THE BLURB:
The magician presents a wallet to the spectator, and offers
them a free choice of the three objects that are inside the
wallet; a credit card, business card, and a bank note.
Before the spectator can choose the items, the magician
writes down a prediction of which items will be placed in
which pocket of the spectator. The magician then looks away
and shields his eyes, and asks the spectator to take the
three items out of the wallet one at a time. As the
spectator pulls out each item, the magician tells them to
put that item in a certain pocket. Once the spectator has
finished randomly selecting the objects, the magician turns
back to the spectator and pulls out his prediction. One by
one, the magician names the location of each object, to the
amazement of both the spectator and the audience!
MY COMMENTS:
This is Dobson's version of Stephen Tucker's Visa Cabaret,
an effect that is no longer available and that has recently
been touted by Andy Nyman, who included it in his recent
close-up set at the Magic Castle. There's not much
difference between the two versions. This version uses
three different items, instead of three different credit
cards. Also, the special wallets are different sizes. This
one is about 4 x 6 inches. Tucker's was a checkbook size
wallet.
Despite the comparisons, this is a very good effect, though
it relies heavily on audience management and patter choice.
The participant must not be aware that you know instantly
when something is taken and what was taken. In a discussion
that I had with another mentalist, I pointed out that an
effect as simple as "Free Will" accomplishes the same impact
without the need for a special wallet. However, this effect
is still very strong and if you can use it, then it will
certainly be a killer routine. Personally, I think the
wallet might be better if used with other effects, like a
Mental Epic-type routine.
