CHAPTER FOURCHAPTER FOUR - State+of+Mind+by+Matt+Mello.pdf

CHAPTER FOUR

::

HERITAGE

Effect:

The performer guesses the names of three important people that a spectator is The performer guesses the names of three important people that a spectator is thinking of, as well

thinking of, as well as revealing their relationships to the as revealing their relationships to the participant.participant.

Introduction:

Before I explain the inner workings, please don’t expect to get real mind reading in Before I explain the inner workings, please don’t expect to get real mind reading in this chapter; that comes later. The spectator isn’t just thinking of the name silently this chapter; that comes later. The spectator isn’t just thinking of the name silently as you guess it with no issue. You

as you guess it with no issue. You will will be revealing information that you shouldn’t be revealing information that you shouldn’t possibly know, but

possibly know, but it is a subtle bit of mit is a subtle bit of mentalism, with numentalism, with numerous applications.erous applications.

I feel it is of utmost importance to have a process involved in your mind reading.

Whether it be fake or real is irrelevant; so long as you believe in your pseudo Whether it be fake or real is irrelevant; so long as you believe in your pseudo method, there is no difference in the eyes of your spectator. Your audience wants method, there is no difference in the eyes of your spectator. Your audience wants to

to see see how mind reading occurs. It is up to us as performers to give our besthow mind reading occurs. It is up to us as performers to give our best interpretation of what we think that should look like. Luckily for us, the nature of interpretation of what we think that should look like. Luckily for us, the nature of this piece provides an organic process to be observed, allowing you to focus this piece provides an organic process to be observed, allowing you to focus entirely on your presentation at all times. There is

entirely on your presentation at all times. There is nothing involved other than you,nothing involved other than you, a spectator, and the power of their imagination. You are so far ahead of your a spectator, and the power of their imagination. You are so far ahead of your audience that it gives you the ability to produce a ton of relevant mind reading audience that it gives you the ability to produce a ton of relevant mind reading from one moment of manipulation.

from one moment of manipulation.

Presentation and Method:

“Do you mind partaking in a quick visual exercise? I’m going to have you

mother, and your grandmother. So, a girlfriend, your mother and your mother, and your grandmother. So, a girlfriend, your mother and your grandmother.”

grandmother.” Give your lovely participant a moment to choose a friend, as wellGive your lovely participant a moment to choose a friend, as well as to think of all three women together.

as to think of all three women together. “Imagine the three of them standing in“Imagine the three of them standing in front of you, one of them here, one of them here and one here,”

front of you, one of them here, one of them here and one here,” I say,I say, indicating three specific spots on

indicating three specific spots on the floor.the floor.

“I don’t want you to tell me how they’re related to you, but just say all three

“I don’t want you to tell me how they’re related to you, but just say all three of their first names out loud, with as

of their first names out loud, with as little emotion as possible, so as little emotion as possible, so as to not giveto not give anything away.”

anything away.”

She says,

She says, “Mary, Susan and Jane,”“Mary, Susan and Jane,” in her most depressing, monotone voice.in her most depressing, monotone voice.

“Those are beautiful names, but I

“Those are beautiful names, but I think it should be fairly safe to think it should be fairly safe to say that I’vesay that I’ve never met any of them, and couldn’t know if Mary is your friend, mother, or never met any of them, and couldn’t know if Mary is your friend, mother, or grandmother, and the same goes for the other names. But this is what I will grandmother, and the same goes for the other names. But this is what I will attempt to figure out. You are imagining all three of them standing here. Can attempt to figure out. You are imagining all three of them standing here. Can you see them clearly? Whoever is standing in the middle, I want you to

“Perfect. Now just think of what her name is

“Perfect. Now just think of what her name is. Concentrate on the first letter in. Concentrate on the first letter in the name…repeat it over and over in your mind…I’m getting an

the name…repeat it over and over in your mind…I’m getting an SSSS SSSS sound. sound.

So I would guess your mother’s name is Susan?”

So I would guess your mother’s name is Susan?” She will agree. You can eitherShe will agree. You can either finish here—as I prefer to—or continue with t

finish here—as I prefer to—or continue with the other two women.he other two women.

“You’re doing wonderfully. Let us continue. Now imagine your friend and

“You’re doing wonderfully. Let us continue. Now imagine your friend and your

your grandmother.”grandmother.”

“The friend isn’t your sister, is it?”

“The friend isn’t your sister, is it?” If they say yes, you can say,If they say yes, you can say, “I thought so.”“I thought so.”

