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As a thanks to our customers for your continued support we have decided to include a free trick, move or idea with each newsletter for you to enjoy.  So far we have covered a sleight of hand switching technique, a shockingly good impromptu card effect and a card flourish.  This months issue includes a simple yet devastating mentalism routine developed by our very own Michael Murray.

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Magicbox

TEXT CONDITIONS by Michael Murray

The Effect:

 The mentalist explains that he has recently experienced some strong headaches with various information buzzing around his head.  Bizarre as it sounds it seems that mentalist is somehow able to tap into the information that is being transmitted through the airwaves.  It is in this fashion that the mentalist seems to be able to know the contents of a text message before it is even opened. 

Offering a demonstration of this ability the mentalist removes his phone and accessing the contacts menu brings up his mobile number.  The spectator is requested to store this number into their mobile (A nice way of ensuring they have your contact details).

A second spectator is asked to take hold of the mentalists phone which is set to vibrate mode.  For the demonstration you ask that the first spectator think of a name, word, object or number and to send that via text to the mentalists phone.  The mentalist states that he will try to access the information as its being transmitted through the airwaves.

Ensuring that no one else can see what they are typing the first spectator sends the text message and the second confirms its arrival by either checking the phone display or acknowledging the vibration alert.

Instantly the mentalist scribbles something down on a business card and places it face down onto the table.  

Only once the mentalist has made his prediction is the message opened and read.  Upon checking what the mentalist wrote it is found to be an exact match to the text!

The Workings:

It is through the use of a secret second phone that makes this possible.  Whilst this effect may work with other mobile hand sets we will be making use of the fact that the iphone displays an incoming message on its home screen as soon as it arrives.

Set up:

Take your second mobile and add a new contact to the list, this contact will say "My Number" the telephone number you will attach to this contact will be the number of your iphone.  Put both phones onto silent/vibrate mode.  Open the text message function of the iphone and create a new blank message where the recipients number is that of the second mobile.   Place the iphone into your inner jacket pocket with the screen facing towards your body.  Place a pen in the same pocket. The second phone goes into any other pocket along with a business card. 

The Routine:

  Bring out the second mobile and the business card and place them onto the table.  Give your introductory patter and open the contacts menu of the second phone requesting that the spectator its apparent number into their mobile.

Turn away as you ask the spectator to create and send the text with their chosen word.  Ask that they inform you as soon as its been sent so that you can turn around.  As your back is turned you will take the iphone and get ready to send the blank message.  As soon as the spectator has confirmed that the message has been sent you will send the blank message and drop the iphone into your pocket as you turn to face the spectators.  

The second spectator will then verify that a text has been received.  They will believe that the text is from the first spectator.  A moment later your iphone will vibrate as it receives the actual message that the spectator sent.  As soon as this happens you will pick up the business card and as you search for the pen you seemingly recall its in your pocket.  As this is being removed you will glimpse the word that the spectator has sent you.

This will be quickly scribbled on the card which is then placed face down onto the table.  You comment that you have committed yourself and take the second phone from the spectator.  Most other mobiles will only show an icon signifying an unread message; if your second phone is of this type you can show this to the spectators saying lets take a look at what you sent.

Open the phone and open the message which will be blank.  Quickly flash this by the first spectators eyes stating the word, number or object that the spectator had sent your iphone.  Your spectator will not be able to see what's written (Because nothing is) but since your spectator hears their word they will verify that that is correct.  The second spectator will assume that they seen the word (Sneaky eh?).  You casually comment that you will remove the text which you will do (removing the evidence).  

Build up the suspense a little and then request that the spectator turn over your prediction which will prove to match exactly.

Extras:

A friend has commented that there is software available for some phones such as blackberry, nokia,  and a few others using symbian software that allows for automatic text forwarding.  This facility will allow you to give them the second phones actual number and the second phone will automatically send a copy of the spectators text to the iphone.  This makes for an ultra clean effect as the second spectator can open the text to see the word!

Another friend suggested the use of google gmail which apparently can direct texts to multiple numbers too (I've yet to investigate this claim).

Further investigation on google revealed "spy text forwarding" software that will copy you in on any texts that another mobile receives.  This could be used in place of the symbian software though this seems a more expensive option.

I've also discovered that there is software that achieves this same goal available for jailbroken iphones too.

A sneaky extra that was suggested by a good friend Steve Shaw (Not Banacheck) was to cut a section from a writing pad to fit your iphone inside it.  Two sheets will cover the screen so that it looks like a simple pad yet when the text hits your iphone the screen will light up and show through the top two pages of your pad (Which your using to write the prediction on).

Enjoy!

Best Wishes Michael