Bill Abbott's MIND CONTROL

What The Audience Sees:

'This Friday was crazy! Jamie started talking about how he's learning to influence people's thoughts and that he wanted to experiment on us. He had us lay out some objects, like our stapler, my coffee cup, John's watch, Jody's credit card, his keys and his wallet, and my wedding ring. He then gave me his pen and after 1 question, had me point at one of the objects that was left. He told me I could totally change my mind if I liked but I said, "No Way!" He then revealed that he had known what I was going to pick and he showed us proof! It was nuts!'

How It Went:

Well, I have to confess I did something today that I told myself I wouldn't do. I performed a Magic Friday effect that I received only yesterday. I always have my Magic Friday's planned and practiced well in advance but I just liked this trick so much that I thought I'd make Magic Friday my first ever performance of Mind Control.

Not that it mattered. Bill Abbott's trick is ready to rock right out of the starting gate, so I wasn't worried. It's a nice feeling to do a trick that you know is going to work 100%. I thought I deserved a break- a nice, easy, killer trick. What makes it funny is that Mind Control was just an add on- I intended to just get Bill Abbott's Close Up For Kids DVD so that I could get his take on the 'ol sponge balls (you know those red things that, apparently, everyone loves but me...I'm slowly coming around, though. Slooooowly.) Anyway, Mind Control came and blew me away. It also amazed everyone who saw it today. I think I had 1 bad reaction that I'll address down below. Everyone else totally freaked out.

Best Lines:

'Yo, that was dope!'
'HOW? How did you know?! I don't understand!'
'This isn't Magic Friday, it's Freaky Friday! You're freaking me out!'

Angry Bob Rating:

I have a co-worker (Bob) whose uncle was a magician and thereby has a good working knowledge of how magic works. He's pretty grumpy but likes Magic Friday's because he can tell me how he figured out how the effect is done... A high rating means he'll never figure it out.

I'd have to say, 2/5. There's nothing completely radical here so you won't fool any magicians but lay people will have no clue. This actually brings up a good point- some people might say that they know this method already, or that you could learn this from some other book. And while this may be true, it's also true that I can learn this method and effect from Bill Abbott. I have no problem telling you that there is a ton of info out there that I have absolutely no clue about. So if I find a teacher or creator that I like, and Bill definitely fits that bill, then I'll support them. As well, Mind Control comes with the props ready to go.

My Rating:

After today's reactions, I was totally pumped about adding another 10/10 trick to my arsenal but I'm going to dock it a point because I can't really see a way of performing this to the same group twice. Not that you ever would, really, but if I'm out with friends and someone says, "Show them that one..." then I'll have to somehow rearrange things a bit. Overall 9/10 and a pleasant surprise.

The JDG Tip:

For those of you that have this, instead of using my wallet (my one bad reaction came from someone who said my wallet had too many compartments) I use the envelope and say it's a scrap piece of paper. That way, it's on the table in sight the whole time.

Closing Thoughts:

I started watching Bill's Close Up For Kids DVD a bit today and, while I don't perform for kids, I have to say that Bill was nothing short of inspirational. He's funny, has great talent, and I'm going to learn a lot from him. Thanx Bill!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!

Jamie D. Grant
www.whatizit.net

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