What is "Bending Minds"?
In this ebook, which will be structured in three volumes, you will see us use cards and simple pieces of paper, to develop mentalism effects that can be conducted live in person, or proposed at a distance, with a video connection or just audio (Zoom, Skype, Meet, etc., or even just on the phone), without the performer being able to see the cards, which are always handled by the viewer.
All descriptions come with a presentation, which is also original, very detailed, and inspired by movies, games, books, or just a simple emotion. A precious dress to be worn whenever the occasion arises. The three volumes are ordered in a crescendo, in terms of number of cards to be used (from three to ten), and can be customized according to your needs.
After shuffling and arranging the cards in a row, the spectator answers the mentalist's questions (being able to choose whether to tell the truth or not), who will be able to identify the position of the chosen card and whether it is face-up or -down.
Once acquired, the possible applications of the mathematical principle, exposed in a simple and effective way, are so many and such the possibilities offered to be able to create in autonomous way new and interesting variants. Bending Minds is not the usual "magic book", but a starting point, a creative input to your imagination, and also a valuable collection of ready-made effects to be performed by anyone and on any occasion.
In Bending Minds, we have provided a precise description of a method so eclectic that you can reuse it for your own effects, and you will find in this Volume I, among other things, four effects that will not fail to blow even the most experienced minds:
THE MENTALIST AND THE THREE-CARD CHALLENGE
A classic gamble, but here the parts are reversed: in this particular three-card game it is the mentalist who must identify the odd card between the other two. To be performed live in person or on the phone, in any case without the possibility of seeing the cards, the spectator will be shocked to see that the laws of chance can be violated by the mentalist, who will reveal, after just a couple of questions, what is the exact position and direction of the card.
R.E.A.C.T. (Remote Estimate of Any Card Thought)
As with every other effect proposed here, the performance can be done in life in person, over the telephone, or in a video connection. The spectator is asked to choose one of the four cards he has shuffled and arranged in a row on the table, face-up or face-down, according to his preference. After a little further shuffling and a few questions, to which the spectator can only answer with a Yes or No, having first secretly chosen whether to tell always the truth or to lie, the mentalist will incredibly be able to reveal the position and the direction of the chosen card, leaving the spectator stunned, who will be discovered even though he may have chosen to lie.
FIND THE QUEEN
A classic of card magic revisited and adapted for Bending Minds. In a surprising way and without ever looking at the cards, the Queen will be unable to keep secret its place next to the two Kings, and the revelation by the mentalist will be lightning-fast and amazing.
TICKET TO RIDE
An effect that is a real journey on the railway tracks: three double-sided tickets on which to write the names of some railway lines under construction and some choices in absolute freedom by the viewer, which will move the lines and destinations. A few questions, whose answers, affirmative or negative, will leave no room for doubt, and the route chosen by the spectator will be revealed not only by the position but also with the exact direction of entry, making it all very mysterious to the eyes of the spectators.
1st edition 2021, PDF 51 pages.
word count: 10124 which is equivalent to 40 standard pages of text
