendulum to connect to the ‘universal consciousness’.” He ties a short length of string to the shackle of the lock, then dangles the lock over the first closed hand. The lock hangs still and steady. “That key must not fit the lock,” he says to the participant, “Give it a try.” The participant fits the key into the lock but it won’t turn. The procedure is repeated for the remaining helpers. Over one of the hands, the string & lock pendulum begins to describe a circle. “We’ll try that one last,” explains the Mentalist, who goes on to ‘pendulize’ the remaining participants, each of whom tests his key with no positive result. Returning to the person over whose hand the pendulum moved, the performer says, “A key without a lock is a solution in search of a problem. Likewise, an intuition untapped is a resource which is wasted. I think the lock has found its key. Try it.” The participant inserts the key into the lock, twists the key, and the lock snaps open! The secret tattletale is a tiny, rare earth magnet. The lock is purchased after its keys are tested to be steel. The other keys are chosen because they are nonmagnetic, nickel plated brass. While the keys are in the bag, the magnet is attracted to the single, steel key, adhering to the bottom of the bag on your palm. When the steel key is taken, the magnet drops into your hand. John is one of the most creative performers in our craft; sooner or later, you will feel his influence.
207 Choose the right audience and atmosphere for this routine’s gag lines and it’s a winner! Mark Edward Reigning Cats and Dogs “People are divided into two distinct categories;” begins the Mentalist, “cat people and dog people. You can tell a lot about a person by the type of pet he chooses. Some psychologists claim that there is a Freudian connection.” The performer continues, “Earlier, I asked three guests to put their heads together to covertly agree whether that trio’s pet of choice was a dog or a cat. Each of the participants selected one letter of the word ‘d-o-g’ or ‘c-a-t’ to focus upon and secretly printed that letter, in block capital style, on a piece of posterboard.” “As that committee of three comes forward, they have been instructed to hold their panels bearing the letters tightly against their chests so no one else will have a clue to the group’s animal choice, much less who has selected which letter. Please help me welcome them.” The performer leads the applause. Eyeing the three, the Mentalist explains, “This group appears to be comprised of independent thinkers who live life on their terms. They avoid becoming emotionally involved in crucial decisions and seem to project a sense of confidence. They must be cat people.” “Before you acknowledge whether or not that guess is correct,” says the performer to the trio, “I’ll go further. Larry, please move to your far right in the row. Thank you. Curly and Moe please exchange places. That will do, thanks.” Now the Mentalist interprets, “Larry is quick to seize opportunity (and anything else left lying around). He is someone who has learned to put off worrying about procrastination. He has a strong drive but his putt needs work. With a healthy respect for age, Larry prefers only the better whiskies. He will be the person who chose the letter ‘C’.” “Moe has the ‘A’ and will soon receive money from Lady Luck; he’ll spend it on Lady Friend. Good at pursuing money, his hobby is following Brinks trucks. He’s a strong believer in love & marriage, but not with the same person. “Curly, who has the final letter, the ‘T’, is aware of his strong reputation; he’s moved three times in five years because of it. He only dated women born on Christmas so he could save money on gifts. Curly’s planning a surprise for the boss – and will be at work on time tomorrow. Turn your panels around so we can see them.” The panels spell out, in order, C-A-T. After the preshow group chooses ‘cat’ or ‘dog’, each participant prints his letter on the matte-surface posterboard after you print his name on the other side. You can hear the difference between the letters (C=one long stroke, A=three straight strokes, T=two straight strokes; D=straight stroke and curved stroke, O=one long stroke, G=one long stroke and one or two short strokes).
208 Lee Earle at the Editor’s Desk Word from Rich Wagner of Denver is that a new Magic Island opens on January 29th. Show tickets are set at $12.95 per person and dinner guests (meals average about $15.00, not including bar beverages) receive priority seating. No Mentalists booked yet, but hope springs eternal. Phone for reservations at 303.988.5662. If you haven’t heard about Craig Karges’ Unlocking the Power Within then you haven’t been watching enough cable television. His slickly packaged infomercial product is quite impressive. Using audio cassettes, a video tape, and programmed instruction, this treasure hunt in the mind explores everything from mnemonics to lucid dreaming, with intriguing layovers at pendulums, intuition, and affirmations. Lots of good research material here. SYZYGY subscribers can purchase directly from Craig, for $44.00 postpaid (regular retail is $70.00), by calling his office at 304.233.4366. Chuck Hickok, Psychic Entertainers Association president, performed in Phoenix recently, working a tough business audience into a standing ovation. His corporate trainer’s touch and casual style provide a textbook example of contemporary Mentalism. Toronto, Canada’s Ron Guttman informs us of a Mentalism special interest group in that city, cryptically known as M5. Eh? Another friend and brother in the art has taken his final bow - Tony Johnson, director of Cicardi’s record-setting Mind Probe television program, left us last January 24th. Fade to black... Wise Words: Keep in mind that you are a totally unique individual – just like everyone else. Anonymous JURIS, continued Each item gets a similar treatment as the Mentalist-Curator fascinates his audience with his depth of knowledge about the artifacts and confounds them with his uncanny analysis of the personality and identification of each participant. Each scroll denotes its artifact as invoking success, love, health, etc. “It’s prudent of you,” informs the performer, removing the item remaining in the box, “to have avoided this small, stone statue. It is attracted only to evil and is never chosen.” He pulls the scroll free and opens it. The scroll reads, “Aztec ‘death’ icon.” How? Before each person steps up to take an artifact, the performer hands him one of the five, identical drawstring pouches. In fact, every pouch has a different colored lining; participants are chosen because each wears a clothing item of a matching hue so the contents of the color-lined pouch can be easily linked to him later. The ‘death’ scroll starts in the Mentalist’s pocket and is concealed in his hand as he reaches into the box for the final artifact. That artifact’s scroll is pushed free and remains in the box; he just pretends to detach the ‘death’ scroll from the artifact. It helps to describe some of the final artifact’s ‘evil’ attributes before opening and reading the scroll.
