Ted Annemann's Pseudo Psychometry

[MattRambles]

I have the Annemann book from Dover titled Practical Mental Magic. In this book he describes a wonderful effect using Pseudo Psychometry. He mentions the method but he also talks about how using memory "systems" you could do away with the minor gaff for the effect , and utilize memory techniques for this effect. I asked a friend who was trying to break the guiness world record for longest list of random items. He read the effect and had the same question I did how is Memory applicable to the described effect. I was wondering if anyone could help further my understanding as to how memory could be used in the Pseudo Experiment.

[mark lewis]

Don't bother with that memory crap.  Just use 5 or 6 envelopes and keep the people on stage rather than in the audience the way that Anneman describes it. The very best presentation of all is the Tony Griffiths presentation described in The Art of Close Up Magic by Lewis Ganson. I cannot remember whether it is volume 1 or 2.

I have had fantastic results from this trick for about a quarter of a century. I hope to God Tony Griffiths doesn't want royalties.

I combine Tony's presentation with my ability to do psychic readings from the item in the envelope. I make sure it is an item of jewellery or something metal. You can't get psychic vibrations from things like bus tickets or cigarette packets.

[MattRambles]

At what length is the presentation generally run when you use this number of items. Ten seems like it may last a long while and since I've never tried many mentalism routines, it will be a lot harder to do a larger number of items. I think six would be a good number keeping the presentation moderate in length I would like to try this as a one act street show. Please give me more of your thoughts on this Mark or anyone else interested in helping.

Thanks Matt

[Craig Browning]

As Mark has more or less said, Less is more!

Keep in mind that in the day's of Annemann Multi-Media Entertainment meant that there was a Wurlitzer Organ playing as the silver screen flickered away... Radio was the big trend... Tv still a thing in the making thus, doing a 45 minute psychometry or Q&A routine wasn't out of the question.  Folks came for a FULL evening of entertainment and many shows ran well over two hours (granted, with variety acts set in for much needed breaks).

Yes, you can us mnemonics. I teach a Psychometry routine in my book EASY READING that offers a quasi-mnemonic method that aids the performer; an idea inspired in part by Fogel but has nothing to do with little cloth baggies or such.

If you have not done so, study what Waters has to say about Psychometry routines in Mind, Myth & Magic I believe it will help you refine things.  Another great read when it comes to creating a solid mystery act is Paul Brook's ALCHEMICAL TOOLS.

[mark lewis]

I use 6 items. The routine seems to run around 10 minutes or so when I do it. I have no idea if this would work in the street as Matt intends. I would have thought that mentalism might be slow going for the street but I could be wrong since I have no experience in steet work.

[Craig Browning]

I use 6 items. The routine seems to run around 10 minutes or so when I do it. I have no idea if this would work in the street as Matt intends. I would have thought that mentalism might be slow going for the street but I could be wrong since I have no experience in street work.

I have to agree with you on that point Mark... I do not understand the approach even though Glen Falkenstein used to do the Blindfold on Hollywood Blvd. in front of the Wax Museum long, long ago... it made him a star!

I personally think that today's enthusiasts blurr things thanks to shooting stars (that are now burning out... thank the gods) like Criss Angel, who mixed mentalism with magic for the sake of ego, not theater.  This huge trend of "doing whatever you want" and not having any kind of focus... well, you know what it's doing, you've been around at least as long as me... but then, I've known a few stones younger than you... 

[MattRambles]

Thanks guys for the replies I wasnt intending to mix magic and mentalism but at the time when I read this effect and even now Im thingking of alternating or creating a few individual street theatre shows for myself mentalism all by itself. Pop Haydn did it quite successfully in the streets years ago and there is no one touching the subject that Im aware of except for maybe mix and match like you said. But my intentions are to run it as and individual street act not as mix and match. When I read Annemans effect I had visions of doing this as a show all by itself going through my mind. His work always inspires me.

[mark lewis]

This is a very strong item if you present it well. There are many variations some good , some not so good. As mentioned I like the Tony Griffiths presentation the best. At any rate if this effect suits you there ain't none better.

[palmreader]

Just remember that the effect the spectators care about is the reading.  The fact you can return an item to the owner is a distant second.

[mark lewis]

I agree with that statement. To tell the truth I find it sickening but it is true nevertheless. I even had one person in the audience figure out the secret but was raving about the trick anyway. When I asked her why it was the reading. However if you are going for the reading angle make sure they don't put in bus tickets or pens or stuff like that. It has to be metal, preferably jewellery otherwise the reading is not credible. With psychometry you don't get vibes from bus tickets.

And naturallly it helps to have some experience doing psychic readings. I can tell a lot about a person just by one look at them. That is what makes a big difference.

I think without the readings you would still have a good trick but a LOT of the shine of the stunt would be lost.