One of the ways I have used this method of obtaining the first digit on a Credit or Debit card, is to have the spectator successfully divine the pin number to my bank account, using their intuition. Credit must go to Peter Turner for the use of Michael Murray's ingenious 'Spring Board Principle' to 'Spring Board' from a first digit, in order for the spectator to divine YOUR pin number. Details of his original effect and premise can be found in his
limited lecture notes 'When in Rome'. What TFOBW's principle allows us to do is deal with the first digit in a sure fire way! Ensuring this effect will now always hit, without the need for any 'out', as with the original.
Instead of having to justify a change of number, as with my reverse pin guess 'My Pin', from my own limited manuscript 'False Messiah', I realised I could essentially switch the effect I was performing, mid-performance and in turn, get the participant to arrive on the first digit of my supposed bank pin number, in the most direct way! I start of by explaining why I would like to use the first four digits of their Credit or Debit card instead of going for their actual bank's pin number. This sets up the premise perfectly! Whilst at the same time giving us enough room for manoeuvre, in order to change the way this effect is performed half way through the routine.
Performer: “I am not going to try to guess your actual bank pin number, in order to protect your personal details and anonymity but instead, with your permission, I would like to try to guess a substitute for this and something equally as personal to you. Have you got a Debit card on you?”
Spectator: “Yes.”
Performer: “This is something you wouldn't usually give to anyone else to look after. It is something you keep on your person and always put away in your wallet after use and I am guessing, would keep well-hidden when using it at ATM's. Therefore, the details on the card and the sixteen digits are personal to you and could only really be known to you – so there is no way I could know any specific details or numbers on your card?”
Spectator: “Correct!”
Performer: “Okay, just take out your card but ensure you cover the first four digits with your fingers. Take a quick 'peek' at these four digits and try to remember them. Then place the card back in your wallet.”
“Okay, just focus on the first digit of these four digits.”
Stare at the spectator for a few seconds and then state the following.
Performer: “I feel this is the same digit as the first digit of my pin number.”
“So instead of me trying to reveal these four digits I think it would be more interesting if we flipped the process and you were to try to guess the four digits to my bank's pin number.”
“You already have the first digit, so just trust your feelings! You can write these numbers down as you go, so write down this first digit.”
Make sure you look away and the spectator keeps what they write hidden from view, so you can turn back around to continue giving your directions. It is essential everyone knows you cannot see what they write.
Performer: “Do you feel the second digit of my pin number is higher or lower than the first digit you just wrote down?”
Spectator: “Lower.”
Performer: “By how many?”
Spectator: “Four.”
Performer: “Okay, write this second digit down”.
“Focus on the third digit. Is it higher or lower than the second digit you just wrote down and by how many?”
Spectator: “Higher, by two!”
Performer: “Okay, write this number down. And finally, is the fourth digit higher or lower than the third?”
Spectator: “Lower, by one”.
Performer: “Okay, write that number down... My pin number is actually 4021, how close did you get?”
They will be spot on! Due to the fact they start on a number you know all you have to do is follow how they believe each of the subsequent digits of your pin number differ to the previous digit, in order for you to work out what numbers they write down. It is then a simple matter of miss-calling this number as your own pin number at the climax of the effect!
I have found it is essential to have the spectator write down their impressions as they go and to check they are sure they are to write down what they think your pin number is, to ensure they follow along properly! If you prefer you can reveal your pin number by writing it down at the end of the process or nail writing as you go. I prefer to keep this prop-less however, and choose to simply 'blag' the number at the end instead of over proving with a seeming prediction and using a nail writer. There you have it! A clean and as near perfect, sure fire solution to the spectator as mind reader pin reveal plot!