I had an interesting thought the other night that maybe some of you might want to explore.

Lots of performers do a BIRTH date reveal.

But imagine this as a hypothetical scenario: you take your participant on a journey - perhaps in a dream that you have them imagine. While there, they are walking through a cemetery and come across a tombstone that stands out for some reason or other. When they read it, they are horrified to see that it has THEIR name inscribed on it and.... date of death - which you reveal, through any method used for birth date revelations. Doesn't have to play out exactly like this, but the idea has gotten me thinking about ways to make this more interesting and applicable. Perhaps it could be the actual death date of someone they once knew (who has passed) instead. It is heavy and rather dark, but some folks like that sort of flavor.

I could see this somehow being incorporated into a spook show or possibly a seance setting, or even just a straight bizarre show.

Thought I'd pass it along and maybe open up an interesting discussion. What do you think?

Codex V allows for any reveals you care to spin.
Timon has a particularly good routine he has shared to owners.

I forgot all about the Timon death date script. Thanks for reminding me. It's a good one!

I'm not familiar with Codex V. It looks like it may be something I have to check out.

Well....that's disappointing.

I can't part with hundreds just to find out what it "is".

It's a wonderful book... I have one

David Parr does a routine called the "Last Dream" (he was actually selling the custom tombstones with your name on them for a while) it was about a dream seeing the tombstones then realizing your name was on it then the date

It's also in the book he did with Bob Neale called the Magic Mirror

Sudo, keep your eyes peeled...from time to time one comes up on the secondary market. It is a wonderful prop.

All the best,

David

Thanks for the info guys.

@gothicmagic: Yes, the Neal routine is wonderful and something I immediately thought about pairing this idea with.

During the journey, they could stop at the grave, rub away dirt to reveal the date...do your routine and add in a form of ashes in the palm or arm...no mention it, let them discover it if you see what I mean...

Nice idea Iain!

This thread caused me to buy a copy of codex from a fellow Café user. Thanks both literally for turning onto this great item and sarcastically for causing me to spend more money!!!

At last year's ICBM Gathering, I presented a version of Christian Chelman's 'The Immortal' from Hauntiques. It involves an audience member who represents the fictitious character in a story. He is obsessed with knowing his date with death.

Whilst the tension wasn't over obvious during the performnce, the audience participant told me later that his stomach muscles tightened and his heart rate quickened as we drew nearer the climax! Other members of the audience also said that they were similarly gripped!

To be facing that sort of knowledge is a quite heavy and daunting experience, even within a performance of entertainment.

Handle with care!

Anyone know where hauntiques is still being sold? I can find Capricornial Tales but not Hauntiques.

I don't know how bad you want it, but...
https://www.amazon.com/HAUNTIQUES-Bizarr......0211J1HY

He is also a member here, so you can PM him directly.

Not that bad!

A correction: Christian Chelman's story "The Immortal" can be found in Capricornian Tales, not Hauntiques. As others have said, it is a very good story and effect.

Apologies - my mistake!

Christian's "The Immmortal," is a wonderful piece of theatre when presented properly. Here is my take on it:

https://youtu.be/HMvLGHgl2J4