209 Edited by: Lee Earle Copyright©1996 SYZYGY 2901 N. 55th Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85031-3301 Telephone: 602 / 247-7323 voice 602 / 247-4665 fax & data E-Mail: America On Line - LeeE7 Internet - [email protected] Subscription rates: $38.00 per year Canada: US$48.00 per year Overseas (airmail): US$55.00 per year Reprints: $2.50 per issue Anonymous Cold Reading Demographics Living in and providing readings in a large city like Los Angeles, enables one to encounter a wide variety of people. This goes double if one does a high volume of readings in clubs or restaurants. Although the following information may appear stereotypical, drawing on some rather politically incorrect observations, there is a surprising ‘grain of truth’ in each of them. Young to middle-age Filipino women tend to be nurses or in similar support areas within the medical field. In fact, some medical facilities actively recruit in the Philippines for labor. “Your heart line has a decided healing quality; the same indication that many nurses or physical therapists have.” Please note that the line is paraded by them, not blatantly expressed, “...are you a nurse?” Educated and well-spoken Indians and Pakistanis are often in medical school or are doctors already. “You have the mind to use your skills to help and heal. I saw a medical student last week whose palm had a nearly identical line.” Middle-eastern types, Syrians especially, tend to gravitate toward the garment business (known as the “rag trade”). Almost all tend to be entrepreneurs. There is something wonderful about the free market spirit these folks seem to radiate. “You have the power to put together an idea which other people could use. It’s amazing that many designers and retailers have this same component.” Vietnamese who wear soft, used (but not fashionably faded) denim are frequently senior employees on the sewing floor of the garment trade (sweat shops). They confirm lots of hits when told of raising cash to buy more sewing machines. Others whom we refer to as “boat people” seem to fit into this generalization; industrious, forward-looking, and thrifty. “You have the discipline and persistence to provide things which others want, but a key element - something you need - that will help you be even more productive is just out of reach. As Please turn to page 210 Even though this material is based on stereotypes, all of the associated lines are very positive and affirming.
210 little as two or three thousand dollars would do the trick.” Personal experience shows that almost all Asians identify strongly with the word ‘persistence’ when it’s used in context. Medical or engineering school seems to be the area of interest for many Taiwanese students. It has been well documented within the education fraternity that Asians do well in technical subjects, often edging out Anglos and other minorities in college entrance exams. “You have the ability to solve problems, to analyze things. You would do well as a scientist or engineer because you can get to the crux of a problem quicker than most.” Tough and trim looking W.A.S.P.-ish types tend to be in or associated with law enforcement. The tip-off is a controlled, collected manner. They have a strong sense of right and wrong. “I see you standing in a position between right and wrong as a buffer between good and evil.” This line also works for military personnel. Taller trim & lean types (especially if they wear those shiny wire rim glasses ala William Sessions) are with, or thought about becoming a member of, the FBI, BATF, etc. A good line which scores like a Patriot missile is, “You can do things in a covert manner. If you were in law enforcement, you would excel in maintaining a low profile and in quietly blending into the background - like a plainclothes detective or FBI/CIA agent.” Spouses of the above appear to act out marriage roles that were more the norm a generation ago (traditional family values). At a recent party attended by cops, sheriffs, and their wives, it seemed almost like going back in time 30 years! Koreans connect with statements like, “Something very close to you was wrenched away and it seems no one cares. You feel invisible and somehow blamed for others’ actions.” In Los Angeles, an average of one Korean shopkeeper is murdered every month. Many Koreans feel the 1992 riots have never stopped, but have been edited out of the news instead. For some strange reason, Iranian nationals (and a few other middle eastern types) seem to want to be in trendy businesses. “You have the ability to commercialize creativity, to take an idea and put it into profitable action. You could design a popular nightclub or start a fashion trend.” Young girls (6-14 years) who have that wholesome, Marsha Brady look often have thoughts about being veterinarians or working with animals. “Your heart line reveals the ability to comfort and heal small animals or children.”
21Pre-war Babies Born through 1945 - Grew up during the Agricultural Age - Experienced the Great Depression, military experience was positive, victorious. Believed in “Keeping the World Safe for Democracy.” Baby Boomers Born 1946-1963 - 72 Million - the “Happy Days” generation - Grew up on the Industrial Age. Military experience negative (Vietnam) - Goals focused on money, status, material success. Rising standard of living. Baby Busters 1964 to present - The “Fix It” generation - Focus is quality of life- Grew up in Information Age. Short military experience. Want to avoid risk and rapid change. Predicted to have a falling or flat standard of living. Generation X. Focus: Security, the “American Dream”, material success Marriage: Family sticks together, no matter what. Many kids. JbLkthtiithFocus: Money, Status, Materialism Marriage: Lots of divorces, but keeps trying; fewer kids than pre-war. Job: Work-a-holics. Focused on hitttitthtFocus: Quality of life Marriage: Marry late - 40% doubt it will last. Many were Latch-Key kids & raised themselves. JbLkflltiltt
11 Job: Lucky to have one; retire with same employer. Belief: “Work hard & you get ahead.” Education: Not that important - High school level is typical. Ego Drive: Being able to provide for the family; “Keeping food on the table.” Heroes: Political leaders - Churchill, Roosevelt, Henry Ford Social Problems: Protecting workers - Unions, Prohibition, Morality, defending Democracy. Motivations: 1) Security; 2) Wages/Overtime; 3) Promotions; 4) Working conditiions. achievement - getting to the top - paying their dues. Education: Street smart. High school - some college. Ego Drive: Fulfilled at work Heroes: Athletes, actors, celebrities like the Kennedys. Social Problems: Rebelled against establishment, dropped out, apathetic, tried drugs, some activism, support less government. Motivations: 1) Status & wages; 2) Opportunity for promotion; 3) Job security; 4) Enjoy their work; 5) Appreciated for their work Job: Lack full-time employment; not money motivated. Want work they can enjoy. Education: College; computers. Ego Drive: Fulfilled outside of work; personal achievements. Heroes: Not many - Mother Theresa, Jane Fonda, parents. Social Problems: Concerned with local because world problems are too huge. National debt, Aids, Crime, Environment, Education. Motivations: 1) Must enjoy their work; 2) Be appreciated in their work; 3) Feeling “in” on things; 4) Security
212 Upscale white females may have a tendency to feel directed toward psychology studies; many are planning to be some sort of psychiatrist. “You’re a good ‘people person’ who can see the trees in others’ forests and have the potential to help other people make wise choices.” Entrepreneurial types, easily spotted by their “wheeler-dealer” attitude, are easily read; “It is said that Americans will buy anything if you put it in a box. You have that unique ability to package things for presentation or sales.” Professional black males who model a conservative dress and demeanor are receptive to business models. “You have the ability to devise with solutions that can be built upon. Someone like a Ted Turner or a John Johnson would have this line.” To avoid appearing patronizing, use both a white and a black person as your examples. Black businessmen will recognize Johnson, Earl Graves, and A.G. Gaston. All artistic types, especially Anglo males and non-conservative black males, respond to: “You can see creative ability in others and find ways to make it work for you. Someone like a Walt Disney or a Berry Gordy would have this line.” For the actor/singer personality, “This line is common in someone like a Bette Davis or a Madonna. You have a great deal of creative energy and the ability to communicate ideas and feelings in very innovative ways. Even though you feel the odds may be against a successful outcome, your persistence will pay off.” Editor’s note: The individual who contributed the material for this supplement is the source of a delightful story: When doing a reading for a client connected to the film industry, the palmist pulled a few lines ‘from the can’ and delivered them with full sincerity. Immediately after he said something like, “You have a great deal of unrealized potential which you have not turned to your advantage...” the client looked him in the eye and said, “It’s a script, isn’t it?” Our reader, attempting to avoid appearing guilty, simply swallowed hard and raised an eyebrow. The client continued, “I’m sure of it now. All along you’ve been encouraging me with advice, and it’s just a script!” Just when the reader was about to confess, thinking he was just nailed, the client said, “I’ve simply got to finish that damned script I’ve been working on and submit it. I don’t know how you knew about it, but you’re one hundred percent right. Thank you!” Such are the trials and tribulations of the cold reader.
