He’s Not Here (Video version) by Jamie Daws – New

This is a video instruction download; no props are included.

He’s Not Here is the third entry in Jamie Daws’ Dark Series. It tells a chilling tale that captivates your audience as they focus on an image of a man from an old photograph. As the narrative unfolds, the dark history of this tall figure is revealed — a man whose presence was always accompanied by death, yet no physical trace was ever found. Could your spectator be gazing at a ghost? He’s Not Here combines a clever effect with a haunting story, making it easy to perform and sure to send chills down your audience’s spine!

EFFECT: Have you ever felt that the eyes in a photograph are watching you? Years ago, when we moved into our current home, a small family photo hung on the wall. Strange occurrences began, starting with the photo being crooked. One day, it inexplicably appeared on the table, untouched. Then, the objects within the photo seemed to shift positions! One morning, the table in the photo was on the left, but upon returning home, it had moved to the right. The final straw came when the photo flew off the wall and hit me, cracking the frame. I removed it, tore it up, and discarded the pieces. Things improved until a week later when a parcel arrived, containing the cracked frame and the photo pieces perfectly reassembled. We had no idea who sent it or why.

The magician lays out the photo pieces on the table like a jigsaw puzzle and invites the spectator to examine them closely. They select a piece and focus on one individual within it. Holding the face-down piece, they are prompted to name the person as the magician reads a list of random names. Research revealed that one individual in the photo had gone missing just a year before it was taken — his name was Robert, the name the spectator thought of. To this day, no one knows what happened to him.

When the spectator recalls the person from the piece they hold, the magician flips it over to reveal that the individual is now absent. When the photo is reassembled, the piece fits perfectly, but Robert is nowhere to be found. He’s Not Here.

Testimonials:

“A stunning performance piece that I can’t wait to try!” – Alan Rorrison

“A creepy, emotional plot with a kicker ending. Brilliant stuff!” – Rus Stevens

“Jamie’s done it again! The clever thinking that has built Mr. Daws’s reputation is now applied to a performance piece. Recommended!” – Dominic Reyes

“Jamie’s effect is a great, off-beat, and spooky piece of magic! If you like something different, check it out!” – Liam Montier

“He’s Not Here is the best and scariest photo effect I’ve seen in a long time! I was expecting Robert to be behind me! Love it!” – Kieron Johnson

“Great hook, lovely story, wonderful props, and the moment of magic sends shivers down your spine. I love this and will have it in my wallet at all times!” – Chris Congreave

“Looks amazing! A real performance piece with emotion; this is a storyteller’s dream!” – Wayne Goodman

“I love it! I only give quotes to things I like, and this is a fantastic effect that can be performed anywhere. A worker for sure!” – Stephan Leathwaite