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Hi everyone,

Five days from now I'm going to be filmed for a 'science corner' in a daily TV show. I decided to show the ideo-motoric effect, where I and the three guests all hold pendulums and tell them how to move: forward or in a circle. The pendulums respond to our thoughts and move accordingly. I then explain about the ideo-motoric effect and how it applies to seances, to thinking about sour lemons (causes you to salivate) etc.

I know that this is an old piece of magic, but not everyone responds to it. I'm counting on the fact that there will be three other guests on the sofas, so at least one will probably succeed. And even if nobody does, my own pendulum will swing like crazy, and I'll encourage the TV audience to try this at home.

Is there anything you would recommend to say/do to improve the chances that all three guests succeed in swinging the pendulum? Any way I can present this item in the most entertaining way? Also, are there any pitfalls you can think of for TV performance like this one?

Your thoughts on the matter would be highly appreciated.

Thanks!

The key is to get the subjects to create compelling, vivid but above all action-packed images in their minds. Thinking about movement produces it more than any other thoughts.

I think often the reason it fails is because people are determined for it to fail. They focus on holding their hand as still as possible rather than relaxing their hand and focusing on the pendulum moving.

Do you know who the guests will be beforehand?

Tomo -
Thanks, I'll try to convey a general 'movement' feeling somehow.

Mr. Grue -
One professors of medicine, one model and one 'general' person.
All women, if it amounts to anything.

be a bit forcefull.....tell them directly what will happen, and it will happen... Paul Voodini is the man to talk to on this....

What Tomo said. That is essentially all the ideomotor effect is. Imaganing an action and then accidentally as a result of imagining doing it, supposedly the nervous system does it on a minute scale.


If you start by giving some mundane but unimportant instruction to follow so that it builds compliance then you are placed in a suitable position of authority for it to succeed. For example, 'just sit up straight for me...' or 'feet flat on the floor' or similar.

As far as I am concerned on of the best linguistic advice is the one known as 'pacing and leading' which is where in your speil you mention aspects of the enviroment which are known to be true followed shortly by something which you want to be seen as 'true'. Usually the rule of thumb is that you say three of the 'pacing' statements and then a 'leading' statement. So for a classic example, 'as you sit there' (they know they are sitting there) 'listening to my voice' (obviously they are listening to your voice) 'staring at the end of that pendulum' (imagining you have instructed them to do so, or can see they are doing so, so this is obvious too) 'and just begining to notice how it wants to move...' (which is less obvious).

Faulty cause-effect relationships in your language (or actions), very implicitly mentioned as above, is also very effective.

daleshrimpton wrote: Paul Voodini is the man to talk to on this....

Demonstrate what WILL happen before you hand over their pendulums. Then have them hold the pendulums out in front of them for a minute or so while you continue talking (their arms will begin to tire). Then command them to stare at the pendulum, focus all their concentration on the pendulum, and will it to move (a touch of hypno induction). Use metaphors such as "let them swing like the pendulums of grandfather clocks, swinging backwards and forwards, more and more, bigger and bigger..."

The really cool thing to do is when the pendulums are swinging, command them to stop. "Let's try a little experiment now. I want you to focus on the pendulums and tell them to... STOP! Stop the pendulums now! Will them to stop right now!" And the pendulums will stop. usually. If you mean it and have conviction in your voice.

Good luck and have fun!

Sorry for taking so long to reply.

Thanks for all the great advice. I'll start trying these tips tomorrow, and I hope I'll be able to perform impressively and believably enough to make an impact on the pendulum-holders minds.

Should be interesting, in any case.

I received news that the filming will be postponed to the next week, but as soon as it'll happen, I'll let you know how it went.

Thanks again!

Can you tell us which show this will be on and the date of transmission please?

It's on channel 1 of the Israeli TV network, meaning I frankly doubt any of you will ever see it on TV. I hope to make a clip of it and post it on my site, though.

It's a daily hosting program, a bit like Opera, but much-much smaller, and screened at 6PM every day.

I just hope it'll be filmed after all. The way things work on TV, I know they can just postpone it forever and then forget about it.

Sadly, my Sky package doesn't include Israeli TV, nevertheless I sincerely hope it all goes well for you!

Believe me, so do I.

I'll try to link to it when it goes on the air.