213 Edited by: Lee Earle Copyright©1996 SYZYGY 2901 N. 55th Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85031-3301 Telephone: 602 / 247-7323 voice 602 / 247-4665 fax & data E-Mail: America On Line - LeeE7 Internet - [email protected] Subscription rates: $38.00 per year Canada: US$48.00 per year Overseas (airmail): US$55.00 per year Reprints: $2.50 per issue Banachek Golden Year Striding to the center of the platform, the Mentalist points to someone in the audience and asks, “Please say aloud a number between zero and ten, then stand up.” The participant says, as he is rising, “Seven.” A second participant is given the same instructions and replies, “Three.” Both audience helpers remain standing as the performer reaches into his pocket and removes a single, gold coin. It is sandwiched between layers of clear plastic in a white, cardboard frame. “Please stand and hold out your hand,” requests the performer, addressing a third participant at the front of the audience. “This is a rare, gold coin from the last century and you are hereby appointed as its guardian for a few moments.” The coin is placed on the participant’s outstretched hand. The Mentalist takes pad and pen in hand, turns to the first standing helper and asks, “Your number was...?” “Seven,” says the participant, and the performer writes that number on his pad. Addressing the second volunteer, he inquires, “And your digit, please?” The response is, “Three.” “Seven and three,” repeats the performer. “Or, seventy three, to be more precise. As a date in the last century, that’s 1873, yes?” Turning to the third participant, the Mentalist directs, “Please turn that coin over and tell us the date it was minted.” The helper flips over the coin and replies, “It is a commemorative gold piece, in Extra Fine / Proof condition, struck in Eighteen Seventy Three!” The method is quite simple. You can find a reasonably priced and undated commemorative coin (it should be as large as possible) at a local rare coin dealer. At the same time, purchase a number of the cardboard and plastic frames which are used to display and protect the rare coins. Use a pencil which matches the lead in your nail writer or Swami gimmick to write on the frame, “Special Issue gold coin. Condition: X-Fine / Proof. Minted 18 ” with blank space for you to thumb-write the final two digits. Because you return to the first two participants to ask (again) for their digits, the audience will mis-remember that the coin was in the third helper’s hand before the numbers were given. Your coin dealer might have a thin, foam padded, clear plastic box instead of a cardboard frame. Apply a removable paper label to the front surface for the necessary writing. Issue # 45 Volume 3, Number 9 Simplicity is the prime ingredient in this quick and powerful variation of the Koran Gold Medallion.
214 Lee Earle Poor Man’s Room Service “It’s a sad world,” laments the Mentalist, “in which security concerns have become paramount in the hospitality trade. Thieves have been known to stay at a hotel, keep the room key, and then return at a later date to loot the same room while the current occupant is attending a conference session or enjoying the poolside buffet. When people forget to return their room keys, the locks must be rekeyed as a precaution. That’s expensive!” The performer goes on, “Lately, hotels have begun using electronic locks with keys like these.” He shows a flat, credit card sized piece of plastic in the pocket of a small paper folder. The Mentalist explains, “This key fits a computerized door lock. It is encoded to open your room’s door only and operates just for the duration of your stay; after you check out, it will no longer function in the lock. In some hotels, if you persist in your attempt to use an expired key, you may find a brawny member of the hotel security staff tapping your shoulder. “Neither hotel name,” reminds the performer, “nor room number are printed on the card; another frustration for a would-be pickpocket. If an active card-key is stolen, the thief won’t know which hotel it accesses, much less the room number. Instead, there is a space here on the folder where the reception clerk writes your room number by hand. Guests are advised to memorize the room number and carry only the card-key.” Smiling sheepishly, the Mentalist admits, “Of course if you have less than a perfect memory (or one too many adult beverages) that practice is problematic. It’s not wise to walk down the hotel corridor in the early morning, repeatedly inserting one’s key-card until a door lock flashes its green light. Surely, there’s an easier way to recall the room number, perhaps through intuition or clairvoyance.” Addressing three persons in the audience, the performer asks, “Would each of you give me a single digit please? Just allow the numbers to appear on a hotel door in your imagination.” The numbers given are 3, 8, and 1. “I’ll write that room number right here in the space provided on the folder.” Returning the pen to his pocket, the Mentalist brings out a mechanical crayon marker and says, “I also carry one of these china markers. It’s about the only thing which will not permanently deface the plastic. I use it to write the room number on the back of the card in bold black digits which I can see without my glasses. What was your guess at room number again? Three-eight-one?” He withdraws the key-card from the folder and turns it over. On the back, next to the brown magnetic stripe, are the digits 381! A piece of pencil carbon paper is taped inside the folder so you can transfer the digits to the key-card by writing with your thumbnail as you show the folder’s printed side to the audience. Who needs a gimmicked key chain? Your next hotel stay will provide most of what you require.
