A SUBTLE AFTERTHOUGHTA SUBTLE AFTERTHOUGHT

A SUBTLE AFTERTHOUGHT

Effect:

The performer starts calling cards aloud, the spectator is asked to think of one, and The performer starts calling cards aloud, the spectator is asked to think of one, and it is

it is correctly guessed by the performer.correctly guessed by the performer.

Introduction:

I actually discovered this subtlety unintentionally. Like most accidental I actually discovered this subtlety unintentionally. Like most accidental discoveries, it happened during a live performance. I will go into more detail on discoveries, it happened during a live performance. I will go into more detail on what happened as I explain the method, so as to not to give it away just yet, as it is what happened as I explain the method, so as to not to give it away just yet, as it is a very small thing.

a very small thing.

As we are venturing into real psychological principals, it isn’t going to have a As we are venturing into real psychological principals, it isn’t going to have a perfect

perfect finish finish every every time, time, but but like like a a lot lot of of the the psychological psychological techniques techniques I’mI’m teaching in this book, you will find that they provide marvelously consistent teaching in this book, you will find that they provide marvelously consistent results. And on the rare chance that it misses and you’re wrong, it doesn’t matter, results. And on the rare chance that it misses and you’re wrong, it doesn’t matter, as it is often forgotten in the

as it is often forgotten in the midst of your surefire effects.midst of your surefire effects.

The last three chapters of this book are essentially different means to achieve the The last three chapters of this book are essentially different means to achieve the same end: revealing a s

same end: revealing a single thought amongst a bunch of ingle thought amongst a bunch of other thoughts. Some willother thoughts. Some will be

be more more to to your your liking liking than than others, others, or or you you may may hate hate or or love love all all three. three. I I can can onlyonly hope it is the latter.

hope it is the latter.

Presentation and Method:

“Thank you for helping, Alice. Your job will be incredibly simple, almost no

“Thank you for helping, Alice. Your job will be incredibly simple, almost no thought involved. In a moment, I’m going to start naming playing cards thought involved. In a moment, I’m going to start naming playing cards

aloud. I don’t want you to think of one yet, I just want you to listen as I say aloud. I don’t want you to think of one yet, I just want you to listen as I say them.”

them.”

Five random playing cards are spoken,

Five random playing cards are spoken, “Two of Clubs, Five of Diamonds, Eight“Two of Clubs, Five of Diamonds, Eight of Spades, Seven of Hearts, Nine of Clubs. Please think of the first one that

Reviewing the way that this is presented, you’ll see the subtle ways in which you Reviewing the way that this is presented, you’ll see the subtle ways in which you guide them to that selection. It relies almost entirely on the idea of introducing the guide them to that selection. It relies almost entirely on the idea of introducing the choice as an

choice as an afterthought.afterthought.

During the performance that led to the creation of this piece, it was a different During the performance that led to the creation of this piece, it was a different effect, and I had simply forgotten to tell the participant that they were to think of a effect, and I had simply forgotten to tell the participant that they were to think of a card beforehand. Of course, I realized my mistake, asking them to think of one card beforehand. Of course, I realized my mistake, asking them to think of one after the fact. I remember them being visibly befuddled by the sudden revelation after the fact. I remember them being visibly befuddled by the sudden revelation that they now had to think of a card. I could see them struggling to remember the that they now had to think of a card. I could see them struggling to remember the cards that I had named. I then started tinkering with the idea, coming up with cards that I had named. I then started tinkering with the idea, coming up with concepts to try and

concepts to try and make it even more psychologically controlled.make it even more psychologically controlled.

The lines “

The lines “Your job will Your job will be incredibly simple, almost no thought involved”be incredibly simple, almost no thought involved” andand

“I just want you to listen as I say them”

“I just want you to listen as I say them” are said in casual, unimportant ways.are said in casual, unimportant ways.

You aren’t forcing your words as if your participant should

You aren’t forcing your words as if your participant should listenlisten carefullycarefully..

Supplementing the word ‘listen’ over the word ‘remember’ is the subtle thing here.

You aren’t saying it like they

You aren’t saying it like they need toneed to remember remember . You never. You never say say the word the word

‘remember’, so they don’t know to put in the effort. Your body language and

‘remember’, so they don’t know to put in the effort. Your body language and actions as you say the script should suggest,

actions as you say the script should suggest, “Relax. You have nothing to worry“Relax. You have nothing to worry about. You will barely be doing anything. Just sit back and let my words flow into about. You will barely be doing anything. Just sit back and let my words flow into

you will find that you can easily manipulate your spectator into acting exactly as you will find that you can easily manipulate your spectator into acting exactly as you need them to. Understanding this thought process, we can take advantage of it.

you need them to. Understanding this thought process, we can take advantage of it.

I enjoy exploring a person’s thinking after the fact, verifying that I knew the exact I enjoy exploring a person’s thinking after the fact, verifying that I knew the exact mental route they would take to arrive at their choice. In the case of “

mental route they would take to arrive at their choice. In the case of “ A A SubtleSubtle Afterthought

Afterthought ”, we know that the person will be taken aback that they now need to”, we know that the person will be taken aback that they now need to recall the choices. They will usually remember the last card fairly clearly, but the recall the choices. They will usually remember the last card fairly clearly, but the card before that will still be hanging in the subconscious of their brain. When they card before that will still be hanging in the subconscious of their brain. When they remember what that card is, they typically choose it, because picking the very last remember what that card is, they typically choose it, because picking the very last card is too obvious. To get some free mind reading from my spectator, I say

card is too obvious. To get some free mind reading from my spectator, I say all ofall of this

this to them.to them.

