SHOW STOPPERS

How Derren Brown Predicted The Lottery Results

2009-09-10T06:34:00.000-07:00

Today, the talk in the media, on Facebook, on Twitter and at the water machines is:

"How DID Derren Do That?"

Well, all will be revealed on Friday. Or at least, that's what is advertised. Or will it?

With Derren & Co. you never really know! Either way, Friday's show will get a massive veiwership and will have more talking all weekend.

So did you have a solution? An idea? See a flaw?

I thought it was a pretty good way to present it. Magicians have played with Lottery predictions for many years and many, including me, feature a version in their shows. But what was different about this was that Derren was allowed to run his adjacent to the live draw, on another channel, and use part of he live footage in his presentation.

Of course, seeing the live feed on screen was integral to the success of they 'stunt'. I'd even go as far as to say it was integral to the method!

Trailers for the series of four programs have alluded to four experiments in 'misdirection'.

Misdirection?

Yes, it's the misnomer magicians give to the process of directing an audiences attention (visual and mental) where they wish it to be and often away from an area where something is about to take place but which must not be seen or even suspected.

And I believe that the live link here provided a powerful underpinning to the presentation ... and afforded a useful dip in attention when that was over. My question is (ahead of Friday's solution), when did the live event finish, if at all? Was it at the end of Derren's show, or during the reveal. Remember - the BBC monitor was turned off before the matching balls were displayed.

So what?

Well, I believe this is crucial in understanding just how it were done an where there were opportunities for let's say stretching the truth.

A question for you to ponder: Once you were old it was live, and shown it was live and could go and channel switch and see it was live, is there a presupposition that it remained that was throughout?

Do you presume that, because the balls are on display, on top of a transparent tube, isolated in studio space, that, once the numbers are drawn, it's all to late? It's all over? I suggest you do. So at this point you relax. And it's at these low attention states, that you are most vulnerable to something taking place that will pass as unimportant. Some misdirection.

Did Derren fluff lines on purpose? Was the camera work shaky intentionally? Why did they need a second camera? Is this merely for Friday's reveal? Did he need to remain still during the draw? Is the snowflake in the subsequent vide a clue about freeze frame?

Is it true that the BBC DO have a 2 minute delay? If so, was this a clue?

Technicaly it was good. Nothing to see (not without very close multiple scrutiny). But in the moments (for that's all it was) between the BBC live feed being turned off and the balls being shown - this is where the 'work' must be done.

Maybe you will go and look at it again now.

And then all will be revealed on Friday.

John Gordon
The Infotainer
MagicWorks

STAND & DELIVER

2009-07-07T03:08:00.000-07:00

For around 15 years I have been delivering information on behalf of my clients at Trade Shows, Seminars, Product Launches, Training Sessions and other corporate gatherings.

I am hired because I have exclusive ways to do this which are capable of delivering in a variety of situations and with almost limitless possibilities regarding the product, service and message.

This 'Secret Service' has been kept under wraps (except for my clients and their attendees) but it's time to unleash these onto the world and Reveal my Trade Show Secrets once and for all!

I will add posts here as I compile my eCourse, so it'll act like a preview.

For now

John Gordon
The Infotainer
http://www.theinfotainer.com
MagicWorks

TARGET, SALLY & BLAINE

2006-11-18T02:26:00.000-08:00

David's at it again.

Magician David Blaine, in his latest stunt, plans to be shackled to a spinning gyroscope suspended very high above Times Square. He will be secured in a three-ringed gyroscope spinning continuously in all directions. I believe this is to take place next week Tuesday until Friday ... unless he escapes earlier.

There are stories around that when Houdini did some of his underwater escapes he used to sneak out, go home for a cup of tea (or glass of something) and then go back for the public escape. I don't know about that, but it's an interestuing concept about making things seem more difficult and therefore spectacular than they actually are.

However, no chance of Blaine doing that ... it's an open 'cage', visible to all.

Minneapolis-based retailer Target have challenged him to escape by Friday, and if he does, they have invited 100 families, selected by The Salvation Army, to go on a $500 shopping spree (each) in their stores. The event will kick off Target's two-day Thanksgiving sale beginning on what has come to be known as "Black Friday," the day after Thanksgiving and the traditional start of the holiday shopping season. Pretty cheap way to get all that publicity and 'feel good' factor it will generate. You can't buy those column inches for that kind of money.

Here's an extract from Target's Press release:

David Blaine and John Remington, VP of Events Marketing and
Communications for Target will meet the press on Friday,
November 17 to take the wraps off of Blaine's new challenge.

SUMMARY:
* The day after Thanksgiving is one of the biggest shopping days of the year. Only a stunt on the world's biggest stage is spectacular enough to kick off the Target 2-Day Sale.
* Target has partnered with The Salvation Army to specially
select 100 deserving children who will benefit from Blaine's
successful completion of this challenge.

Blaine says that he has accepted this challenge as a way to give back to The Salvation Army, an organization that had memorable impact on him as a child. I wonder why Target are doing it! It did make me think: "IS that ALL?". Am I being cynical here? All THAT and only 100 children? Imagine the sheer cost of the event. The man--power, the time investment, the insurance premiums ... but perhaps thats nothing compared to the goodwill press The Salvation Army will get. Or will Target be the real benefactors?

You can read more about it here:
http://www.news24.com/News24/Entertainment/Abroad/0,,2-1225-1243_2032342,00.html
and here http://in.news.yahoo.com/061117/137/69h9x.html and no doubt everywhere.

OK, we don't have to do stuff like that to get attention or to "give back" do we? But have you asked yourself what you can do? What 'stunt' can you pull? What partner can you team up with? What action can you take that would get the attention of your target market, perhaps get some media attention, but of course, be aligned with all you stand for!? Is there a serious cause that you can team up with who could benefit from a campaign you could produce? Perhaps on a local scale? Or go for the world stage too. If you need some tricks of the trade, let me know.

For now ....

John Gordon
The Infotainer
http://www.theinfotainer.com/
http://www.show-stoppers.co.uk/

TEARS FOR THE CROCODILE HUNTER

2006-09-04T10:15:00.000-07:00

The Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, aged 44
has died in a horrific accident involving a stingray
while filming an underwater documentary in Queensland

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20349888-2,00.html

The world's animals have lost a friend and we have lost a great presenter and teacher. He was a true infotainer who dabbled with the most dangerous and wowed the world. He was like a modern day Noah, a larger-than-life personality who opened our hearts and minds. His personality and style were infectious and an inspiration to us all!

A tragic loss and one full of irony. It's easy to think that wildlife is fragile when it is we who are often more so. Clearly no-one is beyond the backlash of the wild even the barb in the tail of a 'pusycat of the ocean'!

Steve made magic connections with nature for us, allowing many to replace fear with knowledge. His legacy of work will remain as a reminder for us all to learn the many lessons from.

John Gordon
The Infotainer
www.TheInfotainer.com
www.show-stoppers.co.uk

COKE v PEPSI

2006-08-25T05:27:00.000-07:00

A viral ad for your enjoyment.

There are a number of reasons this 'works' ... have a think and I'll post later about what lessons can be learned from this example.

John Gordon
The Infotainer
www.TheInfotainer.com
http://www.show-stoppers.co.uk/

YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

2006-08-21T15:49:00.000-07:00

Here's something I bet you didn't know!

First, turn on your sound and turn up the volume.

Now go to http://www.yahoo.com/ and look for the Yahoo! logo at the top. Got it? You see the exclamation mark (designers call a 'screamer') at the end, put your cursor on the dot at the bottom (right by the (R) sign) and click! NOT on this graphic... go to their HomePage.

Isn't that cool?

This has moved from the blatant (see last post) to the super subtle!

So what's all that about?

I don't know but think it has something to do with Google!

Really. I suspect that Yahoo! are a bit sore about Google's success and the fact that to Google is now a commonplace term. I think that they should, and are, making attempts to claw back some ground and get people to play with their name some more. If they could get people yodelling Yahoooooo! around the office, it's a start. And my guess is that this is the start of a viral campaign to do just that.

So, let's help them and send a link here to all your friends so they can learn about it too!

John Gordon
The Infotainer
www.TheInfotainer.com
www.Show-Stoppers.co.uk

WARNING: SEXUALLY EXPLICIT!

2006-08-11T03:51:00.001-07:00

WARNING: SEXUALLY EXPLICIT!

I asked before what people believe they have to do to get attention. For many years there has been acts on 'the circuit' that have gained attention, even 'fame' through stepping 'over the line' and creating a buzz and thus getting booked. It provides work for them and puts 'bums on seats' for the booker.

Here's a current version of one such act, SWticky Vicky who was 'working' the Spanish sun spots this summer. But BE WARNED ... this contains both nudity and ends with a more than suggestive action!

http://www.dailymotion.com/blog/video/431648?key=fzkyzjudxyf9c7z3jdbtk60mql3vksr89adc00na&play=
1&referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tastelikepizza.com%2Findex.php

Before I discuss some implications of that, what perhaps surprised me most was not the act (these have been underground for many years) but the venue and the audience. Whilst you think on that ....

John Gordon
The Infotainer
www.TheInfotainer.com
www.Show-Stoppers.co.uk