The Act Series (7 Volumes) - Mick Ayres

All 7 volumes of The Act Series from Mick Ayres.

1. Hoodwinkings offers several strong mindreading experiments woven together into a seamless, 30-minute parlor act full of humor, interaction and mystery.

The show begins with an innocent prop adjustment that later becomes part of this act's surprising finale.  In between, you demonstrate the potential of the mind using a household deck of cards for each experiment.  First, a packet of cards is mixed by a guest...nonetheless, you have predicted its final order.  Next, a guest discovers her own untapped mental abilities when she unerringly locates two selections from a shuffled pack.  Now you share a bit of 'inside information' while the audience enjoys a humorous demonstration of body-language.  Finally, the show closes as you accurately predict the random answers to several questions...and each question is twice as challenging as the one before!

Although each routine would stand easily on it's own, together they create a powerful show that fits in one pocket.  You supply a deck of cards, three envelopes and three index cards.  No sleight-of-hand is involved.  Nothing is gimmicked.

2. Predict-Abilities is a fully-scripted 40-minute show packed with mental dramas and parlor wonders.

First, you make an incredibly detailed prediction that foretells the location of three borrowed objects.  Next, in a curious blend of 'Open Prediction' and 'Card-at-any-Number', you know in advance when a guest will stop dealing...and the card he will stop on!  Now a guest creates a personal lucky number that is based on events from her private life.  Digit by digit, you reveal her number!  Next, a guest mentally guides you step-by-step to his selected card.  The next demonstration reveals how far-reaching your mental abilities can go...even long-distance!  Finally, your mindreading skills are put to the test when several guests look through the deck and merely think of a card.  The pack is mixed.  The cards are now held up high.  The guests watch as the cards fall one-by-one to the floor until only the selections remain!

You supply a deck of cards and a 8 x 10 dry-erase board.  No gimmicks.  No sleight-of-hand.

3. Noetic License provides the full details of a professional 50-minute mentalism act.  In these pages you'll find everything has been fully-scripted, blocked and choreographed into a humorous, mystifying, crowd-pleasing show.

It all begins with an interactive experiment that proves once and for all that the eyes do reveal when someone is lying.  Next, the audience goes backstage and watches as you gradually and dramatically reveal three chosen cards that you have never seen.  Then, the whole audience gets their imaginations involved in a legendary tale that becomes all too real in a surprising, humorous presentation that is theatrical drama at its best.  Next, you openly write a detailed message.  From the shuffled deck, a guest removes multiple cards and mixes them further.  Your message reveals the value of each card in the packet...and their exact order!  Finally, a guest shuffles the deck and then reveals his own mental abilities by discerning the colors of several cards.  Another guest joins him on stage and he shuffles the deck again.  Working together, they mentally separate the red from the black cards with incredible accuracy!

Noetic License introduces the Ayres Shuffled System to the conjuring world.  This quick to learn, quick to apply and quick to use system turns any deck of cards into a versatile tool for mentalists.  Though the deck will appears to be randomly shuffled, it is not.  An additional bonus routine featuring the Ayres Shuffled System is included at back of the book.

You supply a deck of cards, an extra card from a spare deck, a plastic bag and an index card.  No gimmicks.  No sleight-of-hand.

4. S'lie (pronounced 'sly') is the fourth installment to the Act-series.  This is a professionally scripted, blocked and choreographed 60-minute mentalism act.  From the start, the audience quickly realizes this show is charming, different...and incredibly baffling.

The S'lie mysteries build dramatically.  The act begins with a simple yet astonishing demonstration.  While your back is turned, a guest mixes the cards, cuts to one and then mixes the pack again.  You simply turn around, read her mind and reveal the card.  Then, in a clever twist, an experiment uses a single playing card to clearly show how mindreading isn't limited to cards.  Next, your guests learn disturbing lessons about how actions and decisions can be influenced without their knowledge.  The demonstrations increase to a finale that has everyone in the room involved in an incredible experience that leaves them on their feet and applauding...this is mindreading on a grand scale!

You only supply the playing cards and the ability to mix them.

5. Conjure Man is a professionally scripted, blocked and choreographed 50-minute mentalism act and offers some of the most direct mentalism ever explored within any of the previous four acts.

This act begins with a humorous, light hearted blend of folklore and mentalism that brings a guest's imagination into reality.  Next, a guest has a moment of premonition about two complete strangers that proves eerily accurate.  Next, one beloved and popular animated character out of hundreds is chosen freely but revealed instantly.  Here there are nostalgic presentations, unbelievable coincidences, and irrefutable proof that any guest can read another's mind with uncanny accuracy, too.  The act dramatically builds to a finale that demonstrate, when one is willing to trust their intuition, the results are unbelievable!

In addition to these original and strong demonstrations of mindreading using common playing cards as props, Conjure Man features several new propless presentations and methods never seen before within the mentalism industry.

You supply the playing cards, a marker and two sheets of small note paper.

6. The Mr. Know-It-All show is a mentalism act of uncanny knowledge and revelations.  It is the mentalism act I was performing when the Covid lockdown brought things to a close for a while.

The only prop required for this act is a common deck of playing cards, but even then, the Act is not reliant upon them.  Postcards, photographs, or index cards can easily be substituted—in fact, one demonstration involves no props at all.   Each experiment is clear and simple; meaning, the methods are new, original, and often self-working.

Each carefully written script blends with theatrical choreography to allow the performer to focus on engaging the audience completely.  The Mr. Know-It-All act flows professionally as the guests enjoy intimate one-on-one experiences and humorous moments that finally build to a powerful finale demonstration of group mentalism that leaves the audience stunned.

You supply an ordinary deck of playing cards.

7. INTIMA. The last act in this Series was detailed in Book Six.  However, there remained a loose end that needed addressing before this project would be complete.

Over the decades at the resort, after each Act, a handful of guests would often remain and linger.  These guests were not quite ready for the show to be over; or they just wanted to meet the performer; or perhaps lingering was their idea of an encore request.  To these good folks, I always offered a few special presentations just for them--just for making the effort to stay for a while.

This is where INTIMA comes in.  The title is Latin for 'intimate'.

INTIMA is a unique collection of those after-show ‘sets’ I offered to those guests to compliment to their evening’s experiences.  Though each set has been arranged in groups of three routines, the presentations can be rearranged as you see fit.  However, as detailed here in INTIMA, the sets are complete, professionally scripted, blocked, and choreographed presentations of strong mentalism and magic that are specifically designed to strengthen the bonds of friendship that have been started between you and your audience.

Little is needed beyond a deck of cards, paper and a marker.  Most of the presentations are self-working...indeed some are 'propless', too.  

All 7 volumes spiral bound into one tome. approximately 206 pages