One of magician David Blaine's trick is guessing one's deepest secret known only to a participant? Is it real?

Question

You know in the entertainment magic world, magic tricks are tricks, not supernatural talent. So, can the participant be an accomplice? If not, how did Blaine did it?

Answer 1

He is a very unconvincing faker. So easy to see through his silly stunts. The only thing of wonder is that people believe it.

Answer 2

Yes the participant can be an accomplice, even if they don't realize it. Magicians like David Blaine are masters at getting people to reveal things about themselves without realizing that they've revealed these things. Later, they are totally shocked that the magician was able to "read" their mind.

Sometimes, the participant is a direct accomplice (known in carny terms as a "shill"). Shills were usually used to make potential marks think the con-game was on the up-and-up. Today's magicians use shills to disguise certain elements of their tricks that a regular joe might question.

Answer 3

There are two ways this is done. One is research (Houdini use to read the papers of the cities and towns he would stop at. The modern take was at churches where people where asked questions before the performance by scouts and the information was sent though a wireless speaker that was in the preacher's ear) and the other way is the person is part of the crew.

Answer 4

there is one trick where someone does where you pick a number, and you have instructions, and no matter what, the end number is the same no matter what number you choose.