What Happens:
The mentalist displays four or five current popular magazines. They are handed out and freely examined. One is chosen by an audience member and he or she is asked to peruse the magazine. Next they are asked to decide on a page with lots of text, they do so and proceed to remove the page from the magazine. This is repeated with the other magazines until there are four or five random pages from each magazine.
Next the audience member's with their respective pages are instructed to turn them landscape and tear them in half. Place the two pieces together and repeat, and repeat again and repeat one more time. Until they have several torn pieces in their hands.
The pieces are collected on top of one of the magazines. Roughly 80 pieces of magazine with close to 7,000 words on them at this point. Another audience member is asked to reach into the pile and remove a small to medium stack of papers. If they would like to change their mind, add more, remove some or switch the piles all together they are allowed to do so.
Once they have decided on a portion of pieces, they are counted by the audience member. Say she has 19 pieces. These are placed solely on top of the magazine and slid into the mentalists hand very cleanly. A number from one to 19 is chosen and counted down to. Finally that piece (without the mentalist looking of course) is shown to the audience member who called the number, they are instructed to look at and remember a word. They do so. The piece is crumpled and thrown away or placed out of sight.
The audience member is asked to reveal the word to the rest of the crowd. Let's say the word is "AMAZE." (fitting I know)
All of the magazines are collected and lined up in alphabetical order, held by five audience members. (for example)
- IMPROPER BOSTONIAN
- MENTAL FLOSS
- PEOPLE
- SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN
- TIME
They all open the cover to their magazines revealing one letter each.
A - M - A - Z - E
[Note: This routine requires the necessary audience management. It uses what is typically referred to as an 'instant stooge'.]
1st edition 2013, 9 pages.
word count: 2854 which is equivalent to 11 standard pages of text