Why Magic Works | Akshay Laxman | TEDxVashi

[Music]

[Music] alright ladies and gentlemen I know I

alright ladies and gentlemen I know I

alright ladies and gentlemen I know I know you all saw the video you might be

know you all saw the video you might be

know you all saw the video you might be wondering they just announced he’s a

wondering they just announced he’s a

wondering they just announced he’s a mind reader what is he going to do well

mind reader what is he going to do well

mind reader what is he going to do well let me tell you guys don’t mind her I’m

let me tell you guys don’t mind her I’m

let me tell you guys don’t mind her I’m gonna come close to you each and every

gonna come close to you each and every

gonna come close to you each and every one of you men first and I’m going to

one of you men first and I’m going to

one of you men first and I’m going to tell you whether you’re cheating on your

tell you whether you’re cheating on your

tell you whether you’re cheating on your wife

no that’s not what I’m going to do

no that’s not what I’m going to do because that’s not mind reading that’s

because that’s not mind reading that’s

because that’s not mind reading that’s blackmailing

blackmailing

blackmailing I’m not a master of that my mother is I

heard that they used bouquets to welcome

heard that they used bouquets to welcome their guests there’s a quarter different

their guests there’s a quarter different

their guests there’s a quarter different kind of a welcome you can can someone

kind of a welcome you can can someone

kind of a welcome you can can someone this actually you know what let’s do

this actually you know what let’s do

this actually you know what let’s do something right over this yes

something right over this yes

something right over this yes empty can right now let’s let’s refill

empty can right now let’s let’s refill

empty can right now let’s let’s refill it

there you go so anybody thirsty right

there you go so anybody thirsty right now okay go ahead come on come over here

now okay go ahead come on come over here

now okay go ahead come on come over here anybody who’d like to have a drink okay

anybody who’d like to have a drink okay

anybody who’d like to have a drink okay you can have a drink right now let’s

you can have a drink right now let’s

you can have a drink right now let’s hear it for the amazing ten organization

hear it for the amazing ten organization

hear it for the amazing ten organization thank you so much self thank you thank

thank you so much self thank you thank

thank you so much self thank you thank you thank you so much all right so

you thank you so much all right so

you thank you so much all right so basically that’s what I do I make people

basically that’s what I do I make people

basically that’s what I do I make people believe things that aren’t real actually

believe things that aren’t real actually

believe things that aren’t real actually I’m the second person do that the first

I’m the second person do that the first

I’m the second person do that the first person was Pamela Anderson okay so so so

person was Pamela Anderson okay so so so

person was Pamela Anderson okay so so so that’s that’s the whole point basically

that’s that’s the whole point basically

that’s that’s the whole point basically to deceive and create deception

to deceive and create deception

to deceive and create deception now everybody as of K as kids you all

now everybody as of K as kids you all

now everybody as of K as kids you all have been fascinated with magic at some

have been fascinated with magic at some

have been fascinated with magic at some point right okay now my name is Akshay

point right okay now my name is Akshay

point right okay now my name is Akshay Lakshman but my actual full name is

Lakshman but my actual full name is

Lakshman but my actual full name is Akshay Atman Sharma sir Massa

Akshay Atman Sharma sir Massa

Akshay Atman Sharma sir Massa maintenance of some sort okay so coming

maintenance of some sort okay so coming

maintenance of some sort okay so coming back I was saying that that everyone as

back I was saying that that everyone as

back I was saying that that everyone as a kid is interested in in magic and

a kid is interested in in magic and

a kid is interested in in magic and finds fancied magic and being a magician

finds fancied magic and being a magician

finds fancied magic and being a magician I always fancied something else I was

I always fancied something else I was

I always fancied something else I was always intrigued by that why are the

always intrigued by that why are the

always intrigued by that why are the audience’s enjoying magic so much like

audience’s enjoying magic so much like

audience’s enjoying magic so much like what’s so special about it

what’s so special about it

what’s so special about it plus because I knew a few tricks I

plus because I knew a few tricks I

plus because I knew a few tricks I learned them by a relative or a friend I

learned them by a relative or a friend I

learned them by a relative or a friend I always had this question why is the

always had this question why is the

always had this question why is the audience actually believing when a

audience actually believing when a

audience actually believing when a magician is sawing a girl in half and

magician is sawing a girl in half and

magician is sawing a girl in half and joining her back why do they believe

joining her back why do they believe

joining her back why do they believe that it’s real

that it’s real

that it’s real why don’t they think why don’t they feel

why don’t they think why don’t they feel

why don’t they think why don’t they feel that they were there obviously two girls

that they were there obviously two girls

that they were there obviously two girls hidden inside all the magicians now they

hidden inside all the magicians now they

hidden inside all the magicians now they want to kill me right now these are

want to kill me right now these are

want to kill me right now these are ancient secrets and creations have

so I so when I was okay and I say my

so I so when I was okay and I say my gosh do you have a point that I can

gosh do you have a point that I can

gosh do you have a point that I can borrow

okay okay okay okay so you also acted

okay okay okay okay so you also acted they was fishing here one in my hand

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

because I was so everybody comes to me

because I was so everybody comes to me and there are see me disappear when

and there are see me disappear when

and there are see me disappear when management wants really work then when I

management wants really work then when I

management wants really work then when I spoke to them when I asked him what did

spoke to them when I asked him what did

spoke to them when I asked him what did but it was tell you what happened and

but it was tell you what happened and

but it was tell you what happened and they all gave me different versions of

they all gave me different versions of

they all gave me different versions of this so I thought okay nobody knows

this so I thought okay nobody knows

this so I thought okay nobody knows exactly what happened so there you go

exactly what happened so there you go

exactly what happened so there you go here was my first discovery my first

here was my first discovery my first

here was my first discovery my first discovery was why magic thank you so

discovery was why magic thank you so

discovery was why magic thank you so much why magic works was our thinking

much why magic works was our thinking

much why magic works was our thinking patterns are different okay and by all I

patterns are different okay and by all I

patterns are different okay and by all I mean just two entities the performer and

mean just two entities the performer and

mean just two entities the performer and the audience and here’s a different

the audience and here’s a different

the audience and here’s a different pattern I speak about the audience first

pattern I speak about the audience first

pattern I speak about the audience first okay

okay

okay the way your audience or my audience

the way your audience or my audience

the way your audience or my audience perceives magic the thinking pattern is

perceives magic the thinking pattern is

perceives magic the thinking pattern is a linear thinking pattern it’s like a

a linear thinking pattern it’s like a

a linear thinking pattern it’s like a straight or like a logical thinking

straight or like a logical thinking

straight or like a logical thinking pattern okay this thinking baton is

pattern okay this thinking baton is

pattern okay this thinking baton is basically something we all grow up with

basically something we all grow up with

basically something we all grow up with because that’s how we are taught in

because that’s how we are taught in

because that’s how we are taught in schools a b c d e f 1 2 3 4 5 6

schools a b c d e f 1 2 3 4 5 6

schools a b c d e f 1 2 3 4 5 6 it just goes straight okay that’s a

it just goes straight okay that’s a

it just goes straight okay that’s a linear thinking pattern and I feel this

linear thinking pattern and I feel this

linear thinking pattern and I feel this linear thinking pattern is something

linear thinking pattern is something

linear thinking pattern is something that is stopping most of the kids to

that is stopping most of the kids to

that is stopping most of the kids to unleash their inner creativity and I

unleash their inner creativity and I

unleash their inner creativity and I tell you why you must have seen those

tell you why you must have seen those

tell you why you must have seen those t-shirts would say

t-shirts would say

t-shirts would say I was born intelligent but education

I was born intelligent but education

I was born intelligent but education ruined me sadly that’s true

ruined me sadly that’s true

ruined me sadly that’s true like in most cases that’s true I’ll tell

like in most cases that’s true I’ll tell

like in most cases that’s true I’ll tell you why because we as elders to our kids

