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I have just recently got into mentalism (bought 13 steps) and I have learned a few effects, some that just devistate the audience. I was wondering if anyone here is good at pencil reading. If so, how did you practice? I don't think going around handing out a paper and pencil and saying "Could you write some numbers down for me? I want to practice my pencil reading" is a good idea

I was also wondering if it would be a good idea to do this in the effect "Great Minds Think Alike" (from 13 steps) instead of asking the first spectator what number he saw. Sorry this is a little vague, but I don't want to reveal the effect, so I guess only the people who own 13 steps will understand this.

as I have said before I am not a mentalist, but have 13 steps and some of the stuff you just have to try. When ever I see someone write a number (at work mostly)I try to guess what it is, telephone, addresses ect. I first practised in front of a mirror, then I got my wife to write some for me (some numbers are easy others not). Also get specs to write down the card they have chosen and then put the paper in their pocket(some people forget their card you know. It gets a laugh, well sometimes), even though the trick never uses the effect. I can read A K J D and C now (but I have to ask them to write large in capitals(to show the audience later)). controling the spec was the biggest prob as some will turn to one side, and the differing ways some people write the letter J which is why I ask for capitals:D

Oh and ask them to write large. Again I use the same excuse as above(if they ask). Some think your looking and write very small indeed.

a fairly thick "squeeky" black marker helps...ask them to write it "large and bold" too...

im afraid i bothered a few people and sat with my back to them, and asked them to go through and write the alphabet straight with a marker and pad, then after a few times, asked them to randomly go thru the alphabet again...

it's still something im not that good at, buts its always worth practising isn't it...

I've been around this stuff for a very long time and know of exceptionally few working pros that have invested much time at all in learning a lot about Pencil or even Sound Reading methods outside of some very basic and "exagerrated" scenarios such as the drawing of a basic shape, number or letter (done in a rather large size)

There was a time, long ago even prior to my youth to some degree (it was dying out in those days) that the public was a bit more disciplined as well as uniformed in their writing and even spelling styles. Hell, up into the mid-1980s I thought the world Color was spelled C O L O U R but it seems that the American dictionary and education system choose to change a bunch of things so as to claim our own form of the language (and confuse the heck out of folks... an issue that became even more prnounced with the advent of the home PC and spell check programs).

In the 30s, 40s, and 50s one could more readily see what letters were being written as someone composed a thought because the patterns of flow were so common, slow and deliberate... people didn't "jot" things down in the rushed and messy manner we see today.

You'll find the same truth typical of Swami work... few striving to learn how to do much more than a check mark or maybe numbers. The day of in-depth practice in penmanship in general, are a matter of the past, let alone someone having that kind of tenacity to develope it with the swami... beside, PW techniques are a bit more convenient.

Craig, you seem to be a pretty experinced mentalist and seem to know a LOT on the topic. May I ask how long you have been doing this for? And do you penciel read or use a swami gimmick?

I've been involved with magic since 1964, on stage since 1969 and shifted over to mentalism slowly between 1985 and 1991 (traded in all my big illusions for this stuff).

No, I do not pencil read and though I own several, I rarely use a Swami. Most of my work involves billets but I do incorporate the ocassional Anagram system and book test.

Somewhere around here there's a couple of sticky posts I penned that deal with this topic that may help you along.

I've seen many of your posts (including the sticky) and have found them very helpful. In fact, it was your recomondation of 13 steps that propted me to buy the book! So I would like to thank you for that .

Although I have just started performing mentalism, most of the things I do also involve billets. Though there is one book test that I am particularly fond of and have used quite a bit over the last week. Aside from 13 steps, what should I look into for some more billet effects?

Thanks a lot for the help!
mccabe

I think I pretty much cover your question in the thread concerning the Allen Zingg MASTER BILLET COURSE

Thanks. I'll take a look at that.