Derren Brown ?

its not magnets... in fact I can't recall any trick ever being done with magnets despite the fact that joe public often offer it up as the explanation (and that includes Copperfields flying which was most definitly not electromagnets)


Losander table is a rod running from the fingertip
if you ever watch it again look at Derrens right hand all the way through the trick


same principle as the all time classic "Zombie Ball"

my brother did a 3 month course with Richard Bandler himself

its definitely VERY powerful when used correctly

He books a ticket and goes to the airport.

Winch and rope - how else? - see http://www.bambinidisatana.com/illusionismo/copper... The bit in the glass box is pretty clever

Its possible, I suppose, but I picked up on the keywords during his speech and correctly guessed that the person would draw a yacht even before they started drawing.

but that's the whole point... he gives it all that mentalist, psychology, suggestion stuff and that's what people look for and believe. That in itself is one huge piece of misdirection that characterises his work. He is primarily just another magician using regular tricks and. A big stage show like this that tours the country would only ever rely on techniques that are 100% cast iron and repeatable.

Yes not to detract from him at all - I still find it to be a pretty amazing spectacle even knowing how it's done.

I have a friend who does amazing sleight of hand tricks with coins and cards and it is completely jaw dropping even though I know exactly how he does it

My old housemate starred on one of his shows - i.e the whole show was Derren and my mate. It was one of these 'better yourself' series and had Doctor Who in one episode... cant remember name. I do remember the task of revealing certain facts about my mate and his whereabouts almost every day in the run-up to the show. End result was my mate was 'cured' of his social anxiety and had a new-found confidence.. I still think it's bks and explained to him that he always had it in him and seemingly needed a hocus pocus man to convince him of that... either way, my mate reckons his life changed from that one TV show and related shenanigans.

I saw Derren Brown last year and I actually went on stage for the table trick. It works by the same way that ouija boards function. Its called idiomotors. If you saw his seance program he explained how it worked to all the participants, they just forgot mainly because they were scared stless. I had my hands on the table when it started moving and I am sure the catalyst was when he put a bloke next to me (with incredibly sweaty hands) as it started moving almost straight away. He even fell over when it picked up speed as it moved across the stage.

If you read his book 'Trick of the Mind' he almost goes as far to say he's not sure he believes in NLP either. I found it a very interesting read although has made me even more sceptical then I was. The techniques used to improve your memory would be fantastic if I could actually remember how to use them.....

I am certainly not an expert on all the things he does, I do think he is a great performer and even if I knew how he did all of his tricks I would still pay to see him.

I am also glad to see that I am not the only one who had noticed the head thing. I too am convinced he does it to help him in his act.

Thanks

ok... the box is a well known prop or effect called the Malloy master prediction chest
its very well made, complicated and very expensive
the one Derren Brown used isn't even modified or made specially to order. Its looks just like the regular chest available on the Molly website.

a stangehand prepares the scroll in real time backstage as all the stuff is revealed by the audience throughout the show

the scroll when finished gets inserted or installed by the stagehand into the table that the malloy chest sits on
the chest only works in conjunction with the table/stand (like many many other illusions !)
I think the table is brought on stage when he faints.. doesnt really matter that much to be honest

the chest is lowered and brought onto the table
As it engages down onto the table a mechanism injects the scroll from the table (in the leg of the table) through a flap up into the chest and into the 'sphagetti jar'. These props are well made.. trust me. You could inspect the chest and you wouldn't spot any 'trap doors' underneath.

So the scroll gets from backstage into the chest, via the table. Very clever and you'd never think of it. Tables are for putting things on and chests only open at the lid. WRONG ! See how magic tricks so often rely on the automatic and everyday suppositions of the audience. Never take anything for granted or assume convention.

the performer opens chest and voila.... inside is the scroll with all the predictions.


as for the girl at the end, read my earlier post
she is picked out before the start of the show
her clothes are noted and these are written onto the end of the scroll (so the scroll can be finished before the "top psychic" routine with her starts)

Brown only pretends to write a number prediction behind his back on that piece of paper. Then he asks the specific girl who has been singled out earlier for a number and whatever she calls, he adds 3 then traces that number out onto the piece of paper through the envelope when convenient and with his left ahnd dropped and relaxed and with the palm and envelope most likely turned away from the audience. This is a well known magic prop, fingernail wirting or the swami gimmick. He writes the number afterwards whilst its in the envelope. Imagine holding a playing card with all your fingertips but then with your forefinger you move your nail on the back of it. The pressure of the nail applies ink or carbon onto the piece of paper via the trick envelope. Brown even apologises beforehand for his bad handwriting so that the audience is not alarmed or puzzled when they see his terrible writing (its not easy writing on something with a nail whilst you hold the item with the same hand). He then asks 2 other audience member sfor 2 numbers just to make the selection process seem authentic. he then opens the card and voila, the number is closest to hers and her clothes and appearance and height etc.. are already safely written down on teh scroll by the stagehand.