talkmagic.co.uk

I am currently trying to see what opening illusion I could use for a Stage Mentalism show. Oddly enough this is turning out to be the hardest decision to make for the hypothetical planning, because while it is easy to work out how I could set up a great finale (my currant idea is a Lottery effect with balls and the RPS), its hard to think of a quick fire, opening effect that will grab attention.


I am hoping to try something with money, or a bet of some sort. Because money always gets people interested.



Any ideas would be very handy!


Tom
xx

I think Max Maven's idea in the DVD Nothing is brilliant for an opening effect, It original from Colour series of Mentalism - Max Maven.

I hope I have help you ever if it is just a little bit.

Cheers

Dan

'Tossed Out Deck' is a great opening routine for a stage show IMO. I've used it loads of times. It gets people involved right away and most of my audience members love it.

Change In pocket is fast, direct and very powerful!

just a thought what other routines will you be performing?

The reason why i am asking is you dont want too many prediction effect etc.

Dan

I have only one prediction effect (it appears) in the entire show. Though in a way there are more. There is an add-a-number, which is presented as a mental force, but there is also the Master Prediction System which I use to predict a "lottery" selected by the audience.

Eshly wrote:Master Prediction System

Yikes, where'd you get that sort of money?

Lenoir wrote:

Eshly wrote:Master Prediction System

Yikes, where'd you get that sort of money?

Internet advertising, anyone who plays World of Warcraft will know how much money you can make if your in the top 10 in the world.


Edit:

Thats not the impressive bit, the bit I am proud of is where I "explain" to the audience how I predicted the numbers they were going to pick.

The slideshow behind me fills in:

Lets say they picked 374 (I actually use a 6 digit number), I then show two seperate slides, one showwing the number three written on the threatre doors, the second showing the number seven written on all the menu's, and finally I shine a UV tourch at the curtain: It has a giant 4 written on it



I don't care if you think its a bad idea, but I love it <3

If you got 13 steps or even the Osterlind DVD. There is a ton of good stuff in there that you could use for the stage.

Randy wrote:If you got 13 steps or even the Osterlind DVD. There is a ton of good stuff in there that you could use for the stage.

I have both, although in my opinion Osterlind (though a great Mentalist) is as boring as hell.

Your right, the effects are good; but they are not GREAT. That is the problem. I am not having any trouble thinking up effects, I am just trying to find a way to "sync" them all together. At the moment the show is just a string of great mental illusions, and it doesn't "fit" together.

Any suggestions?

Eshly wrote:I don't care if you think its a bad idea, but I love it <3

It is certainly a good idea.

Banachek's ESP opener is very good or just go with a swami opener, both are very quick and to the point.

Eshly wrote:

Your right, the effects are good; but they are not GREAT.
Any suggestions?

Its not the trick that makes you great..Its you that makes the trick great.

The best way to open an act, is to say HELLO.

By the way, you keep on talking about a show. do you mean a show? Something that lasts a couple of hours.. or do you mean an act. Something that lasts around 15 to 20 minutes?

one thing to bear in mind, is that regardless of wether your performing on a stage, or by a table, the tricks are the same size.
It all takes place inside the audiences head.

what differs, is teh scale of the reveal.

close up... small piece of paper.
On stage..
Flip chart.

Although Presitge is very important, just watch any Derren Stage show.

There isn't usually any effect for a good five minutes, at least. Usually some sort of audience picking for a later effect.

Of course, his fame etc help with this, but his excellent stage presence and scripting play a big part,