Here’s a little secret for anyone starting out learning mind reading. A magicians change bag can be one of the best tools a mentalist can add to their working kit.

HANG ON.. For mentalists… Isn’t that something for kids shows?

If you already use a change bag, you will understand just how useful they can be for your show offering an easy and effective method for forcing, predictions and many more psychological tricks such as those performed by Derren Brown.  If you don’t use one, or if you think your bag may need updating, then read on as I tip you off, to the best change bags on the market.

The traditional use:

1) Show the change bag empty. Then put an item inside, turn it inside out and the item has totally vanished!
2) Now, turn the bag inside out so you can show it empty, just before you reach into the  change bag and the item re-appears!

Now for Mentalists…

1) Write a batch of numbers on bit’s of paper and throw them into the magicians change bag

2) Now fill the second section with bit’s of paper that all have the same number on them.
You now have a great self working force device. You spectator can examine the paper to see they are all different, yet when they reach in to choose one, they can only come out with the number YOU want them to pick.

I’m sure you can think of a million different way’s you can use this force in your routines.

 Or this…

Have audience members write a word on a bit of paper and put them in the bag.

Invite another audience member to reach in and choose one of the contributions. (They can only choose the one you want them to select) You then go on to reveal a prediction that matches their selection.

The problem with change bags!

Lets face it, they look corny for mentalists. As they have been traditionally designed for kids magic shows, they tend to be finished in bright colours and scream PROP at the top of their voices.

The good news is that there is now a range that look professional and would fit in with the corporate context that many mentalists like to present their work in.

Bags that don’t look like a clown owns them:

There are a great many magicians change bags to choose from, and they really range in quality and price. We have picked a few of the best that tend to be chosen most by professional entertainers.

 

Do you use a change bag for mentalism? If so, please let us know about it and any tips you would like to share, in the comments section below.