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Name Prediction by Reid Ferry

Created by: Reid Ferry

The 'Name Prediction' trick is a captivating piece of mentalism and close-up magic that leaves spectators in awe. The magician, Reid Ferry, performs this trick on the streets of Toronto, engaging passersby in a series of mind-reading feats. The routine begins with participants thinking of a man's name, which the magician then reveals through a phone call, seemingly predicting the name without any prior knowledge. This is followed by a card trick involving the Ten of Clubs, where the magician appears to magically switch a card with the participant's chosen card. The climax involves a picture influence effect, where the magician sends a picture of a cityscape to a participant's phone and then correctly guesses the name of a person important to them, emphasizing the participant's complete freedom in choosing the name. This trick combines psychological principles, suggestion, and audience participation to create a memorable and astonishing experience.

Key features

  • Combines mentalism and close-up magic for a unique performance

  • Uses psychological principles and suggestion to influence participant's choices

  • Engages audience participation and uses humor to build rapport

  • Includes a card trick segment for added variety

  • Emphasizes the participant's freedom of choice to enhance the effect's astonishment

Pros

  • Highly engaging and interactive with the audience

  • Uses a combination of mentalism and card magic for a varied performance

  • Emphasizes psychological influence, making the trick seem more impossible

  • Can be performed in a variety of settings, from street magic to close-up performances

Cons

  • May require a good understanding of psychological principles to perform effectively

  • The trick's success heavily relies on audience participation and reaction

  • Some segments, like the phone call prediction, may require setup or preparation

Effect

The Name Prediction trick creates the illusion that the magician can read minds or predict a participant's chosen name with impossible accuracy. In Reid Ferry's performance, he asks spectators to think of a man's name, then appears to reveal it through a phone call. Later, he uses a picture of buildings to influence a participant into thinking of a specific name, which he then correctly identifies. The effect is heightened by the participant's belief that their choice was completely free.

Full details

The trick involves multiple phases. First, Ferry asks a group to think of a man's name, then seemingly confirms one participant's choice through a phone call with a stranger. In another segment, he sends a picture of buildings to a participant's phone, then correctly guesses the name of a person important to them. The method relies on psychological influence and suggestion, making the participant believe their choice was entirely random.

Who should consider the trick

This trick is ideal for magicians who perform in social or street settings and enjoy interactive, psychological magic. It works well for performers who can engage an audience with humor and conversation. Those who appreciate tricks that appear completely free of force or setup will find this particularly strong.

Information on how difficult it is to perform

The trick requires strong audience management skills and confidence in psychological suggestion. While the method itself is not overly complex, the performance relies on smooth delivery, timing, and the ability to guide participants subtly. Magicians comfortable with improvisation and reading reactions will have an advantage.

What magicians say

Reid Ferry emphasizes the power of suggestion in his performance, stating, "I wanted to show you guys how easy it is to really influence people and get inside people's minds." His approach involves making participants feel they have complete freedom in their choices, which enhances the mystery. The reactions from spectators, such as "That's crazy!" and "It doesn't make sense!" highlight the trick's strong impact. Ferry's use of misdirection and humor keeps the audience engaged while reinforcing the illusion of impossibility.

What people are saying about Name Prediction

Reid Ferry says...

I give him the freest of all choices before you even thought of anything I sent him a picture and I wanted to show you guys how easy it is to really influence people and get inside people's minds.

Performance videos