Gerard Zitta

Here is another close-up (or parlor) version of the Monty Hall problem. It can be a standalone effect, or a premise, or a follow-up to other versions ( "V1" , "V2" , "V3", "Transaction" ), again with a completely different method. It helps to demonstrate that a player should always switch, but in a very baffling way. In the first phase, you show that the spectator should switch the two doors in order to win. But in a second identical phase, they will always loose.

• Not a "puzzle", no logic involved. (Actually, a real mystery that looks completely illogical, mind-blowing and disturbing.) ...

Some nice easy effects based on a rather recent force that is already widely known among mentalists. Some new ideas, some old ones probably, but most importantly, some new ideas for predictions and presentations, that make sense (and can be used for other forces).

CONTENTS

• The FULL FORCE and HALF FORCE
• Properties
• Effects:
  • "Elephant": A spectator as mind reader plot.
  • "Influencing images": An influence plot.
  • "1 Chance in 1000": A prediction plot.
  • "Confabulation": A confabulation plot "à la Schroedinger".
  • "1 Chance in thousands": Another prediction plot.
  • "Unlock my phone, please!":...

"ACAAN with a mental shake"

Gerard likes the ACAAN plot. Whether it is impromptu or formal, closeup or on stage, it always has a strong impact. There have been loads of methods since Mr. Berglas presented this effect in the mid 70's. For this manuscript, Gerard wanted a 100% hands off solution, direct, practical, with NO sleight of hands and doable on stage or closeup and, if possible without knowing the card nor the number. The result is not a card trick but more of a mentalism effect.

EFFECT:

The performer places a boxed deck of cards in full view. He won't touch it again. Four presentations...

Tons of ideas in this manual...A compendium of effects, principles and methods related somehow to the "Any card at any number" plot, commonly called ACAAN. Even though they are not all 'perfect' ACAAN's, they are interesting, entertaining or original variants from an audience point of view.

• Some are original, some are based on combinations of old principles, with some 'twists' or new ideas.
• Most are card tricks, some are not.
• Some are impromptu or even improvised, some need some preparation.
• Some are hands off, some need some (easy) sleight of hand.
• Some are direct, some are more convoluted. ...

This is a useful effect for those who don't like tricks with smart phones, computers, etc. or if you perform for an audience who doesn't like them either. But it works very well also for computer addicts.

Effect:

You place a prediction in a glass or in full view. You write a list of activities (For instance: Reading, Play Music, Work, etc.). The participant chooses one of them (There is absolutely no force).

And now the "crescendo":

• You show your prediction and it was right (this one is an optional gag, or pretext for getting your audience involved).
• On the pen there was another...

This is a fantastic principle to know. You need nothing. Just your brain and some easy acting skills. You can improvise anytime anywhere. It is hands off, practical and the method is very simple. And most importantly, it is fun for the participants, for yourself and for the audience. What else do you want?

You will be able to detect liars in a group of people and identify which one has selected a specific card or ESP symbol for instance. You can show your psychometry skills with borrowed objects. There are tons of applications.

You just ask the same question to some of them.

It does...

"Hidden": A secret hidden in most decks of cards. You already have it. It can be used for magic or mentalism effects as it will add something "bizarre" or intriguing to your card tricks. Or as a double kicker. YOu will use it in your existing routines or invent new ones. Guaranteed. A typical example is "The Fine Print" by Jay Sankey. The difference is that you can do it impromptu, without buying a gimmick, and with some touch of mentalism.

"You remove a playing card from a deck of cards and leave it face down on the table as a prediction. A spectator then selects a card from the deck, but...

This effect is a variant of the Card at Any Number plot, but with a full routine and a very commercial and entertaining presentation, with gags, a prediction, or divination, with a puzzling final surprise revelation, and more potential. It can be adapted for any events like Christmas, New Year, Thanksgiving, Halloween, weddings, carnival, birthdays, conventions, etc.

It needs a one-time preparation that you can keep in your wallet or jacket, and can be used as an opener or a closer, for strolling, close up, parlor or stage.

1st edition 2017, 15 pages.

A simple chair test.

A very simple and practical chair test with three participants.

• It can be performed close-up, at a restaurant or dinner table, a bar, etc., or even on stage or TV
• Impromptu
• Easy reset
• OK for strolling too

[The basic effect is included in Pocket Mysteries, and in Cool Hot Pocket Mysteries.

Watch Max Maven perform a very similar effect. (Max Maven never published his method thus his method could be different how Gerard does it.):

1st edition 2016, 17 pages....

