Mark Elsdon - Hidden Gems Mentalism Edition

Hidden Gems MENTALISM EDITION Mandatory reading for all smart mindreaders RESEARCHED by

Mark Elsdon

Introduction Welcome to Hidden Gems – Mentalism Edition. A mentalism-only compilation of recommendations from my ongoing Hidden Gems series. All based on notes extracted from my notebooks, listing some wonderful tricks that have caught my eye in either print or performance over the years. 150 of my favourite mentalism tricks and routines, material that I have seen or read and then usually learnt and performed. Some of the tricks I have used for many years and some I have only rediscovered and started performing again as a result of writing this booklet. One or two are things I have only read, but am certain they would be great to perform. As usual I haven’t published an index, nor have I graded them in terms of difficulty. If you’ve been interested in mentalism for a while and buying the literature, most of the Gems will be in books, eBooks or magazines that you already own or have easy access to. A small handful might take a little bit more tracking down, but again nothing too obscure. And don’t forget to join the Facebook group when you get a minute: https://www.facebook.com/groups/147515615896034/ Mark Elsdon October 2020

1

The Hidden Gems Hidden Gem #1: ‘The Jellybean Jar’, The Conjuring Anthology by Jim Steinmeyer (p24) Lee Earle published Jack Dean’s seminal handling of this plot in Syzygy back in 1994, but Steinmeyer’s brilliant handling ups the ante considerably. The method is exceptionally clean and I’m just gutted that I never got to see this performed before I knew how it was done. I happen to know that this is in the repertoires of several well-known mentalists who simply never mention it to anyone. Hidden Gem #2: ‘Signature Effect’ by Phill Smith, Mitox (p87) What a great premise for a mentalism effect! You give your ‘Autograph Book’ to a spectator to choose one from among the hundreds of celebrity autographs and not only do you read his mind and tell him who he has chosen, you also have a (prediction) letter from that celebrity’s agent addressed to you personally! Perfect for close-up walkaround or stand-up, this piece is typical of Phill’s genius in developing interesting, amusing and powerful mentalism. Hidden Gem #3: ‘Afraid of Dogs’ by Ken Dyne, Bairn (p93) A great stand-up opener that packs small and plays massive. Using some envelopes and lots of audience interaction you get to perform a very direct prediction effect that shows off your persona and establishes your skills. Hidden Gem #4: ‘Postage Prediction’ by David Ben, Tricks, (p3) David’s practical and far more deceptive handling (accomplished, cleverly, by simply using different props) of a classic Marcello Truzzi mentalism effect. Tips: Have the prediction stuck on the front of the envelope you carry all the stamps in, accompany them with a simple hand-written letter and an engaging presentation about “my uncle the stamp collector” and you’ll have something in the Heirloom league that no one else will be doing. Hidden Gem #5: ‘Spectra-Ception’ by Paul J. Siegel, The New Jinx, (p115) Paul’s clever effect was decades ahead of its time, as evidenced by the fact that the brilliant method has been ripped-off several times since, often by quite high-profile mentalists! The effect? Under ‘scientific conditions’ the 2

blind-folded (genuinely!) performer is able to see colours with his fingertips. Further proof, as if it was needed, that the best mentalism is ‘hidden in print’. By the way, one of Paul’s other contributions to The New Jinx was used on TV by a very well know UK mentalist. Happy hunting… Hidden Gem #6: ‘Diming You Out’ by Christian Painter, Protoplasm (p35) This has a very Conversation As Mentalism vibe to it, so it’s no wonder it caught my eye. Completely impromptu, all you need are a few business cards and some borrowed pocket change to play a powerful little mind game where you predict the outcome in multiple ways. Perfect coffeeshop mentalism. Hidden Gem #7: ‘Mindcast’ by Stephen Minch, Mind Melds (p9) Mentalists still looking for a version of Mental Epic that doesn’t use a weird-looking prop (all of them!) can now rest easy: Stephen Minch solved the problem back in 1984! It is amazing that his method isn’t the industry standard for this routine. The props are six pieces of card and a marker, ALL the choices are 100% free including the final one, and there is no carbon or other impressions involved. Hidden-in-print indeed! Hidden Gem #8: ‘The Dirty Secrets Club’ by Luke Jermay, Distractions (p15) Brilliant, modern mentalism. This is how it should be done. ’Nuff said. Hidden Gem #9: ‘Body Trick 112’ by John Fisher, Body Magic (p143) Whilst Fisher was most definitely not the person to devise this stunt, this is the first place I read about it. In effect, four volunteers, using only two fingertips each, somehow lift a seated adult from his chair high up into the air as though he is weightless. And no one is more astonished than the lifters themselves! If you’ve never seen this stunt performed, please give it a try. It’s fabulous. Just be prepared for a major shock the first time you try it. It seems so counter-intuitively impossible that it’s no wonder that in the past, less sophisticated audiences assumed there were forces at play other than just physics! Hidden Gem #10: ‘The Color Out of Space’ by Kazuyuki Hase, Japan Ingenious (p225). I was sorry to see this excellent trick re-published in this book as previously it was hidden-in-print in an issue of Genii from February 1989 and no one was using it except me! The effect is fine (the revelation 3

of a freely selected symbol and colour, chosen whilst your back is turned), but it is the unique, superior mentalism method that is the thing of note here. I have several unpublished effects using the principle and I’m sure once you read the JI book you will develop your own too. Hidden Gem #11: ‘Deja Words’ by Luca Volpe, Nephthys (p30). A fascinating effect where you reveal a word that was chosen by a participant – the interesting thing is that you claim to be using powerful suggestion techniques and the participant will believe at the conclusion that they were hypnotized. Neither of which are true. This concept has many potential applications outside of this simple trick. Hidden Gem #12: ‘Tri-Mental’ by Leslie May, The Compleat Magick Vol. 1 (p 264) This Zenner card routine demonstrates the difference between telepathy, ESP and precognition and is a perfect example of getting the maximum from the minimum. My friend Paul Hallas showed it to me years ago and I started using it immediately. Hidden Gem #13: ‘On The Numerical Prediction’ by Noel Coughlin, Labyrinth Number Seven (p28) A number trick that actually looks like mindreading rather than a maths puzzle? You betcha! It’s super-easy and will fool anyone you show it to. Hidden Gem #14: ‘I Need a Hero’ by Jeff Stone, 793.8 Where Is The Magic (p158) A smart, modern cabaret routine that allows you to really connect with your on-stage participants, all under the guise of some superhero battles! Most times there are helpers on stage they are just there to hold things or pick things. Not with Jeff’s lovely routine – every person has a role to play. Hidden Gem #15: ‘Tehis re erom’, George Parker, Gift Magic (p105) I love the whole concept of gift magic but am always worried that it will seem twee and cheesy. This trick side-steps all of that by leaving the participant with a philosophical gift/puzzle. Magical and magickal, this is one of half-adozen tricks I carry in my wallet at all times. I don’t use it often, but at the right time it can be perfect.

