Mentalism
£29.99 from :// www.alakazam.co.uk
http://www.alakazam.co.uk/acatalog/Hot_List_1.html#a909
The Effect.
This is the routine that is supplied with the trick.
You ask a spectator to call out 4 numbers between 1 and 99. As they do this you write the numbers down on a piece of paper.
You then show them the paper and ask them to confirm that they were indeed the 4 numbers that they freely picked. After they confirm you tell them that beforehand you had a premonition and bought a lottery card.
You take a sealed envelope and tear it open. Inside the envelope they will find a “lottery style” scratch card. You ask them to scratch off and reveal the 4 numbers, which are of course the exact 4 numbers that they had just picked.
This is an alternate routine as suggested by alakazam.
You tell the spectator that you are going to do a little esp. type experiment with numbers. You hand them a pen and a piece of paper with 4 squares drawn on it. (This is one square with a cross in the middle). You then draw a similar 4 squares on your own piece of paper.
You ask them to name out loud a number between 1 and 99 and then to concentrate on one of the squares. As they do this you write the chosen number in one of your own squares and then instruct the spectator to write the number in the square that they were thinking of. This is repeated until all 4 squares have a number.
You then hand them your piece of paper for comparison, which inevitably you will not have got correct. This is not important, although every so often you may just get lucky.
You tell them that you have a funny feeling about the numbers that they selected, and take a wallet out of your pocket. From the wallet you take a lottery style scratch card and hand it to them.
When they scratch off and reveal the 4 numbers they are of course the exact 4 numbers that they had been freely chosen.
Difficulty. 3/5
1=Even I can do it, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)
Remarkably simple.
Review.
I love mentalist tricks as there is just so little pressure. If they go wrong you can always blame it on the spectator for not concentrating hard enough
. This is in my opinion one of the strongest mentalist tricks that I have ever seen. It just seems so impossible. The lottery style card can be handed out as a souvenir afterwards.
The numbers on the card are printed. They are not written in freehand and there are no number forces. The spectator really does get to choose four numbers between 1 and 99.
Personally I prefer the alternate handling, as I think it has better misdirection and anyway, I actually like tricks that appear initially not to have worked, but in reality have that “kicker” ending. Of course if you actually guess correct with the squares then even better. Two tricks in one.
This is a mentalist trick that is a little different. It is fresh. If you like mentalist tricks anyway – then definitely go for it, and if you don’t then this is a very easy to do and very impressive trick that may just make you change your mind.
If anything, my only complaint about this trick is the price. It isn’t cheap, and further more after 20 performances you will need to buy the refills that aren’t cheap either (£24.99 for 20), but that is my one and only criticism and for me personally it is still good value for money.
Rating. Effect/item: 10/10, Quality of goods: 10/10, Value for money: 7/10
Bottom Line.
Even at the price I would buy it again. It is great for that one (and yes, I am going to say it) “Reputation Maker” that can be used at the end of any performance.
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