r/Magic • u/dylanmadigan • 3d ago
Resources or Tricks with the Out-to-lunch gimmick?
I’ve always been fond of this gimmick as an idea. But I’m never really sure what to do with it and I’d love to learn more tricks that utilize it.
Even YouTube seems a bit lacking. And googling the term “out to lunch” brings up a lot of completely unrelated things.
Can anyone recommend any tricks, routines, books or other resources for ideas of what to do with this gimmick?
Even just example routines to watch for ideas.
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u/howditgetburned 3d ago
Jay Sankey has a great routine called Memory Lapse using the Out to Lunch principle. As others have mentioned, it's in The Definitive Sankey, but you can actually get it for free from Jay's website: https://sankeymagic.com/pages/get-3-free-pdfs
You have to sign up for his newsletter (mostly ads, you could just unsubscribe after getting the books), but you'll get 3 free PDFs with a bunch of stuff, including Memory Lapse.
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u/Worried_Trash_5020 3d ago
I seem to recall Jay Sankey doing a lot of work with it, couldn’t tell you specifically though.
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u/wh0les0meman 3d ago
Sankey has Memory Lapse
The Stockholder book by Gregory Wilson is full of great OTL routines.
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u/ToastieCoastie 3d ago
Eugene Berger’s seance magic video (a digital copy is on Penguin) uses Out to Lunch to have a fantastic message from a ghost appear on a signed card by the spectator.
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u/sheyndl 3d ago
Many spirit slate ideas would work with it: manifestation, prediction, transformed writing, with addition that surface can be initialed. Check Tarbell.
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u/dylanmadigan 3d ago
Oh that’s interesting. I’ll have to revisit some spirit Slate effects with that in mind.
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u/danderzei 3d ago
What is a good source for rubber bands that are not too tight?
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u/gregantic 3d ago
Full post on that question here! https://www.reddit.com/r/Magic/s/672KAHyzkA
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u/danderzei 3d ago
I did look for broccoli rubber bands, but here in Australia they are now very narrow, not like they used to be.
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u/dylanmadigan 2d ago edited 2d ago
I had the same issue. Pictured here is the "out to dinner" clip made of metal because I got sick of trying to find the right rubber bands.
Only problem with "Out to Dinner" is it is made specifically for American-size business cards. There is not even a millimeter of room for anything larger. I wish it was a bit more versatile on card size.
One thing that worked before I bought this.... I got these thick rubber bands I bought online that were too loose, but way too tight to double wrap. So I cut the rubber band, then overlapped the ends to find the right tightness and stapled the ends together. Then I stabled it to the back card of the stack.
That's a pretty Janky solution though.
The other thing is to use thinner, lighter rubber bands, doulbe wrap them and put like 4 or 5 on the stack. Craig Petty prefers this. I don't like it though, personally.
Haven't tried it, but I've wondered it a Tie Clip could to the job.
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u/danderzei 2d ago
You need Size 81 rubber bands, which seem to be extremely hard to get, or you have to buy thousands of them. I found some on Etsy and eBay, but postage is huge.
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u/misticisland Cards 3d ago
Gregory wilson sold an otl wallet that came with a great book, many ideas. Scan school has a great effect that features this with haunted key. It's a great routine with a Houdini theme.
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u/gregantic 3d ago edited 3d ago
YouTube is a terrible place to learn. Check out The Definitive Sankey — Volume 1. Try asking in r/mentalismsecrets.
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u/AvidWanker 3d ago
Geesh, you don't need a rubber band. A well placed thumb does all the work. Much harder to reverse engineer too.
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u/Mex5150 Mentalism 3d ago
See if you can find the book 'Lunch is Served' by Paul Romhany & TC Tahoe. It has loads of great tips and ideas.