When considering magic, or fraud, people often fail to consider the most obvious and devious ways in which the deception could be pulled off. I have often hear statements like: “The couldn’t do it that way, it is too obvious.” But why not do the obvious, if it makes the deception work.
Here is an interesting article from Skeptical Inquirer about deception, improvising, and the Amazing Randi.
The Devious Art of Improvising
The great fake psychics are great improvisationists. This means that a really good pseudo-psychic is able to produce phenomena under almost any circumstance. A quick mind and a good knowledge of the techniques and psychology of deception are all that is needed. Sometimes, only a quick mind is enough.
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