talkmagic.co.uk

Afternoon all,

I've been thinking about this for a while, and after a couple of performances this weekend I've decided I'm going to move slightly away from the card/coin routines I've been doing for years and move more towards mentalism effects. The reactions I've been getting with my (very basic) mentalism routine have been fantastic, so my question is, where do I go from here?

I've got Karl Fulves Self Working Mental Magic, but a lot of these rely on cards. What other books would you recommend, and what effects do you consider essential in a decent mentalism routine etc?

Thanks in advance!

Now, before you start buying a huge book list, think about the types of mentalism effects you're into and ask which books contain effects of that type. Otherwise you'll curse the idiot who pushed his favourite book on you and use virtually none of it. I know I did.

my advice:

corinda - 13 steps to mentalism
annemann - practical mental magic

enough to last two lifetimes...read 'em...see what suits you...you'll have the advantage if you've already studied coins and cards, as some of the sleights/switches are from the same family...

as for essentials...well, its all down to your persona really..what suits me and my explanations for how i do things, might not suit you (sir)...

then after that, i'd nudge you towards Mentalists toolkit, and Geist...but thats a long way off

Sure, the mechanics are great, but already having a simple routine, my limited experience would suggest that starting with a more in-depth introduction to mentalism would be important. Corinda and Annemann's works are great for the actual mechanics involved, but there's far more to mentalism than moves.

I've recently discovered Bob Cassidy's work, thanks to our own Mr. Browning. "Fundamentals" is great, as is "The Art of Mentalism." Larry Becker's "World of Super Mentalism" books are good, and Lee Earle's Syzygy magazine had some great little gems which you can read in some of the compilations that are out there.

I'd start with Fundamentals. It gives you a good start to not only the mechanics but the performance as well. Creating a persona--a character--is essential to mentalism moreso than it is in magic. In magic, you can do trick after trick and still be entertaining. In mentalism, the demonstrations themselves aren't particularly exciting, so you need to involve the audience and create a persona who is capable if these mental techniques. As far as well-known modern mindreaders go, Max Maven has his mysterious mind reading persona, Derren Brown has his modern Jedi Knight thing going on, and I'm sure you can pick out how others present themselves as well.

Ciao,
Rob

I am no where in the higher levels of mentalism like Tomo and Master Abraxus but I myself am not really a fan of 13 steps (there I said it) Ok I know about its place and all that I just found it hard to get in to. On the other hand I got a hell of a lot from S.A.D by Looch and Eillot B's switch craft (a must for billet workers that).

The material in 13 Steps is first-rate. It's not called The Mentalists Bible for nothing. The problem is that like magic classics (Erdnase, Royal Road, ECT) it's not easy to read. It's worth sticking with though. Like the Royal Road it's the foundation course that isn't just a foundation course.

I read something on a website a long time ago (I think it was by Ian Rowland) that said (and I'm paraphrasing): Buy Corinda. Study it. If you can't entertain people for 15 minutes in an impromptu situation after studying it, don't bother buying any more books/DVDs whatever. Mentalism isn't for you.

Markdini wrote:I am no where in the higher levels of mentalism like Tomo and Master Abraxus but I myself am not really a fan of 13 steps (there I said it) Ok I know about its place and all that I just found it hard to get in to. On the other hand I got a hell of a lot from S.A.D by Looch and Eillot B's switch craft (a must for billet workers that).

Is that were i am? no-one told me ...nah..not i...still a beginner...

switchcraft and S.A.D. are both very lovely indeed...

i think 13 steps and PMM (PME originally) are always recommended cos they just get yer juices flowing...i personally prefer PMM myself...

you could also look at some Richard Webster stuff on palmistry/tarot/pendulum if thats yer thing...cheap too!

Here you go. You need to answer an easy question to get in, but this is a good read. However you feel about Ian Rowland in general (ahem...) there's some excellent advice in here.

