I worked with Calen Morelli years ago when he showed me a trick he sometimes performs for laypeople. It absolutely blew my mind. Calen sure does know when to play for magicians and when to play for laypeople. The trick did not fool me, not at all. But it knocked my socks off and left me totally delighted. There was undeniable skill involved, and he’d clearly spent months, if not years, practicing the little stunt, and I was quite in awe. I still think about it every now and then and remind myself of how incredibly creative you can be without filling that urge to fool magicians.

It was smart, funny, and unexpected. Here’s the trick…