[Music] hello my friends my name is Rick lacs
hello my friends my name is Rick lacs
hello my friends my name is Rick lacs and I do not have any cool slides
and I do not have any cool slides
and I do not have any cool slides prepared for you see but I am gonna try
prepared for you see but I am gonna try
prepared for you see but I am gonna try to read your mind right now oh yeah he’s
to read your mind right now oh yeah he’s
to read your mind right now oh yeah he’s the guy from Facebook that’s right
the guy from Facebook that’s right
the guy from Facebook that’s right that’s me I’m the guy and I’m here now
that’s me I’m the guy and I’m here now
that’s me I’m the guy and I’m here now but you can’t push the like button cuz
but you can’t push the like button cuz
but you can’t push the like button cuz I’m just talking to you anyways ah and
I’m just talking to you anyways ah and
I’m just talking to you anyways ah and if you don’t know who I am that is a
if you don’t know who I am that is a
if you don’t know who I am that is a weird joke everyone imagine that we’re
weird joke everyone imagine that we’re
weird joke everyone imagine that we’re going out to dinner right now okay and
going out to dinner right now okay and
going out to dinner right now okay and now it’s time for dessert and you’re
now it’s time for dessert and you’re
now it’s time for dessert and you’re gonna order dessert for us something
gonna order dessert for us something
gonna order dessert for us something nice like ice cream or tiramisu think
nice like ice cream or tiramisu think
nice like ice cream or tiramisu think about what that dessert is you got it
about what that dessert is you got it
about what that dessert is you got it you got it okay now we’re gonna use that
you got it okay now we’re gonna use that
you got it okay now we’re gonna use that dessert to pick a letter so think of the
dessert to pick a letter so think of the
dessert to pick a letter so think of the last letter in the desert you’re
last letter in the desert you’re
last letter in the desert you’re thinking of so if you were thinking of a
thinking of so if you were thinking of a
thinking of so if you were thinking of a Baked Alaska
Baked Alaska
Baked Alaska then you would have the letter A Alaska
then you would have the letter A Alaska
then you would have the letter A Alaska ends with an A if you’re thinking about
ends with an A if you’re thinking about
ends with an A if you’re thinking about it doughnut then you would be thinking
it doughnut then you would be thinking
it doughnut then you would be thinking about the letter T don’t PluralEyes it
about the letter T don’t PluralEyes it
about the letter T don’t PluralEyes it if you would doughnut don’t say
if you would doughnut don’t say
if you would doughnut don’t say doughnuts with the S just think of the T
doughnuts with the S just think of the T
doughnuts with the S just think of the T if you had doughnuts change so you have
if you had doughnuts change so you have
if you had doughnuts change so you have something else so now everyone is
something else so now everyone is
something else so now everyone is thinking of a letter the last letter in
thinking of a letter the last letter in
thinking of a letter the last letter in your dessert right right good think of
your dessert right right good think of
your dessert right right good think of try to think of a big animal whose name
try to think of a big animal whose name
try to think of a big animal whose name begins with that letter so if you’re a
begins with that letter so if you’re a
begins with that letter so if you’re a Baked Alaska
Baked Alaska
Baked Alaska that could be an anaconda or an
that could be an anaconda or an
that could be an anaconda or an alligator you’re thinking of a doughnut
alligator you’re thinking of a doughnut
alligator you’re thinking of a doughnut that would be a Tyrannosaurus Rex
that would be a Tyrannosaurus Rex
that would be a Tyrannosaurus Rex something everyone’s thinking of a big
something everyone’s thinking of a big
something everyone’s thinking of a big animal okay if I can somehow guess what
animal okay if I can somehow guess what
animal okay if I can somehow guess what your big animal is I ask that you burst
your big animal is I ask that you burst
your big animal is I ask that you burst into applause and then we get the TED
into applause and then we get the TED
into applause and then we get the TED talk going sound fair
talk going sound fair
talk going sound fair okay here we go you are thinking of
well thank you and welcome to my TED
well thank you and welcome to my TED talk I’m gonna tell you a little bit by
talk I’m gonna tell you a little bit by
talk I’m gonna tell you a little bit by myself then I’m gonna tell you about the
myself then I’m gonna tell you about the
myself then I’m gonna tell you about the trick that I just did and how I got to
trick that I just did and how I got to
trick that I just did and how I got to be doing it my name is Rick and oh yeah
be doing it my name is Rick and oh yeah
be doing it my name is Rick and oh yeah we whispering about I’m so curious for
we whispering about I’m so curious for
we whispering about I’m so curious for you saying I can’t tell cuz usually I