If not, continue like you were just curious,

If not, continue like you were just curious, “Think of her name. I know it’s“Think of her name. I know it’s either Jane or Mary. Again, just think of the first letter, and imagine yourself either Jane or Mary. Again, just think of the first letter, and imagine yourself saying it over and over in

saying it over and over in your mind”your mind” Taking a last pause to look intently at yourTaking a last pause to look intently at your participant, you say,

participant, you say, “I believe you’re wanting to vocalize a close-lipped sound,“I believe you’re wanting to vocalize a close-lipped sound, so it has to be an M at the beginning. Your sister’s name is Mary,”

so it has to be an M at the beginning. Your sister’s name is Mary,” pointing to pointing to the invisible person on the left,

the invisible person on the left, ““and your grandmother’s name is Jane. Is thatand your grandmother’s name is Jane. Is that correct?”

correct?” you say, pointing to the invisible person on the right.you say, pointing to the invisible person on the right. Undoubtedly, youUndoubtedly, you are correct on all counts.

are correct on all counts.

So, how do we get all of this information to reveal? It’s as simple as saying,

So, how do we get all of this information to reveal? It’s as simple as saying, “…a“…a friend, your mother, and your grandmother.”

friend, your mother, and your grandmother.” Seriously, say that fragmentSeriously, say that fragment sentence aloud. Congratulations, you just mastered the effect—not really, but sentence aloud. Congratulations, you just mastered the effect—not really, but you’ve practically mastered the

Learning to say the relationship titles with enough force that they are remembered Learning to say the relationship titles with enough force that they are remembered in that order, without being too forceful, is the

in that order, without being too forceful, is the key to making this work. As key to making this work. As long aslong as

you can see that your participant is paying attention to what you’re saying, and you can see that your participant is paying attention to what you’re saying, and actively following along, I can guarantee that you will have success with this.

actively following along, I can guarantee that you will have success with this.

The order is then reinforced three-fold when you have the person say the names

I specify that they say the names “with as little emotion as possible, so as to not“with as little emotion as possible, so as to not give anything away.”

Once they give you those names, this gives you all of the information about who is Once they give you those names, this gives you all of the information about who is who. When they say,

who. When they say, “Mary, Susan, and Jane”“Mary, Susan, and Jane” you know Mary is her friend,you know Mary is her friend, Susan is her mother, and Jane is her

Susan is her mother, and Jane is her grandmother.grandmother.

It then becomes about pretending that you have no idea who is standing where as It then becomes about pretending that you have no idea who is standing where as you make your revelations, even though, in your mind, you are imagining

you make your revelations, even though, in your mind, you are imagining exactlyexactly the same scene that your spectator is imagining.

the same scene that your spectator is imagining.

You can visualize her friend on the left, likely about the same age as her, sharing You can visualize her friend on the left, likely about the same age as her, sharing similar interests.

similar interests.

You can imagine her mother in

You can imagine her mother in the middle, probably sharing a resemblance.the middle, probably sharing a resemblance.

And the little old grandmother stands on the right with her knitting needles, likely And the little old grandmother stands on the right with her knitting needles, likely shorter than the rest with a purse full of sweets

shorter than the rest with a purse full of sweets or bricks, depending on the day.or bricks, depending on the day.

All that’s needed now is to have your participant interact with her family as you All that’s needed now is to have your participant interact with her family as you make your ‘guesses’.

make your ‘guesses’.

I can guarantee that they will be impressed that you were able to figure out which I can guarantee that they will be impressed that you were able to figure out which name belongs to which person. We are dealing with the revelation of

name belongs to which person. We are dealing with the revelation of powerful powerful information; literally some of the most important people in their life. It doesn’t information; literally some of the most important people in their life. It doesn’t matter that you aren’t directly guessing all of the names that were

matter that you aren’t directly guessing all of the names that were merelymerely thought thought of without speaking a word. It is still a strong impromptu demonstration, leaving a of without speaking a word. It is still a strong impromptu demonstration, leaving a very meaningful effect on

very meaningful effect on your participant.your participant.

Additional Thoughts and Ideas:

mom and grandma’ and then guide them to focus on the person in the middle. We mom and grandma’ and then guide them to focus on the person in the middle. We know this is the ‘mother’ position. You could also let them pick the person.

know this is the ‘mother’ position. You could also let them pick the person.

I now ask them to focus only on the name of this woman, openly asking if it is a I now ask them to focus only on the name of this woman, openly asking if it is a long name or a short name. After they answer, I tell them from this moment on to long name or a short name. After they answer, I tell them from this moment on to think of everything

think of everything only in their mind only in their mind . I ask them to think of and send each letter.. I ask them to think of and send each letter.