215 Photocopy this specially designed chart for your own use Denny Laub Testy “Back in the 1930’s,” begins the Mentalist, “researchers at Duke University began their experimentation into E.S.P. In order to provide unambiguous targets for their tests, they employed these five designs, circle, cross, waves, square, and star.” The mindreader shows a small chart which bears all five symbols. Incorporated in each symbol is a small area in which to write. He hands the chart and a pencil to the participant. “I have a packet of cards, each bearing one of the designs,” says the performer. He pulls one of the cards from the group and places it, face down, on the table. “Let your inner eye see the hidden symbol, then write the number ‘1’, to signify your first guess, inside the same design on your chart.’ The procedure is duplicated for the next three cards; the Mentalist places a target card face down on the pile and the participant records his guess with the numbers ‘2’, ‘3’, and ‘4’. “The final design is no choice at all,” reminds the Mentalist, “so write the number ‘5’ in the only unfilled box on your chart.” He adds the final card to the pile as they dragged off the table into his hand. “Let’s check your chart and see how perceptive you are.” The participant calls out his choices in order and, one by one, the design cards are turned over. They are in the exact same order! The chart is designed so that you can ‘pencil-read’ which of the five choices the participant marks. You actually have six symbol cards; one with each design plus a sixth card which has a spot of wax on its face. The waxed card is placed face down on the table as the participant’s first target. When he marks his chart, you learn which design card to place down next. Hold your packet of cards in a block with the faces toward you. Keep the packet squared so your participant won’t detect the extra card. If the design he just marked isn’t on the face card, transfer it to the back of the packet. Repeat until the desired card is on the face of your packet, then remove it and place it face down on the first tabled card and ask the participant guess its design next. Repeat until he makes his fourth guess at which time you actually have two cards held as one in your hand. There are two possibilities: If his fourth choice is on the face of your doubled pair, place them as one on the pile and pick up the tabled packet. Compare for results in reverse order starting with guess #5. Show the top card, move it to the bottom of the packet and apply pressure so it sticks to the waxed card. Continue through the next four cards. When his fourth guess is not on the face of your doubled pair, slowly and deliberately pull the tabled cards one at a time onto your hand, atop the doubled pair. This time, the waxed card will be on top of the packet and will adhere to the one below it. The sequence of the five cards (the waxed double is on top) will match his chart.
216 Lee Earle at the Editor’s Desk A poll by The Magicians’ Yearbook 1997 has placed SYZYGY among the top three magazines in the world, in every category (Value for Money, Quality of Material, and Quality of Production)! More? SYZYGY placed second for Best Magazine Overall. Not bad for a four-page newsletter! Hearty congratulations go to Stan Allen’s MAGIC for taking first place honors. Ron Aldrich has put in a request for any videotapes of old Dunninger TV shows. If you can help, call him at 313.824.6194. At a recent Six-and-One-Half meeting, Larry Becker previewed his new Chameleon Chest, a utility item for the Mentalist. As with all of Larry’s offerings, it is of top quality and comes with a jillion routines. The outfit sells for $169.50, plus shipping. You can call him at 602.488.0980 or write to P.O. Box 6023, Carefree, AZ 85377 and he’ll send a detailed description. Look for the SYZYGY’s BEST! (Volume 2) lecture this Spring in cities around the world. The May European tour (Belgium, The Netherlands, France, & Italy) is now fully booked. I’ve posted all the dates on SYZYGY’s World Wide Web page (for those with Internet access) but will also print upcoming dates in this column. Here are the remaining March dates (with contact information): March 18, Cleveland, OH - (Neil Rozum at 216.333.4664); March 20, Bloomfield, NJ - (Bill Rutan at 201.429.7597). What a time we had in Ft. Collins & Denver – they even made me an honorary member of Denver’s Psi-Clones! Ed Hurtubis and Lee Marelli were suberb hosts to this travelling lecturer. When I deplaned at the much-maligned DIA airport, Lee met me with a set of maps, contact names, itinerary, and tour guides all bound into a 3-ring binder. This guy could have planned D-Day or Desert Storm! The sad news has arrived that another of our number is no longer with us; Ray Grosholz of Cooper City, FL, who suggested a presentational twist featured in my current lecture, passed on last February 6th, at age 71. Concerning Poor Man’s Room Service on page 214, it is obvious that a Listo lead swami gimmick could also be used to inscribe the numbers, and I have used that method myself, but the routine actually was conceived as one of those “lost luggage” challenges. Just heard from a reliable source that a new Herb Dewey book on cold reading technique is due for release this summer. Fantastic! E. Raymond Carlyle has relocated to Virginia Beach, VA and is already consulting in a commerical séance project. When it opens, you’ll read about it here. With the debut of his bi-monthly Quintessence, Bob Cassidy has taken the plunge into the Mentalism newsletter business. Annual subscriptions are $48.00 from Bob at 2211 S. Star Lake Road, 13-106, Federal Way, WA 98003. Highly recommended. Wise Words: The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend Henri Bergson
217 Edited by: Lee Earle Copyright©1996 SYZYGY 2901 N. 55th Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85031-3301 Telephone: 602 / 247-7323 voice 602 / 247-4665 fax & data E-Mail: America On Line - LeeE7 Internet - [email protected] Subscription rates: $38.00 per year Canada: US$48.00 per year Overseas (airmail): US$55.00 per year Reprints: $2.50 per issue Ty Kralin Graphology Goldmine Ty shares valuable money making secrets, excerpted from his new book, “The Pen is Mightier Than The Sword.” Ty Kralin
218 Handwriting analysis is ‘the Mother Lode’ waiting to reward the enterprising Mentalist. Considering the timeless interest in psychic phenomena and personal readings, it’s amazing more entertainers aren’t persuing handwriting analysis as a profitable alternative. I originally was forced to incorporate handwriting analysis as a last-resort attempt to salvage a booking at a fair. The event managers threatened to cancel our contract because they considered psychic readings as presenting a religious conflict with another attraction. In fact, there are venues that will accept a handwriting analyst that wouldn’t touch a psychic reader even though both are delivering essentially the exact same product! It’s simply a matter of perception. In many cases that perception will give you an advantage over any other ‘reader’ types to the point that you will be given preference for bookings. I have made my living from this for years now, refining it more and more over the years to make the presentation more efficient. The bottom-line benefit is that I sell far more products and services than most psychic readers. The average person finds handwriting analysis to have an acceptable premise. When people say to themselves, “Yeah, I remember reading about police using this handwriting stuff...” it validates that belief which is based on past experiences, urban legends, and Court TV. The handwriting slant also allows for numerous presentations to be tied in with a stage show which you want the promoter to book. For instance, a living & dead test becomes a lie detection or mystery theme effect and a design duplication becomes a predictable doodle for someone’s personality type. The underlying theme is, “Handwriting analysis is so amazing it almost seems like mindreading!” When performing, there is a certain psychological mindset that I try to establish. It’s that ‘PULL’, a frame of mind that makes them say, “He didn’t exactly perceive the thought currently in my mind but what he just described was in my thoughts a moment ago!” I want the audience pulling for me, bridging the gap when my long-shot guess is wrong, saying in their minds, “His description is incorrect, but he got the color (shape, emotion, time-of-day) right.” Here is where the real art of Mentalism comes in and where handwriting analysis has a tremendous advantage. It creates an easy faith. Handwriting analysis is a ‘pseudo science’ (highly respected and taught in European universities, by the way) which many believe in and therefore accept. They transfer, or project this feeling of belief onto a particular presentation and believe it also to be real by association. Faith is a wonderful thing. The main difference (compared to psychic readings) in doing personality analysis by graphology is that I don’t have to make any predictions, although I will when it serves my purposes.
