Black Hat by Romanos

Romanos, The Greek TV mentalist, is back with another offering of his unique thoughts and ideas.

In Black Hat, several routines are described that give the appearance of incredible and varied psychic skills, created through his understanding and application of dual reality and unique, practical mentalism methods. 

This is a collection of FIVE effects, each one tried, tested and perfected in real performance environments, live and on film.

 

Full contents are below:

 

1. A Life Changing Experience: 

In this routine, the mentalist seemingly convinces the spectator that he has been reading the memories of a volunteer, which have never been written down or mentioned before. Afterwards he erases the memory, plants new thoughts and convinces him to change his life!

 

2. The R-Book Test:

The performer shows the audience a book. He then asks for two volunteers to join him on stage.

He then hands a business card to spectator No1 and asks him to freely slide it anywhere in the book and open it at that page. He is then instructed to remember the first word on the page. The business card is removed and handed to spectator No2 who is asked to also slide it back in the book in a different page.

Now the performer opens the book at the freely selected page and says:

“Now in a way, you will have the chance to experience how it feels to be a mind reader!"

Look at those random words and notice how some letters will stand out for you... Now focus on those letters and create a new word! That’s right! Trust your instinct, because this word that you will create is the one that we will use! No matter how strange this seems, this is what I want you to do... “

At this point the two spectators are placed one opposite the other and performer says:

“As you look into each other’s eyes right now, I want you (spectator No1) to think of your randomly selected word...and I want you (spectator No2) to say the one you created out loud on the count of three....so...

.....1......2.....3..... “

At this point spectator No2 shouts the word he created in his mind, which matches the word spectator No1 was thinking!

 

3. The Invisible Touch

(Note from Dee: This idea is absolutely BRILLIANT!!! I'll definitely be using it!)

A spectator joins the performer on stage and is asked to sit on a chair.

"Have you ever seen anyone getting hypnotized before?
You know, in the past they used to ask a person to stare at a pocket watch and somehow they would make him/ her get into a hypnotic trance.

So we’ll do something similar. It will seem strange but don't worry. Just follow my instructions".

The performer puts a pocket watch in the spectator’s hands. He puts his hand on his/her shoulder leans over him/her and says:

"So stare at the watch, relax .... And when this hand.... touches YOU, just STAND UP!"

The performer goes a few feet away behind extends his hand, pretends to tap the air and at that point the spectator stands up.

  

4. A Mysterious Man

The performer looks at the audience and says:

“I would like to share with you a real story.
In New York (2006), a patient visited her psychiatrist.
After spending a few minutes chatting, she decides to confess the doctor about a strange dream she has been frequently seeing...

It’s not a nightmare.... but it’s not a pleasant dream either... She said she dreamt of a man every night.
A man she has never seen...
As she mentioned he speaks to her. On many occasions he even gives her advice.

She then took a piece of paper, borrowed a pen and drew the face of this man.

The psychiatrist did not pay much attention to the story.
He told her there is nothing to worry about and continued with the session...the portrait of that strange man lay, forgotten, on the doctor’s desk for a few days...till the day that another patient recognized that face from a dream.... and another...and another.... Since 2006, over 2000 people have reported dreaming of this strange man!”

A spectator is then asked to join the performer, sit on a chair and close his eyes. At this moment the performer displays a few cards with portraits of different men and asks the members of the audience to identify which is the one that really shows the face of the strange man.

After a few moments the performer takes the correct card, shows it to the audience and then places it in the hands of the volunteer (with the face of the card facing the audience).

The performer then asks him to open his eyes and says:

“Ok my friend, I would like to test your memory now.
But first, look at this card and tell me if you can see through

the paper. Can you?”

Spectator: “No”

Performer: “ok, so you don’t know what is on the other side of the paper right? You cannot see if there is anything drawn or printed on the other side?

Spectator: “No”

Performer: “Fantastic, so now close your eyes again....On this card there is a portrait of a man... as you keep your eyes closed, I want you to feel exactly how it feels when you dream........feel how your dreams felt when you were a child where the colors where brighter and the shapes were clear... get into a dream you can maybe recall from your childhood...

... and in this dream you will see that exact face that was on this paper in flesh and blood! Please describe it for me...”

Spectator: “I can see a face.... with long hair.... wearing glasses....a mustache and a small beard ...”

Of course the spectator’s description matches exactly the portrait of the strange man.

 

5. Phobia

A spectator is asked to think of a phobia that she might be experiencing. She does so, and writes it on a piece of paper. Then the performer explains that he will try and do something that looks like mind reading in order to figure out her phobia. It is not exactly mind reading because he can only perceive some elements of the phobia.

So he asks the participant to extend her hands, keeping the palms facing each other. He then puts his closed fist between the spectator’s hands and says:

“Ok, I can feel danger and I can also hear a noise that sounds very familiar...the only thing that comes into my mind is that it is the noise of an airplane.... so are you afraid of airplanes?”

The spectator of course agrees!

Now, the second and most interesting part of this routine starts and the performer confesses having a phobia as well. He takes a piece of paper writes down a word, folds it and puts it in plain view.

He then explains that it is the spectator’s turn to do the same process. The performer also explains that she should remain open minded, very focused and that she will actually feel some elements of the phobia that will possibly drive her to a conclusion. They won’t feel or sense the phobia itself, but their mind and body will perceive something acutely related to its environment.

So the process starts, the performer extends his hands and says:

“Now gently bring your hand between my hands.... and as you do so.... slowly and gently...close your fist.... and as you do so.... you will instantly feel an element that will make you understand what I am the most afraid of....so tell me what it is....”

At this moment, the spectator shouts the word: “Spider!”

The performer smiles, takes the piece of paper that was in full view during the entire routine, unfolds it and shows that the word written was the word spider!