I retake them through their thought process, showing that I knew how they would I retake them through their thought process, showing that I knew how they would think, saying,

think, saying, “I could see that you remembered the Nine of Clubs instantly,“I could see that you remembered the Nine of Clubs instantly, but you had to stretch your memory a bit to remember the Seven of Hearts.

but you had to stretch your memory a bit to remember the Seven of Hearts.

And I assume you chose that because you felt that picking the very last card And I assume you chose that because you felt that picking the very last card was too obvious, correct?”

was too obvious, correct?” Assuming they chose the Seven of Hearts, you willAssuming they chose the Seven of Hearts, you will find the spectator will agree with all of these statements.

find the spectator will agree with all of these statements.

Additional Thoughts and Ideas:

--You could also reframe your revelations. After naming the cards, and giving --You could also reframe your revelations. After naming the cards, and giving them a brief moment to think, say,

them a brief moment to think, say, “You aren’t thinking of the Nine of Clubs,“You aren’t thinking of the Nine of Clubs, are you?”

are you?” If they say yes, you have a hit. If they say no, you add,If they say yes, you have a hit. If they say no, you add, “I didn’t think“I didn’t think so, as I’m sure you found the very last choice to be too obvious. I can also see so, as I’m sure you found the very last choice to be too obvious. I can also see that you’re having a hard time remembering some of the first couple of cards that you’re having a hard time remembering some of the first couple of cards that I named, so I would guess that you’re thinking of the Seven of Hearts, that I named, so I would guess that you’re thinking of the Seven of Hearts,

You have now taken a stab at two cards—the two most likely choices—and will You have now taken a stab at two cards—the two most likely choices—and will have a near hundred percent success rate.

have a near hundred percent success rate.

--You can further increase your chances of a hit by saying a bunch of unpopular --You can further increase your chances of a hit by saying a bunch of unpopular cards before saying a

cards before saying a popular card in the popular card in the second-to-last position, as exemplified bysecond-to-last position, as exemplified by my choice of cards in the script.

my choice of cards in the script.

--I would urge you to employ voice forcing as well, raising your tone

--I would urge you to employ voice forcing as well, raising your tone just just enoughenough on the Seven of Hearts to make it stand out in their subconscious mind. With all of on the Seven of Hearts to make it stand out in their subconscious mind. With all of these psychological controls in place, it is as failsafe as

these psychological controls in place, it is as failsafe as this kind of work can get.this kind of work can get.

--Taking things down a different route, you could also augment the situation as a --Taking things down a different route, you could also augment the situation as a way to induce a full amnesia state.

way to induce a full amnesia state.

“Your job will be

“Your job will be incredibly simple, almost no thought involved. In a moment,incredibly simple, almost no thought involved. In a moment, I’m going to start naming playing cards aloud. I don’t want you to think of I’m going to start naming playing cards aloud. I don’t want you to think of anything yet, I just want you to listen as

anything yet, I just want you to listen as I say them, so…Two of I say them, so…Two of Clubs, Five ofClubs, Five of Diamonds, Eight of Spades, Seven of

Diamonds, Eight of Spades, Seven of Hearts, Nine of Clubs…”Hearts, Nine of Clubs…”

The difference here is that I pause, as if I’m trying to think about another card to The difference here is that I pause, as if I’m trying to think about another card to name, and then I say,

name, and then I say, “Ah…you know what, that should be enough. Besides the“Ah…you know what, that should be enough. Besides the Nine of Clubs, you will now find it almost impossible to recall any one of the Nine of Clubs, you will now find it almost impossible to recall any one of the other cards. No matter how hard you try, you can’t remember

other cards. No matter how hard you try, you can’t remember oneone card. Cancard. Can you name one other than

you name one other than the Nine of Clubs?”the Nine of Clubs?”

You want to sort of barrage and bewilder them with these statements. As they are You want to sort of barrage and bewilder them with these statements. As they are fumbling in response, it is a good moment to raise their hand to their forehead and fumbling in response, it is a good moment to raise their hand to their forehead and to put them into an ‘altered’ state. I then try to guide them back to the Seven of to put them into an ‘altered’ state. I then try to guide them back to the Seven of Hearts, having them visualize a number, and their favorite suit. Some people will Hearts, having them visualize a number, and their favorite suit. Some people will

routine where they are put into an amnesia state, and then you cause the Seven of routine where they are put into an amnesia state, and then you cause the Seven of Hearts to pop into their head, which is predicted. Other times, they will have no Hearts to pop into their head, which is predicted. Other times, they will have no idea, completely forgetting all of the

idea, completely forgetting all of the cards—still an interesting demonstration.cards—still an interesting demonstration.

Credits:

Continuing the praise for

Continuing the praise for Psychologica Psychological l SubtletiesSubtleties, there is a lot of work about, there is a lot of work about psychologically forcing positions.

psychologically forcing positions. But after But after looking back looking back through them, through them, I couldn’tI couldn’t find anything using this specific

find anything using this specific afterthought subtletyafterthought subtlety..

In document State+of+Mind+by+Matt+Mello.pdf (Page 121-133)