Separation Anxiety by Watkins

This routine is an excerpt from Watkins limited edition hardbound book, "Positive / Negative".

With the techniques you learn in this manuscript you will be able to 'steal' a random strangers Bank PIN from their mind. They will have absolutely no memory of their code.

You will then 'put the thought back in their head' by revealing the PIN, ultimately proving your ability to pluck a thought from someones mind!

This routine is a perfect introduction to hypnosis, as there are fail-safe 'outs' throughout every step of the performance!

This kind of effect ought to be used with caution and care, as it can be misused in the wrong hands. Perform responsibly!

EFFECT: An audience member is chosen and brought up to the stage. The Mentalist is seen to put her into a trance. Her eyes close and her head bows forward and the Performer begins to instruct her:

“I want you to imagine you are walking down an empty street at night. Up ahead you will see an ATM. I want you to go up to that ATM and imagine punching in a four digit PIN code. After you have punched this code into the machine, I want you to imagine deleting the number. To the point where it no longer exists in your mind, to the point where if I were to ask you what this PIN was you would not be able to answer me. Nod your head when you understand that. Because the only way I will be able to pick up on this thought is if it vanishes from your mind completely so it can appear in my mind. Nod your head when it has completely vanished from your mind”

The Performer writes something down on a clipboard. He puts the clipboard down on a table and brings the participant out of her trance. 

He asks her what her PIN code was and she is seen to have actually forgotten it! The Performer explains to the audience:

“You see, a lot of people ask me if I can guess a person’s bank account information but that is not enough! If I can effectively steal the information from a person’s mind it leaves them in a very bad position as she can no longer go to a bank and confirm her bank info, nor can she stop me from taking her money. However, I am not an unethical person so let me just remind her what this PIN was”

The Performer touches the participant on the head and she can now remember her PIN code and reveals it out loud. The Performer turns over the clipboard he wrote on earlier and proves that he did in fact steal the PIN from her mind.