you saying I can’t tell cuz usually I
you saying I can’t tell cuz usually I just perform on Facebook so I would get
just perform on Facebook so I would get
just perform on Facebook so I would get to hear the conversation unless
to hear the conversation unless
to hear the conversation unless someone’s leaving a comment telling me
someone’s leaving a comment telling me
someone’s leaving a comment telling me to kill myself which is really common
to kill myself which is really common
to kill myself which is really common anyway so my name is Rick I was born
anyway so my name is Rick I was born
anyway so my name is Rick I was born here in Detroit then moved to South
here in Detroit then moved to South
here in Detroit then moved to South field yep I lived most of my life in
field yep I lived most of my life in
field yep I lived most of my life in West Bloomfield Michigan and then I went
West Bloomfield Michigan and then I went
West Bloomfield Michigan and then I went to school at Michigan State yeah and
to school at Michigan State yeah and
to school at Michigan State yeah and then after one year I transferred to
then after one year I transferred to
then after one year I transferred to University of Michigan and I got out of
University of Michigan and I got out of
University of Michigan and I got out of there
there
there and now that I’ve offended a half the
and now that I’ve offended a half the
and now that I’ve offended a half the audience I can tell you that after
audience I can tell you that after
audience I can tell you that after school I went to Chicago for Law School
school I went to Chicago for Law School
school I went to Chicago for Law School and then I became a lawyer didn’t
and then I became a lawyer didn’t
and then I became a lawyer didn’t practice wrote some books and now I do
practice wrote some books and now I do
practice wrote some books and now I do magic
magic
magic which is weird I’ve been interested in
which is weird I’ve been interested in
which is weird I’ve been interested in magic though for as long as I can
magic though for as long as I can
magic though for as long as I can remember I remember going over to my
remember I remember going over to my
remember I remember going over to my grandparents house this is when I was
grandparents house this is when I was
grandparents house this is when I was three or four and they had the best
three or four and they had the best
three or four and they had the best collection of David Copperfield VHS
collection of David Copperfield VHS
collection of David Copperfield VHS tapes and I would watch with my my
tapes and I would watch with my my
tapes and I would watch with my my grandparents and my parents who are here
grandparents and my parents who are here
grandparents and my parents who are here somewhere
somewhere
somewhere where are they just so I know they’re
where are they just so I know they’re
where are they just so I know they’re right there
right there
right there I know it’s adorable right so we’d go
I know it’s adorable right so we’d go
I know it’s adorable right so we’d go over and I would see my grandmother just
over and I would see my grandmother just
over and I would see my grandmother just freak out at the magic he did she was
freak out at the magic he did she was
freak out at the magic he did she was very Ricky hotted how did he do it she
very Ricky hotted how did he do it she
very Ricky hotted how did he do it she was flabbergasted and I never used the
was flabbergasted and I never used the
was flabbergasted and I never used the word flabbergasted but she was and then
word flabbergasted but she was and then
word flabbergasted but she was and then also I got to see a David Copperfield
also I got to see a David Copperfield
also I got to see a David Copperfield perform live he would come to Michigan
perform live he would come to Michigan
perform live he would come to Michigan and when he would perform he would
and when he would perform he would
and when he would perform he would perform in this area that was okay do
perform in this area that was okay do
perform in this area that was okay do you guys know that it was bi it was
you guys know that it was bi it was
you guys know that it was bi it was literally where I’m standing right now
literally where I’m standing right now
literally where I’m standing right now he would perform at the Fox Theater
he would perform at the Fox Theater
he would perform at the Fox Theater standing right here and I would be where
standing right here and I would be where
standing right here and I would be where were you guys were and so I stayed with
were you guys were and so I stayed with
were you guys were and so I stayed with magic this whole time and then I just
magic this whole time and then I just
magic this whole time and then I just came back to it a year ago I started
came back to it a year ago I started
came back to it a year ago I started putting these magic videos online which
putting these magic videos online which
putting these magic videos online which is why some of the people recognized me
is why some of the people recognized me
is why some of the people recognized me that some of the younger people for
that some of the younger people for
