In Mnemonicosis, I ask the spectator to cut the deck anywhere but place the top portion face up on the table. Normally everyone will put it face down. So, how to ask/justify placing the cut packet face up? Please help!

Thanks.

Just ask. It doesn't need justification. If you must, "cut and turn it over so every one can see where you cut to."

Yes. (landmark is right on).

Not necessarily. You can subtly direct your spectator to cut "about half," "a small group," or "a lot" depending on the location of the selection. I recall seeing a clip where Blaine has someone cut half the deck and then he cranes his head underneath apparently to see how many the spectator pulled off, but really to sight the cut card. (This works well if you're sitting and the assistant's standing.) Otherwise, a common tactic is to confidently instruct the spectator to turn the cards face-up. Regardless of what happens, you are to pretend the procedure's pre-written.

That's what I usually say. I haven't had anyone question me.

What I USED to do is I hold my hand out flat, and ask them to place all of the cards that they cut into my hand. I take these cards and put them into the card box, and I peek at the bottom card. If the peeked card occurs BEFORE the named card, just keep the rest of the stack on the table and finish Mnemonicosis. If it occurs AFTER the named card, I give the cased packet of cards to someone else and improvise.

I now do this: I ask them to cut...lets say 1/4th of the deck, and I hold my hand out flat. I pinch the packet that they cut between my fingers and move my hand up and down as if weighing the cards. When the cards are up, I peek at the bottom card. I then explain that their cut wasn't 1/4th of the deck, but it doesn't matter how much they cut. I then proceed with Mnemonicosis. If their named card is in the packet I am holding, I give it to someone else to continue the routine. If their named card is in the rest of the stack on the table, I just put the 1/4th of the deck in the case.

All of this must be done without hesitation.

Zack

The whole point of Mnemoniosis is for you to never touch the cards. Asking for the cards so you can turn them over and peek is a bad idea IMO.

I definitely agree with you Doug! (I hope you don't mind me calling you by your first name)

That IS the most important element of Mnemonicosis. The fact that the magician never touches the deck is what makes Mnemonicosis powerful.

Shakuni explained that he needed a justification for peeking, and I gave my not-as-powerful alternate presentation.

The tradeoff for the peek is diminishing the effect of Mnemonicosis. It's up to Shakuni to use this version or not.

This isn't the version that I normally perform. IMO, no justification is necessary, so I simply perform the original version outlined in Mnemonica, which is more direct.

Thanks for your post,

Zack.

Using a marked deck with Mnemonica can work wonders in some situations!