Have you ever played "Which hand" with somebody, and they hid the coin behind their back? Here is a way to overcome this problem.

Effect:

A spectator takes one of his coins, and puts it in any hand behind his back. You won't look either. They can even hide it in their back pocket, or on the chair, if they decide to cheat. You find out where the coin is (which hand, or which pocket).

100% improvised and hands-off.

(The method here is different than in Coin Games or in Bluff.)

1st edition 2014, 7 pages.

This clever mathematical principle allows you to find a thought item among any number of items, even though you do not know the initial order. You don't even need to know what they are. You see nothing. It is entirely hands off and improvised, and can even be done over the phone. It works with any number of flat objects (cards, index or business cards, coasters, etc.) or usual objects (key, coin, lighter, pen, etc.).

Two practical examples are provided, but it is so easy that you'll be able to improvise your own mentalism effects with borrowed objects or cards, or with your own business...

Two hands off and impromptu effects you'll do for the rest of your life at any moment notice, and every time you'll meet somebody because they are fun to perform, simple and practical.

"Man both routines are very very clever! I love them! Especially the heads and tails one!!! I definitely use them! Well done mate!" - Romanos, creator of GERTI/Silver swindle

This ebook is a combination of the simplest plots you can perform in Magic: HEADS or TAILS? and WHICH HAND? They can be done separately as well.

The routine:

Take your wallet and casually throw a $100 bill (or just $1...but...

This product bundle includes three items, with more than 15 effects that can be carried in your pockets.

Cool Mysteries impromptu, requires no special props or preparation. The two other ones need some one-time preparation (only one effect needs a special gimmick): Pocket Mysteries, Hot Mysteries.

CONTENTS

COOL MYSTERIES

• Elimination
• The bills trips mystery
• Hands off my Lady!
• Guess my card
• Take my order
• Any candy at any number

• Monty Hall dilemna (V1)
• Flash at Carnival, Nice 1932
• Free will ( V1)
• Color healing
• SVP

• The hypnosis system
• The die is cast
• Chair'Z ...

9 Hands off effects you can do completely naked

Elimination: A card prediction without cards

The bills trip mystery

• "Happy Hour"
• "Money transfer"

• 3 card monte
• 4 card monte
• 5 card monte
• all hands off

Take my order: Imagine you are performing in a restaurant, you approach a table.
"I am your waiter. Are you ready to order?"
"Actually my name is …, I am a Performer"
"You are the waiter and I am the customer!...

Get ready for Halloween (and all year long)! With this little creature and story, you will scare people to death as it will look realistic and credible. It is based on a true story. You will have to buy a little gimmick (around 1$).

1st edition 2015.

A classic mathematical principle with two piles.

This is an old mathematical principle used in many card effects. Most of the effects were done with 52 cards. But the principle works with any number of cards (or business cards). This manual explains the principle in detail and generalizes the principle. It allows you to predict the last card that will be left after dealing two piles and eliminating the same pile every time. After reading this ebook, you will be able to use any number of cards. The original pile can be any size, the discarded pile can be chosen, and the final card can be...

A 100% improvised and hands-off original routine with business cards.

Diabolik:
Effect: Two spectators (one liar and one truth-teller) draw two different objects (or names, words, etc.) on a business card. They swap their cards and pens as much as they want (or they are shuffled by a third spectator), and hide them between their hands or in their pockets. It is impossible (really) for you, to know which spectator has which drawing, which pen they used, who lies and who tells the truth, etc. You really know nothing. And yet, with only one question, innocent and justified, to only one spectator,...

Imagine you are anywhere but on stage, and you are unprepared. Somebody asks you to do a 'magic trick' (yeah, they know who you are!). You answer you would like to, but you have nothing with you, but a pen and a few business cards. You take out your business card holder or box, and you start amazing your audience.

Now, imagine you would take a deck of cards. It would be all different … Nobody would believe you are unprepared!

This ebook is a compendium of Gerard Zitta's effects, that can be done with business cards. They all 'look' impromptu, and most of them are indeed impromptu...

"I think your routine is very good. I may use it a couple times myself." - Brian T. Lees (a.k.a. Topper)

Effect:

You produce a deck of cards and hand it to a spectator. (You will not touch it or see it any more). The spectator shuffles the deck, selects a card, folds it and puts a rubber band or a paper clip tight around it. Despite these lab conditions, you try to guess their card! And believe it or not, you will always succeed. Their card can be given back as a souvenir. It does...

Short warm up mentalism effects. Anytime, anywhere, practical, easy, direct and impromptu.

