A technique where a person (who we'll call the reader) reads subtle cues from their victims, normally in order to deceive them into thinking the reader has the power to speak with the deceased and pass on messages to the victims. This is the usual method employed by fair-ground gypsies to convince their victims they have psychic abilities. A name is often the first step. The reader asks their victim if a particular name has any meaning for them. Names such as William (Will, Bill), Edward (Ed, Ted), or Jack are often chosen since they were very common boys' names for men who would now be 70 to 100 years old if they were still alive. The chances are very high that a middle-aged person knows someone of the name that is suggested. During a reading the victim will almost certainly give the reader much more specific information than the reader gives the victim. Cold reading is given a Caution rating because it is very easy to get fooled by this sort of thing unless you are aware of what is happening.

Reading aloud, from the script, with no rehearsal.

A tryout when the actor uses material never seen before.

A technique using a series of general statements, questions, and answers that allows fake mediums, mind-readers, and magicians to obtain previously unknown information about a person. (Reader has no prior knowledge).

This is a technique commonly used by fake mind readers, mediums and magicians which allows them to obtain previously unknown information about a person by asking a general series of statements, questions and answers.