NAMES is a fun and engaging routine suitable for stage, parlor, and even close-up! Imagine this: a deck of cards is given to a member of the audience to shuffle thoroughly and then left in full view on a table on stage. A member of the audience is randomly chosen with the throw of a paper ball, and then the participant will throw another four paper balls to choose four random people. The participant will now deal a number of cards on the table from the shuffled deck, corresponding to the number of letters in the names of the four people on stage, including their own name. During this process, the participant will be able to mix the cards again, everything will be under their control, and the mentalist will never touch the deck. After this procedure, one card will emerge, and when all the participants on stage open the paper balls they have held throughout the performance, they will find a message predicting the randomly chosen card! This routine uses a well-known method very well disguised, and the use of the participants’ names to arrive at a specific card will make this routine much more interesting and engaging. As always, Luca Volpe offers you simple routines that use minimal props (in this case, you can even borrow the deck of cards!) and have a great and visual impact on stage. In the book, there is also a brainstorming session with five examples of how to use small props to create visual routines on stage. In the brainstorming session, you will find many ideas that are worth the price of the book alone!
