Insight by TCC Magic and Chen Yang

Effect

Insight by TCC Magic is a mentalism prop that allows a performer to reveal a spectator's chosen word from a book, magazine, or newspaper. The routine involves a Chinese coin with a small square hole. The spectator freely selects a page and moves the coin around, stopping at any point. When they look through the hole, they see a specific word—one that the magician has already predicted. The effect creates the illusion of mind reading, as the performer appears to know the exact word the spectator has "randomly" selected.

Full Details

Insight is based on the "wordo" principle, a classic mentalism technique used in various forms by magicians like Jim Sherman, Bruce Elliott, and Banachek. The prop consists of a Chinese coin with a square hole, measuring about 4 cm in diameter with a 6 mm hole. The coin is made of zinc alloy with an aged bronze finish, giving it a traditional and mystical appearance.

The coin can be activated for use but is not examinable afterward. Performers must prepare the word they want to force in advance, ensuring the font and paper type match the book being used. The small hole size limits word selection to very short words (typically three to four letters in English) or numbers.

Who Should Consider the Trick

• Mentalism Performers – Those who enjoy book tests, word predictions, or psychological magic.
• Magicians Looking for a Portable Prop – The coin is small and easy to carry, making it ideal for impromptu performances.
• Creatives Who Enjoy Storytelling – The coin’s design lends itself to mystical presentations, such as framing the hole as a "window into the spectator’s mind."

Information on How Difficult It Is to Perform

Insight is relatively easy to perform, as the coin does most of the work. The primary effort lies in the initial setup—selecting a word and ensuring the paper matches the book being used. There are no angle issues, and the reset is instant once prepared. However, changing the forced word requires additional setup time.

What Magicians Say

• Nique Tan appreciates the prop’s clever design but notes the small hole limits word selection. He says, "You can only really force really short words... three-letter words at most."
• EverythingMagicPro99 calls it "a fun, interesting prop that generates good results," praising its unique approach to book tests.
• Magic Orthodoxy highlights its portability and versatility, stating, "The coin does 100% of the work for you," but mentions the challenge of fitting longer English words in the small hole.

Overall, Insight is a well-made, creative tool for mentalism performers who want a fresh take on book tests, though its limitations in word length should be considered.