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leondo Special user Las Vegas 759 Posts |
Danny Tong’s ESP
The first four pages cover a Charlier false shuffle (although he doesn’t name it as such), how to mark ESP cards with the “star” backs, and the use of a “one way” deck. Effects: Psychic Match The mentalist removes a deck of ESP cards. He removes one of them and places it in his pocket. A participant deals the rest of the cards until he wants to stop. The “stopped at” card is found to be the identical design that the mentalist predicted/pocketed. This is a variation of the effect “Shape Up” found on Maven’s Videomind Series, vol 2. This is a very workable solution without any card preparation. Some may consider it superior, as everything is examinable. Five Star ESP This is basically the same as the above but EXACTLY the same method described in Maven’s Shape Up. I would interject that is a wonderful close-up mentalism effect, and one to carry with you. ESP vs. Magic This is basically Annemann’s, “Magic vs Mindreading” from his Complete One Man Mental and Psychic Routine, except done with ESP cards. It includes the spelling of the thought of design, etc. This may be a wonderful alternative to keep playing cards out of your act, if you’re so inclined. ESP Commando Two decks are needed for this effect. This is basically a Brainwave deck using ESP cards. I should have thought of this. The presentation is different than the usual playing card handling as the card with the “different back” is seen by the audience to be placed into the deck by the mentalist. After the cards are mixed, they are thumbed off from a face up deck and turned over one at a time (displaying the “normal” back). At any time the participant can say stop and this symbol is shown to be the only card with the odd back. There is also a handling described to be able to repeat the effect. I made up a deck of these and this is a VERY STRONG effect, eliciting an emotional response. I don’t think it needs to be repeated; however I’ve not yet offered to repeat it. In case you’re wondering, I used Testor Dullcote 1260 for the roughing spray. ESP Mania 2 decks of ESP cards that have different colored backs are used. The two decks that come with Michael Murray’s Beyond ESP 2, work out nicely for this. Phase 1: After shuffling the deck, the participant cuts and takes the top card, setting it aside unseen. After another shuffle, the participant cuts the deck again. The “cut to” card is also unseen for the moment. The two freely chosen cards are turned over showing that the participant has randomly chosen the same designs. Phase 2: The miracle worker now places, face down, a prediction card from the deck in use. The second deck is now introduced. The mentalist deals from the top of the deck one card at time. The participant say’s “stop” at any time and that card is set next to the prediction card. The two cards, again, sport the same design. All can be examined. Psychic Pendulum As the spectator sees it…. The participant is given a pack of ESP symbols after the usual introductory remarks. He mixes the cards and chooses one. Next, behind his back, the selection is lost in the deck. He then lays the cards into a face down row. The mentalist, using a pendulum, first singles out the card then names it or duplicates it. As an alternate, the effect can be presented as a prediction and two different methods are given to accomplish this. Mr. Tong sites JG Thompson and Annemann sources for a “more complete” description of the participants handling of the cards. This effect is done out of the performers hands. It could be a strong effect for the right person. I’ve never performed a pendulum routine. ESP Brainwave This is a more traditional handling of the Brainwave effect. It has improvements over the well known handling as the participant actually handles the cards. The participant removes the cards from the case and with the cards face up, looks through the deck and makes a mental selection of any one of the symbols that he sees. The mentalist then takes the cards and, while behind his back, turns one face up. After the participant reveals his mental selection, it is found to be the only one face up in the deck. A method using pay envelopes is given to present this as a prediction. The set-up for this effect is described in detail, requiring the usual Brainwave preparation and some double facers and pencil dots. There is also an alternative deck set-up described. Obviously this is very similar to ESP Commando above, which requires less preparation. ESP Stop The Mentalist shows a face down card and places it to one side. He then shows a deck of ESP cards and shuffles them face up. Next, the mentalist deals the cards face down one at a time until told to stop. The next card matches the face down card. This effect is obviously similar to Psychic Match and Phase 2 of ESP Mania above. As stated, I really like this effect. This is a very good method but the cards can’t be examined. For an effect this strong, I’m not sure that makes a difference. Telekinetic Perception ESP cards are shown and shuffled. The participant cuts the cards and takes the top card placing it face down, unseen, behind his back. The cards are again shuffled by the mentalist. The participant is instructed to keep the card behind his back but to slowly turn it face up. The deck is spread and his selection is shown to be the only face up card in the deck. This