Detoxing
/Okay, let’s talk about some alternatives to the standard Toxic force. After about six weeks of exploring options, I’ve settled on the approach I’ll be using going forward.
My needs were simple. In fact, so simple that “needs” is an overstatement. I had one need: the ability to force long numbers: a phone number, a date, or maybe a number for Cryptext. I don’t have a single go-to trick that demands a long number force—it’s just one of those tools that comes in handy when improvising effects on the fly.
In the past, the Toxic force was my go-to, but recent changes to the iPhone calculator have taken it off the table.
I considered going back to an actual calculator for this—just have one in my bag—but then I realized we’re well past the point where carrying around a calculator could be considered normal. Usually older tech reads as more innocent than newer devices. But calculators are now so obsolete that even a basic dollar store model might raise eyebrows.
So I looked around for some alternatives…
Toxic+ is an app that has been around for a while and gets nearly universal praise. It’s packed with features and clearly built with working performers in mind.
Calculon is another app option—this one lets you perform the Toxic force on the spectator’s phone. And that’s just one of the features. You can force numbers, peek numbers, and even perform more visual effects where digits appear, vanish, or change on the calculator.
I didn’t go with either of these. For my needs, they were overkill. Like handing me a Swiss army knife when all I want to do is shank my cellmate in the gut
I’m sure plenty of performers would appreciate the range these apps offer—but my goal is always the same: find the simplest good option. The minimal effective dose, so to speak
Another option I looked into was the Argon project by Mark Lemon. This isn’t just a Toxic replacement—it’s a full suite of calculator-based effects. Two that stood out to me were The Atomic Code and Sum Duo.
The Atomic Code lets you reveal a seemingly random number your spectator generates on their own phone. This uses nothing but their phone (or even their own actual calculator). There’s no app, no gimmick—you never touch their device. It even works over video chat or a regular phone call. It doesn’t force a particular number, but following the process will allow you to know what number they’ve created.
Sum Duo is one of the simplest calculator forces out there—at least from the spectator’s perspective. You enter a number, your friend adds any number they like (without seeing yours), and yet the total is forced. Normally, we rely on the complexity of the math to build the mystery: “How could I possibly know the outcome of all these operations?” But this version flips the script. The calculation is so simple, it seems to rule out the very idea of trickery.
I’m still searching for the right presentation or premise for these, but both methods have a lot of potential.
And now for the Toxic variation I’ll be using going forward.
It’s called I.C.F. by Thomas Pelzer, available here for about $10.
The core technique behind I.C.F. is something I’ve seen a few performers gravitating toward as a Toxic replacement (including Mark Lemon, who uses a similar idea in one of the effects from the Argon download above). But I first encountered it in this manuscript when it was sent to me back in January 2023. At the time, Toxic still worked fine, so I didn’t give it much attention.
Since switching over, though, I actually prefer it to Toxic
Toxic has two major drawbacks:
The math doesn’t hold up if someone actually tries to reproduce it later, or even if they’re just smart enough to generally follow along with it in their head.
You need to prep your phone—or the spectator’s—beforehand.
I.C.F., by contrast, is performed on the spectator’s phone, requires zero setup (at least the way I do it) and the math checks out.
Soon, I’ll share a few adjustments I’ve made to the handling (without exposing the core method) that have taken this from good to great. As written in the manuscript, I’d rate it a 7.5 out of 10. With my tweaks, it’s more or less a perfect 10 (based on the criteria that I value). I recommend picking up the pdf if this is something that interests you. My additions will make much more sense if you know the core method.
As it stands, I can now force any number, of any length, at any time, on their phone—with no prep—and the math checks out. Details on the changes I’ve made coming next week. If you get the manuscript and have any thoughts you want to share, let me know by then.