219 Mistakes or disagreeable points are excused by saying, “It’s a small sample” or “Your text would have more to say and might disagree with your signature, but we’ll save that approach for a more in-depth analysis.” An ideal venue for handwriting analysis is at house parties. I have been far more successful impressing agents with handwriting analysis than I ever was through readings. A novel way to ensure that party guests spread the word about your graphology talents like wildfire is to have the hostess, in her invitations, request that each guest bring the signature of someone who won’t be attending the party. When the time comes to address the group, hand a single business card and a pencil to each person who provides one of those signatures. They are requested to take notes about my signature analysis and give those notes to their friends, explaining the relationships I point out. I deliver a brief analysis (using a combination of an A-Z method and a strategy I describe in my book Methods In Mentalism) insuring that no two signatures generate the same reading. Usually I also make one prediction. The guests chatter about those notes all night long, fitting the reading to the ‘signature’ person (even when I clearly see it was off the mark). They are going to take this back to their friends who are often intrigued about the information and give me a call for a private consultation. Since the party guest doesn’t want to appear foolish for believing what was in the reading, that person will usually further enhance the reading, verbally adding to the notes and thereby making the reading fit perfectly, after the fact. Viola! A miracle! People who didn’t attend the party hear about me and are absolutely amazed at how accurately I described the person who signature was analyzed. I’ve been called weeks later and told how they were still talking about that interlude. Graphology is perfect for both shows and talks as well as the street fairs. As you may suspect, I use each of these venues to promote the other aspects of what I’m doing. My three favorite venues are lectures, fairs, and malls. Additional profits can be had by selling (pitching) a mail-in analysis following my show. In many circumstances, it’s possible to make as much presenting a free talk as for a fully compensated date. The average fair brings in about $200.00 plus, a day with the high end of the scale at about $800.00 a day. The weather will have much to do with this, being a variable out of our control. At these events, both readings and handwriting analysis are offered but most of the signage on the booth advertises handwriting analysis.
220 My wife learned how to work the booth (using my special tic sheets) after the first hour of instruction. I don’t know why it took that long though (tongue firmly planted in cheek). We grossed more than $50,000 last year selling shows through this promotion. The real value in working a booth at a fair is that it sells a stage show at the same event and often to the same planners. Graphology can bridge the gap between two seemingly unrelated topics when you present a combination show and talk entitled Discover your ideal lover through handwriting analysis, sold to singles clubs and groups. Either they pay a fee or agree to allow individual analysis sessions (each after a slight formality at the cashbox). Think about presenting a talk called Body language, graphology and other forms of nonverbal communication. This provides a wonderful potential for supplementing the talk with selected Mentalism presentations. Free talks are one of the greatest ways to let the world find out about you. The handwriting analysis should always be linked to a benefit, describing the advantage people will derive from attending your talk, such as Breaking the ice with handwriting analysis. Offer free talks and classes on handwriting analysis in book stores and Adult Education Programs. Doing only the better paying single session seminars ($20 to $30 per person) in the spring and fall semesters pulled $60,000.00 for me in one year. The handwriting lectures bring in a great many people who will want to book you for their corporate or private cocktail parties. Provide a simple, brief and interesting talk on this subject to build curiosity about what handwriting says about a person. Unlike the psychic reader, you are allowed to ask questions about the actions and behaviors of the writer and therefore can gain an extremely accurate idea of what that person is like and then feed this information back later in the conversation. People don’t say, “Why did you ask that? You’re supposed to know.” You can also use handwriting analysis as a specialty for working trade shows as well. Approach the trade show booth of a company which is building a list of sales leads and tell them you have the ideal way to harvest tons of prospects. They hire you, paying by the day, to prepare a brief handwriting analysis for anyone who comes to their booth. The signature sample card becomes the booth sponsor’s lead card, with name and contact information. The more signatures you analyze, the more names they add to their database. Also, when attendees are queued up for their handwriting analysis, the company’s trade show staff can do their job of representing their company to the prospects. Since you are now a proven commodity, offering good value and drawing prospects into the booth, you have a better chance of selling them your entertainment alternatives.