is a nice effect and uses a set up and a basic card move to accomplish this miracle. It seems a rising card would be appropriate, considering the name of this trick. Spectator – ESP Two decks of ESP cards are used. One is spread face up, the other face down. The participant thinks of one of the face up designs. He then pushes out, from the face down spread. The card he is thinking of is now removed form the face up spread. The two cards are the same. This trick is a direct off shoot of one describe by Marlo’s in his book, The Cardician. It requires some special cards and a card move used in Paul Curry’s effect, “Touched”. Direct Optical Perception Colored cards are passed out to various spectators, followed by envelopes in which to place them. After the spectators seal the cards in the envelopes, another spectator gathers and mixes them. He then returns the envelopes to the mentalist who now introduces his blindfolded assistant. The mentalist hands the envelopes, one at a time, to another participant who removes the colored card and hands it to the assistant who can discern the color by touch alone. Interestingly, ESP card are not mentioned in this effect until an alternate presentation is given which eliminates the “assistant”. In this version, the mentalist is blindfolded and calls out the designs in the sealed envelopes. This method is simple and logical. This is all build up and performance. It could probably be an impressive performance piece. Telecodes The Performer and a participant mix a pack of cards, choose one – known to the performer- reverse it and return it to the pack which is returned to the box. The performer then clips his business card to the box and has the participant take the closed box and business card to a person across the room who writes the name of the selection on the business card. This trick is right out of Ganson’s, Routined Manipulation, except substituting ESP cards. The method is very reminiscent of Annemann, and is, as Mark Striving’s would say, “stupid simple”. I love these kinds of effects. I believe the power of the routine would be way beyond the simple method used. Psychic Triangle Participant selects an ESP card and replaces it into the deck while the deck is in his hands. He mixes the cards. A large envelope is introduced and set aside. A second participant is asked to deal the ESP cards onto the table and stop whenever he wants. The card at which he stops is held up high, back to the audience. The first participant is asked to name the card he is thinking of…let’s say he says, “CROSS”…the card held by the second participant is shown to be a CROSS. The large envelope is then opened to reveal a large CROSS. This effect, as described, involves some simple pre show and, as you can see, has a “kicker” prediction ending. It does involve some careful audience management, especially regarding the card handling of the second participant. There is an alternate method which improves this management problem. Symbol Princess No. 1, No. 2, and No.3 Here Mr. Tong presents three variations of effects all based on Koran’s Princess Card Trick. You have to make up sets containing not only ESP symbols, but also, numbers, letters, several “mixed” cards, picture cards, and duplicates, depending on which variation is presented. I did not make up the various sets of cards. I’ll leave this to be reviewed by somebody that completes the sets and give it (them) a whirl. Stage or Close Up Routine Phase One: The Participant is given a set of five ESP symbols. After mixing them, he places them into a face down row on the table. The mentalist then places a face up card from his set upon each of the Participant’s face down cards. They are found to match. Phase Two: In this instance, the roles are reversed. The Mentalist places his cards, face down, one at a time, in a row and the Participant places his choices face up upon them. They are again found to match. Phase Three: The Participant mixes his cards and places his stack face down upon the table. The Mentalist sets his stack also face down, next the Participant’s. When turning over the top card from each stack, they are found to match. This is continued through the rest of the stack. A face down miracle. The above three phases are straight forward and easily accomplished. The “move” to bring the second phase to a successful conclusion is certainly doable but seems less straight forward than the rest of the routine. There seems to be no clear cut reason (other than making the trick work) to do what is needed. Well, there you have it. If you want to perform effects with ESP cards, I think you’d be hard pressed not to find something to your liking from the 52 page, comb bound booklet. I’m not sure if this is still available, however it is still listed on some Magic Dealers websites and it certainly could be found on the used market. My copy was published in 1979 and purchased some years ago for five dollars from Denny and Lee’s. Recommended. Ted Leon |
Paul Rathbun Inner circle Michigan 2543 Posts |
Where is this available?
https://www.penguinmagic.com/p/9160
Sleightly Better Magic Reviews - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9rkXnNp8CxftN-rxU_WcbQ |
drmagic Loyal user 251 Posts |
There is a great possibility that this book will be updated and reissued as an ebook including additional material that Dan Tong contributed to Bascom Jones' "MAGICK".
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