THE BLURB:
This trick is actually two mentalist effects in one! The set
includes, two classic effects revisited and
improved...Flight Plan, and Clues.
Flight Plan:
This is a mental mystery that is entertaining, uses lots of
audience participation and should appeal to those who seek
the unusual in their mentalism.
The mentalist invites three spectators to join him on stage.
They are each given an envelope containing their "Flight
Instructions." A set of "Point of Departure" cards are mixed
and each spectator randomly selects a card to determine
their "point of departure." While the mentalist's back is
turned, the spectators open their Flight Instruction
envelopes and match their point of departure with the "point
of departure" in their flight instructions. This tells them
what flight to take. Then they pick up their tickets at the
table on stage.
Turning around, the mentalist proclaims the first
spectator's departure and destination locations. The
spectator displays his departure and destination cards from
the ticket envelope and they match the performer's
impression. This is repeated with the second and the third
spectator, and each time the mentalist correctly names their
point of departure and also their destination. This really
is an example of mental flight.
"I love the idea in Flight Plan, the simplicity and
cleanness of not needing to ask a single question to arrive
at your reading is so diabolical and hands off. Also your
conversion information makes it extremely adaptable to
nearly any situation. Good work"
-Banachek
Clues:
With clues, each of three spectators selects a card making
him or her one of the three main characters. Then each
spectator pockets one of the five exhibits (murder weapons).
Then, you playing the role of the Mental Detective,
determine who the victim is and how he was killed. The
victim's pocketed weapon is considered to be the murder
weapon. Then you find the murderer and expose him and the
weapon that he is carrying .
All the props necessary for these effects are included.
MY COMMENTS:
I agree completely with Banachek's testimonial. In fact, I
really can't say much more than he did. I really like the
whole idea behind these effects (which has additional
thoughts, ideas, and suggestions by Ken Driscoll) and that
this principle is easily adaptable to any type of genre. It
doesn't have to be travel (as in Flight Plans) or a murder
mystery (Clues). And even the methodology can be adapted to
suit your style as one relies on adding numbers and the other
on letters. To state the obvious, if you haven't deduced it,
the methodology behind both effects is the same.
Incidentally, Ken writes that "while the card stock and
passports in this kit are good enough for use, they are
mainly being supplied as sample material so that you will
have an idea of how you might want to make your own cards
and passports for use in performance." In other words,
you're really buying a terrific idea that you should adapt
to your act. However, the four page instruction booklet
(two pages folded in half) could have been more carefully
edited and written. For instance, Ken mentions the KEN D
color code, but I couldn't find an explanation of it
anywhere. Also, there is an additional "Important-Please
Read" page that has invaluable advice that could have been,
and should have been, worked into the instructions.
This principle, which I find reminiscent of Larry Becker's
work, will allow mentalists to perform some really powerful
effects. But here's a prediction: like many other terrific
items in my catalog, this fine idea will be passed up
by many.
