Count the buttons - Derren Brown

AgeGap

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PM me if you think you know how the trick works. I have an idea but I am sure there is a simpler way.
 
There are simpler ways to do most magic tricks.If you know a way why do you need any PMs?

Please don't let this become another skipjack thread!
 
Skippyjack: The buttons and the audience were added after the show.

:o
 
How about you describe the trick in detail first? I remember seeing it but I can't remember the exact protocol. I do remember it involving him adding buttons or altering his prediction 1/2 way though or something.
 
Only going on memory myself, can't find it on youtube. PMs between myself and another poster, I won't say who it is, have come up with a couple of very low tech ways to do it. I don't think this will become a long thread cos I am open to new ideas and am willing to bow to others better ideas and knowledge.
 
Why do you want to know how to do it? Ar eyou a national touring stage magician,without any ideas of his own that wants to copy others.
 
Because I have a love of magic, I have copies of the jinx from late 30s and early 40s and these have a lot of mentalism in them plus a fair amount of other resources
I perform magic tricks for family and friends. I was interested in this trick cos it was set up as a photographic memory trial but i think it could be performed using a magical technique. I have discussed this with one other member.
Also as far as magic is concerned I don't think I have had any original ideas, although I have adopted ideas and slightly changed them. If you have a gripe with any of my comments you should say exactly what the gripe is. The above post just makes you look mean spirited and petty. I am not about to disclose any secrets openly on the boards. Although I am not a member of any magical society I have learned how a whole raft of tricks are perfomed. That is me, that is where I am coming from.If you would like to do a little self disclosure all well and good.

Love and light,
AgeGap
 
I believe Azrael 5 said that because of an incident where some famous magician (I prefer not to mention names in public), took Azrael's idea and then made it seem like his own.

Two years of hard work, all went down the drain. And for what? A stupid Mindfreak show?

Oops.
 
DJM said:
I believe Azrael 5 said that because of an incident where some famous magician (I prefer not to mention names in public), took Azrael's idea and then made it seem like his own.
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That used to happen to me a lot. The difference was that I usually found out they'd taken my idea years before I had the idea.
 
Azrael 5 said:
DJM I trusted you not to break a confidence.Seems I was wrong........
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Well, it was a lousy idea anyway. A little girl becoming a 20 year old? Come on, you can think of better effects than that!

No wonder Criss stole it from you. ;)
 
DJM said:
Well, it was a lousy idea anyway. A little girl becoming a 20 year old?
Click to expand...

Unfortunately that reminded me of an old joke. Don't remember the whole thing, but with a slight change the punchline would be "really your honor, I was going to change her into a 20 year old".
 
If you can't remember the exact protocol then surelyyour guesses are not worth much?

Obviously he could use simple technology like scales or even something complex like a biological cell counter attached to an overhead camera! In which case the change of prediction I seem to remember would be just for show.

Or if the change is necessary then it occured to me when I saw it that maybe an even distribution of coloured buttons would enable you to just count the red ones and get close then then make a minor adjustment later if required. But I can't find it on YouTube nor remember it all that well. I do remember being impressed with it.
 
Guys, didn't you pay attention? Derren himself exposes the secret of this effect.

It's all about the slap.
 
Nice one Bob - I couldn't find that myself for some reason.

I don't get sound at work but from a brief look the estimate + adjustment would seem to be an option. The estimate could be based on a count of the number of buttons of one colour or just the number of handfuls. Obviously scales under the bowl would be foolproof too. During the counting he gets plenty of time to count them and work out the adjustment. Maybe if you use largish buttons and always pick a woman the number of buttons in a handful doesn't vary by more than 1 or 2?
 
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