Before I get into this effect, statistical practice and understanding of areas outside of psychology and magic play a massive part in ‘observational
mentalism’.
This next effect utilises an anomaly, I hope you enjoy it.
Effect
The performer is sat with a group and is asked to perform something impossible. The performer proposes to guess a pin code. He explains that it would be rude of him to reveal an actual pin code as such things should always be kept private.
He glances down and notices that the group are sat at table number 36.
He asks the group to take out their phones and go to the calculator, he
explains that he is going to generate a pin code in the fairest sense. They are asked to type into the calculator the table number as that is a randomly
generated number and fate has dictated that the group would be sat at that table. The group are asked to imagine being sat at a different table
- whatever table number they desire IF they were going to make a conscious choice of sitting at any table.
Now they are asked to press the times key and punch in whatever number they are thinking of and then press the equals key to arrive at a total. Each of the four participants are asked to compare totals to see how vastly different they are. He tells them "The only way they could ever be the same is if they coincidentally thought of the same number in which case they have the
opportunity to completely change their number."
From their totals they are each to think of only one number (one digit), so that if they were to be put together they would, as a group, be creating a new random pin code.
He explains that this is the most random and fair way to create a code and that it ensures that they won't fall into the trap of picking a number that is frequently chosen or feel pressured in anyway.
For good measure the performer asks them call out the other numbers in their total, this is to show just how random and different it could have been had they chosen a different number from the total.
The members of the group only ever know the number they have individually selected and they never share it with the group or the performer.
The performer starts to read the group and with absolutely no fishing
whatsoever commits to a four digit number and writes it down. Finally he asks
the group to call out their numbers... The performer's impression is turned over and he has correctly divined the pin code!
Breakdown
This is really, really simple and doesn't have to be tied to a table number, I liked that idea as a performance idea. You never have to touch the phones or peek, every time you perform this effect the pin code will be different and the participants genuinely have a free choice. The idea of this routine came from something that I discovered by accident. I briefly mentioned it in the 'Numbers' volume in my monthly series and have tinkered with it ever since.
After digging to find similar routines and chatting with a few friends Robert Costley told me about something Harry Loraine had released known as 'The missing digit' in which he called out the missing digit from within a large sequence of numbers. The idea was great and instantly had me thinking and what follows is what I created after further exploration and experimentation.
I hope you like it.
The method for this is a simple mathematical oddity that I stumbled upon purely by accident and after experimenting I realised why it worked.
My birthday is October the 26th - 26/10 or 10/26 if you are in the states, either way it is the same when you add it together it gives you a total of 36 -
If you times (multiply) 36 by any single or double digit it will always total a number that when you add the numbers up from the total will always equal 9 or 18, or be divisible by nine.
Here's an example - 36 X 28 = 1008 - 1 + 0 + 0 + 8 = 9
Stay with me, I am merely stating how this came about.
I was at first using the force to bring the participants to a 'random' single digit number (if the total, totalled a double digit I would have them add the double digit) and using Michael Murray's 'Springboard' principle as a means to get them to generate a pin code and then move to the reveal - Which works perfectly as I know the total is always going to be 9. After playing with this I realised it was process heavy and still didn't have a clue why it worked. It wasn't until looking into it that I realised it was because of the mysterious properties of the number 9.
Any number that is divisible by 9 will always give the same total - Whether it is 9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72, 81 or 90 (and any number that is a product of 9 thereafter).
I am lucky that my birthday is a product of 9 - If yours is not you can still perform this effect you just have to lie a little more than I do OR present the idea in the manner described in the effect description.
Now knowing the background to this effect let's take a look at how to find out what number the participant is thinking of -
For the purpose of example we will create a fictitious scenario, let's pretend your birthday adds up to 27 -
You punch 27 into your calculator and times it by any two digit number. In my example we will use 38.
