Lorayne's
Buck
 A borrowed dollar bill is folded and placed in an envelope and
laid out in a row with three other envelopes.
The mentalist turns his back and the spectator
freely moves the envelopes about. Under these
conditions, with his back turned, the mentalist
eliminates all of the other envelopes leaving
the one envelope with the borrowed bill. WITH
HIS BACK STILL TURNED, he is then able to reveal
the serial number on the bill!
BACKGROUND:
The title should tell you that the original
effect came from a Harry Lorayne book. In the
original you simply memorized the number on
the bill as it was handed to you. This is all
good and well for the master of memory, but
for us mere mortals, it is at times difficult.
So I added a switch, and a variation on the
location. The effect always garners talk, and
can be a real reputation maker for the table
hopper.
HOW:
You will need a stack of pay (coin envelopes)
a rubber band and a dollar bill. Cut the flap
off one of the envelopes, or tuck it inside
itself, place it upon the stack of envelopes,
their flaps should be out. Put a rubber band
around the stack. The flap of the second envelope
should look like the flap of the first. Turn
the stack over and write the serial number of
the bill in small writing upon the face towards
the bottom of the envelope. Turn the stack back
over, fold the bill into quarters with the serial
number inside. Place it into the second envelope.
Your all set.
ROUTINE:
Ask to borrow a $1 bill and have lender fold
it so green side is out. Have him fold it in
half again the other way. Watch his eyes, if
he looks at the side with the number upon it,
all you have to do is borrow two more bills
from other people and have them folded the same
way, mix them up and have one selected.. Place
the bill in the top envelope, point face of
envelope towards you as you grab the flap of
the second envelope and pull it out of the stack.
It should look as if you simply removed the
envelope you put the bill in, but in reality
you have switched their bill for your's. Have
them seal and sign their name on that envelope
as you remove three more empty envelopes from
your stack.. Hand these to the spectator, have
him mix them up and lay them out on the table
in front of him. You are on the other side of
the table facing him. (Remember as you face
the spectator that his right is your left and
vice verse!)
Ask if
he would like to change the position of the
envelopes. When he is satisfied, note the position
of the signed envelope. In your mind call the
envelopes 1 - 4 from your left to your right!
Note if the envelope is in an even or odd position.
This is important because after the next move
if the envelope is in an odd position it can
not be in the 1st position and if it is in an
even position it can not be in the 4th position.
Explain
that you are going to turn your back and each
time you say switch, he is to switch his envelope
with an envelope adjacent to it. If the envelope
is on the end he can only switch it with the
only envelope next to it. Be sure he understands
the instructions because your back will be turned.
Turn your back and have him switch five times.
Keep track by pressing your fingers against
your leg each time you say switch. This will
stop you from forgetting how many times you
have said switch. You must now revert back to
the original position of the envelope. If it
was in an odd position you know the envelope
is not in the first position. This is the position
to the spectators far right, also your right
now since your back is turned. Tell him to remove
the envelope on his far right as you feel it
is not the envelope with the bill in it. If
the envelope was originally in an even position
have him remove the envelope on his far left.
(even and left both have an e)
Ask him
to now switch the envelope one more time. This
will now bring the envelope to the center. Ask
him to think of any number from one to five
and switch it that many times. When he is done
have him switch it that many times again. It
will still be in the middle. Have him remove
the other two envelopes. You have been successful
in keeping track of his bill.
Keeping
your back turned have him remove the bill and
look at the serial number. You can tell him
what it is because it is written on the back
of the stack you are holding.
By the
way, if you are not surrounded, you will have
plenty of time to remove the spectators bill
from your stack of envelopes, note the number
on the envelope above the other number on the
bottom envelope, re-fold it and place it in
the second envelope for your next performance
while you are giving instructions and he is
switching the envelopes around.
In thoughts
Banachek
1998 & 1999 APCA
Campus Performer of the Year
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