#27. Time is a flat circle
a trick with a hook - inspired by the TV series True Detective
Hi guys, today I bring you a magic trick that is so fun to perform. It has some mystery, an artistic/philosophical feel, and it is very satisfying.
It also has a hook built-in, so you never know when you will perform it.
The trick was inspired by an idea by Daniel Garcia, the theme of the trick is inspired by the TV shows Dark and True Detective.
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What is a hook
Just so that we are on the same page here is a definition of a hook from Andy.
A "hook" is anything that causes the other person to (seemingly) initiate the interaction that will lead to the performance of a trick.
In this trick, the hook is a mysterious piece of paper that I keep under my phone case.
Trick - Time is a flat circle
Let's say I'm getting coffee with someone named Julia. Maybe we're old friends, maybe we just met. She notices that under my phone case I have a piece of paper full of tally marks.
She asks me about it. I take it out and say:
“Do you really want to know? Ok, Name a number from 1-100”
She says 27. I tell her to open my notes app, check the Movie Quotes note, go to the n.27, and read it out loud.
Julia reads: “Time is a flat circle. Everything we have done or will do, we will do over and over and over again…”
I say: “Do you know what that means? That time is not linear, it repeats itself. One day the universe will be over and everything will start again and repeat itself as it always has. Everything that happened will happen, even this exact moment will happen again… you will do the things you always did, you will think the things you always thought, and name the number you always named. Because Time is a flat circle. Everything we have done or will do, we will do over and over and over again—forever.”
[As I say this I turn over the piece of paper, she can see the quote written in there. She reacts.]
“Time is a flat circle. Everything we have done or will do we will do over and over and over again…” This quote is from s01 of True Detective, absolutely worth a watch. You can also find this specific clip on YouTube
I then reach for the piece of paper, turn it back, make another mark, and put it back under the phone case.
Method:
As you may have guessed, you need to use DFB, an app that lets you force any item from a list in your Notes app. It is the magic app that I use the most, and I think it is a must-have for any social magician.
NOTES - On performing it someone who has never seen you perform
If you perform it to someone who has never seen you do magic, you should tell them that it is a trick from the beginning. If not, you would come off as too weird. That is not needed if you are performing to a friend who knows you are not a weirdo (or who just accepts your weirdness).
UPDATE 26-04-2021: Marc Edgar has created a DFB list of movies and tv series quotes for everyone to use. So let’s thank him for his work while we import it from this link.
Another DFB presentation
I have another DFB presentation in issue #18 (premium subscribers only). You can also subscribe to the free and to the premium newsletter with the button below:
Thank you!
Hopefully you enjoyed this newsletter, see you soon, have a great week!
Antonio