Update 10/1/2023: Yeah, I was pushing too hard to make my story fit down below. I’ve added to this article to explain what I’m doing now.
Tonight I started playing around with Steve Dela’s Will To Read Light as seen on his live lecture. (You can buy just that single piece of the lecture for $5, but for $3 more you get the whole lecture, so I’m not even going to link to the partial.)
In early 2021 I bought Quiver Plus after seeing a friend use it for a coin trick. I didn’t want it for coins, but I’m kind of a sucker for utility items I can use for mentalism, and it was on sale, so I snapped it up! But I actually had no idea what to use it for, so it sat in Props #01 until earlier today.
I’ve been poking at Mark Chandaue’s book, Totally Free Will, which gives lots of routines and ideas on Deddy Corbuzier’s effect, Free Will. Because of that, Dela’s effect using that principle caught my eye — somewhere online. Not sure how/where I heard about it. And since I’ve just recently decided to be a bit more open to doing close-up mentalism, I gambled a whole $8 and bought the lecture.
And discovered a use for that Quiver I bought so long ago!
But All Was Not Okay
I have this hangup where I don’t ever want to do just a trick. I want there to be some meaning behind what I do, even if it’s just a bit — I don’t want to bludgeon people over the head with a lesson, or make it last 15 minutes like a bizarre performer (d’oh!), but if people are open to it, they’ll get something more than just a trick from me.
Nothing popped into my head right away, so I called up my friend Chatty (ChatGPT) and we discussed it.
If you have not looked into “personas” for ChatGPT, I highly recommend it. When I want to work on scripting ideas I load up the CreativeScripter persona and work with that. And I think I get better results with it.
Here was the start of our session this evening:
Me: I have a trick where three objects are put into different locations by the spectator and then I show them a card that has a written prediction showing I would know exactly where they would place each item. With that effect in mind, what kind of story could I spin around that?
Chatty gave me something, but I immediately asked for a change:
Me: I like the destiny part, so maybe the script should emphasize free will, we humans think we have it, but even when we think we are exercising our will, things seem to be destined to happen anyway.
CreativeScripter: That's an intriguing twist! Emphasizing the interplay between free will and destiny can add depth and philosophical intrigue to the script. Let's weave that theme into our story:
Title: "The Paradox of Free Will"
Act 1:
Begin by introducing the age-old debate between free will and destiny, exploring the idea that even when we believe we're making choices, there's a thread of destiny woven through our lives.
Explain that tonight, we'll embark on a journey to explore this paradox through the art of magic.
Act 2:
Invite the audience to actively participate by selecting three objects and placing them in different locations of their choice, highlighting the power of their free will.
Present an ancient scroll that tells the story of a renowned philosopher who contemplated the balance between choice and fate.
Act 3:
Unfold the scroll, revealing it not only contains the philosopher's musings but also a series of enigmatic predictions, each tied to the chosen object's location.
As you reveal each prediction, delve into the idea that even as individuals exercise their free will, there's a cosmic alignment that guides their choices.
Act 4:
Conclude by acknowledging the mystery of the human experience, where free will and destiny coexist, intertwined in ways we may never fully understand.
End with a powerful revelation or flourish, leaving the audience pondering the paradox of their own choices and the forces that shape their lives.
This updated script delves into the philosophical theme of free will and destiny, creating a thought-provoking and magical experience. If you have any additional thoughts or specifics you'd like to include, please feel free to share. Together, we can continue to shape this intriguing narrative. 🌌🧙♂️🤔
I will tell you right away that the outline given here doesn’t really fit me, but it’s just an outline — I can follow the parts and change things to suit me. It’s a starting point that I didn’t have to come up with. (Win!)
Next Attempt
I decided to feed it some info it could incorporate into the script just to see how it would feel with the changes.
Watch out, the script goes in a direction you probably weren’t expecting…
Me: In Act 1, maybe I can relate the story of early in my marriage when my wife and I tried to have children and went through three miscarriages. Our will was to have children, but it didn't look like that was going to happen. In Act 2 after the objects are placed in different locations I can talk about two small children, a boy and girl, whose will was to be part of a loving family, but their mother wasn't able to care for them so it didn't look like the will of the children would happen. In Act 4 I could talk about how we discovered those children and adopted them. My will to have children came true, the will of the kids' came true to have a loving family, but was it really our will or was it destiny? Can you do anything with that?
CreativeScripter: Absolutely, we can incorporate those deeply personal and touching experiences into the script. Let's adapt the storyline to reflect your real-life journey and the themes of will and destiny:
Title: "The Paradox of Free Will and Destiny"
Act 1:
Begin by sharing a heartfelt story from your own life, where you and your wife faced challenges in starting a family. Despite your strong will to have children, you encountered three miscarriages, highlighting the power of personal will.