you why because we as elders to our kids

you why because we as elders to our kids like parents teachers or elder siblings

like parents teachers or elder siblings

like parents teachers or elder siblings or whoever they tend to get so strict

or whoever they tend to get so strict

or whoever they tend to get so strict with the students with the young

with the students with the young

with the students with the young students that they are not allowed to

students that they are not allowed to

students that they are not allowed to make any mistake you cannot how can you

make any mistake you cannot how can you

make any mistake you cannot how can you make a mistake it’s a silly mistake how

make a mistake it’s a silly mistake how

make a mistake it’s a silly mistake how can you make mistake because if you make

can you make mistake because if you make

can you make mistake because if you make mistakes you’re wrong right

mistakes you’re wrong right

mistakes you’re wrong right but the greatest discoveries can happen

but the greatest discoveries can happen

but the greatest discoveries can happen only if to take a part which is not

only if to take a part which is not

only if to take a part which is not taken and the point is that mistakes and

taken and the point is that mistakes and

taken and the point is that mistakes and creativity are first cousins of each

creativity are first cousins of each

creativity are first cousins of each other so if we stop our kids or our

other so if we stop our kids or our

other so if we stop our kids or our siblings or the young ones from making

siblings or the young ones from making

siblings or the young ones from making mistakes we are taking away that the

mistakes we are taking away that the

mistakes we are taking away that the gift of being creative that’s what’s

gift of being creative that’s what’s

gift of being creative that’s what’s happening in the education system I also

happening in the education system I also

happening in the education system I also was into the linear thinking pattern

was into the linear thinking pattern

was into the linear thinking pattern until I came across magic and I

until I came across magic and I

until I came across magic and I understood and I discovered another

understood and I discovered another

understood and I discovered another thing in pattern which is the lateral

thing in pattern which is the lateral

thing in pattern which is the lateral thinking pattern okay now lateral

thinking pattern okay now lateral

thinking pattern okay now lateral thinking was discovered in the term like

thinking was discovered in the term like

thinking was discovered in the term like I’m thinking was coined by Edward de

I’m thinking was coined by Edward de

I’m thinking was coined by Edward de Bono he has a book called lateral

Bono he has a book called lateral

Bono he has a book called lateral thinking now what is lateral thinking

thinking now what is lateral thinking

thinking now what is lateral thinking this is what it is linear pattern is you

this is what it is linear pattern is you

this is what it is linear pattern is you think straight

think straight

think straight logically lateral thinking is you don’t

logically lateral thinking is you don’t

logically lateral thinking is you don’t have any direction you can go haywire

have any direction you can go haywire

have any direction you can go haywire it’s up to you linear thinking is KBC

it’s up to you linear thinking is KBC

it’s up to you linear thinking is KBC lateral thinking is a CD said going to

lateral thinking is a CD said going to

lateral thinking is a CD said going to alpha anything the actual lateral that’s

alpha anything the actual lateral that’s

alpha anything the actual lateral that’s a creative form of thinking now why does

