However, he has inspired me to finally share something I've been meaning to for a long time now. This is a lie-detector presentation I've used for lay audiences for a while now and it always gets great reactions. Try it out and see what you think.
This is a three-part lie detector routine using a deck of cards. Each level builds to the next, seemingly becoming harder as it goes.
Method
This is dead easy and you're going to hate it, I promise you. Use a stack or a force. I prefer Si Stebbins, but do what's comfortable to you. The force option is more or less if you get cornered and want to do an impromptu version. The stack is a much cleaner method.
Presentation
You explain to your helper that you're going to try to figure out their tell and use that to figure out when they lie. Tell them for the first part that they need to answer "no" to every question you ask. In order to more accurately find the tell, you need to get a baseline to see what they look like when they lie and when they tell the truth. For this, you ask them questions that you already know the answer to and have them answer "no." I ask questions with obvious answers like "Are we currently on the planet Mars?" or "Are you currently barefoot?"
After three or four of each question, you say you think you have their tell and have them select a card, showing it around and holding onto it. You ask them questions like "Is it a red card?" "Is it a black card?" and narrow it down by figuring out the lie on each step. I usually start with the color, then the suit, then face/number, then odd/even, then naming the selection.
For the next step, you say you won't have them say a word and instead you'll pick up on subtle muscle cues. Have them take a new card, show it around as before, and extend a hand out, palm up. Place your fingertips on theirs and slowly recite the suits and the values, naming the selection at the end.
For the final step, you say you won't have them say anything and you won't touch them. Have them select a card but this time show it to no one and return it to the deck. They give it a quick shuffle as your back is turned. You face them, look deep into their eyes, and recite the suits and values again. Look through the deck, remove their card, and place it in their hands. They name their card, and it's the one in their hands.
Notes
First of all, I know that presentation is very bare-bones and it kinda looks shitty and hard to follow as I read it over again. Obviously you'll need to flesh it out more as you perform it. The main thing to take away is that in the first stage, they say no to everything you ask. The second stage is nonverbal, pseudo-muscle reading. The third stage is no speaking and no contact. I think this helps with one of the things Andy takes issue with: The spectator remembering if they should lie or tell the truth. All they need to do is say one word for one section of the whole thing, and they're usually pretty good at remembering that.
In the first two stages, I have the person show their card to anyone else present and also hold onto it while I question them. Not only does this keep the other spectators involved in the process, it prevents that small chance of getting a smart ass who will lie about what their card is. In the third stage, I like to keep their selection secret from everyone to build suspense. What I will usually do is have them pinch the card with their thumb face down, then I'll raise their hand so the back of the card is in front of their face. They can't see it but the rest of the audience can. When they name their card, the reaction of the other audience members is enough to cue them to look at it.
I will vary how easily I pick up on their lies. Sometimes I'll repeat the choices a few times before settling on the lie, other times I'll pick it up immediately. I don't know if "realism" is the best word for this, but I do think it helps get better reactions.
If using a stack, you can have the spectator shuffle the deck in the third stage after you get your peek and know their card. This will obviously destroy the stack and make the deck examinable. If you want to keep the stack intact for future performance, I just take their card back and casually cut the deck few times as I go through the theatrics for the third stage. I will say that in all the times I've performed this, I've never had someone ask to look at the deck after, but your mileage may vary.
I know that most people will probably dismiss this as a shitty trick, which it kinda is at least as far as the method goes. It still gets great reactions every time I perform it though, which I guess just goes to show that, to an extent, the method doesn't matter to laymen. I would love it if someone would actually try this and let me know how it goes for them.
Good luck.
- Andster
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