Switch craft is a must for billet work. And S.A.D does what it says on the cover. If any one has used the lost in shadow effect with a bit of suggestion thrown in you have something thing very nice indeed. If you then go on to bend the coin from lost in shadow.......

i'll say it, in no fear that i'll have my third eye burnt out..All hail Ian Rowland...

a mentalist first and foremost in my book...all his recommended readings are superb...shame he doesnt sell his lecture notes anymore though...

nice guy too!

Get yer wallet out, because he's selling a new set on his website now!

Charles Calthrop wrote:Get yer wallet out, because he's selling a new set on his website now!

ya bu**er...good shout charles...been a little while since i last visited his "to buy" section...

I'm amazed there are not filters that simply direct EVERYONE that puts forth an interest in this field to the stickies we have on this topic.

START HERE
http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic11429.php

Then go to Bob Cassidy's web site and read up on the 39 Steps to Mentalism along with EVERYTHING Bob's ever written, his philosophy being (in my mind at least) critical when it comes to understanding what Mentalism is and isn't (and most of what we see out there today under said heading is a far cry from what Mentalism really "was" and was intended to be... you can't can't get magicians to understand that though...)

Tomo was correct in telling you to outline the kind of mentalism that appeals to you but ask yourself why as well. Look at the broader side of this approach and ask yourself if you have what it takes to be the character or "entity" you envision and if it is "you". Any Character we take on regardless the role, must be something we can saturate ourselves in. I now of major actors that step into a role so heavily that they really are that person for the entire run of making the film or doing the play, etc. Christopher Loyd is such a person, I lived three houses down from him some years ago and when he was doing The Adams Family movies you saw Uncle Fester getting in and out of the car not Chris.

The point is, are you wanting to "get into" mentalism because it's the big fashion statement of magic these days (a trend that is thankfully, waining) or is it because you know you are better cut out for that arena? It's nowhere near the same thing and if you are going to look at it all as being nothing but "tricks" you will loose! (not my words, but those of many others who've been around far longer than I).

Weigh it all out and don't halfassit, no matter your decision.

Charles Calthrop wrote:The material in 13 Steps is first-rate. It's not called The Mentalists Bible for nothing. The problem is that like magic classics (Erdnase, Royal Road, ECT) it's not easy to read. It's worth sticking with though. Like the Royal Road it's the foundation course that isn't just a foundation course.

I read something on a website a long time ago (I think it was by Ian Rowland) that said (and I'm paraphrasing): Buy Corinda. Study it. If you can't entertain people for 15 minutes in an impromptu situation after studying it, don't bother buying any more books/DVDs whatever. Mentalism isn't for you.

I managed to entertain a friend of a friend for 20 mins completlry impromptu the other day with nothi8ng but a pen and paper, 13 asteps is the opnly book ive studied on mentalism so far, so err what he said....

I made a similar leap around a year ago.
My main reason was that i was tiring of traditional card effects, a little, and a lot of the parlour effects I came accross were very gimmicky.

I purchased 13 steps, which I think everyone interested in mentalism should, and read it. It gives you a great understanding of the basics and the history. BUT, I have to say, I thought it wasa little dated and many of the tricks would seem odd, or impracticle today, in my opinion. However I have been able to apply the techniques as I have learned more about the craft.

I then bought 2 of Richard Osterlind's DVDs - Easy to Master Mental Miracles 1 & 2. Both of these suited me perfectly because my regular audience was used to me handling cards, but now, rather than doing tricks, I was doing the impossible. My frst outing was a family gathering where I floored about 20 members of my family. Even the ones who usually sit there and say "well if he had a pully and magnet and a trained duck with a necklace that looked like a..." stayed quiet. No-one asked to see the trick again, and no one asked for more that night.

These DVDs were one of the finest investments I have made. But don't forget to do your groundwork with the Classics like Anneman and Corinda.
Oh, and you're going to need balls of steel.