that some of the younger people for those of you who don’t here’s the thing
those of you who don’t here’s the thing
those of you who don’t here’s the thing about me in the past year I have racked
about me in the past year I have racked
about me in the past year I have racked up 1 billion video views which thank you
up 1 billion video views which thank you
up 1 billion video views which thank you which I think and I’m open to being
which I think and I’m open to being
which I think and I’m open to being corrected here but I think this makes me
corrected here but I think this makes me
corrected here but I think this makes me the most viewed magician in the course
the most viewed magician in the course
the most viewed magician in the course of human history which is very thank you
of human history which is very thank you
of human history which is very thank you and it’s weird and it all happened in
and it’s weird and it all happened in
and it’s weird and it all happened in the past year but before that I was just
the past year but before that I was just
the past year but before that I was just creating magic for other magicians and I
creating magic for other magicians and I
creating magic for other magicians and I love the creative process I’ve been
love the creative process I’ve been
love the creative process I’ve been creating magic for so long do you guys
creating magic for so long do you guys
creating magic for so long do you guys want to see one of the first tricks that
want to see one of the first tricks that
want to see one of the first tricks that created all right I’m gonna do it it’s
created all right I’m gonna do it it’s
created all right I’m gonna do it it’s terrible
terrible
terrible one of the first ones I created it is
one of the first ones I created it is
one of the first ones I created it is called the color-changing ball trick
called the color-changing ball trick
called the color-changing ball trick which already is a problem because I
which already is a problem because I
which already is a problem because I just told you what the trick is and that
just told you what the trick is and that
just told you what the trick is and that kills the element of surprise so it’s
kills the element of surprise so it’s
kills the element of surprise so it’s not good it’s not good you know in
not good it’s not good you know in
not good it’s not good you know in advance it’s not good the red ball goes
advance it’s not good the red ball goes
advance it’s not good the red ball goes in the hand I make a stupid magic
in the hand I make a stupid magic
in the hand I make a stupid magic gesture and when I pull it out it’s
gesture and when I pull it out it’s
gesture and when I pull it out it’s green which is not good because the
green which is not good because the
green which is not good because the methods obvious right I’ve got a green
methods obvious right I’ve got a green
methods obvious right I’ve got a green ball in this hand red ball in this hand
ball in this hand red ball in this hand
ball in this hand red ball in this hand or do i if I did how is it the trick
or do i if I did how is it the trick
or do i if I did how is it the trick would still work with the red ball in my
would still work with the red ball in my
would still work with the red ball in my pocket yeah how could I change that red
pocket yeah how could I change that red
pocket yeah how could I change that red ball into a green ball and show you my
ball into a green ball and show you my
ball into a green ball and show you my other hand empty I’ll tell you how
other hand empty I’ll tell you how
other hand empty I’ll tell you how because I know there’s some confusion
because I know there’s some confusion
because I know there’s some confusion here start the trick I
here start the trick I
here start the trick I kept this hand closed that was
kept this hand closed that was
kept this hand closed that was misdirection I wanted you to think there
misdirection I wanted you to think there
misdirection I wanted you to think there was an extra ball in this hand there’s
was an extra ball in this hand there’s
was an extra ball in this hand there’s not show the ham stayed closed when I
not show the ham stayed closed when I
not show the ham stayed closed when I put the ball in stupid magic gesture
put the ball in stupid magic gesture
put the ball in stupid magic gesture pulled it out but there’s no ball in the
pulled it out but there’s no ball in the
pulled it out but there’s no ball in the hand the truth is I’ve just got one ball
hand the truth is I’ve just got one ball
hand the truth is I’ve just got one ball it’s made out of unicorns though that’s
it’s made out of unicorns though that’s
it’s made out of unicorns though that’s the secret and so the moral of the story
the secret and so the moral of the story
the secret and so the moral of the story is when a magician’s giving a TED talk
is when a magician’s giving a TED talk
is when a magician’s giving a TED talk saying he will reveal how a trick is
saying he will reveal how a trick is
saying he will reveal how a trick is done
done
done he is probably lying and setting up the
he is probably lying and setting up the