4

Hidden Gem #16: ‘HASTERIX’ by Lewis Jones, Person To Person (p16) Possibly the best telephone trick ever created. You phone someone and get them to write down a prediction and then they choose a card from your deck. The prediction is confirmed as 100% correct. This trick is utterly baffling. Hidden Gem #17: ‘Imagination Is A Lemon’ by Florian Severin, What Lies Inside (p15) This is a perfect cabaret opener for mentalists and (with a tiny tweak) magicians that is both funny and plays with the audience’s perceptions. It also lets the audience know that this show is going to be fooling, fun and interactive. What more could you want? Hidden Gem #18: ‘PhoPsyPro’ by Stephen E. Young (Commercial release, Thought Illusions, 2013) Basically this is like Tarot for scientists. Photocards of images like you see on Instagram or Flickr allow you to do readings, read minds and genuinely connect with people. A brilliant update of a classic reading system, this deserves to be far more well-known. If you do any kind of mentalism, you need this. Hidden Gem #19: ‘PK Photograph’ by Iain Dunford, Profeign. This is one of my go-to effects. Iain’s brilliant take on Banachek’s classic effect is the only version I’ve seen that focuses on changing the effect and presentation, rather than simply tweaking the method. Simply brilliant. Hidden Gem #20: ‘Probability Zero’ by Paul Curry, World’s Beyond (p139) Perhaps the ultimate ‘impromptu’ coincidence trick. You number some blank business cards 1 through 9 and place them number-side down on the table. A participant points to any card and you write the number 1 on it. This is repeated for the other eight cards. ALL choices are freely made. You turn over the card marked 1. It has a 1 on the reverse! And the 2 has a 2, the 3 a 3 and so on. All 9 match and the participant can examine everything. Hidden Gem #21: ‘Sweet & Sour Prediction’ by Keith Fields, Sweet & Sour eBook. Keith’s ad copy states simply: “A Chinese meal is predicted in an amusing way.” Let me tell you that this prediction fooled me totally! The method is brilliant (and brilliantly simple) and fits the effect perfectly. A 5

stand-up effect with built-in comedy that you can carry in your inside jacket pocket, virtually self-working and nothing to remember. Hidden Gem #22: ‘Chroma Keys’ by Weber, The Session Twenty Fifteen (p5) The participant reads your mind using nothing more than some hotel room keys! A typical example of Weber ingenuity, this update of a classic principle is another fantastic trick using what appear to be regular everyday items. Hidden Gem #23: ‘The Two Tenners’ by Alexander Marsh, Head Wired (p11) This was the best thing I saw at the MINDS convention last year. It features Alex’s ‘Subconscious Switch’ which is a beautiful, deceptive concept/method that completely fooled me. It’s a brilliant idea and one that I’m surprised isn’t in far wider use. Someone will devise a miracle with it (if Alex hasn’t already done so). Hidden Gem #24: ‘The Impossible Envelope’ by David Regal, Approaching Magic (p288). Ideal for either close-up or stand-up performance this is a very disarming way to prove to someone that you predicted three things about them that you couldn’t possibly have known. Practical, low-tech and fooling, this is a memorable piece. Hidden Gem #25: ‘Epic – Marked Down’ by Dan Garrett (Commercial release, 2005) A powerful and practical mentalism effect. It uses three participants, three coloured permanent markers, and three amazing predictions. Nothing else whatsoever, especially: no force! The clever method uses just ordinary materials you can buy in an office supply store. It is a brilliant piece of close-up or cabaret mentalism. Hidden Gem #26: ‘Between The Lines’ by Michael Murray, A Piece of My Mind (p77) This is it! One of the best tricks ever devised and I guarantee no one you know (except me or Mike) is doing it! Another one that I really wish I had devised, but not to worry because at least Michael did. You hand the participant a folded page torn from a novel and he describes details of what he thinks the story involves. The page is opened (no switch!) and read aloud and he is astonished to see that the text accurately reflects the scene that moments earlier existed only in his mind. This is another one of the six things that I always carry in my wallet. 6

Hidden Gem #27: ‘Psychic Pickpocketing’ by Anthony Lindan, Apocalypse September 1994 (2442) It’s hard to describe the effect any other way than the title. Perfect for close-up and walkaround, this mentalism trick uses just a small packet of business cards. You pick the pocket and mind of the participant and leave proof. Hidden Gem #28: ‘Propless Mentalism’ by Peter Turner, Master Class Vol. 12. The poster boy for modern, prop-less mentalism proves once and for all in this eBook that he is the real deal. I too was once a doubter, but witnessing this material performed in person (much of it on me!) convinced me that Peter has finally fulfilled his potential and developed practical, real-world material that belongs in your arsenal. Hidden Gem #29: ‘The Tommy Pad’ by Tom Bleasdale, The Tommy Pad. A very, very clever imp pad that you can make yourself for pennies. You get an instant impression of the full page, can use any pen and it resets in a heartbeat. Thom’s eBook explaining how to make and use this was released in 2007, which sadly feels like many lifetimes ago in terms of volume of mentalism releases… Hidden Gem #30: ‘Time Is Of The Essence’ by Marc Spelmann, 101108 Notes (p6). A perfect piece of modern mentalism that has a compelling premise and a powerful, fooling effect. It is also completely impromptu (the only requirement is the involvement of someone wearing a watch), making it perfect for those times when you are requested to show someone “what you do” but can’t bring yourself to insult their intelligence with a star-sign divination. Hidden Gem #31: ‘Crosseyed!’ by Dr Bill Cuhman, Subliminal Squares (p58). This book contains my favourite way to present the venerable Magic Square trick, but more importantly it contains this incredible, related effect. It makes you look like a total maths genius, for almost zero work. It’s a kind-of Magic Square but much simpler. A great impromptu bit of business. Hidden Gem #32: ‘Throw Six To Start’ by Nik Taylor, Mystic Menagerie 3 (p21). A practical, commercial mentalism effect that is suitable for both close-up and stand up. The effect involves the memories of childhood 7

board games and can provide some really powerful moments of mind or memory reading rather than just the revelation of a selection. Potent stuff. Hidden Gem #33: ‘Seeing Double’ by James Biss, Messing With Minds (p157). One of the best ‘Second Sight’ acts I’ve encountered, I have no doubt this would have totally fooled me. It doesn’t look like a two-person code act as one of the performers is acting as a confederate, but that is well hidden. And the coding method is very, very clever. Someone should take this and win a major magic competition with it. Hidden Gem #34: ‘Troika Twist’ by Ian Rowland, Acting, Lying & Enjoying It (p24). Rowland’s mentalism creations remind me of Jimmy Carr’s jokes: as well as being hugely entertaining they are very clever. This double layer of inventiveness makes Rowland’s material a treat to perform or watch. This incredible three-way coincidence effect is a perfect example, where a prediction is hidden in plain sight all along. And the theme of the effect is entirely customisable, so you can be really amazing and clever, in any subject! This is a fully-developed stand-up effect that can go into your show right now. Hidden Gem #35: ‘The Cheshire Cat Principle’ by Banachek, 2005 Lecture Series, (p44). Banachek says that he thinks that this is just as strong as ‘The Brain Game’ from Psychological Subtleties and, having used it extensively, I agree. It is another set of super smart techniques to describe exactly how someone is thinking as you are reading their mind! Further proof that the devil is in the details. Hidden Gem #36: ‘Triple Alternative’ by Marvoyan, Bolivian Brain Bafflers (p10). I honestly love this trick! It was first shown to me by my good friend Paul Hallas many years ago and I have been using it ever since. You lay six envelopes out on the table. A participant picks three and leaves three for you. He opens his envelopes and they contain plain pieces of paper (or notes of commiseration) and then you open yours and they each contain a bank note! Very clever, very easy and very entertaining. No gaffs, gimmicks, sleights or other shady handling. Only the six envelopes are used. Man, I love these old Supreme booklets…