a creative form of thinking now why does

a creative form of thinking now why does this apply to magic how does this apply

this apply to magic how does this apply

this apply to magic how does this apply for this I’d require potatoes back on

for this I’d require potatoes back on

for this I’d require potatoes back on stage okay Vinny Johnny Bach instead

stage okay Vinny Johnny Bach instead

stage okay Vinny Johnny Bach instead let’s say for every one more time such a

let’s say for every one more time such a

let’s say for every one more time such a great sport thank you so much please

great sport thank you so much please

great sport thank you so much please join me on my left again

join me on my left again

join me on my left again now here yeah as what has happened I am

now here yeah as what has happened I am

now here yeah as what has happened I am going to divide this trick deconstructed

going to divide this trick deconstructed

going to divide this trick deconstructed into three steps so that you can learn

into three steps so that you can learn

into three steps so that you can learn it you need a hand

it you need a hand

it you need a hand okay two points are 18 minutes okay

okay two points are 18 minutes okay

okay two points are 18 minutes okay so the other thing that step 1 or step a

so the other thing that step 1 or step a

so the other thing that step 1 or step a is that I held the coin in my hand okay

is that I held the coin in my hand okay

is that I held the coin in my hand okay I held the coin that step a and then

I held the coin that step a and then

I held the coin that step a and then step see is that the coin vanished now

step see is that the coin vanished now

step see is that the coin vanished now here’s the step you all miss which is a

here’s the step you all miss which is a

here’s the step you all miss which is a step B that I have not even transferred

step B that I have not even transferred

step B that I have not even transferred the coin it’s still in my right hand

the coin it’s still in my right hand

the coin it’s still in my right hand okay I’ve just pretended to put the coin

okay I’ve just pretended to put the coin

okay I’ve just pretended to put the coin in the left hand so step a is to show

in the left hand so step a is to show

in the left hand so step a is to show the coin step B is to pretend that I am

the coin step B is to pretend that I am

the coin step B is to pretend that I am putting the coin and step C is open the

putting the coin and step C is open the

putting the coin and step C is open the hand and show that it’s vanished

hand and show that it’s vanished

hand and show that it’s vanished now magic works because surprise works

now magic works because surprise works

now magic works because surprise works and how the surprise work because

and how the surprise work because

and how the surprise work because somewhere between the start and the a

somewhere between the start and the a

somewhere between the start and the a you are mislead in the center or in the

you are mislead in the center or in the

you are mislead in the center or in the middle okay

middle okay

middle okay as a magician I am presenting to you in

as a magician I am presenting to you in

as a magician I am presenting to you in each act that I perform like a puzzle

each act that I perform like a puzzle

each act that I perform like a puzzle where you see the beginning of the trick

where you see the beginning of the trick

where you see the beginning of the trick and you see the end of the trick but I

and you see the end of the trick but I

and you see the end of the trick but I allow you to just assume whatever was

allow you to just assume whatever was

allow you to just assume whatever was the middle and let me show you in a

the middle and let me show you in a

the middle and let me show you in a linear pattern I would simply take the

linear pattern I would simply take the

linear pattern I would simply take the coin transfer it and give it to him

coin transfer it and give it to him

coin transfer it and give it to him that’s the linear pattern that’s the

that’s the linear pattern that’s the

that’s the linear pattern that’s the pattern

pattern

pattern everybody’s brains are primed to think

everybody’s brains are primed to think

everybody’s brains are primed to think that if he’s holding the coin here and

that if he’s holding the coin here and

that if he’s holding the coin here and if he is transferring it here then

if he is transferring it here then

if he is transferring it here then obviously the coin must be there but the

obviously the coin must be there but the

obviously the coin must be there but the lateral thinking comes here that I am

lateral thinking comes here that I am

lateral thinking comes here that I am showing you the coin here and now I am

showing you the coin here and now I am

showing you the coin here and now I am disrupting your thinking pattern I am

disrupting your thinking pattern I am

disrupting your thinking pattern I am putting the coin and basically just

putting the coin and basically just

putting the coin and basically just pretending to put the coin okay so

pretending to put the coin okay so

pretending to put the coin okay so because everybody’s brains are primed to

because everybody’s brains are primed to

because everybody’s brains are primed to think logically because everyone will

think logically because everyone will

think logically because everyone will see why will he just pretend to put the

see why will he just pretend to put the

see why will he just pretend to put the coin like until his mental or a

coin like until his mental or a

coin like until his mental or a Mentalist

Mentalist

Mentalist okay okay let’s come back a little bit

