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I would make a poll but I would like your thoughts on this...

I have a prediction effect and long story short I (can) make two predictions in advance that later match the spectators, (obviously there's more to it than that) so I would like your thoughts on the following:

Should I make the predictions in front of the spectator sight unseen and fold them up and place on the table OR do I produce two sealed pay envelopes at the start?
What I'm trying to get at is does the making of the predictions there and then add to the effect?
Do the sealed envelopes suggest trickery or do they enforce the idea of advance prediction that can't be changed?
Whilst there is no wrong answer I'd like peoples thoughts on the subject.
And just to pre empt - I could adjust the presentation accordingly, this is more about the making/revalation of the predictions.
Thanks in advance.

Depends on your subtext. If you are reading the people involved, then make the predictions in front of them. If you are demonstrating true precognition, then have them made in advance. Alternatively you could make a live prediction that actually refers someone to the location of a pre-made prediction. Take care not to make it look like a multiple out, though.

The most important part of a prediction is not whether you write it out in front of them or at some date earlier. The important part is to surprise them when revealing it. My view is that if you write out a prediction in front of them at the start of the trick then they are expecting a prediction trick at the end.

But if you suddenly reveal a prediction and show it to be correct at the end of an effect, especially if its written on something that's been right in front of their eyes all along - eg written across the table cloth, carefully embroidered onto the back of your necktie or displayed on the back of your dinner jacket so that it lights up and flashes in red neon if your a boy, or tattooed above the nipples of your ample breasts if your a girl, then they will be shocked and surprised as well as impressed by the whole thing.

That's my belief anyway.

For my money, a prediction is worth a heck of a lot more if you could not possibly have made it after they revealed the information.

Under their chair?

All excellent thoughts so a big thank you! I have experimented with both possible forms of prediction/reveal for the effect I'm playing with and I'm finding the sealed envelopes works stronger but it can create an off beat so I had to ammend slightly the patter/performance.
As mentioned I've only dabbled in mentalism and I'm finding it a wee bit difficult to find MY style but constant real world performances are helping me a lot, the problem is you can't ask a member of the audience "would that have looked better if..."
So again thanks for all the input

Not sure if you're still looking for input, but...

What if you mail your prediction in advance, if possible? If there's an event coordinator, or something like that - you can mail them the prediction a week in advance. It's not always possible, but this can enhance the effect.

I think (actually, I know) Mr Grue has it absolutely spot on when he advises you on the subtext.
If you're a body language expert or whatever it is then it's perfectly reasonably to 'assess' each volunteer and then make a prediction based on whatever non-verbal cues they're giving you. If you're doing this then V.E. Day's advice is very wise... depending on the detail of the prediction, in other words how 'wordy' it is, then perhaps try masking the fact that you're making a prediction?
For example, you have two volunteers, Mike and Sarah, you ask each their name, favourite colour, where they went on holiday last and you seem to write this information down. What you actually write is your prediction for them. You can then happily put aside the papers without a second thought for them from the audience... continue the effect and then reveal those predictions. I personally think that would get a very nice reaction from the audience. You could've even told them that you were going to predict their actions etc. The audience still won't expect those papers to be the predictions.

V.E. Day wrote: carefully embroidered onto the back of your necktie

I think that's a brilliant idea.

I've always found permanent predictions less than impressive. By which I mean the aforementioned tattoos, printed T-shirts, sewn into the curtain, etc. Speaking with my layman's hat on, I just never liked them.

If you've got "Seven of Clubs" embroidered on your handkerchief, then all that proves is that you must have forced the seven of clubs. Not that the audience would think those words exactly, but the reasoning would go: "Obviously the trick is set up to come out the same way every time, time after time. It doesn't matter who he picked to help him or what that person did, it's always going to come out the same."

Whereas something you wrote -- in view of the audience, or "earlier this afternoon", or a month ago and sent to the host, or whatever -- could plausibly have been something else entirely. You had a thought and then wrote it down. (Or, nowadays, printed it out.)

i think with any pre-printed prediction, like the hanky thing robbie mentioned - for it to "work" you'd have to make sure it was indirectly displayed somehow before their choice was made...

so if you're polishing your glasses or just patting your forehead with it - or just rummaging around in your pockets for something and you bring the hanky out with some change and keys...just leaving it out on the table (phnar) would be enough of an "in" to help with the idea you planted a thought on an unconcious level...

but yeah - mainly a magician will rush on through to the grand reveal without any thought/worry...ta-dah! look at my shirt - I'm brilliant i am!...

that kinda thing...

True enough! I'd forgotten about the "implanting subliminal signals" angle. In which case it would be your target stimulus or something, rather than a prediction.