O.O.B.

The Power of Autoscopy

Anthony Black
 Copyright © Anthony Black 2012
All Rights Reserved.
No part of this document may be reproduced without written consent from the author.
 Introduction

I would like to first begin by thanking you for purchasing this routine; I hope
you enjoy it as I had lots of fun creating it.

I would always urge you to look at ways in which you can develop the material
to fit your own performance style.

Read, read again, critique and adapt. Does this work for me? Can I do this
instead? How can I make this part of the routine stronger?

Keep on challenging yourself to be a better performer; you owe it to yourself,

but most importantly to your audience.

Yours,

Anthony Black

November 2012
 Performance
On stage is a small table which rests an old looking metronome and two
packs of playing cards and a blindfold; there are two chairs.

“I would like to talk to you a little about something which I have a great
fascination...O.O.B.E’s or out of body experiences as they are more commonly
known. People who have experienced an OOBE talk about floating above their
own bodies and looking down at themselves from above; such as during an
operation or a near death experience. Many people have tried to induce this
state such as Artists, poets and great philosophers as a way of increasing the
imagination and to tackle problems for which they were struggling with. For
example; Thomas Edison used this state to tackle problems while working on
his inventions. He would rest a silver dollar on his head while sitting with a
metal bucket in a chair. As he drifted off, the coin would noisily fall into the
bucket, restoring some of his alertness. This would put him in a state of
Autoscopy; a kind of controlled O.B.E.”

“But the most fascinating of all is those people who claim to be able to use this
state of Autoscopy and actually perform actions whilst in this state. There are
those that believe this is how the famous mediums of Victorian times were
able to move objects and ring bells and touch people’s hands and faces during
a Séance.”

“If I could perhaps borrow a young lady from the audience I would like us to try
an experiment in this phenomenon.”

A Lady from the audience is welcomed up on stage and the performer greets
her warmly before asking her name (Jo) and then asking her to take a seat at
the table with him.
“Jo, would you like to point to a pack of cards for me please.”

Jo points to those nearest to her on the table.

“OK Jo; those will be your cards and this pack will be mine. In a moment I am
going to put on this blindfold and attempt to access a state of Autoscopy. You
will know when I have achieved this state as you will see my whole body visibly
relax. At this point I would like you to take out the cards from your pack and
have a look through them for me please, whilst doing so I would like you to
think of that special person in your life that means a great deal to you.”

“Does this make sense so far Jo?”

“Yes...”

“Ok, whilst you have that person in mind I would like you to select a card from
the pack, have a look at it and then put it face down on the table for me and
put the rest of the pack away. Then I would like you to just relax for me and
keep thinking of that special person in your life as this gives me something to
focus on; almost like an anchor if you will.”

“Is that all Ok Jo?”

“Yes...I understand.”

“That’s great Jo, at this point onwards I would like to ask the audience to
remain completely silent please; thank you.”

“Whatever happens...”

The performer starts the metronome then places the blindfold on and begins
to breath deeply and after a minute or so his hands fall down to his sides and
he visibly relaxes...

Jo picks up her deck and opens it and after looking through the pack for a few
moments takes out a card and (King of Spades) places it facedown on the
table before putting the rest of the deck away and putting that on the table.

She then sits there quietly watching the performer along with everyone else
in the audience...
The performer twitches his head slightly and his lips move silently...

Then his fingers twitch...

After a moment of silence there is a small gasp from Jo and the audience as
the performer’s pack of cards on the table moves slightly...

After a moment the performers left arm slowly begins to rise up from his
side...his hand points towards Jo and his lips begin to move again as if he is
trying to communicate something...

The performer speaks quietly...

“Carl...the one...you are thinking of...Carl...”

Jo looks shocked and a little frightened and nods her head...

“Yes!”

The performers hand suddenly drops dead back at his side...after a moment
he begins to come around again...he takes of the blindfold looks around the
room visibly confused....before mumbling...

“O...yes...I’m...yes.”

He reaches out and stops the metronome. He allows himself a moment to get
used to his surroundings before smiling at Jo.

“Hi Jo, I had the strangest dream...”

“I dreamt I was standing behind you whilst you took out the cards...you picked
one out and put it face down on the table...can you please tell the audience
which card you chose Jo and show it them please.”

Jo picks up the card and shows it to the audience.

“It’s the King of Spades.”

“Thanks Jo...you see in my dream...after I watched you take out your card...I
picked up my pack and also took one out...then I put it back in the
pack...although the strange thing about dreams...sometimes things get
reversed...black is white...night is day...up is down...”
The performer picks up his pack for the first time before fanning through and
showing one card is reversed...he takes it out and shows it...it’s the King of
Spades.

“Like I said, sometimes things in dreams get reversed...like colours for

example...”

The performer turns the card around to show it has a different coloured back
to the rest of the cards.

“Thank you Jo for helping me try this, you have been wonderful...the girl of my
dreams!”

End of Performance
 Methods
This is a very simple routine technically which allows you to concentrate on the
most important part; the performance.

The Cards
There are two packs of cards, one of which is a ‘Brainwave Deck’.

