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Many of you here on Talk Magic will know this as Chris's "Facebook opener" and will have seen video footage of this effect taking place with real life audiences. The official name of the routine is "Do You Want to Change Your Mind", and is part of Chris's Real World Mind-Reading series.

The Effect

Imagine asking somebody in the audience to change their mind as many times as they wish, before they name a Facebook status. They name one. After being invited onstage they are given one last chance to change their mind. They do. Yet still, after all this, their decision matches your prediction. Nobody touches the prediction. The effect is completely hands off - nobody needs to be onstage at the time the prediction is opened.



Cost

£15

http://stores.lulu.com/realworldmindreading

Difficulty
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)

The difficulty of this routine is highly subjective. While the actual methodology may be described as "easy", the execution will take some nerve and perhaps some experience of audience management.

Review

I'm lucky enough to have met Chris on several occasions, and have always been impressed by his enthusiasm for his art and his ability to think outside the box. He is by no means a "traditional" mentalist, and he is always looking for new ways to stretch the art, and new ways of achieving the desired effects.

I really love the thinking behind this routine. It really fits into my own ethos, and I can certainly see myself using the principles behind the routine in my own shows. While the routine is based around a Facebook status, this routine can be tailored to fit with your own particular performance style if a Facebook status would appear out of sync with what you do. However I'm sure that for most of you youngsters on here (I'm very old), the Facebook angle would work perfectly.

You will need to be bold with this routine. You may need to ignore the butterflies in your tummy when you ask the volunteer to say out loud her Facebook status update. But if you can be bold (go on, you know you can!), then this could easily be the highlight of your show/performance!

I heartily recommend it!

Overall

9/10

Thanks for the review.

I have been umming and arring over this for a few days now. Something about it is making me nervous to part with cash tho. I just cant figure out why you would have to be ballsy.

Would this play out ok in a close up situation do you think?

Alec

Is this anything other than ***-****?

Alec, it's really a stage effect at heart. You'd need a reasonable audience to get the most out of it, and it's not workable at all just one-on-one.

...which limits the market. I would be inclined to sell it for much more, to make up for this.

This is one of those effects where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

It reminds me a lot of some of Luke Jermay's effects, if you wanted to be facetious you could argue it is nothing new, however it is the way the overall effect is achieved that is new and also what makes it so powerful.

Duplicity, the short answer to your question is yes, yes it is, much more.

Some people will hate the method, others will love it. I personally love it and can definitely see ways to use it.

It's brilliant but most people won't have the nerve to do it

TheStoner wrote:It's brilliant but must people won't have the nerve to do it

I think that's what separates people who fade in to obscurity and people that are destined for greatness.

People are always looking to make something as clean, as certain, as foolproof as possible however the best reactions generally come from taking the smallest of risks.

The ones who do overcome their initial uncertainty and perform effects like this will be far more successful than those who see effects like this and think, too risky, I'll do something else. I think that's why much of Jermay's stuff get's a slating, people too afraid to grab an effect by the proverbials criticise the method instead.

NB: Not saying this is you necessarily Stoner, just agreeing with you about people having the nerve.

TheStoner wrote:It's brilliant but must people won't have the nerve to do it

Lose the fear. There is no right, there is no wrong, there only is.

I'd happily use this routine - fear is for wimps. Most of my live stuff is ballsy and risky, that's what makes it fun.

I love the idea and thinking behind this, it's the sort of effect that requires confidence and 'bollo' to do, but it's also one of those routines that will be incredibly gratifying when it does go well and will astonish the audience...

The basic workings are straightforward but the concept and presentational ideas that Chris gives in this manuscript are the gold that ensures it has every chance of being a success.

Another great thing about this routine, and why it deserves your attention if this kind of thing fits your performing style, is that it is not yet another pipe-dream that "just might work" from a chin-scratching bedroom mentalist, this is something that Chris uses in his show and has a performance video showing it in action.

I am looking forward to what comes next from Chris as he's a very enthusiastic chappy and a good thinker. This gets a thumbs up from me too.

Nothing new method wise. Just the facebook presentation.

It's not specifically about Facebook it's the scripting that enables the change of mind that makes this so brilliant to me.

99% of what Derren Brown does is "nothing new" so far as method. Presentation is everything.

Thanks very much for the kind words thus far.

To answer questions - can it be done close-up? Not very easily is the answer, though it would be possible I think. It would, however, be difficult.

And to answer Duplicity, is it more than ***-**** - I would answer that as a yes. Before this effect, I had never seen an effect utilising that principle that allows you to ask somebody to change their mind as many times as they wish, plus allowing them several last chances, which they can then actually take without you having an out.

It's a routine close to my heart, and I also hope that you guys enjoyed my writing style. It is certainly...me...to say the least!

I think this is a fantastic, very powerful piece. Before i had this i had absolutely no idea how this was achieved. The presentation Chris has given this, and the fact they CAN CHANGE THEIR MIND make this look like genuine mind reading. The thought thats been put into the script is very clever indeed, and makes it sure fire.

I agree that the method wont be for everyone, personally i like it, and Chris has certainly opened my eyes to the power of these techniques. I also agree that this will take some guts to perform.

The writing style is clear and easy to follow and makes for an enjoyable read.

As for close-up, it would certainly be harder to pull off and would depend on the circumstances wether this would be suitable, but its by no means impossible.

All in all its a great effect, explained clearly, and if you have the guts to perform it you will have a fantastic showpiece that will have your audiences talking for a long time.
Well done Chris

jim