Television Blindfold Drive!

By Richard Osterlind

This routine, although based on principles used in previous blindfolds, is my own

method for the Blindfold Drive for use on TV. I have refined this method for over 20
years and have used it on 2 major Japanese television specials as well broadcasts in
the United States. I have made tens of thousands of dollars performing this test over
the years and it is a totally professional routine.

In addition to the Blindfold Drive, the mentalist can also use this method to put
together a routine similar to the one Kuda Bux was famous for. Because it looks so
impossible, the operator can put all his attention on presentation and structuring
miraculous looking stunts. Copy signatures, shooting targets, etc. can all be
accomplished here. I quick search on Google for Kuda Bux will show you his
miraculous act and give you presentational ideas.

One of the advantages of this method is the mentalist can obtain and put together all
the props necessary from local stores. This means he can always be ready for an
emergency performance should the occasion arise.

Nothing is gimmicked and everything can be examined both before and after the
performance. Not only does every phase of the routine make sense, but the
arrangement and use of the props actually make the moves completely hidden and
invisible.

This is a money routine that has been tested under the most trying and test
conditions! Please keep the secret to yourself and understand its value.

Props:

One sleep mask. This can be any type of sleep mask commonly sold in stores.
Interestingly, a standard sleep mask is one of the most efficient blindfolds made.

Four Ace Bandages. I prefer to have three of these be the 3 inch size and one to be the
4 inch size. You can, however, have all three to be the same. Also, I prefer to use the
standard bandages that come with clips to hold them in place. The self-stick variety
will work, but sometimes they do not stay in place that well. You can use your own
choice after experimenting

One Versatile Blindfold, as explained in the Penguin Blindfold Step. You can easily
make this yourself. In an emergency, you can simply buy some appropriate fabric and
cut out the cloth to the approximate size of 40 inches by 17 inches. Although it is nice
to have the edges hemmed, it is not necessary for a one-time use.
Preparation:

Have the Versatile Blindfold fully opened up and lying on a chair. On top of his place
the 3 Ace Bandages and then place the sleep mask on top of all.

Performance:

(Before we begin, let me give you an important hint for a professional show. Always get
at least one or two of the volunteers, who will be assisting, aside ahead of time and
show them how the blindfold will be applied as described below. There is nothing
underhanded about this; you are simply showing them how the cloths need to be
wrapped around your head. That way the show later moves along smoothly when you
do it for real.)

When you are ready to begin you lead the committee to the chair with the props. I like
to pick up the sleep mask and have someone try it on. This first step alone shows how
effectively vision is cut off from that mask alone. You can also have them try to see
through the Ace Bandages to show they are opaque.

When you are ready to have the blindfold applied, you pick up everything on the chair,
sit down and place the props on your lap.

You can put on the sleep mask yourself or have one of the committee members do it. I
like to slide it over my head and then have the volunteers examine it minutely and
adjust it. Also, you should shut your eyes tightly from this point on.

Next you have someone pick up one of the smaller Ace Bandages and wrap it directly
over the sleep mask. Make sure that none of the bandages are applied too tightly!
There is a cumulative effect and, if the Act Bandages are stretched too much, your
head will feel like it is going to explode! They should use just enough tension to hold
them in place.

The next two smaller Ace Bandages are applied diagonally over each eye. You can use
your own hands to guide them in the right direction and to make sure they are where
they are supposed to be. At the end, you will have these two forming a type of X on
your face.

(Again, a trial run before the show will really help to eliminate any problems with
positioning or tightness)

Finally, the large Ace Bandage is applied directly over your eyes in the same position
as the sleep mask and first bandage.

Your head, at this point, will look like a football! There is no one who can possibly
believe that you can see anything. Every possible opening is sealed off and you truly
cannot see a thing.

Here is the secret of this miraculous act. As you pick up the Versatile Blindfold,
you lean forward and hold it up against the front of your head. It is important that you
hold your hands against your temples. (Remember to lean forward so that your face is
basically towards the ground.)

You are going to slide up the entire blindfold in one quick move so that all the
bandages and sleep mask are above your eyes under the cloth! Because of the
bandages, instead of everything being separate, the entire blindfold becomes one unit!
This move is done as your volunteers tie the cloth behind your head.

NOW PAY ATTENTION! I have worked on this routine for years and this is the right
way to make the move! You do not slide up the bandages – you hold your hands tightly
against your temples and move your head in towards your chest. The blindfolds stay in
place, but your head moves! If you practice this you will see the move is completely
invisible to your audience from any angle! As you make this move you also open your
eyes which help to slide up the bandages and give you perfect vision!

After the cloth is tied, you sit up straight and you will have a wonderful optical
illusion. The huge bulge in the bandages will look exactly as if it is over your eyes.
With your head covered in this way, you give the impression your eyes are actually
higher up on your head than they actually are! It is amazing and you have to have
someone apply this blindfold in practice and take a picture of yourself for you to fully
realize how good this looks.

In truth, once you are at this point, you only have one thin layer of cloth over your
eyes which hardly obstructs your vision more than a pair of sunglasses. You can
therefore go into any blindfold routine you want without your vision impaired at all.

Since I like to use this method for a blindfold drive the brightness of being outside is
perfect. But even on stage your vision is more than enough for any routine. You
certainly have to have enough light for the audience to see you and that is more than
enough for you to see!

As you are lead to the car, act as if you are blindfolded! Take your time, hesitate as if
you are worried about tripping and make sure your assistants help you into the car.
Never reach for anything without fumbling a bit as though trying to feel out where it
is. I sometimes even ask to be led to the key so I can start the car!

When you drive, go slowly at first. The effect should be that you are using the
thoughts of the audience to guide you, so you should be a bit hesitant. Once you get
going you can speed things up and put tension into the act. When I do this show, I
always get going pretty fast near the end just before I end the course.

As soon as the drive is completed, I tip my head forward as though exhausted. It is an

easy matter to slide the blindfold back down under the misdirection of holding your
temples as if you had a headache. You can then be led out of the card and have the
blindfold removed showing everything in place.

As each layer of cloth is removed, the effect grows as the audience sees again how
securely you are bandages up!
Again, this is a totally professional routine that has been used to make many
thousands of dollars. Please guard its secret!

NOTE: Although the routine in these instructions are meant to look dangerous, they
are perfectly safe if the instructions are followed correctly and are performed by an
experience professional entertainer.

We hereby disclaim any responsibility for anyone injured while attempting this or any
other routine.