Fortuneteller's Book of Days

Type: Close Up, Walk around, parlor

Skill Level:

Retail Price: $20

Effect: This comes with a professional routine by Paul Green. The performer displays the Fortuneteller's Book of Days containing 366 short paragraphs, one written for each day of the year, which profiles an individual born on that day. In addition, there is a different playing card for each day.

A spectator is allowed to choose a card, which is not revealed. The spectator reads the profile that appears on his or her birth date, and amazingly, it seems to match the individual personality quite closely. Finally, the spectator announces his "Lucky Card". When his selection is revealed - it matches!

Performance Time: About five minutes


Angles:

Quality: Fortuneteller's Book of Days includes a beautifully hardbound, pocket-sized book with gold-leaf decorations on the cover and spine, plus Paul Green's full professional routine. (supply your own deck of cards).

Dr. Mitch: This is a well made prop. The book itself just "LOOKS" magical or like an antique zodiacal guide.The instructions are clearly written out and the "profiles" in the book will have most normal people saying "yep, that's me." A simple cross-cut force is all that's needed and the act of having the person look up their birthday and then read the paragraph is ample distraction for that force to work. An absolute beginner can pick up this book and make predictions like a pro.

Mike Maione: I agree with most of what Mitch says, but I wouldn't buy it. First off, it just doesn't seem to play very strong to me. Maybe presented in the proper context it plays well, but having seen it presented by competent performers several times, I was left with a "so what" feeling. Another thing I don't like is the premise. When I think of fortune telling, I think of palm reading, crystal balls, horoscopes and Tarot cards. I can accept the notion of a fortuneteller's book, but I don't get the connection with a deck of regular playing cards. If the trick called for Tarot cards instead I might enjoy it more. I also have trouble with the gimmicked book. In this kind of effect, I want to be able to give out the book. However, if you give the spectators more than a casual glance through this book, expect the them to figure out the gimmick. Consequently, if you work with other than simpletons, you'll have to collect back your book and quickly move onto another book.

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