|
|
cinemagician Inner circle Phila Metro Area 1094 Posts |
Mr. Maven, I wish to discuss the effect in your videomind series where from an imaginary handful of 3 coins, one is chosen by a spectator "flipped" in the air and lands to match your prediction. I am sorry I do not remember the "name" of the effect but I remember the impact it had on me the first time I saw it. I was fooled and couldn't wait to learn the secret!
To me this is an ideal effect that can be performed anywhere under any circumstances. I was at first very happy to see that you did not tell the spectator to "pick up two and hand me one" an acceptable selection process under some conditions, but certainly not under the for this effect. However, when recorded before the live audience, we saw the effect occur under the most fortunate and direct series of choices that could have been made by the spectator. I started to perform this right away and when it worked as it did in the video it was great. But when the selection proceedure was not as fortunate, I found my self slopping and stammering my way through the effect. I do not want to expose the effect but are there any pointers or sugestions you can make in order to help increase the possibility of the spectator making the ideal selections. You have noted elsewhere that you have taken everything out of your act that does not contain an elemnet of risk for you as a mentalist. You have also indicated that you use advanced sugestion techniques to help add touches to your act. However once in a while even you have to be off, what do you do in this situation? I'm sorry this is a rather long winded post, however I feel those who are familiar with THIS effect, would benefit from a reply-as any advice could easily be applied to other routines of this nature. -Cinemagician
...The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity...
William Butler Yeats |
Daegs Inner circle USA 4291 Posts |
I believe this effect is "Positive, Negative".
I wanted to inform you of an alternate ending that I found here on the Café, and also to question Max on how he felt about this change and whether it was nessicary. The change is to write the prediction for let's say Heads Up, and then put a tail-side up penny on the table(also there was a suggestion of putting wax to stick the penny to the card but I found this was not needed). Before starting you state that what you have is a prediction, and depending on how the toss goes you either lift to show a penny, or pick up the penny with the card, reveal the card and take the penny to pocket to ditch(no heat at all of course). I've found that that gets an excellent reaction and now end this way exclusivly. Hope this helps you, and I'm very interested to hear what Max has to say on the subject. |
cinemagician Inner circle Phila Metro Area 1094 Posts |
Thanks Daegs, I also experimented with a version in which the selected coin physically appears in my previously empty hand. However, the more it is modified from it's original, the more one starts to steer away from totally the impromptu conditions which make the effect a neo-classic in my oppinion. I used to do it with writing the prediction on my palm for impromptu work. But when the "penny" was "tails" up instead of heads...Yeah...there are many ways you can go- but I would assume that Max had already figured an equivoque sutible for the effect-- one that was perhaps (please forgive me) under-explanined in the video. Or was it assumed that an experienced performer would easily be able to talk his way out of the "mis" if it occured. - Cinemagician
...The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity...
William Butler Yeats |
Max Maven V.I.P. 266 Posts |
If you're interested in exploring Equivoque, you might track down a copy of a booklet I published years ago that addresses that very topic, "Verbal Control." It is still in print.
Regarding variations on the outs for "Positive Negative," I have seen several that are clever. But they miss the point, which is that what I offered was a completely impromptu solution -- a borrowed business card or scrap of paper, a borrowed pen or pencil, and you're set. If you want to prepare materials, you might as well use a Himber Wallet or double envelope and be done with it. That's not to say that "Positive Negative" is the definitive solution. I've read comments on some boards from people who do not like the outs I devised. That's fine. They fit me nicely. If they do not fit you, by all means find alternatives that do. Regarding the "fortunate" outcome, let me add that the performance on the "videoMind" tape was -- as with all but one of the effects where there was a genuine foul-up -- recorded only once. |
justinho New user sunny singapore 7 Posts |
I have a version of positive/negetive, with a Singapore coin (doesn't really matter), but my ending is with a text message on my mobile phone, which I introduce at the beginning, it really is an anywhere anytime trick.
|
MisterE21 Elite user Salt Lake City, UT 426 Posts |
Mr. Maven,
I was wondering if you are familiar with the variation of Positive/Negative discussed in the Wonder Words series? It's been quite awhile since I listened to them, so I can't recall the volume and don't have access to my library here from work. For all I recall at this point, you may have actually contributed the variation, but I don't think so... If you are, in fact, familiar with it, I was curious about your thoughts regarding it? It doesn't limit the impromptu nature of the routine; it simply attempts to free up the ending so that the card may be given out in all circumstances... Spence
Your EFFECT is only as good as its AFFECT.
|
Max Maven V.I.P. 266 Posts |
No, I haven't seen it, so I can't comment.
|
cinemagician Inner circle Phila Metro Area 1094 Posts |
Just tried it again tonite and...direct hit, no extra coin needed. The best way to do it is to use intuition...err..well...Closer yet, pick out the subjuect(s) who will be picking the coin and using their vocal intonations as a guide imagine them saying the "the nickel" the "penny" "heads" or tails. I have found that it is easy to guess what someone will pick based the the ease in which they can speak the choices. For example, one of my subjects was a tall basketball player type with a deep voice and a slow delivery, he looked somewhat like the former Celtics great Kevin McHale. I could more easily imagine him saying the word "heads" than "tails" which for his slow barratone voice would be a bit of a stretch. Anyway this might sound crazy but give it a try. I love this effect! Any one else?
...The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity...
William Butler Yeats |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The May 2005 entrée: Max Maven » » The penny will be heads up! » » TOPIC IS LOCKED (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.01 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |