Backlash 2011 by Kenton Knepper And Mark Townsend

Kenton's BACKLASH has been featured on television, radio, close-up, on the largest stages, in personal interviews, banquet halls, living rooms and nearly anywhere else you might perform. 

Kenton says that BACKLASH is right up there with Kolossal Killer when he is asked to perform a stunner and does not want to have to work at all to completely impress important people. There are other reasons Kenton feels Backlash is equivalent to Killer, which you will see for yourself when you learn all the details of this memorable piece.

The reason for the popularity of Backlash with audiences is that Backlash seems to be a real event, not a mere trick. The performer appears to do nothing at all, and the audience is really in control of what happens.

While there are many variations and applications, the following is a basic presentation and effect.

Effect:

A card is selected or written down by a spectator. No one else sees what the card is in this spectator's mind. Other audience members are selected at random by tossing a plush toy into the audience. Each completely random person's color, number, suit and so on indicates an aspect of the card the first spectator has in mind.

Ultimately the information given by random spectators in the audience reveal the hidden or thought of card of the first spectator.

For a kicker, the plush toy is found to contain a single paper inside upon which is written the card thought about - proof of real audience synchronicity!

No words will do this justice. BACKLASH is an experience. Audiences talk about this when all other tricks fade from mind, as this effect seems so fair and impossible. A random set of people and their thoughts determine a card another person has hidden in their pocket, or locked in their mind. How could that happen when no one in the audience is "in on it"?

MORE THAN CARDS...

BACKLASH contains principles that, when properly understood, may be applied to book tests, drawing duplications, ESP card revelations, colorful symbols, letters in a name, telephone and address numbers, and countless other options in mentalism.

The Main Points Are:

* Random people, or random cuts of the deck by anyone, are used to determine a selected and hidden card.

* The cutting and audience is entirely free and random. No stooges or trick decks.

* The deck is shuffled before and during the effect anytime the audience wishes.

* The performer takes a "hands off" approach and allows the audience themselves to cut cards, shuffle, choose or name cards all on their own without performer interference.

Part of the fascination with Backlash is the "I do nothing, you do it all" presentation. "This is completely in your hands..." or if no deck is used, "This is completely in your minds."

* After the impossible manner in which the hidden or thought of card is revealed, it turns out that one more kicker has been in the midst of the audience from the start!

Close-Up and Personal

Backlash can be performed for one person alone, or in a small group of two or three people.

Personalized readings can be woven into each part of the revelation.

While Backlash will take a little bit of mental practice, the practice is easy and playful - not at all difficult. By the time you finish reading this booklet you will be able to perform Backlash right away. Just a small bit of practice is needed beyond your ordinary skills.

BACKLASH 2011 features the full blown stage effect as performed by MARK TOWNSEND, and a readings version of Backlash by PABLO AMIRA.