Emphasize the emotional rollercoaster, the moments when it seemed like your will was being tested by fate.
Act 2:
After the audience places the objects in different locations, transition into the story of two small children, a boy and a girl, who also faced challenging circumstances. Their will was to be part of a loving family, but it seemed like destiny had other plans.
Share how their mother was unable to care for them, creating a poignant moment of reflection on the intersection of personal will and destiny.
Act 3:
Unfold the scroll, revealing the philosopher's musings and predictions, drawing parallels between your life experiences and the broader concept of free will and destiny.
As you reveal each prediction, emphasize the uncertainty of the future and the intricate dance between human will and the forces that shape our lives.
Act 4:
Conclude by recounting how you and your wife discovered these children and adopted them, fulfilling both your will to have children and the children's will to have a loving family.
Raise the philosophical question of whether it was truly your will or destiny that brought you together, leaving the audience with a thought-provoking and heartwarming finale.
This adaptation adds a profound layer of personal connection to the script, exploring the complex interplay between free will and destiny in your own life. If you have any further adjustments or details you'd like to include, please let me know, and we'll continue refining the script together. 📜🌟🤔
The way it reads it feels like it could be a downer of a routine, and my lifelong nature has been to “go for the laugh,” so this is something I’m going to have to play around with to see if I can make it fit me, but without watering down the story. Can’t really turn it into a comedy, although there were some funny things that happened along the way…
Also not sure if I’m trying too hard to fit that story into a “free will” routine.
So What Do I Have?
Some people will say, “AI is useless, I could have written that!”
So could I, but I didn’t have to. And if I want to tweak something, I can have it do that more quickly than I could myself.
I find Chatty really useful for brainstorming ideas — he doesn’t often give me what I want at the first try, but he (he?) often gives me stuff that sparks more ideas that I can use. I’m still only using the free version of ChatGPT but it’s way cool if you’re into creating stuff.
If I use Chatty to work on this routine some more, I’ll let you know how it goes — and then let you know how it works in front of an audience.
Update 10/1/2023: New Focus
After playing with it for a while, my story of miscarriages and adoption didn’t feel right for a “free will” script. I’m sure I’ll use it somewhere, but not for this. The only thing worse than doing tricks with no meanings is doing tricks with meanings that don’t make sense. :)
Instead, I’m looking at more of a straightforward “how you’re unknowingly influenced throughout the day” kind of script. You may think you’re exercising free will, but at the end you’ll find yourself where someone else wanted you to be.
Still working on it, but one thing I am sure of — using Quiver for the carrying case was definitely the right move. The three objects I’m using are a stamp (on a card to give it some strength), a pewter token, and a key. With those in Quiver along with the note, it’s way flat and so easy to grab and carry in my shirt pocket. Plus, with those three items I can do a slose-up version of Neal Scryer’s Last One Standing, so two effects with the same objects, right off the bat.
Update 10/6/2023: Final Script (plus tweaks for a while)
Here’s what I’ve ended up with — the script I’m using (more or less) with Steve Dela’s Will to Read (Light):
I’d like your help with an experiment in free will — this should tell us whether you are able to make your own decisions, or whether you’re able to be influenced by forces outside your perception.
I have some items in this pouch that have special meanings to me — a stamp, a key, and a pewter token.
The stamp has an image of Lou Jacobs, probably the most famous circus clown with Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey. After he retired he became one of the teachers at Ringling’s Clown College, which is where I met him when I was 17 years old.
The token is stamped with an image from the Pacific Northwest Indians that stands for Connection — I was born in the PNW and still have many family members there — no matter where I’m living that still always feels like home.
Now the key, which is a little weird because I don’t know what it opens. This key could open a treasure chest, a hidden library, or maybe just a mailbox. It reminds me of all the Possibilities in life.
That’s what those objects mean to me — you could almost see them as my past, present, and future. To you they don’t necessarily have any meaning other than being random objects. Which is good for this test.
Finally, down in the bottom of the pouch is a note, which we’ll get to later.
Using your free will, making sure you’re not feeling influenced, pick up two of those objects, one in each hand. Now put either one of those in your pocket.
You’ve left me the key. Reach into the pouch and take out the note, unfold it, and read it aloud…
You used your free will to make several choices, but it looks like choices can be influenced without us even realizing it.
So, as you go about your day, remember the subtle influences that surround you. Are you truly making choices freely, or is there a hidden hand guiding your decisions? The answer may surprise you.