27x38= 1026
As I mentioned earlier, because we know the total is always going to be 9 or 18, if I asked the participant to focus on one digit and call the rest out in a random order all I have to do is add the digits as they call them out and you will instantly know the number that is missing as it will equal 9 or 18 (of which you will instantly know which of the two it is) here is an example in this case - Say I thought of 2
And call out 1, 0 and 6 I know 1 + 6= 7
Therefore it needs 2 to bring the total to 9 therefore a 2 is missing! You know the participant is thinking of a 2!
If the participant picks a 0 in this case 1+6+2= 9
The participant is thinking of a one digit number and therefore it must be 0 or 9 (this is the only time you would ever have to fish). In performance I kill this from happening as I don't want to fish.
You will instantly know if the total is going to add to 18 - here's why.
Let's for example sake say that this time the math is 36 X 98 = 3528
When they call out the numbers (excluding the digit they are thinking of) the total will always be 10 or more than 10.
As long as you can add numbers up to 9 you can perform this routine.
A key point to make before I outline a full performance with key elements of scripting.
-
The process here is over very, very quickly as each of the participants are doing the maths simultaneously. You have several choices open to use at your disposal - You can pretend that your birthday adds up to a product of 9.
An example might be May the 4th.
This is the easiest method and just requires conviction on your part.
Another method might be to boldly before this effect ask someone in the group what the table number is (when there are no tables). Look at the table across and say "I think this would make this table 9". (Or any product of 9)
Then when it comes to the effect just state matter of factly that you are at table 9 and go from there.
Or simply ask the participants to type in a random number and then say "times it by let's say... 18".
Another couple of variants that are easy - one utilising the old Annemann idea of using the minutes hand on your watch (when it is that time of course) and multiplying by that OR adding Bev Borgenson's time force to arrive at a 'random' number.
You are at this point only limited by your imagination. There are a multitude of ways to make it seem random and this part of the performance solely relies on your ability. With the scripting I'm about to outline in the full
performance you will see just how quick and clean this appears from all perspectives.
Full performance
Participant: "Is it possible for you to guess my pin code?"
Performer: "I think anything is possible if the connection between two minds is good enough, I do however have one rule I always stick to, to never reveal someone's actual pin code. I would hate to think I have ever breached anyone's privacy".
Participant: "Is that your way of excusing yourself from doing it, I don't mind you revealing my pin code".
Performer: "Ok, but we do this my way. We will create a pin code in the most random way possible. Take out your phone, access the calculator. What table are we sat at?"
A couple of people at the table in unison: "27".
Performer: "Punch into the calculator the number 27, it is completely random that we sat at this table. I want you to multiply that number by any other 2 digit number, it's completely your choice and then press equals".
The group have all done that.
Performer: "All of the totals based on probability should be vastly different, feel free to show each other but don't let me see. If any are coincidentally the same feel free to choose a different number".
[In this scenario ensure that you remind the participants to remember to punch in 27.]
Performer: "I think this shows how different this could have been had you of picked a different number".
The group nod in agreement.
Performer: "All of you focus on one digit from your total. In-fact to overly show how fair this is (the performer points at participant one) call out the other digits you've decided not to use in a random order remember not to say the number you are keeping".
Participant: "1, 2 and 5".
Performer: Had you have chosen those numbers this would have been entirely different right".
The entire group agree.
Performer: "We are going to go down the group and repeat this process".
The process is repeated.
Performer: "Each of you now is thinking of one digit that is a completely free choice, dictated by nothing more than chance. Had your total of been different this would have been different. There are four of you that have helped out meaning that each of you as a group have created a pin code".
The performer looks at the first participant.
Performer: "I think this code is more fairly generated than the one you proposed I try to guess right?"
Participant: "Of course".
Performer: "If I divine this code, would that answer the initial question you asked me?"
Participant: "Very much so!"
The performer coolly writes something down and slides it In-front of the group facedown.
He then asks the group, one at a time, to name their numbers.
Performer: "5872? Take a look".
The performer sits back in his chair like a boss as the group stare at their blown out brains on the table.
The end.