a penny for your thoughts

It seems that everyone has gone mental these days, and why not.
Some of the most effective magic being produced is that which deals with the mind.
To this end, I would like to share with you this. The first of my pipe dreams…

A penny for your thoughts

Effect…

The performer predicts a date, which a spectator imagines he, or she travels back to.

Routine..
At the start of the effect, the magician shows an envelope, and reveals that it contains a photograph.( or a drawing if your clever at art)
A spectator is invited up on stage, given the envelope to hold, and asked to imagine that they are in a time machine. There is a lever in front of them. You ask them to pull the lever back, and go through time.

When they want to stop, they push the lever forward.

You ask them to step out of the time machine, and walk down the imaginary cobbled street.

Half way down the street, they look down. And see a coin. They pick the coin up, and place it in their pocket.
They climb back into the time machine and journey back to the present day.
Now the spectator is asked to remove the imaginary coin, and examine it. It has on it, a date. The spectator is now asked to say out loud the date he imagines that is on the coin.
The picture of the coin is removed, and shown briefly to the audience..

“On the top of the coin, you see here, it says Dieu et mon droit.. Do you know what that means? That means My God, My Right. Its the royal motto.
The performer now turns it towards the spectator, and the performer continues to describe the picture to the audience.
“Underneath that, sits Britannia, on a rock, holding a shield, and a trident.”
The picture is now handed to the spectator.
“And bellow that, at the bottom is the coins date. Can you read out in a loud and clear voice the date at the bottom?”
They read this out, and surprise! It is indeed the date mentioned by the time traveller.

The how…
This effect pretty much works it’s self. There are a couple of secrets involved, none of which are rocket science.( you will be glad to hear)
Firstly, you need the photo of the coin .As I say, a rough drawing will suffice, In a way the effect on your spectator will be stronger, but the photo will add something for the rest of the audience.

The card is the same size as a standard file card.5” X 3”.( 130mmX 75mm aprox)
Hold it lengthways. The drawing should fill the top 3” of the card. This leaves you a good gap at the bottom of the card. And its within this space that you will write the date given, with your nail, or thumb writer. You simply write this information through a hole in the back of the envelope.

But hang on, I hear you ask, isn’t the spectator holding the envelope?
Yes he is, I say. But not for long.

When you invite him up, you hand him the envelope. As he starts to mime the operation of the time machine lever, you say “It’s a bit stiff, better use both hands” and you then take the envelope back off him.
When the dirty work has been done, you open the envelope, and ask the spectator to remove the picture, but not to look at it just yet. You dispose of the envelope, then take back the picture.
Put your fingers over the writing at the bottom, and talk about the motto on the top. Turn the card back, and describe Britannia to the spectator, then, show him your writing and ask him to read out the date on the bottom, as described in the routine.

Just don’t give him the picture as a souvenir.

And that’s all there is to it.
As an afterthought if you own one of the many gimmicked watches out there, you could also predict a time, that was say.. Showing on the village clock tower.
This could be a powerful routine in the right hands.
Have fun playing…..

Dale