Final Destination (Michael O'Brien) by Michael O'Brien

Created by: Michael O'Brien

Final Destination by Michael O'Brien is a confabulation-style mentalism trick suitable for walk-around performances. It involves a spectator choosing an airline from a set of boarding pass-like cards and a destination from a digital postcard app on the performer's mobile phone. The trick culminates in the revelation that the performer had predicted the chosen airline and destination from the start. This trick is ideal for performers who enjoy mentalism and don't mind incorporating their mobile phone into their act.

Key features

Confabulation-style mentalism trick
Uses boarding pass-like cards and a mobile phone app
Suitable for walk-around performances
Involves spectator participation
iOS and Android compatible (with some limitations)

Pros

Engaging and interactive for spectators
Portable and easy to carry
Simple premise that's easy to understand
Can be performed with minimal setup

Cons

Requires a mobile phone, which may not appeal to all performers
Limited to specific airlines and destinations in the routine
Not all mobile phones may be compatible

Effect

Final Destination by Michael O'Brien is a mentalism effect that plays on the theme of travel and prediction. A spectator freely selects an airline from a set of boarding pass-style cards. Another spectator then uses the magician’s phone to scroll through digital postcards of destinations, stopping randomly on one. The magician reveals that they predicted both the chosen airline and the exact travel route (e.g., "Delta flight from Cairo to Paris") from the start. The effect combines free choices with a clean, impossible prediction.

Full Details

The trick includes:

A set of boarding pass-style cards (resembling different airlines).
A digital postcard system (accessed via the magician’s phone).
A method to reveal the prediction seamlessly.

No additional apps or purchases are required—the digital component works with most iOS and Android devices. The props are compact, making Final Destination suitable for walk-around or close-up performances.

Who Should Consider the Trick

Final Destination is ideal for:

Mentalism performers who enjoy confabulation (combining free choices into a cohesive prediction).
Walk-around magicians needing quick, interactive routines.
Those comfortable using their phone as part of the performance (the reveal relies on a mobile device).

If you prefer self-working tricks with minimal sleight of hand, this fits well. However, if you avoid phone-based magic or need 100% examinable props, this may not be the best fit.

Difficulty

Final Destination is easy to perform. The method is straightforward, with no complex sleights or resetting required. The challenge lies in presentation—making the free choices feel organic and the prediction moment impactful.

What Magicians Say

Mark T from Saturn Magic notes:

"A nice little presentation... good for walk-around mentalism."
He highlights the clean prediction method but cautions that the phone dependency may not suit all performers.
The routine is repeatable with different outcomes, though the airline selection is fixed (e.g., "Delta" will always be the magician’s "favorite").

Final Destination is praised for its simplicity and visual appeal, though some magicians may prefer more physically examinable props.

For performers seeking a modern, tech-assisted mentalism piece with a travel theme, Final Destination offers a practical and engaging option.

What people are saying about Final Destination (Michael O'Brien)

Mark T from Saturn Magic says...

Final Destination from Michael O'Brien is an effect where it's a confabulation I suppose... if you do walk around mentalism this could be a good little thing that you can do it's got a very simple premise it's easy to understand.