Post by Cervier on Mar 5, 2014 14:02:59 GMT -5
Wow! After my attention was attracted to that thread by monday's message, I read all posts starting at page 1
-captivating stuff! Thank you for all that!
I don't use bizarre-like themes, but the material you posted certainly makes me wish I did.
I know I'm too late to comment on your earlier messages, I hope you'll forgive me for doing it anyway.
1) The dice thing (last post on page 1 of this thread)
That theme I could use (and certainly will), thanks! The "doing it ungimmicked" challenge got me thinking. I experimented a bit and here's what I came up with. I tested it with a lay audience (my wife )
I picked 5-3 as my target, two numbers that don't add up to 7.
I roll the dice one afrter the other, you'll see why. Depending on the outcome, here's what I say:
a - {5,3} : tadaaa! That's a hit (2 times out of 36)
b - {5,x} or {3,x} : one out of two, promissing! (18 times out of 36)
... and if "x" is the "opposite" number of the target, then I can say "one number is up, the other one is against the table" (for instance, in {5,4}, "5" is up and "3" is on the other die, against the table)
c - {x,y} two different numbers, neither being 3 or 5 (10 times out of 36). Here's why I roll the dice one by one. If the first die doesn't land on 3 or 5 (let's say it lands on 1), I push it aside but doing that, I turn it so the 3 and 5 faces are towards me. If the second die also doesn't give me a target number (let's say it lands on 4), I push it towards the first one trying to have the target faces towards me. In this case, the 3 is against the table and not available so I turn the die to have the 5 towards me. Then I push both dice together between my thumb and first finger, so as to put a 3 and a 5 facgin me. I say I missed, but with my other hand I turn both dice together to make the targeted {5,3} appear. It was "just one roll away"!
d - {4,2} (2 times out of 36). I push the die together between my thumb and first finger and turn them to show the target was "on the other side" (or "against the table")
e - Pairs are total misses, except {3,3} and {5,5} that are "one out of two" (4 times out of 36)
I didn't use the "off by one" thing, even though I believe it's good, because I wanted to experiment that "one roll away" ploy. And it works! I didn't get caught. Well, my wife didn't change her religion, but she didn't snort either
2) The intuition cards (page 2 of this thread)
Again, nice idea. I thought of something a bit like that a few months ago. A friend had shown me a nice effect, using the four queens: spectator picks one and it's the one with an odd back. I wanted to do something like that but with my business cards.
I changed the method and here's what I do now:
- my business cards have ESP symbols on their face. Prepare 4 cards by circling a different symbol on every one. On the blank side of all cards (except the one where you circled the square) write "Bravo!". The "blank" card goes on the bottom.
- say you want to give the person a "custom card".
- fan the cards face up, asking the person to choose a symbol. Put the relevant card on the table.
- do a "flu**tration" count to show that all other cards are blank, putting the sqaure/blank card back to the bottom. You can then carefully fan them face down (blank side up) and use that fan to turn over the card that's on the table: it's reads "Bravo !"
- if they pick the square, put the card on the table and say "I told you I wanted to give you a custom card with a special message..." Turn the other cards one by one saying at the same time "Bravo! Bravo again! Three times Bravo! You picked the only card on which I could write a custom message for you". It's because of the "three times Bravo" (which is a common expression in French, "trois fois bravo") I use 4 cards only, even though it would work with 5.
I hope you don't find I polluted that wonderfull thread too much. Thanks again for it
-captivating stuff! Thank you for all that!
I don't use bizarre-like themes, but the material you posted certainly makes me wish I did.
I know I'm too late to comment on your earlier messages, I hope you'll forgive me for doing it anyway.
1) The dice thing (last post on page 1 of this thread)
That theme I could use (and certainly will), thanks! The "doing it ungimmicked" challenge got me thinking. I experimented a bit and here's what I came up with. I tested it with a lay audience (my wife )
I picked 5-3 as my target, two numbers that don't add up to 7.
I roll the dice one afrter the other, you'll see why. Depending on the outcome, here's what I say:
a - {5,3} : tadaaa! That's a hit (2 times out of 36)
b - {5,x} or {3,x} : one out of two, promissing! (18 times out of 36)
... and if "x" is the "opposite" number of the target, then I can say "one number is up, the other one is against the table" (for instance, in {5,4}, "5" is up and "3" is on the other die, against the table)
c - {x,y} two different numbers, neither being 3 or 5 (10 times out of 36). Here's why I roll the dice one by one. If the first die doesn't land on 3 or 5 (let's say it lands on 1), I push it aside but doing that, I turn it so the 3 and 5 faces are towards me. If the second die also doesn't give me a target number (let's say it lands on 4), I push it towards the first one trying to have the target faces towards me. In this case, the 3 is against the table and not available so I turn the die to have the 5 towards me. Then I push both dice together between my thumb and first finger, so as to put a 3 and a 5 facgin me. I say I missed, but with my other hand I turn both dice together to make the targeted {5,3} appear. It was "just one roll away"!
d - {4,2} (2 times out of 36). I push the die together between my thumb and first finger and turn them to show the target was "on the other side" (or "against the table")
e - Pairs are total misses, except {3,3} and {5,5} that are "one out of two" (4 times out of 36)
I didn't use the "off by one" thing, even though I believe it's good, because I wanted to experiment that "one roll away" ploy. And it works! I didn't get caught. Well, my wife didn't change her religion, but she didn't snort either
2) The intuition cards (page 2 of this thread)
Again, nice idea. I thought of something a bit like that a few months ago. A friend had shown me a nice effect, using the four queens: spectator picks one and it's the one with an odd back. I wanted to do something like that but with my business cards.
I changed the method and here's what I do now:
- my business cards have ESP symbols on their face. Prepare 4 cards by circling a different symbol on every one. On the blank side of all cards (except the one where you circled the square) write "Bravo!". The "blank" card goes on the bottom.
- say you want to give the person a "custom card".
- fan the cards face up, asking the person to choose a symbol. Put the relevant card on the table.
- do a "flu**tration" count to show that all other cards are blank, putting the sqaure/blank card back to the bottom. You can then carefully fan them face down (blank side up) and use that fan to turn over the card that's on the table: it's reads "Bravo !"
- if they pick the square, put the card on the table and say "I told you I wanted to give you a custom card with a special message..." Turn the other cards one by one saying at the same time "Bravo! Bravo again! Three times Bravo! You picked the only card on which I could write a custom message for you". It's because of the "three times Bravo" (which is a common expression in French, "trois fois bravo") I use 4 cards only, even though it would work with 5.
I hope you don't find I polluted that wonderfull thread too much. Thanks again for it