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The Bids by Philip Smith

Created by: Philip Smith

The Bids is a mentalism trick where a spectator's freely chosen card mysteriously aligns with a prediction, creating a powerful moment of apparent mind-reading. This close-up or parlour effect is designed to be smooth, elegant, and visually convincing, requiring no traditional peek wallet. It's perfect for performers who want a streamlined, impactful method for revealing a chosen card.

Key features

  • No peek wallet required—uses an innovative method

  • Highly visual and convincing

  • Works well in close-up or parlour settings

  • Includes scripting and premise advice for stronger performances

Pros

  • Elegant and streamlined method

  • Strong audience impact

  • Versatile for different performance settings

  • Includes performance theory to enhance the effect

Cons

  • May require practice to perfect the timing and presentation

  • Not suitable for large stage performances

Effect

The Bids is a mentalism effect where a spectator freely selects a card, and the performer reveals that their choice perfectly matches a prediction made earlier. The method is streamlined and elegant, making it appear as though the performer has genuine insight into the spectator's thoughts.

Full Details

The Bids is a peak system that eliminates the need for traditional peek wallets or complex setups. It allows the performer to know a spectator's chosen card with minimal handling, making it highly deceptive. The method is refined to be as smooth and natural as possible, ensuring the audience never suspects any sleight of hand.

Who Should Consider the Trick

This trick is ideal for mentalists and magicians who want a clean, direct method for revealing a spectator's card choice. It works well in both close-up and stage settings. Performers who appreciate subtlety and psychological methods will find The Bids particularly valuable.

Information on How Difficult It Is to Perform

The Bids is designed to be straightforward, with no advanced sleight of hand required. The method relies more on presentation and timing than technical skill, making it accessible to performers of varying experience levels. However, proper scripting and audience management are key to maximizing its impact.

What Magicians Say

Steve Faulkner from RealMagicReview describes The Bids as "so elegant" and praises its streamlined approach, saying it's "like a piece of glass on a beach until it's streamlined and as simple as can be." He highlights how the method removes unnecessary complexity while maintaining strong visual impact. Faulkner also notes that the trick is highly deceptive, fooling even experienced magicians.

What people are saying about The Bids

Steve Faulkner says...

The Bids is so elegant—it's like a piece of glass on a beach, streamlined and simple. It takes something visually convincing and makes it effortless to perform.

Review videos