Quick Notes on Real Ghost

by
Christopher Taylor
What’s in the box?:
• Real Ghost remote control reel unit with a threaded spool and a sticky
tab in place (battery not installed)
• Transmitter with a range of up to 500 meters (battery not installed)
• pack of 20 sticky-squares made of a special restickable double-sided
adhesive tape.
• pack (5) of 1 cm by 1 cm plastic tabs with holes punched
• 2 batteries for the remote control reel (AAA).
• 1 transmitter battery (23A 12 V)

Getting to Know Your Real Ghost

Installing the Batteries
Transmitter
1) Remove the cover from the back of the transmitter
2) insert the 23A 12 Volt being careful to observe the correct polarity:
the flat, black, negative end of the battery goes against the spring:

3) Replace cover.
Note: a red LED will illuminate on the front of the transmitter when a
signal is being transmitted.

Reel Unit Batteries

1) pop off the top cover. You may need to use a small flat-ended screw
driver (see photo below).

2) insert two AAA batteries (supplied) into the battery holder, being
careful to observe the correct polarity.

3) snap the top cover back into place.

Turning the Reel On/Off

Simply snap the slide-switch on the side of the unit to “On”. Remember
to turn the unit off when not in use to conserve battery life.
NOTE: If the unit is left on over night, it is advisable to replace the
reel’s AAA batteries.

The Adhesive Tape Squares

You have received two dozen squares of double-sided tape. This tape is
designed to be restickable, like a PostIt Note except much stronger.
Each one of these will last for several performances. When the tack has
been reduces through use to the point where it no longer has enough
grip, you should replace it. Here’s how:

1) peel off the old piece of tape the plastic tab with your thumb nail.
2) remove the protective backing from one side of a tape square.
3) apply the tape square to the 1cm by 1cm tab plastic tab.
4) Remove the second backing to expose the adhesive.
5) Reduce the tack a bit by sticking it to a piece of cloth several times.

When you run out of adhesive squares, you can cut your own from a
role of double-sided “Removable Poster Tape”.

The Tabs
The 1cm by 1cm tab which you attach to the participant will not wear
out. You will not need to replace it unless you want to rig up a special
set up for your Ghost. You have received 5 extra for that purpose.
Should you need more, you will find an endless supply of the correct
kind of plastic in the tough, hard to open plastic packaging which so
many store bought items now come in.

Fastening a tab to the thread is simple; you will need a small piece of
regular clear tape. The following diagrams shows you how:

1) Insert end of thread through hole in tab and tie a large knot.

2)Apply a piece of clear tape over the knotted thread and tab
3) Fold the ends of the tape over the edges of tab and press tight.

The Clutch
Examine the face of the reel unit. Attached to the face of the reel’s box
is a layer of stiff black felt under a layer of soft felt. A vertical slot is cut
into it. The thread emerges through this slot from the spool inside. This
felt “clutch” serves two purposes: 1) it acts as a very effective break to
keep tension on the thread and prevent it from snarling up as it retracts
and 2) it acts to dampen the reel’s sound as the thread is retracted.

Warning: When extending the thread from the

unit for performance, there is a possibility of
tangling the thread on the spool if the thread
is pulled out too forcefully. This occurs
because the spool may keep turning after you
have stopped pulling the thread. It is
important to pull out the thread smoothly and
avoid pulling with excessive force to prevent
this.
The Thread
The thread used is readily available “Invisible Sewing Thread”. This is
available in clear or black. There is about 5 feet on the spool which you
will find ample.

Should you need to replace the thread:

1) Remove the old thread. The end is attached to the spool through a
tiny hole bored through the spool. Snip off the knot with a pair of nail
clippers. NOTE: The picture below shows the spool separate from the
motor for clarity but removal of the spool from the motor shaft is
not recommended.

2) Cut a fresh 5’ length of the invisible sewing thread and pass one end
through the hole in the spool. Tie a large knot in the end and trim off
any excess. Should you find passing the thread through the spool
difficult, simply tie a tight knot around the spool and wind some thread
onto the spool by manually turning the spool with your finger.

3) Guide the thread through the slot at the top of the box. The thread
passes through the plastic wall of the box and the felt “clutch” to the
outside.
4) Turn the reel unit on with the switch on the side of the box. Keep
tension on the thread with a FIRM grip on it with your fingers; anchor
the box so that it is not pulled along the table and press the transmitter
button. The reel will begin to wind the thread onto the spool (see the
photo below). Note, it is important to ensure that the thread
winds onto the spool from the bottom of the spool.

5) While controlling the thread retraction with your fingers by pulling

against the reel’s pull, allow the thread to be wound onto the spool until
your fingers reach the clutch. Release the transmitter’s button, re-grip
the thread and continue until the 6 feet of thread has been wound onto
the spool.