8

Hidden Gem #37: ‘Energy Signature’ by Kenton Knepper, Anti-Tada eBook (p21). Whilst this is undoubtedly a great trick (that I have developed my own version of - with a much reduced script!) I am including it here as I think this manuscript should be read by everyone. Not just mentalists who obviously want to get away from those ‘Ta-da!’ moments, but also magicians who want to make their performances more natural and less clichéd. There will likely be some of the tricks in the book that you’ll hate, but that would be to miss the point as it is the concept and approach where the true value lies. Hidden Gem #38: ‘Vibrations’ by Luke Jermay, Vibrations eBook (p15). More brilliant, contemporary mentalism. Psychometric readings for this century, not the last (or indeed the one before!) This is how it should be done. Hidden Gem #39: ‘Spinner’ by Ted Karmilovich and Neal Scryer, Scryer’s 13 (p54). A perfect walkaround mentalism trick that you can use any time. It’s a clever prediction of the outcome of a little game that a group of participants play using pocket change. Old school. By which I mean reliable and fooling. Hidden Gem #40: ‘Spooning’ by Thom Petersen, Action Packed Notes (p11). I was lucky enough to learn this directly from Thom and have used it on and off ever since. To my mind it is the perfect visual spoon bending effect and the best part is that at the conclusion the spoon can be immediately examined, and it is indeed bent into an impossible ‘rightangle’ shape. Follow this up with the next trick in the same notes: ‘Revenge Of The Spoon’ which is a bend of a spoon drawn on a signed sheet of paper and you have a great little routine (consider this a Hidden Hidden Gem). Hidden Gem #41: ‘Hey Mr DJ’ by Docc Hilford, Hey Mr DJ (2008). A totally practical piece of classic mentalism, effortlessly updated for use in the 21st Century. Direct mindreading of specific, chosen tunes and then the final tune is psychically projected to the DJ, who plays it. Clubbing will never be the same again!

9

Hidden Gem #42: ‘Worditto’ by Stewart James, Stewart James In Print (p569). I’m a huge James fan and this is one my favourite tricks of his. Basically it is an offbeat magazine test that (impossibly) uses MIRASKILL as the method! No other creator would possibly have thought of this. Hidden Gem #43: ‘Rhymetime Sublime’ by Bill Cushman, Rhymetime Sublime eBook (p2). A completely impromptu word test, using any book, newspaper or magazine. Use the back of a serial box if you like. And great news: no anagrams! This is the kind of secret knowledge that should be in the arsenal of every magician and mentalist. Hidden Gem #44: ‘Premeditated Prediction’ by Stephen Skomp, S’Komplimetary Mentalism (p11). This is a great publicity stunt! Predict the outcome of several different types of sporting event with 100% accuracy and then predict the next day’s newspaper headlines. And even easier to do in 2018 than it was when the book was written. Great thinking and completely practical. Hidden Gem #45: ‘Crosswords’ by Michael Weber, Lifesavers (p77). One could quite easily make an argument that this is the only progressive anagram effect ever published which makes any sense. It is certainly a fantastic piece of improvised mentalism, and there ain’t many of those around! Bonus Hidden Gem: in his Lost In Translation (2010) notes, Weber gives a page of extras and updates to the effect which adds several notable improvements. Hidden Gem #46: ‘A Magic Crystal’ by Eugene Burger, The Experience of Magic (p72). This is such a simple and beautiful effect: a small, rough and uncut crystal is rubbed between the hands and become smooth and round. There is much implied by this delightful little piece and if performed at the right time and for the right audience it can be both startling and powerful. Hidden Gem #47: ‘Beyond Touch’ by Sean Waters, Contemplations eBook (p86). I’ve read lots of colour-sensing routines with playing cards over the years, but this was the first one that motivated me to actually try it out in performance. It’s brilliant. If you have no experience of this kind of effect it’s hard to understand quite how much impact it has on laymen. 10

Hidden Gem #48: ‘£ottery’ by Colin McLeod, Know Sh*t (p40). The problem all mentalists face if they do prediction tricks is that the audience’s thoughts will eventually turn towards the Lotto or Lottery. Great! THIS is the trick to show them. You hand out a Lottery ticket and have six people stand up and think of a number. Those numbers are the exact numbers printed on the Lottery ticket! No switch of ticket. Game over. Hidden Gem #49: ‘Thwarpie’, Joshua Quinn, Paralies (p229). Unlike a lot of published magic and mentalism which devises solutions for problems which don’t exist, this is an example from the other end of the spectrum: a solution for a problem that I didn’t realise I had. This is a simple gimmick that works really well; a Sharpie thumb-tip writer that is reliable, practical, cheap and very easy to make. Hidden Gem #50: ‘Molly & Polly’ by Hector Chadwick, The Nailwriter Anthology (p80). Now that you have your ace new Sharpie thumb-writer you’re going to need a couple of killer tricks to do with it, so this and the next entry provide those. This one is a really smart Noughts and Crosses prediction. Hidden Gem #51: ‘The Quiz Show’ by Tom Stone, Tripodal by Sundown (p7). A fully-fledged quiz-show themed routine that (whisper it!) concludes with an impossible production. Not for the po-faced mentalists amongst us, but for those who like something surreal and off-the-wall this is perfect. Hidden Gem #52: ‘Cryptext’ by Haim Goldenberg, Commercial Release (2008). Cryptext and the later Cryptext 2 are essential in the arsenal of any mentalist. It is a font that allows you to hide predictions is plain sight. A string of numbers (phone number, date of birth, etc.) is reversed and shown to spell a word or name. It doesn’t work for all names and numbers, but for those it does, it’s killer. And it’s still surprisingly well under the radar. Hidden Gem #53: ‘Underhanded’ by Paul Brook, Underhanded eBook (2009). A practical, multiple-out billet effect where you never need to go anywhere near your pockets! Paul has a ton of great effects, and this fooled me as badly as any of them. More smart, modern mentalism. 11

Hidden Gem #54: ‘Scryer’s Stone Soup’ by Neal Scruer and Alain Nu, Psycho-Chronetic (p35). An incredible coincidence and an impossible prediction effect using a bunch of non-working watches. Offbeat mentalism that is ideal for stand up and feels tonally different to so much other mentalism. Hidden Gem #55: ‘The Banned Choice’ by Ken Dyne, Lecture Notes 2015 (p9). This an excellent routine, but more importantly a presentational framework for any ‘Just Chance’ style effect where Ken has solved the problem of leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of the participants/losers. Great thinking as always from Ken. Hidden Gem #56: ‘An Audience on Mars’ by Jim Steinmeyer, Nothing But Mystery (p18). The perfect no-prop mentalism effect for the next time you are at a party where everyone is smoking something recreational. Hidden gem #57: ‘The Third Man’ by Simon Edwards, Commercial Release (2010). I’m a sucker for tricks using photos and this is one of the best. Four photos, three envelopes and a compelling presentation make this a powerful examination of the participant’s ability to judge someone’s character, all confirmed by a 100% accurate prediction. Hidden Gem #58: ‘Thought Extractor’ by Nick Einhorn, Commercial Release (2012). Two participants choose a paperback book each (they can be their own, or off the shelf in a coffee shop etc.) and each chooses a random page. One chooses a word and the other a word that they can convert into an image. You read their minds and reveal both, with a drawing duplication thrown in if you choose. The gimmick employed is hidden in plain sight and will make you smile every time you use it. Sneaky thinking and a very direct routine. Hidden Gem #59: ‘The Call’ by Patrick Redford, Heptagon (p4). Over the years I have compiled a small repertoire of tricks that can be performed over the phone and the main requirements are simple: they need to be entertaining, have a minimum of process and be properly fooling. ‘The Call’ is one of them. Someone calls their friend up and then you speak to them and have them play a game of Rock-Paper-Scissors. You repeatedly read 12

