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I'm running a "haunted house" night at a local venue. There'll be lots of ghostly tales, tricks using the tarot deck, and a seance that'll be straight out of the mentalists' handbook. I also really want to incorporate a ouija board stunt. I was wondering what the best way to ensure the ouija board actually does something is? Obviously I don't want to be seen touching the glass (is that the correct phrase for the thingy that moves?), and magnets may be difficult - but it's an idea. However I'm starting to settle on just letting the ouija board work it's own magic. I'm sure that involuntery muscle action will get the glass moving all by itself, especially as I envisage around 6 people to be touching it.

Any thoughts, ideas, experiences? Many thanks in advance.

Use a confederate?

Tomo wrote:Use a confederate?

Good idea, but I'd rather not if at all possible. I'm beginning to warm to the magnet idea. I need to check out the table(s) I'll be using and see how that's going to work (or not).

I've always found that Ouija boards tend to be self working, unless you've got any specific message you want to put out just let it work itself. Although personally I'm very superstisous after scaring the c*** (not the best) out of myself once and would never touch one again.

Dirty Davey wrote:I've always found that Ouija boards tend to be self working, unless you've got any specific message you want to put out just let it work itself. Although personally I'm very superstisous after scaring the c*** (not the best) out of myself once and would never touch one again.

Don't worry. The explanation for why they move is anything but scary!

Tomo wrote:

Dirty Davey wrote:I've always found that Ouija boards tend to be self working, unless you've got any specific message you want to put out just let it work itself. Although personally I'm very superstisous after scaring the c*** (not the best) out of myself once and would never touch one again.

Don't worry. The explanation for why they move is anything but scary!

Yeah I know the rational explaination. I come from a superstisous, pagan background and there are certain things I just wont go near. Silly I know, but that's just me

I've never used the ouija before, and although I'm 99% convinced that the glass will move by itself, I need an "out" in case nothing happens. People are paying good money to see spooks in action!

Perhaps I can use a metal pointer, and use my pk magnet as a back-up should it all go belly up.

Try a little bit of suggestion if you find the board not doing its thing.

Also N.U.M.S. has a bunch of realy small magnets. Could be easily added to the glass or whatever its called.

You know what would be fun for you to do... the spirit cabnet. Easily setup and fun to perform.

1011

Yes, I think I've settled on letting the ouija work itself, and will add a bit of suggestion should things not "get moving" by themselves. Should be a very interesting night!

The OUIJA is the prime focal point of the Seance work I've done for most of the past few years my original resource for "material" coming from a book by Jim Magus entitled "The Talking Board" -- it's loaded with some great stuff! I haven't a clue where to get it now days sine Lee Jacobs passed away but I'm certain one of the major magic dealers like Tannens or Abbotts could help you out.

Remember one very important thing about OUIJA & Pendulums; if you set the psychology right, most anyone in the room will subconsciously spell out the information just as you need it. I've used psychological forces in this manner and it's down-right beautiful. So learn all you can about ideomotor response and the plethora of ways it can be exploited. I'd also do some study of history on the OUIJA as well, in that this helps establish a sense of personal authority around the device.

RELATED NOTE: We are videographing my OUIJA SEANCE later in the fall as part of a "Haunted New England" project I'm working on with a local team of college kids. I'll also be using it in our Radio Broadcast (and PodCast) on the Houdini Seance, all going well... I have a wonderful situation in that the theater we are doing the Seance at has a trap in the stage that was installed by Houdini... it's not every day you get to use the real articles in a Seance... :lol:

Thanks Craig. Great advice as always. Will let everyone know how I get on. The event is at the end of August, so I will be spending plenty of time "cramming" for the big night.

i1011i wrote:
You know what would be fun for you to do... the spirit cabnet. Easily setup and fun to perform.

1011

Would love to get myself a spirit cabinet. One day...!

Just make a little one with a shower curtain. Nothing too fancy really needed. I don't think it would be too difficult or all that expensive. Something kind of like what you see at a hospital to seperate patients.

1011

I believe Abbott's still sells plans for the old Rapp's Spirit Cabinet which is very similar to the Willard Cabinet featured in the Glenn Falkenstein show. Depending on the kind of fabric you use, it can be made for around $300.00 and easily packs into a standard gym bag.

My "Crowley Cabinet" (a.k.a. Frames of Life) may be coming onto the market (plans & routine only) sometime next year and cost to build would be comparable to the above. But you may, in the meantime, look into an old Modern Cabinet or Palanquin Production prop, either of which can be readily used as a Spirit Cabinet.

I also believe it's Corinda that has a small hand-held spirit box listed that does all sorts of things. I've used said contraption a few times with great success. Same can be said about DEAN'S BOX by Dean Dill... a creative mind can come up with a ton of things to do with it along the ghostly level.

This coming Hallowe'en I've been press-ganged into performing at a party and have decided to go with a séance theme. I was going to use a force similar to Derren Brown's in his Séance Live program, of last year. He forced a photograph of a person with the name written underneath, later when using a Ouija board this was the name that was spelt out - evidence if any was needed for the ideomotor theory I think.

He also took the precaution of telling the participants what would happen before anything did e.g. "When I ask if there is a spirit who wants to communicate the glass will move towards the letter Y" in this way he led the experience without having to be seen as being involved.

PM me if you'd like to discuss the force in more detail, as I've worked out a version of my own, but I'd strongly recommend tracking down a copy of the channel 4 program just for the subtle suggestions if nothing else!

Matt

P.S. There is some nice history of the Ouija Board here -
http://skepdic.com/ouija.html

Perhaps building up the history of the board and some of the urban legends surrounding it will aid the "suggestibility" of the participants?