INSTRUCTIONS

Effect:
A spectator is asked to think of a person’s first and last name. The performer attempts to
write down the initials and fails. He redeems himself by sprinkling pepper on the back of
the spectator’s hand and then shaking the remnants off to reveal the initials that they were
thinking of only a moment ago!

Materials:
You need the Bare Sharpie, a regular Sharpie, and a blank business card.

Overview:
The special Sharpie that you have received has been specially modified. The indelible ink
cartridge has been removed and rplaced with a custom formed cartridge. This contains a
special solution which, when applied to a surfece, will not dry out. This means that it can be
used to create a ‘stamp’ in real time.

Set Up:
On the blank side of the business card write down any two letters and then lightly scratch
them out. You are now ready to perform.

Performance:
You come out with the business card and the Bare Sharpie, hiding the two previously written
letters. You tell them to think of any person’s first and last name. Pretend to write down
two letters on the business card. In reality you are just hovering above the business card
with the sharpie. After you finish fake writing the letters ask them to tell you the name they
thought of. At this point you want to make it look like you are jokingly trying to fix what you
wrote down. You laugh and quickly cross out what you wrote. What you are actually doing
at this point is writing down the initials of the person on the base of your palm. You will not
write them down normally however. You need to write down the second initial first and also
both have to be written backwards like a mirror image. This is so that when you stamp the
spectator it will appear the right way. After the joke and you crossing out the letters you can
show what’s written on the business card for the first time. You ask them to hold out their
hands and hold the business card in between their hands. You then tell them to press tightly
while you physically press their hands together. This is the moment with which you stamp
the spectator. You snap your fingers and ask them to turn the business card over. It doesn’t
change. You then tell them you are going to use your backup plan. You tell them to make a
fist. You pour some pepper on the back of their hand. Once the pepper is on their hand you
gently shake their fist allowing most of the pepper to fall off leaving only the initials. As they
react you rub the rest of the pepper off and they can now feel that there is nothing sticky on
them.

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