Some of the simple ideas presented in this ebook can also be used as safety nets in your existing routines.

W(h)i(t)ch hand?
A classic: A spectator hides a coin in one of his fists and the performer shows which hand.

• Impromptu – no gimmicks, no electronics
• Versatile - presentation can vary
• Anytime, anywhere, anybody
• Simple and direct

Effect:

Somebody hides a coin in one of their hands, and the mentalist has to guess or predict which one: Left or Right?

This method uses classic techniques and is probably the simplest, the most direct, the safest, and probably the boldest one! It can be done separately, or embedded with other methods, or used as an out. Its major advantage is that it will not be perceived as a logic puzzle, and will really leave an impression of free choice. It will kill all previous solutions of potential methods (logic, electronic, gimmicked, etc.) that Cartesian spectators might suspect.

Another...

[Note: This effect was already part of Mentalism Games.]

From the audience point of view, this effect will look completely improvised as you present it with nothing. Just their fingers and yours. It really blows people's minds (laymen and magicians alike).

Finger burn: Ask a spectator to show you any finger; and put it over a candlelight or an invisible lighter. Your same finger will carry a blister even though your hands were apparently in full view all the time.

Voodoo finger: A variation to give away your business card.

1st edition 2015, 13 pages.

This is one of my favorite routines with fingers.

Effect:

"Please tell us a color." The freely named color is written on a single business card (or somewhere else). "Interesting... I bet I can influence you now to choose a certain finger for instance." You take a bill from your wallet. (The participant can bet as well.) You show your hand (or you draw a hand on the business card or another one): "Please point to any finger." The spectator freely points to a finger, and of course, this is the one you wanted her to select.

• It is that direct: They announce their choice, and you conclude....

A practical and easy two-way out system.

Janus V3 is a very simple and practical two-way out system. It is impromptu and everything is examinable before and after. It allows you to leave your business card.

To describe it, we can compare it to another system by Scott Guinn called Assertive positive/negative.

• The reader must also know another principle by Max Maven (in Videomind Volume 2) but the method and presentation are completely different.
• It also uses business cards (or jumbo cardboard cards).
• It can be done anytime with no setup. It is impromptu if you have a 'little something' with you (It is not a gimmick, it...

A selection of lovely effects for weddings, Valentine's day, couples, etc. that will open hearts and doors...Most of them are impromptu.

Valentine day
A two phase 10' routine where two cards, randomly chosen face down at the beginning, will help to find two other cards. Each phase can be played independently.

ACAAN for couples
A perfect ACAAN for couples. Impromptu.

Men desiring women
This is Gerard's version of a classic spelling effect (impromptu), based on a mathematical principle. He will also reveal how to personalize it with your own words ...

Nice to meet you
A nice way...

All the effects will look improvised from the audience point of view, but they need a one-time preparation, and all are easy, except for the three last ones that will need more practice and some rehearsal.

ATM wallet: You will do this one every single time you have to pay something. You need an item every magician has got already in their drawer.

X=H3-E2: Rapidly force one object among a higher number of objects. (twice as fast as "PATEO", and easier to perform.)

Phone hypnosis: Block a borrowed phone (harmless), with the power of your mind. Easy.

Bright as a feather: Use a feather...

Finger games:

• The 4 fingers game: Another method for "Equifinque" (Phil SMIFF)
• Finger burn: Ask a spectator to show you any finger and put it over a candlelight or an invisible lighter. Your same finger will carry a blister.
• Voodoo finger: A variation to give away your business card.

• Hold on to your card: An impossible IN SPECTATOR's HANDS transposition.
• Magic mushrooms: A short-term-memory test where you show the same card to different spectators, and they forget it after showing them some psychedelic images!

  The two following sections describe an effect that looks...

MIMOSA simply allows your smartphone to be smarter!

• You can predict the future. You can predict virtually anything. You will now have a way to do it WITHOUT knowing or forcing the outcome.
• Your phone can also become your memory. It can be a new type of crib sheet or index, but now, it can be huge, and access to the information will be instantaneous. There is a secret move that lasts a fraction of a second.
• MIMOSA will also allow you to always carry with you a multiple and virtually unlimited number of outs.
• It can be used as a safety exit for your existing routines. You can predict...

Before re-designing your business cards, check this out. It will save you hours and money for trials and errors, in looking for a practical and simple way to make business cards useful for your mentalism effects. Clever business cards can become a very powerful secret weapon you will always carry with you. They can also replace expensive props or effects, and allow you to create your own and personalized routines. Not to mention that your business cards are a wonderful marketing tool, as well.

