Billet reading
Billet reading is a mentalism effect where a performer gives the impression that he is able to correctly identify, using supposed clairvoyant powers, messages that have been sealed inside envelopes. Although billet reading is accomplished by a simple secret, the effect can effectively give the impression of mind reading. Billet reading is usually demonstrated as an entertaining parlor trick by magicians and mentalists. Psychics and mediums often use the technique to demonstrate their alleged supernatural abilities.
The effect is generally demonstrated as follows: Members of the audience are invited to write on small slips of paper, or billets. The messages can be questions for the deceased or simply questions or statements that the magician performing the effect would not otherwise know. These billets are sealed inside envelopes which are collected together. The magician then takes the envelopes one at a time and accurately describes the message found inside. After announcing the contents of an envelope, the magician opens it, as to check how accurate his prediction was.
The technique used in billet reading is called the one-ahead method. It relies on the magician knowing what is inside of one of the envelopes and then using that information to stay one step ahead of the audience. When the magician is supposedly predicting the contents of the first envelope, he is really reciting what he has already read from another envelope that he opened secretly. When he opens the envelope to "check" his answer, he is actually reading the information so that he can make the next "prediction". The final envelope that is opened is either a decoy that does not contain any message, or is actually the envelope at which the magician had peeked inside at the start of the trick.
References
- Ho, Oliver. How to Read Minds & Other Magic Tricks. ISBN 0806976454
- Irwin, Harvey J. Introduction to Parapsychology. ISBN 0806976454
- Anneman, Theodore. Practical Mental Magic. ISBN 0486244261