More Outlier Slip and Other Forcing Thoughts

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More talk about the force discussed yesterday.

Y.D. writes:

Al Mann published a similar idea in Magick. 6 billets, 3 with different items and 3 with the same item written on them, etc. —YD

Thanks for the credit. I’ve done something similar in the past. But I actually think having multiple non-duplicate slips is a step backwards. It ends up requiring the use of some sort equivocal phrasing or actions. Notice the way the choice is made in the force as I wrote it up yesterday. Their initial selection is either their choice, or it’s the first in a completely consistent elimination procedure. You can’t do that if you have multiple non-duplicates.

Also, the biggest strength of the version described yesterday is that they mix all the slips up. I’m not sure if Al Mann’s version allows for this. But having just one outlier slip means that’s all you need to keep track of.

Usually when I use the force mentioned yesterday, I’m using it as part of larger effect.

But if you’re just using it as a casual piece of magic, and you don’t have a particularly big reveal you’re working up to, here’s a potential detour you could take should the situation arise.

Let’s say you’re using the Outlier Slip variation and there are 5 “broccolis” on the table and 1 “peas” on the table. They’ve just mixed all the slips into a random order. So you, apparently, don’t know where anything is.

You can be a little more direct with your language in this version of the trick.

“I want you to select any of these slips that feels special to you in some way.”

1. If they pick a broccoli slip you give them the chance to change their mind. Then you follow the procedure outlined yesterday where you apparently show them multiple choices they kid have made. Then you reveal your prediction on your phone. The sexy woman dancing with broccoli. Or whatever.

2. If they pick the peas slip, you ask them if they want to change their mind. If they change their mind for another slip you can immediately show them the one they almost had: peas. The fact that (A) they had a free choice (B) you asked them if they wanted to keep that free choice and (C) you can immediately have them open it to show it was different than what they ended up with is a very convincing situation that suggests all the slips are different.

3. If they pick the peas slip, you ask them if they want to change their mind. If they don’t want to change their mind, have them open the slip. Then say, “it’s interesting that ‘peas’ is what felt special to you. It is special. I actually wrote the same thing on every other slip. You found the only one that was a different. “

And you have a very direct and completely examinable 1 in 6 (or however many) effect.

Another variation on this force that I’ve used in the past involves a pad of paper. This works very well, but it’s not impromptu.

Write your force word a number of times on a sheet of the paper.

Pull that sheet out and place it underneath the top sheet of the pad. It also helps if you bend up the bottom corner of the top two sheets a little, so you have easy access under your pre-written list. That’s your set up. (With a spiral bound pad, you can leave the sheet attached and just write on the sheet when it’s still in the notebook.)

To perform, take out the pad and ask your friend(s) to name some objects in whatever category you’re working with.

Legitimately write down all their answer in a list on the top sheet of the pad.

When you have enough words, tilt the pad towards yourself and apparently yank down the top sheet, but actually pull away the second sheet with the force word on it. Use the thumb of your non-yanking hand to press down on the top of the pad a little so there is some resistance to the sheet coming out.

(As opposed to what you usually do with the thumb on your non-”yanking” hand: stimulating your prostate.)

You now put the pad away. As the pad goes into your pocket or wherever, you look at your prepped sheet and rattle off the items the spectator called out, as if you’re reading them off this sheet.

With the pad out of play, tear your prepped sheet so each word is on a separate piece of paper. You would tear along the lines in this manner so no version of the word has a smooth top or bottom edge, which would give away where on the pad it was written. Obviously the spectator can’t see the front of the paper at this point.

Fold up the slips and allow them a free choice from what they believe to be the options they named before.