221 Edited by: Lee Earle Copyright©1996 SYZYGY 2901 N. 55th Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85031-3301 Telephone: 602 / 247-7323 voice 602 / 247-4665 fax & data E-Mail: America On Line - LeeE7 Internet - [email protected] Subscription rates: $38.00 per year Canada: US$48.00 per year Overseas (airmail): US$55.00 per year Reprints: $2.50 per issue Ken Schwabe Digit Eyes Tossing six business cards onto the table, the Mentalist begins, “These cards bear the numbers 1 through 63 on them. You’ll notice that the numbers are arranged in neat rows and columns, but not all numbers are printed on every card and those which are have been distributed in a random order.” The mind reader requests, “Please bring to mind one of the numbers in that range, 1 through 63. Perhaps you may wish to take a moment and ponder a second or third choice but at the end, let us know when you have one of those figures in mind.” The participant thinks a moment or two, then nods. “As a benchmark for the process to come,” instructs the performer, handing the participant one of the cards, “look at this set of numbers to determine if your target number is among them. Then place it face down on the table.” After a few moments, the card is tabled and the Mentalist continues, “Was your mentally selected number among those on the card? No? Here are the remaining number sets. Repeat the process of searching for your target number in each set. When you find any which contain your number, place them in a second pile, here.” He indicates a spot on the table next to the first discard. “Accomplish the task as quickly as you can,” reminds the performer, “but bear in mind that accuracy is critical.” It is obvious to everyone at the table that it takes several seconds for the participant to visually scan each set of numbers. After almost a minute, the cards have been divided into two piles. “It’s a dreary chore, yes?” asks the Mentalist. “I prefer the Evelyn Wood speed method, myself. I’ll use the larger of the two piles and scan for the number which is either repeated or missing on all the cards.” He squares the packet of cards and holds it in his fingers about half an arm’s length from his eyes. Then, very rapidly, each top card is whisked aside to reveal the one beneath it. He takes out a pen and jots a note on the back of one of the number bearing cards. “Was the number in your mind 17?” asks the performer. “No,” replies the participant. I was thinking of 55.” With a twinkle in his eye, the Mentalist turns over the card upon which he wrote. It reads, “Your number is 55!” Please turn to DIGIT EYES. page 222 Issue # 46 Volume 3, Number 10 By changing the premise of the routine, this well known math puzzle becomes fun again.
222 DIGIT EYES, continued Most of us are familiar with this number trick, having discovered it as one of the items packaged in many magic sets. Presented as a mind reading stunt, it fails to impress because it is obviously mathematical in nature. This routine provides a wonderful premise which takes the heat off the secret. All the performer must do is add up, from either pile, all the numbers which appear in the upper left corners of the cards. If it’s the pile in which you’ve been told the target number is present, the total is the same as the target number. Otherwise, mentally subtract the total from 63 to get the target number. You will note that the numbers on the sample cards below are not in the usual, numerical order. Each card’s numbers have been scrambled into a random sequence to sidestep the otherwise obvious arrangement. This has the added benefit of slowing down the participant’s search for his target number (at the expense of making his task a little more error prone). Be sure that you give him adequate time to complete each search and script your routine so you have something interesting to say during those dead spots.
223 Marc Salem Veg-a-Mental After inscribing something on the unprinted side of one of his business cards, the Mentalist points to a front-row participant and asks, “Please name the first vegetable that comes to mind...” The single word reply is “Canteloupe.” “I think that’s a fruit, but we’ll work with it,” remarks the performer, who continues to add strokes and lines to the artwork on the card in his hand. “Let’s imagine that you are strolling through a supermarket and take a detour over to the produce aisle. You walk up and down the aisle looking for canteloupe but find none.” “Then,” continues the mind reader, “you search out and find a grocery clerk to inquire as to the location of the canteloupe. He tells you that they are on sale today, for a very special price. The display of canteloupe is at the end of the next aisle.” As the Mentalist speaks, he adds a final touch to his as yet unseen sketch on the business card, transfers the pen to his other hand and asks, “Picture in your mind a bushel basket of canteloupe. I’ve drawn such a basket which appears to contain several canteloupe. Imagine that this pen is instead a little signpost attached to the bushel basket with a small, square sign at the end.” “In this store,” remarks the performer, “canteloupe are priced per each, rather than by weight. What price do you see on the sign? Seventy nine cents? That’s amazing. You must be psychic!” He turns the card around and shows his bushel basket of canteloupe, priced at 79¢ each! For a surefire routine with lots of impact, nothing seems to do the job like a Swami Gimmick (nail writer, band writer, Boon, etc.). But the beauty of this presentation is that you have an early chance to score a direct hit, without using your gimmick. The most often named vegetable is a carrot. So write, in block capital letters, the word “CARROT” on the back of the card, timing your question so that you are finished writing just before your participant names his choice. If his response is the expected one, smile, turn the card around, and take your applause. Should any other vegetable be named, continue to draw a bushel basket on the card so that your strokes cover the earlier inscribed word. Draw a small, square sign on a stick above the basket, put a small “ea.” (or in the case of bulk produce “ /lb.”) in the bottom, right corner of the sign. Just as soon as the participant names the price, thumb-write it into the space provided as you ask him to repeat (as if you didn’t hear him clearly the first time). Whether the reply is a fruit or a vegetable (or even a tomato), this quick & easy routine plays well.
