Influence U (International Edition) - Becker and Earle

Breakthrough Close-Up Mentalism

Effect

Imagine sitting at a restaurant table with a group of people, saying, "Before you decide it's impossible for words alone to influence your choices, consider why corporations spend 26 billion dollars a year in product and brand advertising."

"A friend in the ad business, John Shrell, agreed to share a few insider tips to show how it works," you continue, "With the condition that he be allowed to verify my success. So when we finish, we'll have to make a phone call to satisfy him. He owes me lunch at (a local fine restaurant) if I show him I've learned enough. Here's his toll-free number." You write it on a paper napkin of a packet of Sweet'n'Low and toss it on the table in full view.

Nearby items are quickly grouped in the center of the table - a salt shaker, a spoon, a glass, a packet of Equal, a napkin - the normal things found on most restaurant tables. Then you continue, "All but one item will be eliminated in the fairest way possible."

Here's how it's done," you explain, "Everyone will take turns pulling two items slightly away from the others. One of them will be eliminated and the other will be returned to the center. But first, I'll attempt to influence your decision by using marketing terms. Just keep in mind, the final choice will always be yours."

As each pair of items is selected, you describe them with advertising hyperbole and 'buzz words', "You are deciding between a clean, shiny spoon and a sensible, conventional pepper shaker," or "You're evaluating the fragile shaker full of sweet, delicious sugar and a sturdy cup for a man-sized serving of robust coffee."

One by one the participants around the table cull the assortment of items until only one remains, for example, the napkin. "I'm surprised," you admit, "how dependable certain words are for influencing choices."

"But don't take my word for it," you continue, "Let's call John to verify." Offer your cell phone to the person holding the number you wrote earlier. "Go ahead, make the call. Let John know he owes me lunch." A voice mail message answers the call on John's line; he apologizes for being unavailable to take the call, and asks the caller to leave a 30-second message - especially if the caller is holding the thought of a napkin!

Influence U is small enough for your shirt pocket and always ready to go. All you need is a cell phone (required), a restaurant, coffee shop, or diner - and someone you want to blow away.

• No forces
• No gimmicks
• No sleights
• No electronics (well, your ungimmicked cell phone)
• No memorization
• No set-up
• No assistants or stooges
• No special conditions.

No matter which item they choose, John names if specifically!

This is not a P.A.T.E.O. force. We'd be ashamed to sell something like that for this price. Influence U (International Edition) is not any other kind of force, either. Period. It's a free selection. John Shrell will name almost anything normally found on a table at the diner.

For a single person (or when not actually at a restaurant) you could just as easily say, "Imagine you've just sat down at a booth in a coffee shop. Let your eyes roam over the things on the table - does the glass have dried water spots on it? Are the fork's tines bent? Is the menu appetizing? Look at other things; the salt shaker, the teaspoon, the napkin... Now, imagine me reaching into your imagination and removing one of the things you've visualized. Which one did I take?"

Remember, your 'back story' is that you are going to influence their choice, to an item you already have a wager on.

Note: Performance involves making an International Call to the U.S. You will be responsible for any access charges or fees incurred. All responses are in English only!

Comes complete with everything you need to pull off this amazing feat of mentalism!