their mind even though you obviously can’t see how they are playing. Simple and powerful. Hidden Gem #60: ‘Crypto’ by Phill Smith, Commercial Release (2015). When Phill first showed me this I just couldn’t conceive of how it could be possible. You have a stack of cards, each of which has an image on the front and some random letters printed all over the back. You also have a metal decoder card. The participant freely chooses an image, e.g. a gun. You place the decoder card on the back of the ‘gun’ image card and the holes in it line up with letters that spell ‘YOU WILL PICK ME’. You then put the decoder card on the back of each of the other cards and every single one says ‘YOU WILL PICK GUN’! It is entirely unfathomable and totally fooling. The props are easily introduced by saying that you were invited to perform at a cryptography conference and wanted to devise a brand new experience just for them. I love this trick. Hidden Gem #61: ‘Four Letter Words’ by Irv Weiner, Four Letter Words. Simple, strong mentalism with a powerful climax and built in laughter. This is along the lines of something Ian Rowland and Phill Smith might collaborate on and release, using word play and word cards to create something as mystifying as it is entertaining. Hidden Gem #62: ‘Zennerphobia’ by David Britland, Psychomancy (p4). A very effective mindreading/prediction effect which focuses on the participant rather than the cards. Too many ESP tricks get bogged down with process and procedure, but in typical fashion, Britland cuts to the chase and offers a clear and direct demonstration of his ability to predict the participant’s behaviour using just a few business cards with Zener symbols drawn on them. A superior demonstration of ESP. Hidden Gem #63: 'Thinkerprint’ by Michael Weber, Dan Garrett – Close-up Connivery 2 (p13). As well as having a fabulous title, this trick is wonderfully original. A participant thinks of a random geometric shape (no force), you show a normal ink pad and ink your finger, then make a fingerprint (on a business card, beer mat, anywhere…) and the middle of the print forms the thought-of shape! Your hands can be inspected, your finger now only makes a normal print, nothing is ever added or taken away and the effect could be immediately repeated! 13

Hidden Gem #64: ‘The Key In The Door’ by Bob Neale, Tricks of the Imagination (p191). A spooky story that might just be true, a moving key that just might be a PK effect and an examinable impossible object that might just be proof of both. Hidden Gem #65: ‘Standing Between Objects’ by Jimmy Fingers, Standing Between Objects eBook. This eBook is a masterclass in the choreography of when and how to make a peek, a subject that is rarely discussed. If you do any kind of peek work, you need to read this. The subtleties, the timing, what to do after the revelation, it’s all in here. Hidden Gem #66: ‘Amagazing’ by Steve Fearson, Commercial Release (2000). Many years ago I came up with a very clever method for a magazine test and in researching it I found that Fearson had already created the same method, but much, much better. I immediately ditched mine and started using his. You’ll find this online to buy easily enough, and it will be the best money you’ll spend this year. Hidden Gem #67: ‘Magician’s Choice’ by David Berglas, MAGIC Magazine November 2002 (p66). On one level it’s a world away from how I perform Equivoque, but on another level Berglas is a master and this is a perfect trick to perform for a large group at a party. Hidden Gem #68: ‘Son of Astro’ by Roy Johnson, Pure Gold (p67). This might seem like the kind of mental magic (using cards and dice!) that most of us hate, but the Jerx would turn it into a miracle using an incredible presentation (“The way to make a process-heavy trick interesting is not to hide the process but to focus 100% of your attention on it.” http://www.thejerx.com/blog/2016/7/21/presenting-the-unpresentable). The method is crafty and the multiple reveals are impressive. You just need to add something along the lines of a “Scientology's Relationship Compatibility test”! Hidden Gem #69: ‘180’ by Arthur Trace, It’s All Relative (p8). You just know that any effect described with a ‘PH’ flourish like this is going to be fabulous: “The performer demonstrates Einstein’s Theory of Relativity as he allegedly flips the room 180 degrees upside down along with everyone and everything inside”. 14

Hidden Gem #70: ‘Triptic’ by Dee Christopher, MINDS3 (p3). Although I customarily use my SpyPad as a peek device, I find it very handy to have several other similar-but-different pads in occasional use so that over a period of time anyone who sees me perform doesn’t get chance to think that I’m always carrying a ‘special’ pad. Dee’s is lovely and very practical. Hidden Gem #71: ‘Star Search’ by Danny Archer, Goes Mental (p34). This is an inspired re-working of a Bannon trick that allows you to perform a very clever double-prediction using nothing more than a stack of ‘signed’ celebrity photos. Great for walkaround and easily adapted to stand-up. Hidden Gem #72: ‘PS I Love You’ by Steve Shufton, PS I Love You. An innovative new prediction system/method using just your business cards and a pen. Again, I expected to see multiple handlings of this emerge, but I’ve never heard anyone so much as mention it. Hidden Gem #73: ‘The Smaven Synthesis’ by Stephen Minch, the New Invocation Issue 41 (p488). A simple prediction of an ESP card, but one whose conditions are clinically clean thanks to a method combining three clever principles. Hidden Gem #74: ‘Mirabile Dictu’ by Allen Zingg, Bill Abbott’s Smart Stuff (p28). This is my favourite handling for Abbott’s ‘Smart Ass’ trick and one I have used many times. It literally destroys laymen as there is no possible conceivable way to backtrack. When you need to fool some research Professors at Stamford, or prove your creativity skills to a Google Research team, this will get the job done. Hidden Gem #75: ‘The Trident’ by Iain Dunford, The Trident eBook. Whilst other mentalists are selling specially-manufactured indexes for high prices, this practical alternative is a DIY job and just as good as any of the expensive options. Easy to make and easy to use, job done. Hidden Gem #76: ‘Password’ by Paul Nardini, A Piece of My Mind II (p31). In mentalism there are a million ways to get or know a secret piece of information but original new ways to reveal that info are few and far between. This is a very smart why-didn’t-I-think-of-that revelation that will go straight into your working repertoire. 15

Hidden Gem #77: ‘Vote For Me’ by James Ward, Magic With Meaning Lecture Notes (p20). Hands down, THE best presentation for the Liar/Truthteller plot. This is genius; I use it all the time and so will you. Hidden gem #78: ‘Strange Tales’ by Leo Boudreau, Skullduggery (p1). I was very fortunate to see this routine performed before I knew the method. Like much of Boudreau’s work it seems utterly impossible. A bunch of people each look at the first few words in a freely chosen chapter in a variety of freely chosen ungimmicked books. You read their minds. Boom! Boudreau’s methods are based on binary sorting or codes and are utterly unfathomable. I’ve recommended this trick but I could have recommended a dozen. All three of his books should be in your library. Hidden Gem #79: ‘Hello’ by Chester Sass, 120% Chestosterone (p42). A simple one-on-one trick where the effect on the participant is waaaay out of proportion to the method used. No props other than a phone are required to (possibly) make a real emotional connection. Hidden Gem #80: ‘Synch’ by Luke Jermay, Modern Mentalism (p63). I am genuinely sad that he published this! I was one of the few people he shared it with several years earlier and can attest to its power. It’s not a trick, it’s more of a moment – but a moment that creates a profound impact upon the participant and audience. Hidden Gem #81: ‘LUNA’ by Outlaw Effects, Commercial Release (2008). A perfect combination of mentalism and (dark) storytelling. This is a small patient registry book from Colney Hatch mental asylum, which has survived from its original use in 1936. It looks perfect and the stories/tricks/experiences you can create with it are sensational. Hidden Gem #82: ‘The Return of The Lady of The Lake’ by Denny Laub, Brain Scams (p5). This is a very interesting effect which I love. I’ve adapted the method somewhat, but the concept remains unchanged. After talking about scrying, you have a man gaze into a shot glass filled with water whilst concentrating on his birthdate. The water is then poured into an empty shot glass which sits on the table in front of a lady. She stares intently into her glass and names the date! 16