224 Lee Earle at the Editor’s Desk Now that my domestic lecture schedule is nearing completion, look for SYZYGY to arrive a bit more frequently than of late. Speaking of lectures, the final U.S. city for the current edition of SYZYGY’s BEST! will be in Portland, Oregon on April 25. This is where the lecture is recorded on videotape for release this summer. Contact David Fredric Ashton, III at 503.775.9377 for time and venue. Abundant thanks go to my hosts Neil Rozum (of Cleveland) and Bert Rutan (of New Jersey’s Mecca Magic) for the terrific job they did to make the lectures in their areas successful. I would be remiss if I failed to acknowledge the kindness of Moshe & Teva Botwinick and Allen & Nancy Zingg who offered their personal hospitality for those ‘tween-date evenings when I was in the NY-NJ area. Good friends and good conversations; what a blessing. Brothers in the art, Ty Kralin, Ted Saint James, and Marc Sky assembled in my honor for a Manhattan afternoon of show and tell. Or toast and boast, take your pick. What a creative bunch they are! Ted, in particular, fried my brain for hours with the simplest of concepts. Perhaps one day I can convince him to share that devilish routine with SYZYGY subscribers. Marc Salem, who was also present, did contribute one of his gems, the one on page 223. The European dates for the lecture are: May 7 Antwerp, BELGIUM, Marc Janssen, +32.3.480.6196 May 9 Kortrijk, BELGIUM, B. Mahieu, +32.56.35.03.15 May 10 Eindhoven, HOLLAND, H. Minten, +31.40.204.3810 May 12 Paris, FRANCE, Georges Proust, +33.1.42.72.1326 May 13 Lyon, FRANCE, Jean-Yves Prost, +33.4.78.28.62.20 May 15 Milano, ITALY, Carlo Faggi, +39.2.805.2773 May 16 Bologna, ITALY, Gianno Loria, +39.51.701135 May 17 Padova, ITALY, Aroldo Lattarulo, +39.49.619121 And, while I’m at it, there are three more events scheduled: May 22 Thunder Bay, CANADA, Peter Puna, 807 345.5736 May 23 Winnipeg, CANADA, Eric Wittenburg, 204 694.6711 May 24 Winnipeg, CANADA (Half day seminar), same phone. The final lecture will be presented at the Psychic Entertainers Association’s Meeting Of The Minds, a members only convention in Minneapolis, MN this June 12-15. The P.E.A., by the way, is an outstanding organization of individuals who share the mutual interest of promoting the ethical presentation of psychic entertainment (which can encompass Mentalism, bizarre magick, mental magic, new-age readings, etc.). I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if most of the the P.E.A. members could also qualify for admission to that high-IQ outfit, Mensa. If you’re interested in applying for membership to the P.E.A., write to the membership chairman: Doug Dyment, 1361 Rhode Island, San Francisco, CA 94107, or call 415.647.7754. He’ll send a complete application packet. Wise Words: Mediocrity is self imposed. Jim Hennig
225 Edited by: Lee Earle Copyright©1996 SYZYGY 2901 N. 55th Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85031-3301 Telephone: 602 / 247-7323 voice 602 / 247-4665 fax & data E-Mail: America On Line - LeeE7 Internet - [email protected] Subscription rates: $38.00 per year Canada: US$48.00 per year Overseas (airmail): US$55.00 per year Reprints: $2.50 per issue Larry Becker Lightning Thot The Mentalist’s associate is blindfolded and seated, facing the audience, approximately eight to ten feet behind and slightly to the left of the performer. The Great One hands an opaque clipboard bearing a pad of unlined drawing paper to three members of the audience, requesting that each print a bold numeral on the pad, creating a 3-digit number. Taking the clipboard in hand and at no time allowing the pad to face in any direction but directly away from his associate, the performer asks the audience to concentrate on the first digit, then the second digit, and finally the third number. During this entire sequence nothing else is said. Within seconds, the blindfolded associate correctly reveals the 3-digit number! Most subscribers will be familiar with a gimmick intended for magicians, Rocco’s D’Lite. It’s a thumbtip in which a small light and battery are concealed. A slight pressure inward on a switch in the thumbtip illuminates the tiny red, gold, or green light. The blindfold used is one which allows straight-ahead vision, such as Osterlind’s Stainless Steel Blindfold. A quick and inexpensive variation is a double rolled handkerchief. Place a handkerchief flat on the table and roll two diagonally opposite corners toward the center until the rolled sections meet. If the blindfold is tied over one’s eyes so one roll is just above and the other below eye level, only one layer of cloth obstructs the vision and a decent degree of sight is possible while the blindfold appears genuine. The performer holds the clipboard over his shoulder, thumbs behind the board and fingers to the front. Even though the associate does not look directly at the performer, it is easy enough to use peripheral vision to detect the E.T.-like glow emanating from the tip of the performer’s ‘thumb’. Coding each number as he asks the audience to concentrate on the first, second, and third digits is a snap. Naturally, many items can be coded in the same manner; symbols, colors, celebrity photos, etc. Just be aware of your angles and of any reflective surfaces behind you. Issue # 47 Volume 3, Number 11 Your local magic shop has a $19.95 gimmick which will add miracles to a two-person act.
226 Christian Theiss A Table for Two “Imagine a romantic, candlelight dinner,” begins the Mentalist, speaking to a woman at a nearby table. “As you gaze lovingly into your companion’s eyes, a delicious aroma, borne on the breeze from the kitchen, drifts into your consciousness. It’s your favorite dish.” The performer writes something on a small pad, then tears off the top page and folds it twice before placing it in an empty wine glass. “I believe I caught a mental hint of your menu selection. The note records my impression. Please tell the rest of the audience of the meal you selected.” She replies, “Spaghetti carabonara.” “I was close,” suggests the mind reader. “I’ll try again, this time with the wine. Perhaps I can do better. Taste, in your mind, the perfect wine to accompany your dinner.” After pondering a moment, he makes a second notation and that paper also is quarter-folded and placed in the glass with the first note. “Now, what do we drink?” asks the performer. “A Bordeaux, I think - 1986, full bodied and demi-dry,” responds the lady. “An excellent choice, and a perfect vintage,” compliments the Mentalist, “I’m sure the meal will be perfect. Following dessert, you yield to an impulse and take the single flower from the elegant vase on the table.” He once more jots a notation on a piece of paper, folding it and depositing it with the others. “What flower is it?” The participant thinks a moment and replies, “A red tulip.” All three slips are poured from the glass and opened by the performer. They read; “At our romantic dinner, you will order a pasta dish; We share a tasty, demi-dry Bordeaux, 1986; When you leave, the scent of the flower you love will be with you. A tulip.” A standard one-behind strategy is employed here, with a clever variation for the third option. Your first slip actually bears the flower prediction. “Tulip” is written at the bottom of the slip, well below the rest of the text. When you pretend to inscribe your impression of her wine choice, you actually write a general description of her menu choice. As you apparently write the name of the flower in her mind, you really put down the selected wine. Be aware that your notes should be more than just one or two words. If you wrote only “Tulip” (when you are predicting the dish), what if she says, “McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets and fries?” There are two clever ‘outs’ if she selects another flower. Because you described it as a single flower in a tall, elegant vase, the flower most chosen is, of course, a rose, so put a light dab of rose scent on the paper. Then, when you open the note, cover “A tulip” with your finger, have her read the note and sniff to identify the selection. A third choice is covered with a single carnation in a tall bud vase in your attache case. As before, you cover “A tulip” as she reads your note; remove the vase from your case and present the flower. You’ll recognize the method right away, but it’s the flowery ‘kicker’ which makes this routine special.
