The Burden Box by Paul Hamilton EXPLANATION

IMAGINE A BOX THAT WILL CAPTURE A SPECTATOR'S MEMORY OR THOUGHT.

A BOX THAT WILL LET YOUR SPECTATOR KNOW WHEN THAT MEMORY HAS ENTERED THE BOX.

A BOX THAT WILL TAKE ON THE WEIGHT OF YOUR BURDEN FOREVER.

THE BURDEN BOX WILL DO JUST THAT.

Effect 1

You ask a spectator to think of a memory that's been preying on their mind for years. One that haunts them.

You tell them that you are about to capture that memory once and for all.

You hand them a small black box to hold. The box is empty and can be fully examined. You go on to explain that whilst they hold the box and send the memory to the box, they may feel something weird happen and not to be afraid or throw the box away. You also let them know that when that weird feeling happens, that is when the memory will enter the box. They will no longer be able to tell you what that memory was. You take the box from them and feel that it is heavy. You ask them to feel the weight -- they are unable to lift it off your hand now.

When you finally open the box, you are releasing the haunting burden once and for all. They are handed the box and they discover that it is as light as it was when things began.

Effect 2

You explain you are going to show your spectator what it feels like to receive a thought from someone.

You introduce a small black box and ask that they take the lid off and look inside.

Once they are satisfied that it's empty, you ask them to hold the box in their hand.

You then ask them to think of some personal information like a PIN number, and to send it to the box, only in their mind. They must concentrate on the box and believe that they can do this. They are asked to tell you the moment when they feel the thought enters the box.

All of a sudden, the box gets heavier and they shout out.

You take the box from them and tell them you felt it as well. You then reveal the thought to them in any way you wish. I write it down, crumple it up, hand it to them, and walk away.