he is probably lying and setting up the tricks surprise grand finale conclusion
thank you so that’s that’s what I did
thank you so that’s that’s what I did for a while and now I started performing
for a while and now I started performing
for a while and now I started performing tricks as I said and I if some of you
tricks as I said and I if some of you
tricks as I said and I if some of you guys recognized me you know there’s just
guys recognized me you know there’s just
guys recognized me you know there’s just a ton of comments that I get on these
a ton of comments that I get on these
a ton of comments that I get on these videos I do where I do the tricks like
videos I do where I do the tricks like
videos I do where I do the tricks like that but I do it on Facebook 80% of the
that but I do it on Facebook 80% of the
that but I do it on Facebook 80% of the comments are positive 20% are negative
comments are positive 20% are negative
comments are positive 20% are negative facebook allows me to filter out the
facebook allows me to filter out the
facebook allows me to filter out the negative comments so you don’t get to
negative comments so you don’t get to
negative comments so you don’t get to see many of them but they’re really
see many of them but they’re really
see many of them but they’re really bothersome the one that bothers me the
bothersome the one that bothers me the
bothersome the one that bothers me the most is when people say anyone who falls
most is when people say anyone who falls
most is when people say anyone who falls for this guy’s tricks is an idiot I hate
for this guy’s tricks is an idiot I hate
for this guy’s tricks is an idiot I hate it when people say that because I use
it when people say that because I use
it when people say that because I use all my brainpower to come up with
all my brainpower to come up with
all my brainpower to come up with deceptive magic and so it’s fine if you
deceptive magic and so it’s fine if you
deceptive magic and so it’s fine if you fall for a trick I also realized that
fall for a trick I also realized that
fall for a trick I also realized that some of you might not fall for it maybe
some of you might not fall for it maybe
some of you might not fall for it maybe you know how the dessert trick was done
you know how the dessert trick was done
you know how the dessert trick was done maybe you know how the ball trick was
maybe you know how the ball trick was
maybe you know how the ball trick was done that doesn’t bother me because it’s
done that doesn’t bother me because it’s
done that doesn’t bother me because it’s a magician you guys know that I’m trying
a magician you guys know that I’m trying
a magician you guys know that I’m trying to trick you that’s the whole point of
to trick you that’s the whole point of
to trick you that’s the whole point of doing magic it’s so much easier to trick
doing magic it’s so much easier to trick
doing magic it’s so much easier to trick someone if you’re in sales person you’re
someone if you’re in sales person you’re
someone if you’re in sales person you’re in business if you’re running to be
in business if you’re running to be
in business if you’re running to be President of the United States
President of the United States
President of the United States they’ve got it so easy compared to me
they’ve got it so easy compared to me
they’ve got it so easy compared to me really any other profession if you’re a
really any other profession if you’re a
really any other profession if you’re a mechanic or if you’re in hospitality if
mechanic or if you’re in hospitality if
mechanic or if you’re in hospitality if you’re in the gaming industry in Vegas
you’re in the gaming industry in Vegas
you’re in the gaming industry in Vegas it’s so easy to trick someone because
it’s so easy to trick someone because
it’s so easy to trick someone because the other people don’t see it coming
the other people don’t see it coming
the other people don’t see it coming there’s a quote that I love from George
there’s a quote that I love from George
there’s a quote that I love from George Bernard Shaw he says that every
Bernard Shaw he says that every
Bernard Shaw he says that every profession is a conspiracy against the
profession is a conspiracy against the
profession is a conspiracy against the laity every profession is a conspiracy
laity every profession is a conspiracy
laity every profession is a conspiracy against the lady and I know that that’s
against the lady and I know that that’s
against the lady and I know that that’s true because when you’re not doing magic
true because when you’re not doing magic
true because when you’re not doing magic it is so easy to trick someone and the
it is so easy to trick someone and the
it is so easy to trick someone and the proof of that is that quote did not come
proof of that is that quote did not come
proof of that is that quote did not come from George Bernard Shaw I just lied to
from George Bernard Shaw I just lied to
from George Bernard Shaw I just lied to you guys and there’s the easiest thing
you guys and there’s the easiest thing
you guys and there’s the easiest thing ever when I do the magic very hard to
ever when I do the magic very hard to
