AAA Phone Mystery (Marc Paul)

Effect:
A spectator is asked to think of a persons phone number. They are given a business card and asked to write the number on the card and then fold it into quarters with the writing inside. During this the performer turns his back so there is no chance of him seeing. Upon turning around the folded card is briefly touched to the performers forehead. The spectator is given a second business card and is asked to write the persons name this time. Again the performer turns his back and again when he turns around the folded card is briefly touched to his forehead.

The spectator is now given an invisible mobile phone and is asked to pretend to dial the number. As this happens the performer watches the actions and at the same time writes some numbers on a blank card. This is placed face down on the table. The performer now opens the telephone number slip and reads out the number. When the face down card is turned over it reveals exactly the same number. Both cards can be given to another spectator to confirm.

The spectator is asked to place the folded card bearing the name into the performers pocket. Next they are asked to pick up the invisible phone and to imagine they are saying hello to the person on the other end. Immediately the performer announces the name! The name card can now be removed from the pocket and handed to another spectator to confirm. Everything is now reset for the effect to be performed again, making this ideal for a table-hopping situation.

Method:

Overview:

This is classic mentalism and relies on two switches and a simple one ahead. 

The Details:

You will need a small stack of business cards. You will need to create a dummy billet by folding one of the cards into quarters. Mark it by bending back the corners (see photo 1). Put the dummy billet and the rest of the stack of business cards in your left jacket pocket. You’ll also need a pen or pencil.

When you are ready to perform remove the stack of business cards from your pocket holding them in your left hand with the dummy billet secretly hidden underneath (see photos 2 & 3)

Deal off the top business card and hand it to the spectator asking them to write down a telephone number. Turn your back while they do this. Still with your back turned ask them to fold it into quarters with the writing hidden on the inside so that you cannot see. Turn back and place the stack of business cards on the table, but retain the dummy billet in your left hand. You will now pick up the phone number billet with your right hand and switch it for the dummy. The easiest way to do this is a “hand to hand” switch. You apparently transfer the billet from your right hand to your left and then briefly touch it to your forehead. This is a standard switch and the photos that follow should make everything clear (see photos 4 to 7)

After being touched to the head, the dummy billet is placed on the table as the right hand picks up the stack of business cards from the table. The stack now hides the stolen number billet. Deal off another card from the top and ask the spectator to write the name on it. Once again while this is done you turn your back, but this time you have a little bit of work to do.

Once your back is turned transfer the stack of business cards to your left hand, open the stolen billet (checking the orientation of the number) and then insert it under the top card (see photo 8). Square everything up. This all takes just a second or two and you will find you have plenty of time.

When you turn back around everything should appear normal. Ask the spectator to touch the name billet to your head (or do it yourself if you want to be consistent). Ask the spectator to mix the two billets that are now on the table (the name & the dummy, but they think it is the name and the number). You will now create a minor effect of stating which billet is the phone number. Hover your hand over both billets and then point to the name billet and announce that it is the phone number. You know this because of the bent corners on the dummy billet (see photo 1 again). You now introduce an invisible mobile phone (room for some comedy if that is your style) and ask them to mime dialing the number. You appear to watch them carefully. Slide the top card of the stack to the right and up; this will reveal the number to you (see photo 9). Angle your left hand so that the spectator can’t see. Pick up the pen and simply copy the number onto the blank card.

Place the card face down in front of them and pick up the name billet, open it out and apparently read the number. In fact your read the number from the card on top of the stack and at the same time you will see the name staring you in the face (see photos 10 & 11). Remember the name.

As the spectator goes to turn over the card on the table you switch the opened name card for the number card by second dealing it into your right hand. This is given to the spectator to confirm that your prediction is a match.

The dummy is still on the table and the name card is on the face of the stack of business cards. At this point you can conclude how you like. I usually put the business cards back in my left jacket pocket and ask the spectator to put the dummy billet (they still think it is the name billet) in that pocket also. I now ask them to imagine that they are speaking to the friend on the imaginary phone and after a suitable build up I announce the name. I now casually reach into my left jacket pocket and refold the name card and then bring it out, should anyone want to check. That’s leaves the dummy billet and the stack of business cards in my left jacket pocket which means I’m reset.

See:
The Anytime, Anywhere, on Anybody Phone Mystery - Ebook

Marc Paul ACTS of Mentalism
Marc Paul Penguin 1st Lecture @2:16:20