Pre-Performance Set Up

IMPORTANT: The restickable adhesive on the tab is very strong

when fresh -- too strong to use. You MUST reduce some of the
tackiness by sticking the tab to a piece of clothing and pulling it off
again, several times. Experiment to see. You will quickly learn to
adjust the pressure you use to attach the tab to the participant’s shirt as
the tackiness is reduced though repeated use.

There are several ways to set up the Real Ghost unit. Which way you
use depends on the type of performance you intend on. Generally, the
distance you wish to be from the participant who feels the Ghost touch
dictates the set up. Here we will cover only the standard “Long Range”
set up for the Ghost Touch effect.

The unit is in your top outside jacket pocket and the jacket is on the
back of a chair which the participant sits in. This is by far the most
powerful version as you can utilize the unit’s extreme range which is
well over 100 yards!.

To prepare the Jacket: Hang the jacket on a coat hanger or the back
of a chair. Apply a 2 inch length of plastic tape under the collar in the
centre. Now, unreel about a foot of thread from the unit and drop the
Real Ghost unit into the top outside pocket of your jacket. Pull the tab
so that it reaches the tape under your collar and stick it firmly there.
see photo below).

With the collar folded back into its usual position, this will serve as a
handy place to keep the Ghost’s sticky tab until you are ready to
secretly apply it to a participant.
Performance Notes for Ghost Touch
With the Ghost unit turned on in your top outside jacket pocket and the
tab in place under your collar, casually remove your jacket and drape it
over the back of a chair. If you do not make a big deal of this, it will go
unnoticed. At this point I like to sit down in the chair and roll up my
sleeves and/or perform some other effect before continuing with Ghost.
Alternatively, you can position the coat on a chair and return to it at a
later time when you are ready to perform with Ghost.

Selection of Participant
At the right time, invite a suitable participant to take your seat while
you get up and move another chair into position for the second
participant. By “suitable participant” I mean one who’s hair will not get
in the way and who’s clothing forms only a single layer of cloth over
their skin. Shirts and blouses are good, suit jackets and sweaters are
not.

Because of the extreme range of the Real Ghost transmitter, you can
have your two participants a considerable distance apart, or even in
different rooms!

To ensure the likelihood that both participants are going to stand at

exactly the same time, ensure that both participants are sitting well
back with their hands in their laps and their feet flat on the floor with
legs uncrossed. If one of them has their legs crossed, there will be a
delay while she uncrosses them to stand up.

Without indicating which is which, inform the group that one of the
participants is about to play the part of a kind of “psychic transmitter”
and the other a receiver. But neither of them will know which role they
are playing until their friend tell them has happened because they will
have their eyes closed. Ensure them both that they will not be harmed
or embarrassed and have them close their eyes.

Attaching the Tab on the “Receiver” Participant:

Stand behind the participant who is sitting in the chair that has your
jacket hanging on it. Check to make sure her eyes are closed by
leaning over to the right and peering at her face. This is cover for you
to retrieve the tab from the under the collar, sticking it to the left middle
finger. Then, indicating her shoulder/upper back area, ask your seated
participant to “be sensitive in this area”. Then touch the left shoulder
saying, “from here,” pressing the tab into place with the left thumb, and
then the other with my right thumb saying, “to here” (see photo below).

In the picture above, the tab is visible under the mentalist’s left
thumb. The thread goes from the tab into the top jacket pocket.
Essential: THERE MUST BE A GOOD DEGREE OF SLACK IN
THE THREAD so that the reel will pluck the tab off the participant’s
shirt (see diagram below).

Next walk to the participant who will be the “transmitter”. Even though
you are not attaching a tab to her, you must duplicate your actions and
instructions with her.
Indicate now that the reason why they must bring their awareness to
that area of their bodies is because they are about to feel a touch there.
I say, “It may be a distinct touch -- like a tap -- or a light touch like a
brush stroke. So please be sensitive”. I find these instructions to be
very effective in ensuring that the participant who receives the Ghost
Touch actually responds properly.

Timing:
There is a slight delay between when the transmitter button is pushed
and when the tab is plucked off the shirt. So, if you want the both
participants to respond at the same time, push the transmitter button
one full second before you openly touch the participant. A bit of practice
and you will have it.

A summery of vital points:

1) Reduce the tackiness of a fresh tape square.
2) Extend the thread from the unit with a smooth pull. Avoid
pulling with excessive force.
3) Ensure there is some slack in the thread.
4) Pick a participant that has only one layer of clothing.
between the tab and skin who’s hair will not obstruct.
5) Remember to time the pushing of the button properly.