The trick goes this way:
Think of a number between 5-10, then the magician says the correct number you are thinking of!

What is this trick called? Very new to mental magic :)

Thought it should be 1-10? Maybe it works for 5-10 too...

I don't remember there is actually a name for this.

I don't think there is a name for this effect - at least not that I am aware of.

Maybe it would be slightly more helpful if we point him to the direction of where he can find such.

So...You can find this in "Psychological Subtleties" by Banachek.

Try this on 100 people and there is at least 1 time you get it right. And then the person will be freak out by it.

If you tried 100 times and none of it hits, then change the number and try again.

Hope it helps.

Larry

It's amazing how people just don't research anymore. Just look around for mental effects and so on and you will soon hit upon the psychological observation that most people, when asked to choose an odd number between 1-10 will pick 7.

Is this actually proven or just some smoke in the ether? I've tried it and for me personally I haven't observed any preference in people's choices for 7.


Tell you what, here's an effect that is easy to do and performed right will shock just as much:

Ask someone to pick any number from 1-10. Allow them to change their mind. Then remove a slip of paper that you've stuck under your watchstrap. Give it to the person to open. Printed on the paper is the number they were thinking of.

Now go research and you'll see what the method is. Or better yet, research on some principles and come up with your own method for it. Good luck!

Tried too. Lots of people choosing lots of different number other than 7.

Strange...

Normally, this method is incorporate into routines so it won't be just a stand alone effect. Maybe you could say something like tuning into the same frequency as your audience, and then try this psychological force, finally proceed to the actual routine that you will be performing. So in any case, if the you got it wrong, you still have a solid routine to back you up.

An additional thing would be, it make the whole demonstration look real.

I've experienced that as well... 7 doesn't stand out as a more common choice.

I read someone explaining on the magic cafe forum boards that for Asians, 7 isn't a very significant number. He went on to explain that for him, 8 appears far more often.

Hmm. Why don't we all do a survey? I'll see if I can make one, and then everyone forwards it to as many people as possible. We collect the data and then we can analyze the results. I bet in Singapore we are more mentally prone to choosing certain numbers over others - its just a matter of finding it out.

I guess Singaporean are more to digits. Especially have 4D to motivate us to think of numbers. =)

8 will be lucky number to us, since it means good luck to chinese.

I tried it on both of my parents once , they both evetually said 7 ( maybe its just them ) . For me personally , I would not used this method as it is to risky even if using there would be backup incase it fails

P.s.

8 indeed is a good number to all Singaporean while foreign like 7 ( Lucky 7 )

Check out Ben Harris' Silent Running! It will take this number guessing "trick" to a different level!!

It's a great book and worth the read! Enjoy!

Haha, thanks.

Will go and find then have a look at it. =)

Btw, any example on how it's different?

I recommend that you should have a few 'outs' if you do this psychological test in street/close-up/stage magic as it may not work on different spectators.

i agree that singaporean will pick 8 ... because 8 is chinses flavourite number