Hidden Gem #83: ‘X-Men Comic Books Test’ by Odes Odhner, Jack Kent Tillar’s Septet (p129). This is an ingenious piece of mentalism using comics. Practical and fooling and it doesn’t feel like it belongs in the 1970s. Hidden Gem #84: ‘Three Part Harmony’ by Jim Steinmeyer, The Secret No One Tells You (p2). These notes would be worth reading even without the tricks, but Steinmeyer’s opening trick is a well thought out and minimal approach to Mental Epic that should find a home in the repertoires of a lot of performers. If only they read more! Hidden Gem #85: ‘The Human Equation’ by Marc Paul, The Human Equation eBook. The best £12 you’ll spend this week and it would still be worth it if it was £112. The effect is very easy to understand in performance, but kind of hard to explain in writing! A group of people are each assigned a number, they mix themselves up and then the audience decides who should stay and who should go. The ones who are left are used to create three two-digit numbers. When these are added together they come to a total you have predicted, which also happens to match your birthday! This is fabulous. Hidden Gem #86: ‘Miser’s Peek Wallet’ by Alexander Marsh, Make Do and Mentalism (p6). Turn ANY wallet into a practical peek wallet with minimal cost and effort. Seems obvious when you read it, but I’ve seen a wellknown mentalist fooled very badly by this. Hidden Gem #87: ‘Loss of Face: How to Vanish a Reflection of You Face’ by Bob Neale, The Magic of Celebrating Illusion (p119). Like everything in this book, this trick and presentation are right on the edge of what would be considered traditional ‘conjuring’. And that’s why it is wonderful. Oh, and you DO vanish your reflection! Hidden Gem #88: ‘Diced Thoughts’ by Colin McLeod, Divine (p133). In the HG series I’ve stayed away from recommending tricks which require additional expensive props, but this is routine is SO good that it’s worth buying a special electronic transmitting die for. It uses dual reality, but in such an open way that it doesn’t feel to the participant that you are trying to hide anything. World-class mentalism. 17

Hidden Gem #89: ‘Peek-to-Peek’ by Alain Nu, Labyrinth Number Four (p116). As clean an impromptu booktest as you’ll ever need to learn. Simple, direct handling with lots of finesse. Hidden Gem #90: ‘Con-Clue-Sion’ by Goldstein and Hobbs, Labyrinth Number Nine (p304). A superior piece of board-game mentalism: you are able to predict the outcome of a game of Cluedo – the murderer, the weapon and the room. This uses the real cards and a devious handling. Hidden Gem #91: ‘Stegosaurus’ by Phill Smith, Commercial Release (2015). Some pieces of mentalism are a blow to the head and others are a slow burn demonstration of supra-mental prowess that leave people marvelling at your superior brain. This is one of the later. It starts off as a kind of word puzzle / memory demonstration and ends up as something far more incredible. Perfect to use as an apparently ‘impromptu’ performance for intelligent friends. Hidden Gem #92: ‘PSI Lotto’ by Scott Creasey, PSI Lotto eBook. All mentalist are always on the lookout for a great effect to answer the (almost inevitable) audience question, “Yes, but can you win the Lotto?” Performing Creasey’s trick allows you to answer this in an entertaining, commercial and fooling way, Hidden Gem #93: ‘Lie Detector’ by Max Krause, Innovating Deceptions Lecture Notes (p15). A practical and fooling routine where the performer can tell whether the participant is lying or telling the truth as he reads out the serial number of a randomly chosen banknote. Hidden Gem #94: ‘The White Umbrella’ by Matt Mello, The White Umbrella eBook. You just know that any trick where the performer predicts the raincoat colour order that three participants are arranged in, based on a fourth participant’s decisions, is going to be fabulous! And indeed it is. Hidden Gem #95: ‘Harmony Ritual’ by Andy Jerx, http://www.thejerx.com/blog/2018/6/26/the-harmony-ritual This is the first time I’ve included a trick that is written up online, but it’s totally worth it as this is a great presentation of ‘Miraskill’ and serves to 18

beautifully introduce you to Jerx-style presentations in general, and that can only be a worthwhile thing. Hidden Gem #96: ‘One From Three’ by David Lees, Miraculous Minds eBook (p46). This adds a lovely touch to Hummer’s ‘Monte’ that will fly straight past other magicians and mentalists. I use the photo version, but using the ‘Homescreen’ images of three people who have matching iPhones. As an impromptu miracle, it’s hard to beat. Hidden Gem #97: ‘Humthing’ by Max Maven, September in Seattle notes (p8) + several other sets of notes. The performer writes the names of a bunch of songs on the backs of different business cards and the participant genuinely shuffles them. Two are fairly chosen and the participant looks at them and thinks of one. Without any questions or pumping the performer reveals the thought of song. This has a typical Maven-clever method and with just a little thinking the trick, and especially the climax, could easily be adapted to something using social media. Hidden Gem #98: ‘The Barfly Billet’ by John Wells, A Compendium of the Works of John Wells eBook. This is a superior billet tear and one of the several that you really ought to have in your repertoire if you use billets. The moment you try it you just know that Wells has used it under fire for a long time. Hidden Gem #99: ‘Hands of Time’ by Greg Arce, Hands of Time eBook. A powerful, specific time prediction effect that relies on ‘suggestion’. Uhhuh… The difference is that this one was created by a working performer, not a teenage FB expert, so the good news is that it actually works. Not 100% of course, but in the high 90s and certainly enough that it belongs in your casual repertoire. Hidden Gem #100: ‘Shaken And Stirred’ by Oliver Meech, 5 For 5 Pounds – Coffee eBook (p7). Another simple but brilliant effect from Meech: a participant chooses an ESP symbol and the matching symbol is marked out in chocolate powder on the frothy head of a coffee. A perfect Weberesque little mystery for casual performance.

19

Hidden Gem #101: ‘Pro Envelope Plus’ by Sean Taylor, MindCoaster (p27). Despite the volume of new mentalism items that are constantly released, it is rare for me to add a new utility item into my arsenal. I already have my preferred peek wallet, imp pad, index etc. I made an exception for ‘PEP’ though; this is the last two-way out envelope you will ever need. It looks and feels like a real envelope, because it is. Brilliantly simple. Hidden Gem #102: ‘Blue Plate Special’ by Bill Goldman and Eric Mead, Bill Goldman’s Magic Bar & Grill Issue 2 (p1). Stand-up performers are always on the lookout for strong effects that involve the whole audience, and this one is a beauty. The audience call out colours, items of clothing and numbers and you clearly and openly write down everything they say. They make lots of different choices and then one audience member makes the final decision on exactly which ones to select. And you have predicted it all with 100% accuracy! This effect highlights a killer new methodological principle with tons of further possible applications. Hidden Gem #103: ‘Yoke’ by Fraser Parker, Yoke eBook. Parker has created a fantastic little two-person code that lets you code a playing card in such a simple way that is nevertheless impossible to rumble. I have seen a lot of smart minds totally stumped by this. And best of all, you can teach it to someone in less than one minute! Hidden Gem #104: ‘Divine!’ by Bob Somerfeld, Mind Reader’s Digest (p4). A participant draws something on a card and seals it inside two envelopes, which he may examine both before and after the test. Everything is signed by him and there are no switches of any kind. He retains possession of the sealed package throughout yet you are able to duplicate the design without going near him. This is the kind of brilliant old school mentalism that a lot of the new generation of prop-less wonders don’t even know exists. Hidden Gem #105: ‘The Game of Fate’ by Borodin, Final Curtain (p273). I genuinely love this! It is a version of Deddy Corbuzier’s ‘Free Will’ that is socially relevant and discusses politics. And it must be the only trick ever devised that features photos of Sophia Loren, Jennifer Lopez and Angela Merkel. It’s madness, but in the best kind of way! 20

