The pages of a book are riffled in front of a spectator’s eyes and he is asked to merely think of one of the page numbers. They are then asked to open the book at the page number they have in mind and then tightly close their eyes. They are told to open their eyes and allow their vision to focus on just one word, and then close the book.
The performer then asks the spectator to consciously focus on the feelings they experience from hereon in. He states that:
“You will actually feel the word pop right out of your mind and into mine, it will be kind of weird but it will happen.”
Suddenly the spectator smiles and nods, confirming they felt a strange sensation. The performer then instantly reveals the word.
Method:
This is a really interesting, if somewhat time consuming to prepare, book test. It has roots in Danny Tong’s Mind Scan book test and in Chan Canastas wonderful approach to the classic book test as well as Barry Richardson's Newspaper Test as described in “Theatre of the Mind”.
You will need to obtain a cheap paperback book and a good quality pencil eraser. Using the eraser you will now ‘rub out’ every page number with the exception of the page you wish to force. You do not remove the ink completely but rather make it less visible. You will find that with little pressure the ink on the pages will become lighter in tone. I leave one page number untreated.
If you compare the page numbers that have been treated with the one that has not, it appears as though the untreated page is in “bold” type. Darker and easier to see.
If you riffle the pages of the book you will notice that the “bold” untreated page moves past, it will stand out and be remembered. This allows you to make use of the well-known psychological card force using the book. Most often seen with a pack of cards in which you hesitate slightly on one playing card allowing it to be seen for a split second longer than the others, this force is now possible with the book. You need no breaks or separations in the pages of the book and there is no need for a long hesitation - a very slight pause will do. The bold and light nature of the page numbers, due to the pencil eraser’s effect on them, makes this a very simple and utterly effective way of forcing the page number. Now comes to the forcing of the word. On the untreated
numbered page you need to select a word roughly central in the page. You will now “treat” all the words on the page with the exception of the force word. One word on the page will stand out as did one page number.
The force of this word is really fairly simple. You will request first the spectator remembers one page number as they fly past. “I will just let these pages pass here and I want you to focus your attention on one page, one that really catches your eye.”
This is said as you riffle the pages of the book at their lower corner. Thanks to the prep work on the book earlier this will be the force page. Allow the book to close fully and hand it to the spectator. “I would like you to turn to the page you saw. Then hold it open and firmly close your eyes. I would then like you to allow yourself to feel relaxed.”
I now in my own presentation stand back to back with the
spectator with a pad and go on to later reveal the word by writing it on the pad.
“Allow your eyes to pop open and look down at that page. I would like you to see one word that is very clear to you, one that catches your attention. Then close the book and drop it onto the floor in front of you.”
Thanks to our treatment this will be the force word. I have the spectator drop the book to ensure they do not look at other pages. All that remains now is to reveal the word in your own choosing. This is closely linked to Barrie Richardson's thinking in his
newspaper test as mentioned in the introduction to this effect. For more information on this kind of force see his book “Theatre of the Mind”.
The Burst Bubble Suggestion
Now comes the part of the routine that is really fun to perform. You will actually through the suggestion script make the spectator feel the thought “pop out of their head”. This will use almost all the techniques we have already outlined. It will however take some work to become fluid for you. However as I have already stated you cannot fail in this kind of routine as you still have the revelation of the word to fall back upon.
Script:
Here’s the scripting I use:
“Now in a moment I am going to ask you to really focus your attention on what you are experiencing, because we are actually
going to attempt to move one thought from your head to mine. I
know that sounds strange and it will actually feel a little odd as
well. Most people actually feel it go, you probably will too - but if you don’t it is ok, don’t worry about it… trust me it will happen.” I am sure you have already recognized the ‘Don’t Lie’ technique here.
“Now please hold your hand out. We are going to make that thought travel from your mind into mine, but we need to make some kind of physical contact to do this so just point your finger at me.”
Here I use the ‘Old Witch Doctor’ method already taught, slowly moving my hand to theirs. As I touch their hand I state the following:
“Ok now, you feel it yes? How strange is that? It’s hard to explain isn’t it? It just kind of pops right out of your head right?”
That's all there is to it. To the audience it appears as if the spectator actually felt the word go - this will more often than not be true - the spectator will feel something, however if they do not - you still have the revelation of the word.
Finish by dramatically revealing the word and you’re good to go.
Credits:
Credit must go to a few people for the inspiration for method of the book test. Firstly, as stated in the text, Barrie Richardson's Newspaper Test from the brilliant “Theatre Of The Mind” along with Danny Tongs Mind Scan which can be found in “The New Invocation”, as well as a healthy amount of inspiration from the outstanding Chan Canasta book test of which supposed details can be found in David Britland’s work on the amazing man.
page 86