Magic Tricks

Just about everyone could us a good impromptu mind reading effect that asks not questions. does no phishing, and yet packs a punch. Take Note by Seamus Maguire has that possibility. Its method is clean, direct, and is fairly easy to perform. I like it and have used it several times to great effect.

I gave it four rather than five stars for one reason, it is hard to explain why a stack of post it notes are being carried around. As is sometimes the case, getting into the effect is more difficult that the effect itself. I have found a couple of ways to get around this.

If in a bar or restaurant, I get the owner or server to agree to have the notes in an accessible place. I then ask if it is OK if I borrow the post its for a moment. Another way, when with friends, I say that I have stopped carrying a notebood to record the brilliant thoughts that appear to me at odd moments - I just post it the thoughts because later I can arrange them in more coherent order. That gets the notes into the conversation.

In performing, I also have an issue with why the magi needs to hold the post it notes in his hand rather than just leaving them face down on the table. I get around that by explaining that in a big stage show, the secretly written note would be placed in a vault and guarded by well-armed security staff. I put my hands behind my back and ask that the stack of post its be place into my vault - behind my back so I can't possibly get a peak. Then I say, but this is not a big show so there is no need to do that, just take them back, tear off you note and put it in your pocket.

Those are the enhancements that work for me to make this simple effect even more magical. When with a group, I look for opportunities to perform this kind of magic.