Hidden Gem #106: ‘Sense of Touch’ by Ian Rowland, Sense of Touch (p2). This is a perfect demonstration of ‘seeing with the fingertips’ using nothing more than a deck of cards. The audience can impose any conditions or controls they can think of, yet you are continually 100% successful. I would not have figured this out in 100 years. Oh and thankfully it doesn’t use Lewis Jones’ ‘Pattern Principle’ which is used in almost every other approach to this plot that I’ve ever read. Hidden Gem #107: ‘Crowd Control’ by Michael Murray, South Tyneside Lecture Notes (p17). Murray continues to redefine what is possible within the field of mentalism. In short, this technique allows you to seemingly control a participant’s actions by planting your voice inside their head (options for both stage and close-up are included). No electronics or indeed props or gimmicks of any kind; this incredible technique is entirely language-based. Hidden Gem #108: ‘Perchance to Dream’ by David Regal, Close Up and Personal (p224). A merely thought of word disappears from a page of writing. He uses Hamlet, but you can use anything and the principle gives you a host of other uses. A method waiting for a miracle effect. Hidden Gem #109: ‘Cellular Mitosis’ by Docc Hilford, Cellular Mitosis (p6). And you really should read his CM2 booklet as well, which is his later thinking on the effect. What effect? Well it’s fantastic: a participant thinks of anything, calls up their friend (on their own phone) and their friend tells them what they are thinking of. I know that sounds impossible, but it’s true. Genius work from Docc with this release. Hidden Gem #110: ‘Will Power’ by Bruce Bernstein, Commercial Release (2009). A brilliant, multi-phase mindreading and prediction effect using nothing more than some pocket change and a borrowed plate or container. Hidden Gem #111: ‘Horrific Vacation’ by Floyd Collins, Horrific Vacation eBook. A darkly comic effect where the participant uses their intuition to choose the correct location where something horrific happened. They then correctly identify the person involved and reveal some of the details…

21

which are a bit too close to home for your liking. This is a great bit of entertainment that I’m surprised hasn’t been more widely marketed. Hidden Gem #112: ‘The Pen Game’ by Paul Brook, The Book of Lies (p25). One of my favourite Brook tricks: you play several rounds of the ‘pen game’ with a participant, betting that you know the outcome of his guesses. You appear to lose, but then reveal that in fact you predicted ALL his guesses – they are written in ink on the note you bet with. Practical, fooling casual mentalism. Hidden Gem #113: ‘Multi-bob Pendulum’ by Bill Cushman, Trybil eBook. If you know nothing about multi-bob pendulums then you are about to disappear down a rabbit-hole of intrigue, impossibility and wow-moments. The fact that they work is incredible. Hidden HG: Body Trick 67 by John Fisher, Body Magic (p97). This is the ultimate: 5 bottles with pendulums in them are placed on a lightweight table, and four people sit around the table touching it only with their fingertips. Nevertheless, the ideomotor principle will do its work and each pendulum can be made to swing alone. It seems utterly impossible. Hidden Gem #114: ‘Lie To Me’ by Leo Boudreau, Magic Café thread. Whilst I’ve previously recommended the Jerx’s blog, I think this is the first time I’ve recommend a trick on one of the forums, and the Tragic Café (from which I’m banned) at that! It’s worth it though. It’s in the ‘Inner Thoughts’ section and was posted back in 2009. The whole thread is 5 pages in total. Leo’s original idea is utterly brilliant and then he and several others offer additions and variations. As well as the trick being a killer, the whole thread is a masterclass in creative brainstorming. Hidden Gem #115: ‘Thought Chunnel’ by Joshua Quinn, ParaLies (p153). If you want to create the illusion of mind-reading with nothing more than words, this is exactly what you need. It’s the real deal. Hidden HG: if you read this and love it you also need to check out Brandon Queen’s Phathom. Hidden gem #116: ‘The Paper Plane Chair Game’ by Hector Chadwick, The Mental Mysteries of Hector Chadwick (p47) A very simple and direct ‘chair test’ and all the better for it. Follow it up with ‘Mach II’ which immediately follows it in the book and you have a commercial, entertaining platform mentalism routine that will fool anyone. 22

Hidden Gem #117: ‘KONTROL’ by Kenton Knepper, KONTROL eBook. A powerful example of mental influence that is strong enough to use at a walkaround gig, but casual enough to perform for friends over coffee. Hidden HG: Colin McLeod has some work on this that you should look up too. Hidden Gem #118: ‘Tic-Tac-Toe Telepathy’ by Fred Lowe, Visual Mentalism Series No. 1 (p4). The best method and presentation I have read for a mentalism version of ‘Noughts and Crosses’. Hidden Gem #119: ‘Ahead Of The Spectrum’ by Ken Dyne, Thinking Ahead (p19). The best essay I’ve ever read on the venerable one-ahead principle and then a brilliant trick to prove that he’s right. Kennedy has grown to become one of mentalism’s most important thinkers. Hidden Gem #120: ‘Home Astral Projection’ by Ian Rowland, Home Astral Projection eBook. Like almost everything Ian does, this is wonderful. You make someone you just met feel like you are seeing through their eyes as they mentally walk around their own home. Unnerving yet utterly compelling, I use this a lot. There’s nothing else out there like it. Hidden Gem #121: ‘Hangman’s Noose’ by Paul Voodini, Pendulum Magic: Routines for Mystery Performers (p27). A proper scary story, and for my money the greatest presentation ever written for a pendulum routine. If you do any pendulum work at all, you must read this. Hidden Gem #122: ‘Xijatsey’ by Joshua Quinn, ParaLies (p23). If you liked ‘HASTERIX’ from the first volume of HG then you will love this. Quinn has taken the whole thing up a level and has handlings for close-up, stage and over the phone. This is a ‘must use’. Hidden Gem #123: ‘Sublime Influence’ by Michael Murray, A Piece of My Mind (p53). One of my all-time favourite pieces of situational mentalism, using some numbers drawn on some slips of paper and any suitable glass that’s handy. If I’m at home I use a glass that the Jerx suggested (happy hunting!) and either way the revelation of the hidden-in-view prediction at the end is always a stunner. 23

