SideShow

Docc Hilford
Copyright 1996 Docc Hilford

First published as a short story in The New Invocation Issue #82.

EFFECT: Instruct a group of ten participants to merely think

of any of the past presidents. Explain that there must be no
duplications. To assist, supply a small note pad and number the
left side 1 through 10. Hand the pad to the first participant
and tell him to write the last name of his mentally chosen
president next to the number "1". When he is finished, he hands
the pad to the next person who writes any
other president's last name along side of the
"2". The pad is handed to the third
Tear participant with the same instructions and
continues through the tenth person. You never
.-J---.
I
touch the pad after handing it to the first
person.
I When the final person finishes writing
I the chosen name, tell him to remove the sheet
I of paper and fold it once each way. Take the
I folded paper from him and tear it to pieces
,I and drop them in the waist basket.
I
Now, you concentrate and reveal details
Figure # 1 about a past president. "I see high interest
rates, a failed rescue attempt in the Middle
East, and peace talks at Camp David," you
say. "Jimmy Carter!" you exclaim. You tell the group not to
acknowledge if they thought of the president mentioned, but
continue to think of the name. You walk over to the sixth person
and tell him that he is thinking of President Carter. He admits
you are correct.
You continue to call names and match them to the correct
participants, giving a personality reading for each person based
on their choice.

METHOD: As you can see this technique can be used for a type
of psychometry reading without items being given to you. It can
be used as a two-person telepathy demonstration if you wish. It
is very strong in any presentation you wish to use.
SideShow doesn't need a duplicate paper for a billet switch,
because no switch is used. A Center Tear would leave you with a
1
bunch of unreadable letters from the middle of the paper and
would leave the first and last names out completely! SideShow is
not a billet switch or Center Tear - it is the best of both
methods. It can used with a piece of paper or a 3x5 card.
The move is called a "Side Tear" and allows you to obtain
the long, left hand side of the list. Once you have this strip
you can deduce the presidents' names.

THE TEAR: Take a piece of note paper about 3x5 inches. Draw
a line down the left side of the paper. Flip the paper over (end
for end) so the line is on the left
side of the back. Number the paper from
1 to 10 in a column on the left side.
The line is on the other side of the Fold

numbers. This line is strictly for your I

orientation and will not be used once
you have learned the tear.
There are four different ways a
paper can be folded once each way. You Figure # 2
must direct the participant with your
actions. Pantomime folding the paper
from top to bottom and say, "Fold it in half." The participant
will do as he saw you indicate. Then tell him to "Fold it over"
and pantomime folding it from left to right. Both of these folds
are the most common choice of a participant. Your pantomimes
simply reinforce his choice. (If the participant folds from the
right to left it's still O.K. Simply adjust the following moves
to compensate.)
The folded paper now has one side showing the line you drew.
Hold the folded paper with the guide line under your right thumb
and the folded edge at the top. [see figure #1] Tear the paper
in half lengthwise and place the lined side on top of the left
hand pieces.
Turn the pieces 90° to the left, so the top points to the
left. The guide line is still visible. Slip your right thumb
under the folded, "lined" strip. Fold all the right edges to the
left and, without releasing the two lower strips, crease all the
layers in half. [see figure #2]
Here is the tricky part. You now have three strips folded in
your left hand. Unfold the first two strips to the right leaving
the "lined" strip folded to the left. After the two strips have
been unfolded, you will see the guide line exposed on the left.
Tear the two strips in half at the crease. [see figure #3} Place
the right hand pieces behind the left pieces. Hold all the
pieces in your right hand between your thumb and fingers.
 You have not torn through the guide line and the folded
left hand strip is on top of the pile of pieces. All of the
tearing actions should be done without looking at the paper and
in a casual manner. [see figure # 4]
While your left hand takes the pieces from your right hand,
your right thumb pulls the side strip back and keeps it. Your
left hand takes the rest of the torn pieces and drops them into
a trash can or ash tray. The illusion is enhanced by the fact
that a lot of writing is seen on the pieces as they fall into
the ash tray.
Reading the stolen strip can be done while looking in a
crystal ball, opening your fire wallet for a mystical
incantation, or while concentrating at
the corner of the room. Lowering the
lights gives ample time to read the
Tear
strip. You always have it handy for
I reference.
I
If you want to do a two-person act,
simply drop the strip in your partner's
lap while blindfolding her.
Later, you can secretly tear the
strip in quarters and add them to the
other pieces.
Figure # 3
It should be apparent that any
controlled list can be used. If you know
the list of possible items, i.e., names of presidents, states,
countries, etc., the first two or three letters will cue you
the full word. Thus, on a list of presidents, the letters L-i-
n ... could only indicate Lincoln. And N-i-x... could only be Nixon.
You may require a tiny bit of pumping, such as with the letters
N-o-r ... whether it is the state North Carolina or North
Dakota, but you can do so in the middle of you presentation for
maximum effect.
The numbers are also retained on the strip so you know who
wrote which name. You can reveal the names in a different order
than they were written. You don't have to memorize anything
because the strip is your cue sheet.
NOTE: There is no reason to burn the
paper after it is torn. The thea~rical
reasoning behind the paper's use is sound,
that is, so there are no duplications of
names. The destruction's reasoning is also
sound. The list has no other use so it
should be destroyed. Burning it only draws
attention to the fact that the names could Figure # 4
possibly be glimpsed somehow.
3
 NOTE: The more names that are crowded on the paper, the
smaller the participants will write. This means you can recover
more letters on the side strip.
NOTE: Zip codes can be used if you steal the right side and
note the last three digits. You will know the first two if the
participants live in the same area.
NOTE: Use full Social Security numbers and retain the first
three digits. They indicate a state and determine where the
person received their card.
NOTE: You may chose to vary the lists among the
participants, such as asking the first person to think of a
state and pass the pad. The second person thinks of a city in
the chosen state and passes the pad to the next person. A great
deal of information can be controlled in this manner and the
audience will remember that
several people thought of
almost anything!
Al MANN (1",V:"J"H:,j
_ ......... .
NOTE: If the participant
t.'. ~f.... '.?.,,:w folds the paper differently
1I'('b.'U
a'.~I(,~W'I~2:2
from the way you instruct
him to do, don't panic. It
Dear Docc. is a simple matter to hold
the paper upside down while
Wonders never cease. You rattled me with your tearing. The key is to know
-Jagged Edge- (as I call it) billet test. It is where the numbers are and
great and original. I am sure that the teristas
will love it. I only wish I had it when I
not to tear through them.
wrote The Porloined Thought. After a very little
practice, this will become
I will surly write it up as soon as I am
second nature to you.
settled down. I stopped writing for a while.
The SideShow can be used
close-up in a living room or
I expect to be called for a lecture tour of on stage for a large
Europe. I will mention the Jagged Edge. After audience. It is compact and
I return I will publish a book on the Jagged
Edge. plays very big. A performer
can get 20 minutes of solid
entertainment out of this
simple move. All with a
single piece of paper and a
little showmanship.

A letter from Ai Mann about the

SideShow. Enjoy.