Triple Threat

by Danny Archer

WHAT

An easy to do version of Mental Epic.

HOW

You need a small pad of paper, two paperback books, a Sharpie, a pencil and a small glass. You will need to make one book into a Flashback (first developed by Danny Tong and popularized by Larry Becker) type book. Take the paperback book containing two hundred-three hundred pages, and with a pencil, you lightly write at the top of every ODD page, the first word at the top of the opposite even page. To operate, hold the book in the L H with the spine against your palm. The R H index finger riffles through the pages from back to front until your spectator says, "Stop". When they do, open the book wide at that point and have them remember the first word at the top of the page. Use your R H finger to tap the page near the top. If you turn your head slightly and glance at the book, you will see the penciled word and you know the word they are thinking of.

WHEN

Before your show begins, find someone who can assist you with an "experiment". Make sure your helper will be there for the entire show. Hand them the two paperback books. Have them hand one book to you and through equivoque have the prepared book selected. Basically, if they hand you the prepared book say, "Fine, we'll use this one". If they hand you the other book, place it aside and say, "Great, we'll use this book", and take the prepared book from them. Use the book, as explained above and remember the word.(e.g. chair) Ask him to lock his word in his mind, as you might need their help later in the show. Start your show, and about five-ten minutes into the show say, "I just had a flash! Psychic, not hot. Let's try an experiment. Someone here had a pet when they were a child. If you owned a pet, please raise your hand". Pick a spectator to help and have them think of the name of their childhood pet.

Take the pad of paper and write down the word from the BOOK (chair). Fold the prediction in quarters and have the spectator name their pet's name. Look sheepish and say, "Spot, what a silly name for a hampster". Crumple up the paper and place it into the glass. Go on with your show. A bit later, another psychic flash occurs. "Someone here is thinking about what they are going to eat after the show. In fact, they are thinking of their favorite food ". Select another spectator and have them think of their favorite food. You take the pad of paper and write the name of the previous spectator's pet (Spot) and fold it in half. They announce their food (e.g. pizza), you say, "Pizza, that's exactly what I had", and crumple and dispose of the paper into the glass like before. A bit later you say you are going to try and do this one more time. As the spectator who helped you before with the book to stand up. Recap what occurred before the show (choice of two books, thousands of words, nothing written down).

Verify that he has the word in mind. On the paper write down the answer (Pizza). Before you ask him who reveal their word, say you'll save some time and disgustedly crumple the paper and toss it into the glass. Ask them to reveal their word. Have him join you on stage. Ask him to remove and open the three predictions. Recap the first spectator's category, and have him stand and say aloud his pet (Spot) and have on stage helper hold up and show correct prediction. Repeat with second spectator (Pizza). Finally have your helper name his word (chair) and show final paper to finish.

THIS

That's it. A clean and easy, no slate version of Mental Epic. I always liked the trick but the use of a card as the third category seemed too limiting and bogus. Think of any number, any color,...... here pick a card. It ruined for me an otherwise fine bit of mentalism. Try and find an intelligent helper for the pre-show work and emphasis how important it is that he remember his word. If he seems unsure, select another person to help. There are two different ways to go in regard to presentation. One way, as described above, is to lead the audience to believe that you are wrong and it's all a gag. Sometimes I will build it up by saying, "Sir, you have a free choice of any food and the world. My prediction is written down and cannot be changed. Would it be beyond belief, if a food you have mentally selected, matches the food I predicted! Would you say aloud the name of your food.... Pizza??? Rats!! Yeah, that would've been amazing.....", said as you crumple and deposit prediction. That would go something like this. "Would you say aloud the name of your pet? Exactly what I had !! Two great minds think alike. For my next....." Said as the paper is crumpled and placed into glass as before.