Hidden Gem #124: ‘Free Call’ by Deddy Corbuzier, Companionage eBook (p201). I love telephone tricks involving my ‘psychic friend’. I collect them. And this is one of my favourites. Someone thinks up 10 random names and decides on one as the target then calls your friend. He immediately reveals that chosen name. No extra phones, open lines or any other hidden communication. Very clever. Hidden HG: I published what for me is the ultimate phone/code system in Mentalism Reveals 3, called ‘Decibel Vision’. Hidden Gem #125: ‘Rune Miracle’ by Christoph Borer, 2007 Lecture Notes (p35). A participant freely chooses a rune stone from 25 possibilities. In the bag that the stones came from there is a leather cord with the exact same rune on it. The participant may take it home with her. Imagine doing this at the end of a reading. Wow! It couldn’t get more powerful. Hidden Gem #126: ‘Body Trick 72’ by John Fisher, Body Magic (p101) A key turns impossibly whilst balanced on your outstretched finger. A favourite of Stanley Jaks, this effect makes a perfect little one-two punch if you perform it followed (after minimal instruction) by a participant. Hidden Gem #127: 'PreMeditation’ by Dan Garrett, Garrett Does The UK (p3). A very strong ESP card routine, with the thing that ESP tricks usually lack – a killer climax. And by the way, I follow Bob Baker’s sage advice when using ESP cards: “I don’t bother to explain the origin of the cards. I think it’s hackneyed. If the audience doesn’t know, too bad.” (HG advice from his Shared Thoughts book.) Hidden Gem #128: ‘The Mentalist’s Pencil’ by Dr. S. P. Thornton, Best of Mental-Wise (p37). This will be your new favourite party trick to perform with your partner. Seemingly impossible mentalism accomplished by a simple code. Hidden Gem #129: ‘Puzzled’, by Bob Cassidy, Commercial Release (p2005). The most popular methods for the mentalism trick of a participant finding the correct missing piece from a jigsaw are both old and transparent. Bob’s is just the opposite – totally fooling. Whilst the method was typical Dr. Crow brilliance, it required a very specific jigsaw that is now impossible to find. Fast-forward to 2020, and it is now possible to get bespoke jigsaws 24

printed easily – and cheaply – from a ton of different online companies. Which makes this routine ripe for rediscovery and adaption. Hidden Gem #130: ‘Message From The Titanic’, by Peter Marucci, Bizarre Magic (p7). As it appears here this is an odd juxtaposition of a card trick and a souvenir from the Titanic! However, with just a bit of thought and a Jerx-style approach to the presentation this can be a very powerful, disconcerting trick. Hidden Gem #131: ‘Suspension of Disbelief II’ by Barrie Richardson, Theatre Of The Mind (p166). This beautiful effect of Barrie’s is the kind that not only stuns laymen but totally intrigues magicians as the handling looks so clean. You have someone fill a glass with water from a jug, then take the glass and suspend it from the handle of a wooden spoon – whilst reciting a poem! A perfect example of Barrie’s approach to magic. Hidden Gem #132: ‘The Lost Mazes of Britain’ by Caleb Strange, Dale Hildebrandt – Other Stuff 1 (p9). I’m obsessed with mazes so this trick had me immediately intrigued. And thankfully it’s not just a smart idea, but a fully realised routine which Caleb has obviously performed many times. For the right audience it’s amazing. Hidden Gem #133: ‘The Case That Confounded Holmes’ by Eugene Poinc, Journeys Into Grey (p71). When it comes to Bizarre Magic I think it’s a case of go big or go home. One must really commit to it. I have never seen anyone perform this trick, nor have I worked on it myself. But I would really love to see it performed. The story is wonderful and the magic (a wrist chopper and TnR cigarette paper!) are almost a by play; in the hands of the right performer I think this would be a truly incredible experience. Hidden Gem #134: ‘PUN’ by Paolo Cavalli, Sigma (p67). A lovely two-phase routine combining word-association, memory loss and mindreading. As usual with Paolo there is some inspired choreography to the proceedings which amplifies the effects considerably. Hidden Gem #135: ‘37th Deception’ by Alexander Marsh, Hybrid Mentalism (p38). A two-phase revelation of a thought of name and a thought of number. But… along the way the performer creates a room full of mind 25

readers. Very clever thinking and a sensational stand-up trick that is guaranteed to make an impact. Hidden Gem #136: ‘Nu-Sense’ by Alain Nu, Mind Over Matter (p13). This impromptu mentalism demonstration is a superior handling of Hummer’s ‘Mathematical Three-Card Monte’ and it feels very unique as it doesn’t rely on either Equivoque or Corbuzier’s ‘Free Will’ principle which are the modern staples of these kind of effects. And it’s all the better for it! In effect, a borrowed ring, watch and key are placed on a table and mixed about while your back is turned. The participant places one object on a finger, one on their wrist and the remaining one in their pocket. Initially it looks like your intuition fails, before you show that you exactly predicted the outcome on your business card. No outs, no switches and no linguistic ambiguity. Just classic mentalism which should be in your impromptu repertoire. Hidden Gem #137: ‘The Quintuplets’ by Peter Warlock, Pentagram Vol. 10 No. 6 (p46). This is the third part of a five part two-person test, but trust me it can stand more than comfortably alone and is easily reworked for a solo performer. How this has never been marketed can only be due to the extensive preparation required. Nevertheless, the effect is more than worth it and it would totally fool you. Five cards are freely selected from a genuinely shuffled deck and they match five isolated cards from a contrasting deck. No sleight-of-hand (but lots of roughing fluid!) Ingenious. Hidden HG: this trick is based on Warlock’s own ‘Rhinegold’ from Phoenix No. 180 (p720) which is a very direct ESP card trick and also well worth checking out. Hidden Gem #138: ‘Persuasion’ by Ian Rowland, Genii January 2004 (p68). A typically brilliant Rowlandian presentation for Nick Trost’s ‘Eight Card Brainwave’. Intelligent, entertaining and a perfect alternative to Bank Night. Hidden gem #139: ‘Psychic Compatibility’ by Anthony Lindan, The Trapdoor Issue 49 (p892) A simple trick using numbers that seems like it should need to be more complicated, but isn’t. A perfect intro to any casual performance of any trick that uses numbers. 26

Hidden Gem #140: ‘Past, Present and Future’ by Jorg Alexander, FFFF 2000 Notes (p32). A powerful, affecting trick to use at house parties as an encore. This part reading, part synchronicity, part prediction, all mentalism. Hidden Gem #141: ‘Sesquipedalian’ by Jon Allen, Commercial Release (2016) An alternative to a book test, where the participant is asked to think of a word that they do not know. Since that appears to be impossible you provide a selection of rare and obscure words, each with its definition. The participant selects one at random and the performer reveals what it is. Great premise and very entertaining. Hidden Gem #142: ‘Three Pieces’ by Liam Montier, Thinking It Over (p6). This is a great follow-up to ‘Nu-Sense’ recommended earlier. A participant places his phone, wallet and keys into three separate pockets while the performer’s back is turned and then the performer shows he has the exact same objects in the exact same pockets. Oh, and your pockets are otherwise empty. And it can be repeated. Totally practical and fooling. Hidden Gem #143: ‘The Imaginary Ball’ by Matt Mello, It’s All In Your Head (p4). The performer blindfolds a participant (genuine blindfold) and drops an imaginary ball and they are to catch it. The first time the performer says "now" and they close their hand. The next time without saying anything the participant catches the imaginary ball precisely at the right time! There is no stooge or even instant stooging. Can be done impromptu and is totally practical. You’ll use it. Hidden Gem #144: ‘Memory Relapse’ by Jay Sankey, Commercial Release (2015). I love effects where the participant is apparently caused to forget something and this Sankey effect is one of the best. Four shapes are drawn on the outside of an envelope and the participant is caused to forget one – the exact one predicted on your business card inside the envelope. Selfcontained and brilliant. Hidden Gem #145: ‘Hands Off Bank Night’ by Paul Stockman, Hands Off Bank Night Manuscript (2008). For a clean, direct piece of mentalism this is hard to beat. Is it a clever new method? Quite the opposite. But 27