okay okay let’s come back a little bit

okay okay let’s come back a little bit okay so that we all can watch it okay

okay so that we all can watch it okay

okay so that we all can watch it okay that’s a what’s leave one more time

that’s a what’s leave one more time

that’s a what’s leave one more time step one I have taken the coin okay step

step one I have taken the coin okay step

step one I have taken the coin okay step B I have pretended to put it there so

B I have pretended to put it there so

B I have pretended to put it there so according to me

according to me

according to me I am the lightning trigger so the coin

I am the lightning trigger so the coin

I am the lightning trigger so the coin is hidden in this hand so according to

is hidden in this hand so according to

is hidden in this hand so according to you the coin is in that hand now when I

you the coin is in that hand now when I

you the coin is in that hand now when I open the hand I knew there’s nothing to

open the hand I knew there’s nothing to

open the hand I knew there’s nothing to be amazed about because the coin was

be amazed about because the coin was

be amazed about because the coin was never there but for you because you are

never there but for you because you are

never there but for you because you are already expecting the coin to be here

already expecting the coin to be here

already expecting the coin to be here now the coin has vanished okay alright

now the coin has vanished okay alright

now the coin has vanished okay alright so that’s basically what lateral thing

so that’s basically what lateral thing

so that’s basically what lateral thing is thank you so much sir you can go back

is thank you so much sir you can go back

is thank you so much sir you can go back again that’s right for mr. Willy one

again that’s right for mr. Willy one

again that’s right for mr. Willy one more time so I discovered that why magic

more time so I discovered that why magic

more time so I discovered that why magic works now I show you I got to experience

works now I show you I got to experience

works now I show you I got to experience discoveries right now here’s my second

discoveries right now here’s my second

discoveries right now here’s my second discovery and in fact the most important

discovery and in fact the most important

discovery and in fact the most important discovery of all when I make all of them

discovery of all when I make all of them

discovery of all when I make all of them all those friends of editors they gave

all those friends of editors they gave

all those friends of editors they gave me different versions of that trick you

me different versions of that trick you

me different versions of that trick you remember that you just end the coin and

remember that you just end the coin and

remember that you just end the coin and it disappear

it disappear

it disappear so yes here’s the second most important

so yes here’s the second most important

so yes here’s the second most important discovery it’s the creation of false

discovery it’s the creation of false

discovery it’s the creation of false memory the creation of false memory is

memory the creation of false memory is

memory the creation of false memory is where your brain is tired you know it’s

where your brain is tired you know it’s

where your brain is tired you know it’s lazy its lethargic it is not a detective

lazy its lethargic it is not a detective

lazy its lethargic it is not a detective – okay it’s not that why does this and

– okay it’s not that why does this and

– okay it’s not that why does this and this does not matter with this it does

this does not matter with this it does

this does not matter with this it does not think that way the brain goes like

not think that way the brain goes like

not think that way the brain goes like this step a coin was in his hand step or

this step a coin was in his hand step or

this step a coin was in his hand step or see the coin disappear step be the brain

see the coin disappear step be the brain

see the coin disappear step be the brain is like I don’t know what step B if a is

is like I don’t know what step B if a is

is like I don’t know what step B if a is here B’s

here B’s

here B’s that means a sense easier that will to

that means a sense easier that will to

that means a sense easier that will to be is obvious and it fills your brain

be is obvious and it fills your brain

be is obvious and it fills your brain basically filled step B with an

basically filled step B with an

basically filled step B with an imaginary action with an imaginary

imaginary action with an imaginary

imaginary action with an imaginary assumption okay so your mind is creating

assumption okay so your mind is creating

assumption okay so your mind is creating a false memory for you well I am peg

a false memory for you well I am peg

a false memory for you well I am peg Pareto szostak two months I asked him

Pareto szostak two months I asked him

Pareto szostak two months I asked him but he goes what exactly did I do with

but he goes what exactly did I do with

but he goes what exactly did I do with you

you

you so perdidos said this you took a coin

so perdidos said this you took a coin

so perdidos said this you took a coin you took my coin and you gave it to me

you took my coin and you gave it to me

you took my coin and you gave it to me and it disappeared and I said with which

and it disappeared and I said with which

and it disappeared and I said with which hand did I give you

hand did I give you

hand did I give you he said you took it with your right hand

he said you took it with your right hand

he said you took it with your right hand and you gave it back to me with my right

