The Line Up

A modern audience participation routine combining the Chair Test and Sneak Thief plots

Audience participation has always been at the heart of powerful stage mentalism.

When multiple spectators make seemingly free decisions, interact naturally with one another, and collectively create impossible outcomes in full view of an audience, the result can feel far more personal and memorable than a simple demonstration of prediction alone.

The Line Up was developed from that philosophy.

Originally created and refined through over 15 years of professional performance, The Line Up combines elements of two classic mentalism plots - the Chair Test and Sneak Thief - into a layered multi-phase routine designed for real-world parlour and stage environments.

The result is a performance packed with audience interaction, humour, direct mind reading, psychometry, and a series of escalating revelations that build towards a fully customisable prediction finale.

Combining Two Classic Mentalism Plots

The Line Up fuses ideas drawn from:

• the classic Chair Test
• Larry Becker’s Sneak Thief
• structured audience participation
• prediction mentalism
• psychometry
• live drawing duplication

Rather than presenting these ideas as separate demonstrations, The Line Up blends them into one continuous performance structure where each phase naturally builds upon the last.

This creates a routine that feels:

• interactive
• impossible
• personal
• entertaining
• highly visual

while remaining practical for professional performance conditions.

The Effect

Four audience members are invited on stage.

Each participant freely selects and secretly conceals a marker pen before answering a series of simple 50/50 questions which gradually determine where they stand or sit within the performance area.

As the routine progresses, participants create drawings, memories, words, or personal thoughts which become mixed and impossible to track.

Working alongside the audience, the performer successfully identifies who created each piece of information before ultimately revealing a final thought under seemingly impossible conditions.

Just as the audience believes the routine has concluded, a final series of layered predictions reveals that the performer anticipated the outcomes long before the routine even began.

The finale can also be customised to suit specific clients, events, or corporate environments.

Designed For Real-World Performance

The Line Up was created specifically for professional parlour, stage, corporate, and private event environments where audience management, pacing, and clarity are essential.

The routine was designed to:

• play large
• pack flat
• involve multiple participants
• generate strong audience reactions
• remain flexible across different venues and events

Like all Read My Mind Ltd releases, the emphasis throughout is on:

Simple & Direct Mentalism.

Rather than relying on fragile technology or overly complicated procedure, The Line Up uses practical methods and carefully structured audience interaction to create multiple moments of impossibility throughout the performance.

Built Around Audience Interaction

One of the strongest aspects of The Line Up is the amount of genuine audience involvement it creates.

Every performance develops differently depending on:

• participant choices
• audience reactions
• responses during the routine
• customised presentations
• event-specific scripting

This flexibility allows the routine to remain fresh for both the audience and performer while still maintaining a highly reliable underlying structure.

The Line Up was specifically designed for performers who value:

• interaction
• pacing
• layered revelations
• audience connection
• strong theatrical structure

over simple one-dimensional prediction effects.

Customisable For Corporate & Event Work

The final prediction phase within The Line Up can be tailored to suit:

• corporate events
• private functions
• weddings
• after-dinner shows
• branded performances
• bespoke presentations

This adaptability made the routine particularly popular among professional event performers looking for a large-scale audience participation piece that could feel unique to a specific audience or client.

What Was Included

The Line Up originally included:

• 4 bespoke dry erase pockets
• Special gimmicked pen box
• 4 Artline 5100A dry erase markers
• 4 numbered prediction discs
• Large zippered performance pouch
• Online instructional video
• Full live performance video
• Access to the owners community

The dry erase pockets were specially manufactured for Read My Mind Ltd to prevent accidental smudging or unwanted wiping during performance.

The system also featured an optical marking system developed by Looch and Phill Smith, allowing information to be read clearly and naturally from significant performance distances.

Only 150 sets were produced worldwide.

Professional Praise

“What a fantastic routine! You’ve combined two classic effects into a multi-phase, multi-reveal, stage filling, audience pleasing stunner! This will slot perfectly into any professional’s act!”

Marc Paul

“I was waiting for this release for years! This is a fantastic stage mentalism act that plays massive! Mind reading, psychometry, predictions, all packed in a professional set which is a joy to use! I predict that this will go straight in the repertoire of many performers!”

Luca Volpe

“I love chair predictions and they are a feature item in my professional stage shows. ‘The Line Up’ is a great addition to routines of this genre; it packs really flat, plays really big, is visual, involves multiple spectators and has multiple moments of amazement. What I love best of all, in typical Looch fashion - it’s all low tech, classic methods that won’t fail you.”

Nique Tan

The Line Up And The Future

Although the original limited edition release is now sold out, The Line Up remains an important example of modern audience participation mentalism built around classic foundational plots.

Future developments and expanded professional versions connected to The Line Up concept may be explored in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Chair Test in mentalism?

The Chair Test is a classic audience participation mentalism plot where participants make apparently free choices which ultimately lead to a predicted or impossible final arrangement.

What is Sneak Thief?

Sneak Thief is a classic mentalism routine created by Larry Becker involving hidden objects, psychometry-style revelations, and audience interaction.

Is The Line Up a prediction effect?

Partly. While prediction elements are used throughout the routine, The Line Up also incorporates psychometry, audience reading, participant interaction, and layered revelations.

Is The Line Up suitable for corporate events?

Yes. The routine was specifically designed to work well within corporate, private, and live event environments and includes a customisable finale for bespoke presentations.

How long is the routine?

The Line Up was designed as an approximately 15-minute parlour or stage routine featuring multiple audience participation phases.

Was The Line Up a limited release?

Yes. Only 150 sets were originally produced worldwide.