sometimes the simplest ideas are the best. And as a ‘lost luggage’ back-up this is a must-know. Hidden Gem #146: ‘Urban Legend’ by Michael Paul, Urban Legend Manuscript (2008). This is a masterpiece of minimalist thinking on the razor blades trick. Only two blades are used, the method is a clever noswitch handling and the theatrical presentation is totally compelling. Hidden Gem #147: ‘The Fource’ by Bill Cushman, The Fource eBook. A large portion of the audience divines a four-digit number. Whilst this is essentially just a way to combine two psychological forces and then harvest hits from the audience, the amount of thinking that has gone into various ways to present this is hugely impressive. Includes contributions from Becker, Arce, Reynolds, Twose, Waters, Longman, Finley, Razzano, Manor, Nu and more. Another essential piece of ‘lost luggage’ knowledge at the very least. Hidden Gem #148: ‘Lateral Time’ by Sean Waters, Reflections (p21). A participant is shown a strange image which appears meaningless. He then sets a time on his watch, sight unseen. The time is then shown to have been subliminally influenced by the image. I like these kind of tricks, ones which seem to rely on subconscious awareness (see ‘HASTERIX’ and ‘Xijatsey’), and this one in particular blends real psychology in with the tricky element. Hidden Gem #149: ‘The White Room’ by Ran Pink, The White Room eBook. Imaginary card magic! By which I mean card magic with no deck, just words and imagination. Almost always this kind of thing is bull. But not this! I tried it, it worked and I’ve continued to use it. What your participant will ultimately remember is that they merely thought of a card, and you named it. It’s a great opener. Hidden Gem #150: ‘Priority’ by Chad Long, Commercial Release (2018). The classic slate routine reworked using a ‘Priority’ envelope, a stapler and some markers. One marker is dropped back inside the envelope and stapled up and the other used to select a word from a magazine. When the envelope is torn open the chosen word is written inside it. A squeaky clean 28

handling using standard stationery items that works for any size audience. Perfect. Hidden Gem #151: ‘The Five Gifts of Life’ by Bob Neale, This Is Not A Book (p8) When Jeff McBride first showed me this ‘effect’ (although that isn’t really the right word) about 25 years ago I was stunned, not just by the trick, but by the whole presentation and concept. Bob finally published it in this book many years later. It won’t be for everyone, but if it’s for you, you’ll perform it for the rest of your life… Hidden Gem #152: ‘The Five Senses’ by Jim Steinmeyer, Strange Power and Other Problems For Magicians. This elegant and powerful trick is along the lines of Corinda’s ‘Powers of Darkness’ and Slydini’s ‘Paper Balls Over The Head’, but fools all five senses of the participant. I like it so much I even sneaked it into a TV show I wrote a few years ago. Hidden Gem #153: ‘Mesmer’s Pencil’ by Barrie Richardson, Curtain Call (p13). An un-gimmicked pencil rises above your hand visibly and then slowly sinks back down. The participant tries to try to pick up the pencil from your open hand, but the pencil is so heavy that it is impossible to lift. A moment later the pencil returns to its original weight, and then becomes heavy yet again, returns back to normal and is finally given to the spectator to keep. This is Barrie's final version of ‘Pencil Pusher’ from Theater of the Mind and it is a perfect piece of close-up theatre. Present it as a magic trick, mentalism demonstration or straight hypnosis. However you choose, this is a powerful and organic in-the-hands routine. Hidden Gem #154: ‘Collective Telepathy’ by Juan Tamariz, Genii Magazine, October 2002 (p52). Are you ready to learn the best piece of mentalism that you will learn this year? And probably next year as well? This routine is the very definition of ‘hidden in print’ and I only know about it as I was very fortunate to watch Tamariz totally fry a bar full of magicians and laymen with it. This was in 2012 if I remember which was about 10 years after it was published. I was lucky that immediately after I saw him perform it a light switched on in my brain and I remembered reading something similar years earlier… After a lot of research I found it. It’s an absolute brain-melter. Basically, someone writes down the name of someone only they know and then the audience comes up with 29

information regarding that person such as where they live, their profession, characteristics and sometimes (including the night I saw Tamariz perform it) the person's actual name! No one has a clue what the hell is going! No stooging, dual reality or similar. Just typical Tamariz genius. You might read it and think, “Yeah, it’s nice, but not as good as Elsdon’s making it out to be.” Don’t! It IS that good I promise. One performance and you’ll be hooked for life. Hidden Gem #155: ‘Prophetriter’ by Paolo Cavalli, The Nailwriter Anthology (p76). And this is the second, an ingenious multiple prediction from the devious mind of Cavalli. All you need is a stack of business cards and you’re good to go. Hidden Gem #156: ‘Volition’ by Joel Dickinson, Head Tricks (p8). One of the greatest ‘impromptu’ mentalism effects ever released. You need just a handful of business cards and you are ready to create a sensation. Hidden Gem #157: ‘Reading “Ordinary Printed Material” With The Fingertips’ by Howard Albright, Super Sensitive Fingertips (p28). The whole of this small booklet is well worth reading but this magazine test is particularly good. Clean, direct mentalism. Hidden Gem #158: ‘Hallmark Memory’ by Greg Arce, Lost In Thought (p120). Greg’s book is full of great mentalism, and this is a highlight. This has a similar vibe to Derren’s ‘Reminiscence’ but is hugely customisable. A participant chooses a greeting card and you reveal the subject plus a ton of details that they just think of. There is much, much more which can be done with the principle taught here. Hidden Gem #159: ‘Reading The Brick’ by Stuart Nolan, Commercial Release (2013). An insightful and entertaining reading system based on the participant building a Lego model. The package consists of a booklet and bag of the required Lego pieces and you can tell from the moment you start to read the booklet that Stuart has spent a long time developing, refining and delivering this excellent system.

30

Hidden Gem #160: ‘Psychokinetic Match’ by Drew McAdam, The Drooby Book (p21). A very direct and powerful bit of PK done with a box of borrowed matches, where the action all happens when you’re not even on the premises. Very smart thinking. Hidden Gem #161: ‘Mentalism Goes Postal’ by Lee Earle, Mentalism In New Directions (p140). Earle is the Godfather of modern mentalism and this is a perfect example of what he does: combines visually interesting yet natural props with an entertaining and amazing routine, all held together by an intriguing premise. Here a stack of postcards of various cities are used for an impeccable demonstration of remote viewing climaxing with a drawing duplication. Hidden Gem #162: ‘Photo Finish’ by Dennis Laub and Gary Inglese, ConQuests (p39). So you want to have someone hide an object (traditionally your pay cheque, but unlikely in 2017!) somewhere in the theatre and you find it using ESP? What’s that, you don’t want to risk using contact mindreading or spend a thousand pounds on risky electronics? No worries! Laub & Inglese have you covered with a 100% bullet-proof method. Works with any object (doesn’t need to be magnetic or have something loaded onto/into it) and you are out of the room accompanied by a member of the ‘committee’ the whole time the object is hidden. This method is so good that Gordon Bruce could have invented it! Hidden Gem #163: ‘Two-Headed Mutant Sponge Bunny of Death’ by Bruce Graham, Mystic Menagerie Issue # 4 (p19). From the sublime to the ridiculous! Absolutely crazy, and in the best possible way. Sponge balls (kinda) done as a bizarre magic effect. Love it!

Copyright © 2020 by Mark Elsdon. All Rights Reserved. Do not copy it, do not scan it, do not upload it. Thank you. 31