227 Many well-read subscribers will find lingering traces of Brain Echos in this routine. Christopher Faria Walk of Fame “Have you ever,” queries the Mentalist, “taken a stroll down the fabled Hollywood Boulevard? Trust me, it’s better to do it in the daytime. No, not for the reason you’re thinking, but because it’s easier to read the celebrity names on the stars which are imbedded in the sidewalks.” He picks up a drawing tablet and, with a jumbo marker, draws a large star on the page and leaves room in the center for future use. Numbering the points 1 through 5, the performer suggests, “Let’s choose three of these numbers. You’ll see why in a moment.” The participants agree to use 1, 4, and 5. The mind reader strokes through the other two digits and hands one of the helpers a copy of Leonard Maltin’s Movie Guide. “Turn to page 145 in that book and focus your mind on the film described in the first entry on that page. See that film on the movie screen in your mind.” Once again taking the drawing tablet in hand, the Mentalist begins to write something in the star, as well as in the margins. “I get the impression you are concentrating on an action thriller,” proclaims the performer. “Lots of special effects. Military stuff. Drug cartels. Now concentrate on the leading man. I’m not sure he’s on the Hollywood Walk of Fame yet, but I predict he soon will be. Will you tell us the title and star of the movie in your mind?” The participant replies, “Clear and Present Danger, starring Harrison Ford.” When the drawing tablet is turned around, the words “Tom Clancy’s Clear & Present Danger” are written above the star. In the center of the star is written “Harrison Ford!” Because you have limited the page selection to the digits 1 through 5, there are only 60 possible three-digit combinations, twelve beginning with each of the five available digits. There are 5 duplicate jumbo marking pens. Taped around each of them is a ‘crib’ which lists twelve possible pages and cues you to the identity of the first entry on that page. You can either write very small with a fine-tip pen, or typeset the numbers on a home computer. The first pen’s crib represents every 3-digit combination beginning with ‘1’, when no numbers are repeated (123, 132, 124, 142, 125, 152, 134, 143, 135, 153, 145, and 154). The second pen cues the series which begins with the digit ‘2’, the third pen those numbers beginning with ‘3’, etc. The pens are either body-indexed or in their box in numerical order. When you get the movie guide from your attache case you also remove the appropriate pen. Read your cues as you complete your sketch. It will be helpful if you browse the film listings in advance so you know some of the details in each possible target movie and can discuss those particulars as you sketch.
228 Lee Earle at the Editor’s Desk An unofficial challenge has been registered, by members of the Legendary East Coast Mentalism think tank, The Thirteen, to those of the equally Fabled Six-and-One-Half of Arizona. The conditions are simple: a trusted and neutral third party (Marcello Truzzi, perhaps?) will suggest a premise for a routine, perhaps only a tentative title, and the criteria for success. Then the two groups will engage in a battle of the brains to see which, if either, will be the first to develop a workable solution to the problem. The winning entry will be published in SYZYGY. I wonder if The Elders, The Minnesota Mind-Psi, the Psi-Clones, or any other similar groups want a piece of this? Larry Becker is back on the lecture trail again this May. It seems the old fire horse has heard the bell once more. There is even some early talk about reprising our Mental Magic Super Symposium in one or two cities, whenever he and I can arrange for our paths to cross. Let us know if there is any interest in your area. No promises, because it may not come together at all, but speaking for myself, I can’t think of a more enjoyable way of spending a Saturday than doing point & counterpoint with the Beckmeister. In the meantime, look for him in the Northwest - May 21 in Seattle, WA; May 23 in Vancouver, BC; and May 24 in Victoria, BC. I can’t tell you everything that I know about the subject, but Richard Mark has a hardcover book in preparation, set for release within the next year. The project is shaping up to be more or less “The Collected Works of...” plus additional new material. His is one of the most creative minds in the business, so his book will probably be on almost everyone’s ‘must buy’ list. It certainly will be on mine. Now that Bob Cassidy is publishing his Mentalism newsletter, and since Roy Miller is still doing his outstanding job editing the Psychic Entertainers Association’s VIBRATIONS, the competition for new material is keener than ever. SYZYGY’s reservoir of contributions is a bit lower than has been the case for a while. If you have routines, effects, or even unfinished ideas which you would like to see polished and published in the most widely circulated Mentalism newsletter in the world (I can’t help it - it just came out!), send ‘em in. Don’t spend a lot of time actually writing out a finished piece for publication because almost everything submitted is rewritten to fit space and style constraints. Just jot down the bare bones of the effect, the modus operandi, and any good lines you use with the routine and let me do the rest. Basically, my job as Editor is to make the contributors look good. One nice benefit of getting your work published in SYZYGY is that you are automatically covered under U.S. copyright law; your ownership of the material is established and your manufacturing rights (just in case you might want to ‘go commercial’) are protected. So send in your good stuff and become part of SYZYGY’s celestial lineup. Wise Words: Be like a postage stamp - stick to something until you get there. Josh Billings
229 Edited by: Lee Earle Copyright©1996 SYZYGY 2901 N. 55th Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85031-3301 Telephone: 602 / 247-7323 voice 602 / 247-4665 fax & data E-Mail: America On Line - LeeE7 Internet - [email protected] Subscription rates: $38.00 per year Canada: US$48.00 per year Overseas (airmail): US$55.00 per year Reprints: $2.50 per issue Irene Levitt The Four Pattern Ploy “Psychologists,” informs the Mentalist, “are continuously developing tools which help define and explore the myriad facets of our personalities. Some are well known like the Myers-Briggs test, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, or the Carlson Company’s Dominance-InfluenceSteadiness-Compliance evaluation.” Drawing several symbols on a small sheet of paper, the performer explains, “While not as comprehensive as some of the better known tools, there is a simple method to explore your core drives and values. Look at this set of symbols and then tell me which figure appeals to you the most. There is no right or wrong answer, just a preference.” Depending upon which item among the four is chosen, one of the following evaluations is delivered. The participant answers, “The circle.” “Love and completeness are important factors for you. You have the unusual ability to find peace within, as opposed to searching for approval from the outside.” “I’ll choose the square,” says our subject. “Home and hearth are your touchstones. Security and stability will be the critical criteria when you make your long-term plans.” “My pick,” replies your particpant, “is the triangle.” “You’ve indicated the symbol associated with power and sensuality, which indicates a strong drive and a very intense focus in all your appetites.” Your subject answers, “The squiggle seems to attract me.” “Creativity and imagination are the keystones in your life. You are often frustrated when ‘locked in a box’ by others’ constraints on your working habits. You prefer to ‘draw outside the lines’.” That’s all there is to it. Give this tool a try and you’ll be amazed at the reactions you generate. Issue # 48 Volume 3, Number 12 Irene Levitt is a nationally recognized authority and consultant in Grapho-Analysis.