ever when I do the magic very hard to trick you but if I’m just during the
trick you but if I’m just during the
trick you but if I’m just during the talk portion of the TED talk I can just
talk portion of the TED talk I can just
talk portion of the TED talk I can just say this quote came from him no it’s a
say this quote came from him no it’s a
say this quote came from him no it’s a Mark Twain quote and if you knew about
Mark Twain quote and if you knew about
Mark Twain quote and if you knew about literature you would know that Twain
literature you would know that Twain
literature you would know that Twain said it all the time Shaw would never
said it all the time Shaw would never
said it all the time Shaw would never say anything like that so it’s just so
say anything like that so it’s just so
say anything like that so it’s just so easy to trick someone and I know I’m
easy to trick someone and I know I’m
easy to trick someone and I know I’m Billy abbring the point but to prove
Billy abbring the point but to prove
Billy abbring the point but to prove that it’s not even a Mark Twain quote I
that it’s not even a Mark Twain quote I
that it’s not even a Mark Twain quote I just made it up and made it sound
just made it up and made it sound
just made it up and made it sound old-timey because it fit the point I was
old-timey because it fit the point I was
old-timey because it fit the point I was trying to make so the point is super
trying to make so the point is super
trying to make so the point is super easy to trick someone so what do you
easy to trick someone so what do you
easy to trick someone so what do you guys do if you don’t want to be tricked
guys do if you don’t want to be tricked
guys do if you don’t want to be tricked right here’s one solution never believe
right here’s one solution never believe
right here’s one solution never believe anything that anyone says ever yeah
anything that anyone says ever yeah
anything that anyone says ever yeah you’re laughing because it’s a bad
you’re laughing because it’s a bad
you’re laughing because it’s a bad solution so when the weatherman says
solution so when the weatherman says
solution so when the weatherman says it’s gonna rain bring an umbrella when
it’s gonna rain bring an umbrella when
it’s gonna rain bring an umbrella when the doctor says you’ve got strep throat
the doctor says you’ve got strep throat
the doctor says you’ve got strep throat take this medication when your
take this medication when your
take this medication when your grandparents say I love you
grandparents say I love you
grandparents say I love you these are not the right times for
these are not the right times for
these are not the right times for skepticism some of the skeptics they
skepticism some of the skeptics they
skepticism some of the skeptics they have an answer they say look for proof
have an answer they say look for proof
have an answer they say look for proof look for evidence but again if when the
look for evidence but again if when the
look for evidence but again if when the grandparents say they love you this
grandparents say they love you this
grandparents say they love you this isn’t the right time to whip out the
isn’t the right time to whip out the
isn’t the right time to whip out the polygraph machine also even if you’re
polygraph machine also even if you’re
polygraph machine also even if you’re looking for evidence you can still be
looking for evidence you can still be
looking for evidence you can still be tricked you can be looking right at it
tricked you can be looking right at it
tricked you can be looking right at it I’ll ask you about the identities of
I’ll ask you about the identities of
I’ll ask you about the identities of these cards try to remember the suits
these cards try to remember the suits
these cards try to remember the suits first one is Spade everyone remember
first one is Spade everyone remember
first one is Spade everyone remember Spade second one is heart everyone
Spade second one is heart everyone
Spade second one is heart everyone remember heart third one is club
remember heart third one is club
remember heart third one is club everyone remember club last one is
everyone remember club last one is
everyone remember club last one is diamond everyone remember diamonds
diamond everyone remember diamonds
diamond everyone remember diamonds all right some of you remember the order
all right some of you remember the order
all right some of you remember the order some of you don’t I don’t care about the
some of you don’t I don’t care about the
some of you don’t I don’t care about the order of the suits though here’s the
order of the suits though here’s the
order of the suits though here’s the question are these cards Jax or are they
question are these cards Jax or are they
question are these cards Jax or are they Kings hmm
Kings hmm
Kings hmm King some say Kings we’re not quite sure
King some say Kings we’re not quite sure
King some say Kings we’re not quite sure because we weren’t paying attention
because we weren’t paying attention
because we weren’t paying attention you’re paying attention to the wrong
you’re paying attention to the wrong
you’re paying attention to the wrong thing and that’s how I got them to all
