Art of Improvisation

As a student (though not a practitioner) of the conjuring and mentalist arts, I enjoyed Massimo Polidoro's series on "The Devious Art of Improvising" (concluded in May/June 2007). I have used the principles for years to amuse myself and astound my friends.

Upon arriving at the home of an unemployed actor friend to watch a rented movie, the telephone rang. As he left the room to answer it, I joked, "It's Hollywood calling." He returned with a shocked look, asking how I had known that the Hollywood Video store had called to tell him he had left his credit card. I soberly insisted that I often had such psychic flashes. He is a fellow skeptic, and I strung him along until he was beside himself. Finally, I mercifully revealed the confusion.

In the days before caller ID, I took to answering the phone with a sunny, "Hi there, you little cutie!" About 90 percent of callers were stunned, and asked, "How did you know it was me?."

Joe Hutchings

Seattle, Washington

COPYRIGHT 2007 Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning