JNM Magic & Mentalism

In the Dark is an original card divination effect in which the performer is able to name a randomly selected card from a shuffled and untouched deck whilst blindfolded.  Please note - the video is spliced to cut out interference only with no content missing, this is exactly as the effect would appear on stage.   

This adapted version of Intuitous is based on accounts of Thomas Baxter's effect 'A Dianoetic Rage' and was created in collaboration with Amanda Nym. I don't want to get into the debate of whether or not ADR was real or a hoax, I have my own opinions and reasoning and I'll allow everyone else to reach their own conclusions. But what I will say, like I've always said, it is possible, and here it is...   This is the perfect parlour version, ideal for a small group but could be adapted for stage performance and involves no stooges/instant stooges.  A new sealed deck is selected, the dealer is randomly chosen, the cards are examined, the magician does not touch the cards at any time, the plot of Open Prediction/51 Faces North is explained to all (including the conditions), a prediction is made openly, the dealing starts, one card is left face down, the dealing concludes, the card is revealed, the miracle is complete!  The holy grail?!?  Of course not, the holy grail...

The first of many releases from the Intuitous Project... An original solution the classic Open Prediction plot or 'the Curry Unsolved Card Problem'. This is a homage to Paul Curry and Stewart James, with a respectful nod to other solutions or variations created over the years.  This version involves no stooging/instant stooging and can be done with a borrowed deck (or borrowed decks) I would also argue it meets all the "conditions" of Open Prediction but then again I don't really believe in conditions for magic tricks - conditions are for scientific experiments! Magic tricks are deceitful by nature...

A completely hands off ACAAN to be precise, the holy grail (maybe, if the holy grail existed!) I've long been a fan of ACAAN and have several methods, however I'm eternally conscious the public has no interest in such a plot, so I figured the best way to create interest is make them part of the decision making process... This is scripted for a TV show, lets say the hosts are called Penn and Teller and the presenter is Alison (just names off the top of my head!) Magician - You have all seen this trick before, it's called any card at any number, now I know you will roll your eyes out loud at that but stay with me - I want each and every one of you involved in this tonight. Alison, I'm going to ask you to handle the cards, I want you to shuffle them, I want you to deal them, I don't want you to let anyone else touch them, especially me, ok? Alison - ok Magician - Penn/Teller, in a moment I want you to think of a card, Penn you can name any value Ace through King, Telle...

I have long been intrigued by the challenge of the Berglas Effect and the many solutions to producing truly baffling ACAAN effects. I believe I have created a version which will appear as the Holy Grail to an audience, theatre or television and which can be done with randomly chosen spectators, completely hands off, and without any stooging/instant stooging (including the dealer!) How it appears... A volunteer is randomly selected, invited on stage (or to the performance area) and given a deck of cards. They are asked to check through the cards, make sure they are all present and all different, there are no double cards, no cards stuck together or anything else that appears untoward. They are then asked to shuffle the deck thoroughly however they wish, overhand, riffle, casino, cuts, they mix up the cards and square them up on the table. They are then asked to watch over the cards and ensure no one else touches them for the duration of the performance.  A second and third volunteer...

Fusing mind reading and mental mathematics the magician is able to create a magic square based on a thought of and unspoken number

In this original effect, the magician is able to correctly predict the results of a sports draw. Many variations are possible with this effect (e.g. Lottery) and the performer can choose to display mind reading, divination or ESP as preferred. 

 In this original plot, the magician selects a volunteer to take part in a game of mental charades. After selecting a card the magician is immediately able to determine which category they have selected, then through mind reading identify the thought of clue. 

In this variation of an old mentalist plot, a magician can identify the value of a coin by sound alone, then amazingly be able to tell the total value of coins an volunteer has all at once. 

 In this variation on the classic 'book test' plot, any collection of books can be used nd the magician can divine a seemingly random choice of word from a series of books. 

In this original plot the performer introduces a keepsake box bequeathed by their grandmother and explains her love of board games but with her own style.  On opening the box an envelope is shown and handed to spectator. Another spectator then brings out the next item, which is the clue cards from the board game Cluedo (or Clue, depending where you live!) The magician asks the spectator to select 3 cards for the mystery and place aside. The magician then explains their grandmother used to use ESP to solve the crime rather than the traditional board and dice. The envelope is opened and a prediciton written by the grandmother reveals the murderer, murder weapon and location.  The next item in the box is a set of scrabble tiles. One or two spectators are invited to select any number of letters, with unlimited changes permitted until they can spell out a word each. on doing so another spectator is invited to look further into the box revealing one final envelope which correctly pr...

This variation on the 'any card at any number' plot can be done completely hands off by the performer. 2 decks are used, freely shuffled by spectators and choice of card and number are completely random. After explaining the process and showing how unlikely a hit is the initial prediction is realised.      This versions lends itself to some creative editing for street magic/tv productions and can become an impossible feat using the following cut (obviously with additional cameras and more prefessional editing!)

In this original effect set in a graveyard a volunteer is given a mysterious box and asked to walk among the graves until they get a compulsion to stop at a specific headstone. They are then asked to open the box which reveals an heirloom of a descendant of the exact grave they have identified.  Video to follow

 A variation on the classic 'Invisible Deck' plot to involve 2 spectators

I have long been interested in the great myths of magic, obviously the Indian Rope Trick is up there with the most famous and most outrageous of these but on a smaller scale things like Open Prediction/51 Faces North and the 'Berglas' Effect hold a similar mystique and are very much the holy grail for card magic enthusiasts.  I'm not a fan of conditions in magic tricks, we are in the entertainment industry not conducting scientific experiments so for me they are open to a bit of creative license. But what I will say is the conditions as written for something like Open Prediction actually offer a series of solutions to the great effect. It becomes a game for magicians to try and find a new way of performing the trick, lay audiences don't get it, they're much moe fascinated with the invisible deck than any ACAAN/OP I've ever performed. It's purely for the benefit of magicians.  I am happy to share links to my videos with fellow enthusiasts, I have created a ve...

A variation on a classic plot involving a series of random numbers provided by a volunteer (or multiple volunteers) and multiplied together to an impossible conclusion.