thing and that’s how I got them to all
thing and that’s how I got them to all be eight I know I know
be eight I know I know
be eight I know I know so that’s a case where you were all
so that’s a case where you were all
so that’s a case where you were all looking for the proof but still I was
looking for the proof but still I was
looking for the proof but still I was able to deceive you so what do you do
able to deceive you so what do you do
able to deceive you so what do you do even looking for proof evidence that
even looking for proof evidence that
even looking for proof evidence that doesn’t do it here’s my solution be open
doesn’t do it here’s my solution be open
doesn’t do it here’s my solution be open to the possibility that you could be
to the possibility that you could be
to the possibility that you could be wrong be open to the possibility that
wrong be open to the possibility that
wrong be open to the possibility that you could be wrong if you live your life
you could be wrong if you live your life
you could be wrong if you live your life with this mindset then you get to follow
with this mindset then you get to follow
with this mindset then you get to follow your beliefs you get to act on them
your beliefs you get to act on them
your beliefs you get to act on them passionately but also in the rare cases
passionately but also in the rare cases
passionately but also in the rare cases that you’re wrong you’ll never have that
that you’re wrong you’ll never have that
that you’re wrong you’ll never have that feeling of getting the rug pulled out
feeling of getting the rug pulled out
feeling of getting the rug pulled out from under you and I think that’s where
from under you and I think that’s where
from under you and I think that’s where a lot of people go wrong that’s where a
a lot of people go wrong that’s where a
a lot of people go wrong that’s where a lot of people quit that they found out
lot of people quit that they found out
lot of people quit that they found out their whole belief system is messed up
their whole belief system is messed up
their whole belief system is messed up so as long as you stay open to the idea
so as long as you stay open to the idea
so as long as you stay open to the idea that you could be wrong
that you could be wrong
that you could be wrong I believe you can accomplish anything
I believe you can accomplish anything
I believe you can accomplish anything your childhood dreams you can make them
your childhood dreams you can make them
your childhood dreams you can make them come true here’s just one example I
come true here’s just one example I
come true here’s just one example I talked about David Copperfield a couple
talked about David Copperfield a couple
talked about David Copperfield a couple minutes ago talked about seeing him with
minutes ago talked about seeing him with
minutes ago talked about seeing him with my grandparents seeing him here on stage
my grandparents seeing him here on stage
my grandparents seeing him here on stage and now I’m proud to say that I work
and now I’m proud to say that I work
and now I’m proud to say that I work with David creating magic for him trying
with David creating magic for him trying
with David creating magic for him trying to inspire the next generation of
to inspire the next generation of
to inspire the next generation of magicians and I got this far thank you
and I got there by by working hard but I
and I got there by by working hard but I was following my beliefs but by staying
was following my beliefs but by staying
was following my beliefs but by staying open to the idea that I might be wrong
open to the idea that I might be wrong
open to the idea that I might be wrong and I know that I even though I’m a
and I know that I even though I’m a
and I know that I even though I’m a master of deception and and all this I
master of deception and and all this I
master of deception and and all this I know that I could be wrong because it’s
know that I could be wrong because it’s
know that I could be wrong because it’s just so easy to be wrong and then the
just so easy to be wrong and then the
just so easy to be wrong and then the proof of that and this is the final time
proof of that and this is the final time
proof of that and this is the final time I’m gonna mention this the proof of that
I’m gonna mention this the proof of that
I’m gonna mention this the proof of that is that the quote in fact did come from
is that the quote in fact did come from
is that the quote in fact did come from George Bernard Shaw as I first said and
George Bernard Shaw as I first said and
George Bernard Shaw as I first said and I will ask at this time you google that
I will ask at this time you google that
I will ask at this time you google that you fact check me but please only do so
you fact check me but please only do so
you fact check me but please only do so after I thank you for your time bow and
after I thank you for your time bow and
after I thank you for your time bow and exit the stage to thunderous applause
exit the stage to thunderous applause
exit the stage to thunderous applause thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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