If they said it was

If they said it was a long name, I write,a long name, I write, ‘Mother’‘Mother’ on the piece of paper. If they saidon the piece of paper. If they said short, I write, ‘

short, I write, ‘Mom’.Mom’. I fold this up and give it to my participant to put into theirI fold this up and give it to my participant to put into their pocket without showi

pocket without showing anyone.ng anyone.

“We’re going to do one more, but for the first time, could you please say the

“We’re going to do one more, but for the first time, could you please say the name that you’re thinking of aloud?”

name that you’re thinking of aloud?” Let us assume they say,Let us assume they say, “Charlotte.”“Charlotte.” II would complement the name, and then say,

would complement the name, and then say, “One last thing, I now want you to“One last thing, I now want you to just

just think think of of her her relationship relationship to to you, you, whether whether she she be be your your grandmother,grandmother, mother or friend. Just think about that now.”

mother or friend. Just think about that now.”

I look at them for a

I look at them for a moment, and then quickly writemoment, and then quickly write “Charlotte”“Charlotte” on a second card,on a second card,

mixes the billets, so she can’t keep track of which was given to her first.

mixes the billets, so she can’t keep track of which was given to her first. “I can’t“I can’t be certain, but I got the sense of a daughter looking into her mother’s eyes.

be certain, but I got the sense of a daughter looking into her mother’s eyes.

Can you tell us what Charlotte’s relationship is to you?”

Can you tell us what Charlotte’s relationship is to you?” She will say that she isShe will say that she is her mother. I like revealing this bit of information before having them actually say her mother. I like revealing this bit of information before having them actually say the relationship aloud. I think it adds

the relationship aloud. I think it adds a bit of credibility to your lack of a bit of credibility to your lack of showing theshowing the predictions. Your participant can now open both

predictions. Your participant can now open both papers and see that papers and see that you’re correctyou’re correct on both the name

on both the name and relationship.and relationship.

--Never rush your participant’s imagination. If you go too quickly, it could throw --Never rush your participant’s imagination. If you go too quickly, it could throw off the spectator’s mental process.

off the spectator’s mental process. Allow the spectator ample time to Allow the spectator ample time to imagine whatimagine what they need to. Take a quick beat between,

they need to. Take a quick beat between, “Imagine one of them here…and one“Imagine one of them here…and one here…and one here.”

here…and one here.”

--No one can say a psychologically-based effect is going to work every time, but --No one can say a psychologically-based effect is going to work every time, but this sort of thing is surprisingly consistent, mostly because people are simply this sort of thing is surprisingly consistent, mostly because people are simply following your instructions. You haven't told them to mix them, they don't know following your instructions. You haven't told them to mix them, they don't know what's going on, so they naturally imagine them in the order they named. When what's going on, so they naturally imagine them in the order they named. When you say,

you say, “Imagine them standing in front of you,”“Imagine them standing in front of you,” gesturing from left to right gesturing from left to right with your hand, their subconscious silently suggests,

with your hand, their subconscious silently suggests, “in that order”.“in that order”. When you When you say to imagine each one in their specific position, it seems like you are giving them say to imagine each one in their specific position, it seems like you are giving them a reference of where to imagine those three people, “

a reference of where to imagine those three people, “in that order”.in that order”. They have noThey have no idea where this is going, only that they should follow your instructions. At worst, idea where this is going, only that they should follow your instructions. At worst, they might imagine a mirror image; which is another reason I just guess the person they might imagine a mirror image; which is another reason I just guess the person standing in the middle. But you will find this is

standing in the middle. But you will find this is a rarity. All that’s needed now is toa rarity. All that’s needed now is to build it up

build it up that you couldn't that you couldn't possibly know who possibly know who is standing where, is standing where, and can't reallyand can't really see what they are imagining, yet you will attempt to. Hopefully this breakdown of see what they are imagining, yet you will attempt to. Hopefully this breakdown of the participant’s mental process will be of

the participant’s mental process will be of a bit more help a bit more help to you in aiding how to you in aiding how youyou

--Using this effect before a center tear makes you a lot more believable and --Using this effect before a center tear makes you a lot more believable and trustworthy. They have already seen you pluck letters out of a person’s mind, so trustworthy. They have already seen you pluck letters out of a person’s mind, so they have no reason to suspect you of cheating by peeking or any other chicanery.

they have no reason to suspect you of cheating by peeking or any other chicanery.

In document State+of+Mind+by+Matt+Mello.pdf (Page 61-85)