talkmagic.co.uk

Hi all,

I don't want to risk exposure of methods so please delete if you think this is inappropriate but I am having trouble with an aspect of the one ahead method using billets. I use post-its and I have no problem making a switch, my problem is when I need to peek, I would probably need to walk out of the room to do it unnoticed!! Maybe it is just magicians guilt but if anyone had any thoughts I would much appreciate it,

Also, I'm usually standing and the other person is sitting so maybe this is part of the problem?

thanks,

Seamagu.

I believe Bev Moore penned a booklet some years back entitled Post It in which he discusses ways of using the famed little stickers as a billet, you may want to look him up and check.

I do know Docc Hilford speaks of this in a very old video (VHS) that sold through Floraco (Brian Flora) entitled "Faster Than a Speeding Billet" which may be available with some of the older Brick & Mortar stores like Stevens Magic (I did a quick search and found it -- http://www.stevensmagic.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=8014)

I have to ask, why would you want to create this problem for yourself?

Secondly, are you familiar with Acidus Novus?

AN can open some doors for you when it comes to using the Post It notes. I'll not say much here but I would suggest you consider investing into the CD "Thought Reading with Billets" (http://mevproshop.com/acidus-novus.html) in that it will open your eyes to alternative possibilities (not to mention one of the leading secret weapons used in modern mentalism).

If your using the 1+ principle shouldn't your first post it be a dead cert? Eg a force, eliminating the need for a peek.

I could have got this totally wrong but this is the way I understand and was shown the 1+ principle.

Thanks guys,

I'll check out those resources.

I have a few routines with sure fire answers alright, but for Q&A on a one to one basis I want to get a switch and peek down.

thanks again,

Seamagu

Have you looked at Corinda's 3 Little Questions?

Perhaps simply use regular slips rather than Post-its?

craigie wrote:If your using the 1+ principle shouldn't your first post it be a dead cert? Eg a force, eliminating the need for a peek.

I could have got this totally wrong but this is the way I understand and was shown the 1+ principle.

That was my thought...

There is a wonderful new billet resource on the way that takes this idea further than I have seen before.

Cheers

Todd

As Mr Craigie and the learned Dr Todd have stated, it should not be necessary to gain a peek when using the one ahead principle, the method looks after itself. I suspect that you're misusing your terms.

Mr Annemann and Mr Corinda both cover this in their fabulous works, I also can't recommend Elliot Bresler's Switchcraft highly enough, it may not go into huge depth with regards to peeking, it does offer up a number of ideas and it truely is the definitive work on the use of billets

And a very simple way I have used--is just Boldly turn your back-open the billet and read,
The excuse for turning, will depend on your routine.
In one I had gained some knowledge of the 3rd and asked the 3rd man to open his billet whilst I turned my back so I could not even see the paper.
In another- one had been switched and the rest were thrown into a glass--given to someone to swirl round several times to mix them up--and I will turn my back so I cannot see how you mix them etc.

My favourite is--The 3 Billets from Masterpieces Of Magic compiled by Douglas Craggs, This I have used for way over 50 years.
I eliminated the champagne glass (it was originally an after dinner effect in the 50's) substituting a plastic glass (very ordinary) instead. Eliminated the Knife peek. No force. Just a little finger break after the card was chosen. The other 2 billets contained: a City and a question. Sometimes the City was a colour, a name etc. but always used the question

The glass, the 3 Billets, 3 pens were on a small tray and a spectator held this following me around the audience. As each wrote on the billet I passed on to the next. He collected them in the glass. The deck of cards were in my pocket.

Allen Tipton

And a little book you should read is:

The Complete Guide To Billet Switching

by
Corinda & Ralph & Ralph H Read

Allen Tipton

I could have swore the question posted had to do with opening a Post It note so as to learn the original question, not details on switches and peeks.

Yes, there are many (far too many) methods out there to accomplish such things, I'd recommend that you keep it as simple as possible. Study other routines such as Cassidy's "Jazz Q&A" or Docc Hilford's "Invisible Stranger". Then again, more and more of us are doing away with the slips altogether and leaning on actual skill when it comes to Reading people and listening to our natural intuition. Yes, it's scary at first but it allows you to escape the path of doing a magic trick, which is what all the billet work really is. If you go to visit a real Reader, especially in the case of group sessions, you aren't likely to see anything written down. No, these evil charlatans use a more sinister technique -- THEY SIMPLY ASK WHAT THE QUESTION OR ISSUE IS.

Check out Jerome Finley's Gorilla Q&A (if you can track him down) as well as the Black & White books by Neil Scryer (The Practical Psychic's Little Black/Little White Book) in that they will show you an expansion of one of the most basic Reading techniques going -- a method that will allow you to deliver a solid Q&A without billets. My own Easy Reading or the KENS System (see Ron Martin's Palm Reader's Notebook) will take you even further down this path.

BUT, when it comes to working with Post It notes, I stand with what I said originally; those resources have already worked out most of the complication when it comes to the glued edge and coping your peek.

The title is one ahead with billets Crajg...

Also check out SWITCHCRAFT. The Billet Work of Elliott J. Bresler - which is updated by email at no charge with extra ideas and routines from time to time.

Review thread (which is almost as long as Switchcraft itself!) is at ftopic15147.php

And possibly FORGET Post It notes & stick to ordinary billets.!!

Read Fogel's 3 Pieces of Card--I'll find you the correct wordage.
He used card and you can self open this in our hand.

Allen Tipton

As Dr Percival and Mandrake have both said, grab yourself a copy of Switchcraft. There's just about everything that you'll ever need to know about billets in there and it's also got plenty of references to other books that are worth reading.

In the Future, of course, if you want to go further, you might look at the more advanced book of Richard Busch.

and an old book I have never seen on Billets --by C.L.Boarde

Allen Tipton