See here:

http://www.magicshop.co.uk/CARD_MAGIC_TRICKS/c21/p4072/Brainwave_D
eck_Bicycle_%28Blue_Case%29_-_Trick/product_info.html

Whichever pack Jo points to you simply use Equivoque so she ends up with the
‘normal deck’.

The ‘normal deck’ contains a PK card which allows you to move it.

See here:

http://www.unleashyourdreams.co.uk/Unleash_Your_Dreams/Magnetic_Rings
_%26_PK_Cards.html

There is another option with the cards too; I will explain this in the ‘Other
Thoughts’.
The Movement
Strapped to you leg is a powerful magnet which allows you to move the deck
of cards on the table; less is more when you perform this.

You just want the deck to move slightly enough so it’s noticed by Jo and the
rest of the audience.

Also; never mention the fact that this happened. Do not draw attention to it
and it will seem that much more powerful for doing so.

The Name Reveal

This is accomplished with a little pre-show work; simply use your favourite
impression device to obtain the information.

Something along the lines of this:

“Hi, my names Anthony and I’ll be trying something later on but I need to find
someone to help me. Usually this works best with someone who has an open
mind, intelligent and is up for a little fun...does that sound like something you
can help me with?”

“Yes.”

“Great, let me try a little experiment just between the two of us to see if we
work well together...I want you to take this pad and draw a simple shape for
me...nothing too complicated...and once your done just take off the sheet and
fold it up.”

Take the pad back and obtain the information before revealing it in whichever
way fits your style drawing dupe etc.

“That’s fantastic! You are really good at this, lets try something a bit more
difficult shall we...lets see...ok...I want you to think of someone special in your
life...someone that’s close to you...do you have someone in mind?”

“Yes, I do.”
“Ok, just write that persons name down for me and take off the sheet and fold
it up and put in your purse/pocket...I want you to keep thinking of that special
person for me and I will ask you again later to think of this same person when
we try our experiment. Is that Ok?”

“Yes!”

Now you have the information you need for later on during your performance.

Other Thoughts
If you don’t feel comfortable working with magnets, you could always use an
invisible thread hook up of your preference for the movement of the deck of
cards.

Some different methods/ideas for the presentation/technique:

 Use only one deck of cards; that deck is marked and you reveal the name
of the card because you ‘watched’ Jo take it out when you were standing
behind her. Use a Blindfold Peek!
 Use the Brainwave deck and a marked deck, so you can have a double
reveal. Although sometimes I feel less is more and this would just be
overkill.
 Get Jo to write down the name of the person again whilst up on stage
and show it to the audience whilst you are blindfolded and before the
reveal; again you ‘watched’ her from behind.
 Force a card and use a Haunted deck technique for the movement.
 If you have a ‘Spirit Chair’ you could place it in the audience explain
more about people being touched etc during your performance and if
anybody ‘feels’ anything not to be too concerned about it. Just sow the
seed of suggestion...
Metronomes are wonderful set pieces and make a lovely sound, I urge you to
pick one up. When all is silent and you all you can hear is...tock...tock...just
wonderful!

Although if you do not want to splash out on one at the moment; there are a
couple of alternatives. Here is a link to two free Apps for your mobile phone
plus an MP3 Download:

Android:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gabriel.metronome&hl=en

IPhone:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/steinway-metronome/id393021343?mt=8

MP3: http://www.hypnosishealthcare.com/metronome.html
Further Reading
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autoscopy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Out-of-body_experience

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near-death_experience

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Journeys-Out-Body-Robert-
Monroe/dp/0285627538

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Astral-Dynamics-Out-body-
Experiences/dp/1571741437

http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2007/0823out_of_body.shtml

Until Next Time

I really hope you enjoy and use this routine; you really get to have fun with
your acting and performance skills with this one. I come up with it one night
when I had to stay awake for 24hrs+ for some reason or another. I began to
think about dreams/states and such and it just grew from there to what it is
today.

Anthony Black, November 2012.

http://www.thewrongsideofmidnight.com/
 Also available from Anthony Black

Sixth Scents

A dark story involving Murder, Mystery and Mediums. The spectator is invited up on stage and takes
on the powers of a Medium; with startling results. But is everything as it seems? There may be a
twist to this tale...

Vibes

A tale of Nikola Tesla and his downward spiral into madness; brought on by his creation of the
‘Phasmatis Luminarium’. You and the spectator use this peculiar machine to recreate the terrible
experiments at Wardenclyffe Tower. Will the results tip you and your spectator over the edge?

The Death Mask

The history of Death Masks has always been surrounded by a certain mystery, you and your
spectator find out a truth that may just make you question everything you believe in. Together you
will demonstrate the real power of ‘Automatic Writing’. Dare you wear the Death Mask?

The Secret Project

This is an idea I am very excited about, and one which will be of benefit to our community as
performers. I hope you will all join me in creating something amazing!

More information and reviews here: http://www.thewrongsideofmidnight.com/resurrection-

dreams.php
A dark tale of one man driven to madness...

You and your spectator take part in a strange ritual involving blank cards...

Why did William Clark take his own life?

What Bizarre object took over his life?

Will your spectator gain ‘The Sight of Madness’?

Find out together...

http://www.thewrongsideofmidnight.com/midnight-ebooks.php