The Effect
They Say:
- It never misses!
You can immediately repeat the effect with a different 2-digit number and with a different object on the list!
Perfect for intense 1-on-1 psychic demonstrations or performances in front of large groups!
List folds for ideal portability!
Includes everything you need to perform this astounding mental effect including a full length instructional DVD and the special list printed on 3-layered, super strong, stain and tear-resistant Yupo brand synthetic paper
$25.00, but currently on sale for $18.75.
Difficulty
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)
1 This is a self working trick, but requires some thought on the patter
Review
I remember reading somewhere that mentalism can be achieved, for the most part, in only one of two ways; forcing or discovery. I'm not revealing secrets when I say that 99 uses a force.
It is difficult not to think like a magician, but when I am asked to think of any number between 1 and 99 I expect that number to be used. Indeed, the video clearly implies that is exactly what happens. However, the number the spectator thinks of is not the number that is used. The spectator is required to make some mathematical adjustments!
When the mentalist starts massaging my chosen number by using mathematical gymnastics I start to wonder Why?. Let me emphasise, this is not the simplistic "Think of a number, reverse it, add them together, subtract ....., etc." it is much more sophisticated. Indeed, Jay spends a lot of time on the DVD discussing ways to, not only disguise the force, but even to make it appear as if it adds to the randomness.
This is a trick that benefits from doing it a second time. Actually, that's not quite accurate. Jay suggests that the trick be performed on two different spectators at the same time! There will be a different result for each spectator. Performing it a second time could be a problem.
Jay claims that the trick is self-working, and it is. He says that he has performed it many times with great success. The success of the trick lies in your ability to create patter (or use one of Jay's suggestions) that gives the impression of complete randomness. You can learn how to do the trick in minutes, but I would suggest that the time taken in scripting your presentation will constitute the hard work.
Because the trick is so easy to perform, Jay has added a lot of extra stuff on the DVD. One of the most interesting was the issue of, Should I perform this as a prediction or as a revelation? Indeed, as I watched I thought it would be best to perform it as a prediction. However, Jay presents several arguments why it should not be used as a prediction.
The main positives are:
- Self working, so concentrate on presentation.
Portable; your only prop is a narrow list of items.
It can, and probably should, be performed on two spectators at the same time. Each result will be different.
Jay suggests several novel ways for the spectator to choose a 2-digit number. (Not forced)
The two negatives:
- The video on Sankey's website is very misleading. His exact wording is "You ask somebody to think, just think, of any two digit number...the spectator is asked to think of the object listed beside the number they had in mind." It's not quite that clean!
My second issue, which he didn't address, was how to handle a situation when the spectator makes a mathematical error? When that happens, it will appear as if the mentalist, not the spectator, was wrong!
Overall
Frankly, I was disappointed. The clean, indeed miraculous, presentation shown on his video omits the mathematical element. I am not a fan of math magic, so I suspect I would not have purchased this one.
Rating
7/10 I'm sure many will find this a wonderful addition to their barrel of tricks, but if you are like me and don't like the math issue, then I suggest you give it a miss.