The "system" described in this e-book, will allow you to improvise many mental effects, that use...

Effect: A spectator looks at a card in a borrowed shuffled deck. You eliminate cards and the last card is their selection.

Key points:

• 100% impromptu and improvised.
• Any borrowed deck with any number of cards
• Hands off
• The cards are shuffled many times during the routine
• No accomplice, no gimmick, no setup, no dual reality, no sleight of hands, no fishing, 100% surefire.
• OK for stand-up, walk-around, parlor and why not stage.
• You do not have to touch or see anything
• You just need to know a couple of devious principles (some are new).
• Baffling and cannot be reverse-engineered due...

An improvised month divination

Month ID is an original method to secretly gain knowledge of a stranger's month of birth. (Actually, any information among twelve possibilities...) It can be done independently, anytime, anywhere, without any preparation at all, or props.

Basic Effect:

You ask a person you just met: "Do you know your zodiac digit? It is a digit between 0 and 9 that is influenced by the season, the climate, the month of birth and other factors. Here is how to calculate your ZODIAC DIGIT: Think of your birth month and do the following ... " (Very simple, just a couple of...

Two effects for one low price.

With this flexible system or combination of principles, you will be able to create your own effects like this one: Example of effect:

"Do you think you are influenceable? I bet you are..."

You show a business card with the five ESP symbols. The spectator freely points to one of them. This is the one you predicted.

• The basic effect is not new, but it is that direct and quick: They announce their choice, and you conclude.
• There is apparently no 'process', no force, no fumbling, etc. in between.
• It uses common objects (pen, index card/paper, etc.).
• Any patter or presentation can be...

An improvised book-test with a borrowed newspaper.

There are dozens of newspaper tests or predictions, but this one is different, improvised, and will be remembered as hands-off.

• There are no newspaper tears or cuts, no center tear, no peek, no counting, no secret writing, no sleights, no weird procedure, no complex maths or logic or convoluted stuff, etc.
• All you need is a normal borrowed newspaper. No gimmicks, no other props, cards, swami, pens, etc. Nothing else, except ...you... and the secret.

This ebook explores for the first time, the principles inherent to probably any newspaper, magazine, or publication, in the world. Everybody reads them, every day, but nobody notices the rules and logic in the innocent sheets they hold in their own hands. These properties are good to know as they allow some pretty neat impromptu or improvised effects, or design your own routines, once you know their 'secrets'.

It is more a piece of knowledge every magician or mentalist should know. Most 'recipes' are simple, and there is no difficult memorization or calculation involved.

All the effects...

BILL DATES: You predict the bill and the date that a spectator you just met, will take out of his wallet.

THE JANUS FORCE: A business card is fairly selected among five, by throwing a dice, only once (or by freely naming a digit 1 to 6). The result on the back of the card was predicted in advance of course. Furthermore, you can show that the odds should have been against this result, as there were more cards with the opposite outcome. This system can be used to force any choice between two possibilities (for instance: red or black, heads or tails, etc.) even though the other choice had more...

An improvised technique for the HEADS or TAILS plot, or else, as it can be done with any flat object, like an index card or a piece of paper for instance with a different information on each side (that can be different than HEADS or TAILS, and allow a more captivating story than a binary game or a bet).

Effect (as perceived by the audience):

• "Please take a coin, toss it, and watch secretly which side is up"...
• "There is no way anybody here can know if you lie or tell the truth"...
• "Now, if you want, you can turn the coin over. You can do it covertly, as many times as you want."

The following effects are practical, commercial, use classic techniques or principles with new ideas, and, most importantly, are "connection-makers". They are impromptu, for closeup, strolling, and parlor, and do not take much pocket space. Most are very fast, require nothing else than the provided images, tables, list, etc. sometimes with business cards and a pen.

MASCOT: Your spectator has to find your "mascot" among a list. Very easy, and entertaining. In 30 seconds, you will fool everybody, except 4WD addicts!

MONTH PSYCHO: "Month psycho" is another method to guess a birth month....

It is impossible nowadays to be a magician or mentalist and not perform an effect with a phone, smartphone, ipad , laptop, etc. The following mentalism effects look mostly hands off and impromptu.

No special applications or sleight of hands are required.

• OPEN SESAME Get any equipment unlocked without touching it! Easy to do, fun to perform, 100% hands off and impromptu. Works with any locked telephone, pad, PC, Smartphone, keylock etc.
• STUCK A method to force any number with a borrowed iPhone (and maybe other phones).
• CALC'ACAAN An "untoxic" ACAAN that uses any telephone or calculator...