|
PSYCHOKINETIC BANKNIGHT
By Ted Lesley
In a recent "Vibrations", the magazine of
the "Psychic Entertainer's Association" I found
an effect which immediately drew my attention.
In an article by my good friend Docc Hilford
from Florida he explained parts of his "bizarre"
show. Amongst the effects he described was a
"bank night"-routine, which he didn't explain,
because he sells the complete trick. I really
don't know how he accomplishes the experiment,
but I wanted to do it and here is my solution
for it! Believe me, with this item you'll get
gasps from the audience, if correctly performed.
Effect:
A banknote of high value is borrowed and signed
by a spectator. Three other members of the audience
are asked to come on stage. The performer removes
three unsealed envelopes and two pieces of newsprint
out of his wallet. One of the spectators seals
the bill into one, and the pieces of newsprint,
one of each, into the remaining two envelopes.
It is essential that the envelopes look alike,
being absolutely opaque and have a self sealing
flap. After this has occurred the spectator
takes the envelopes behind his back and mixes
them so that nobody knows which one contains
the money. With a broad marker he numbers them
one to three on the address side. Now each of
the two remaining spectators chooses an envelope.
The performer brings forward a sealed plastic
bag, which contains about 50 butane lighters
in an array of colors.
The bag is opened with a pair of scissors and
each spectator chooses a lighter. Then the performer
turns his back to the proceedings and asks the
spectator who has, for example envelope number
three, to set it on fire with the butane lighter.
This is repeated with the spectator who has
the number one envelope. The remaining spectator
is instructed to do the same, but his lighter
doesn't work! The spectator opens his envelope
and finds the signed bill inside! Not only has
the performer identified the right envelope
with his "sixth sense", but with his "psychokinetic
powers" he has caused the butane lighter to
fail to work as well! The three spectators are
asked to ignite the lighters once more, and
the audience sees in amazement, that all three
work!
The assisting spectators can take the lighters
with them as they're leaving the stage, there
is nothing for them to find! Believe me, this
is "STAGE MENTALISM" as it s best!
To Prepare:
One of the three envelopes is marked. In this
one goes the borrowed signed banknote. I have
marked them on the address side with a pencil
dot in the upper left and the lower right corner
of the envelope. The same procedure is used
to mark the back. The plastic bag, containing
the butane lighters isn't as innocent as it
looks.
I construct them out of three layers of transparent
plastic sheet with a normal household sealing
machine. Now the bag acts like the well known
"Transparent Changing Bag" when it is cut open.
One side of the bag has to be loaded with working
butane lighters in various colors, the other
compartment contains 10 to 15 lighters in two
different colors only, that means, five of each
say in red and white. The lighters in the secret
compartment contain no butane! You have to use
empty ones. To remove the gas from the lighters
you will have to drill a small hole in the bottom
with a small "hand" drill. Make sure you do
not use an electric drill as this could cause
an explosion or fire. A safer method is to simply
hold them open (unlit) so the butane escapes.
For obvious reasons you should do either of
these outside, not in your home! Also take some
care to make sure you are well away from all
sources of flame or sparks.
Then you must seal the opening of the bag. This
little "touch" of mine floored all the mentalists
and magicians, because the lighters come in
such bags when you buy them wholesale! In your
right outside jacket pocket put one working
lighter matching the color of one of the prepared
ones, in your right pants pocket put a working
lighter matching the prepared remaining colored
one. In both of the pockets put a small pair
of scissors with blunt ends also. You will see
why in a moment. Remember in which pocket is
which lighter! You must have a table on stage
on which you put three transparent Pyrex containers.
To Perform:
Borrow a banknote and have it signed with a
broad marker by the spectator. Ask three members
of the audience to follow you on the stage.
Place them behind the table, which should be
placed by an assistant to the front center.
One of the spectators gets the marked envelope
first to seal the banknote in it. After he has
done so, hand him the unprepared envelopes and
the two pieces of newsprint with the request
to seal the pieces into the envelopes. Then
the spectator is instructed to take all three
envelopes behind his back and mix them around.
Hand him the marker to number the envelopes
with the numerals "1" to "3" respectively. Now
the other two spectators select an envelope.
Due to the markings you know, who of the three
has the envelope containing the banknote. Now
take the bag of lighters out of your case or
from the table and cut it open with one of the
scissors. Put the scissors back in your pocket.
With your fingers open the secret compartment
of the bag and have the spectator holding the
envelope with the banknote choose one. He gets
one of the non working lighters of course.
Remember its color! Now you must open the compartment
of the bag containing the unprepared lighters
and have the remaining two spectators choose
one each also. Put the bag away. Now follow
the routine as in "Effect" above. The last spectator
should be the one who holds the envelope with
the bill inside. After he is asked to light
his envelope, which doesn't work of course,
"absent-mindedly" take his lighter with the
right hand and go into the appropriate pocket
and take the scissors out. As soon as you're
in the pocket, switch the lighters and come
out of the pocket immediately with the pair
of scissors and the working lighter! Hand him
the scissors to open the envelope and put the
lighter beside the Pyrex-container. Put the
scissors into the pocket again. As you go back
to the person, who loaned you the bill to verify
his signature, ask the spectators on stage to
ignite the lighters once more......and now,
all three work. The lighters can be kept by
the spectators as a souvenir.
Notes:
It is a good idea, to perform another "psychokinetic
effect" before you do this routine. For the
last couple of weeks I haven't used just one
table. I have three small ones spaced evenly
in the front of the stage. This isn't only for
looks, it makes sure that the spectators don't
change envelopes or lighters when you have turned
your back towards them! I use the "Spider" tables,
which are manufactured by my good friend Claus
Fleischhauer here in Berlin. You can, of course,
instruct your spectators on stage to light their
envelopes simultaneously. This depends on your
own personality and patter. |