and you gave it back to me with my right

and you gave it back to me with my right with your right hand and it disappeared

with your right hand and it disappeared

with your right hand and it disappeared I said no I took your coin I took your

I said no I took your coin I took your

I said no I took your coin I took your coin and I put it in my left hand first

coin and I put it in my left hand first

coin and I put it in my left hand first and then I give and then I gave it to

and then I give and then I gave it to

and then I give and then I gave it to you I this is definitely someone from

you I this is definitely someone from

you I this is definitely someone from perrito’s Pretoria saying saying this

perrito’s Pretoria saying saying this

perrito’s Pretoria saying saying this person backstage okay it’s okay I’ll get

person backstage okay it’s okay I’ll get

person backstage okay it’s okay I’ll get back to you later

back to you later

back to you later okay no so I told him that I took your

okay no so I told him that I took your

okay no so I told him that I took your coin with my right hand transferred it

coin with my right hand transferred it

coin with my right hand transferred it in my left hand do you remember he said

in my left hand do you remember he said

in my left hand do you remember he said of course I remember it was in your

of course I remember it was in your

of course I remember it was in your right hand

right hand

right hand it was it never entered your left hand

it was it never entered your left hand

it was it never entered your left hand and I swore on my mother’s life and he

and I swore on my mother’s life and he

and I swore on my mother’s life and he did not believe me because for two

did not believe me because for two

did not believe me because for two months he kept reminding himself that I

months he kept reminding himself that I

months he kept reminding himself that I took it with just my right hand and

took it with just my right hand and

took it with just my right hand and vanished it in my right hand his brain

vanished it in my right hand his brain

vanished it in my right hand his brain never gave importance to the middle step

never gave importance to the middle step

never gave importance to the middle step the step B that I had actually

the step B that I had actually

the step B that I had actually transferred it and that’s the story he

transferred it and that’s the story he

transferred it and that’s the story he went around telling everyone now what

went around telling everyone now what

went around telling everyone now what happened when he told the story to

happened when he told the story to

happened when he told the story to someone that person told the story to

someone that person told the story to

someone that person told the story to someone else and then their brain their

someone else and then their brain their

someone else and then their brain their brain when we imagine the whole story

brain when we imagine the whole story

brain when we imagine the whole story and gave a different story and that’s

and gave a different story and that’s

and gave a different story and that’s how have you played the game of Chinese

how have you played the game of Chinese

how have you played the game of Chinese whispers that’s the principle the the

whispers that’s the principle the the

whispers that’s the principle the the thought passed down changes if you’ve

thought passed down changes if you’ve

thought passed down changes if you’ve seen how rumors spread that’s how rumors

seen how rumors spread that’s how rumors

seen how rumors spread that’s how rumors spread you change it the reality changes

spread you change it the reality changes

spread you change it the reality changes when rumors spread so these two factors

when rumors spread so these two factors

when rumors spread so these two factors contribute to why magic

contribute to why magic

contribute to why magic magic works because a patterns of

magic works because a patterns of

magic works because a patterns of thinking are Leah and the other thing

thinking are Leah and the other thing

thinking are Leah and the other thing the magic passes on because of creation

the magic passes on because of creation

the magic passes on because of creation of false memory now before I leave from

of false memory now before I leave from

of false memory now before I leave from here I would love to just do with all of

here I would love to just do with all of

here I would love to just do with all of you

you

you quickly everyone put both your hands in

quickly everyone put both your hands in

quickly everyone put both your hands in front of you all of you okay watch me go

front of you all of you okay watch me go

front of you all of you okay watch me go like this perfect go turn your palms

like this perfect go turn your palms

like this perfect go turn your palms back to back back to back cross your

back to back back to back cross your

back to back back to back cross your hands lock your fingers and don’t let go

hands lock your fingers and don’t let go

hands lock your fingers and don’t let go about a month now to keep it low and

about a month now to keep it low and

about a month now to keep it low and there’s not that game there are kids

there’s not that game there are kids

there’s not that game there are kids play with you at home cross your hands

play with you at home cross your hands

play with you at home cross your hands and lock them okay watch me can you move

and lock them okay watch me can you move

and lock them okay watch me can you move your little finger can you move your

your little finger can you move your

your little finger can you move your index finger I’ll go like this thank you

index finger I’ll go like this thank you

index finger I’ll go like this thank you so much and I’ll see you again for life

so much and I’ll see you again for life

so much and I’ll see you again for life thank you so much

thank you so much

thank you so much [Music]