all talk

Struggling with an effect? Any tips (without giving too much away!) you'd like to share?

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all talk

Postby mindpaul » May 18th, '08, 14:12



Hey. I have been perfoming mentalism for some years now with great responses. My question is, Do you think as a mentalist you have to keep talking to keep the presentation strong?

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Postby Tomo » May 18th, '08, 14:45

I don;t think you have to keep up a constant line of chat. Let the effect develop in the mind of the spectator.

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Postby Replicant » May 18th, '08, 15:50

Not necessarily. Generally, I think patter is more important when performing close-up magic because it's often tied in with the misdirection. But with mentalism, it's all in the presentation. You can chat constantly if the effect requires it, or conversely you can perform your piece in virtual silence; I think it depends entirely on the effect you're presenting. As long as you have conviction in what you do say and do and you bring the audience in on an emotional level, that's the important thing.

I'm no expert at mentalism (or close-up magic for that matter!), but those are my thoughts.

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Postby Part-Timer » May 18th, '08, 16:32

I think that sometimes your best bet is to say absolutely nothing. It depends upon the particular presentation, and your performing character.

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Postby MickyScouse » May 18th, '08, 18:15

My favourite effect that I have come up with (and that I feel I get the strongest reactions from) involves me explaining what I want the participant/s to do and then they take over the rest of the effect. They do 99% of the talking and work for me.

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Postby mindpaul » May 18th, '08, 20:47

Yeh . It's really interesting to hear your thots on this as I recently did a show and my only feedback was, "try adding more patter into your effects" HMMM

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Postby Ian The Magic-Ian » May 18th, '08, 21:20

I watched some of your videos and I thought your patter was fine.

Barton: Have you read the Bible, Pete?
Pete: Holy Bible?
Barton: Yeah.
Pete: Yeah, I think so. Anyway, I've heard about it.
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Postby bmat » May 19th, '08, 16:33

I am about to offend just about everyone so if you are easily offended you can stop reading my post now. And please remember there are always exceptions and quite possibly you are one of them.

If one is performing mentalism for me. Then I would appreciate less patter, (and here comes the offensive part) because the patter may interrupt my nap.

Sorry I could not resist.

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Postby mindpaul » May 19th, '08, 19:48

We are all entitled to our opinion and that in my opinion has not got my back up. If mentalism sends you to sleep then why would you be sitting watching it. Oh and the mass applause would wake you up .

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Postby John Freeman » May 19th, '08, 19:54

bmat wrote:I am about to offend just about everyone so if you are easily offended you can stop reading my post now. And please remember there are always exceptions and quite possibly you are one of them.

If one is performing mentalism for me. Then I would appreciate less patter, (and here comes the offensive part) because the patter may interrupt my nap.

Sorry I could not resist.


That sounds an awful lot like hypno-mentalism

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Postby Bigtone53 » May 19th, '08, 20:52

Well, each to their own. I have an intense personal dislike of having my meals interrupted by strolling table magicians, one step below guitar trios and red rose merchants, so I just go to the bar until they have gone, rather than being even more rude. I watch magical effects because I want to when I want to, not because I am trapped at a table.

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Postby themagicwand » May 19th, '08, 22:49

Bigtone53 wrote:Well, each to their own. I have an intense personal dislike of having my meals interrupted by strolling table magicians, one step below guitar trios and red rose merchants, so I just go to the bar until they have gone, rather than being even more rude. I watch magical effects because I want to when I want to, not because I am trapped at a table.

You could always just tell them politely that you're not interested in viewing their delights? It's not the law that they have to perform at every table.

The rudest people I ever worked was a bunch (ie a restaurant full of) Cliff Richard fans. The biggest bunch of sour faced, humourless, stick in the muds you would ever have the misfortune to come across. They all thought I was some kind of con man out to steal their pensions. I offered to read one lady's palm (she was slightly more human than the rest of them) and her friends began wailing and screaming like I'd condemned them all to hell. Apparently Jesus says it's bad to read palms.

You'll not be interested in the tarot then?

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Postby Bigtone53 » May 19th, '08, 23:11

Themagicwand wrote:You could always just tell them politely that you're not interested in viewing their delights? It's not the law that they have to perform at every table.


You are right, I could but a) it does not seem to work [ditto rose-sellers and guitar trios above] and b) why am I being put on the defensive? I just want a quiet meal with whoever I am eating with.

Having said that, I am also a firm believer in the attitude of Sir Lancelot Spratt, the fearsome consultant surgeon of the Doctor in the House series (for those of my age, splendidly portrayed in the films by the late James Robertson Justice)

"How would you like your hair cut, Sir?"

"In silence"

Even antisocial gits sometimes dine out :wink:

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Postby mindpaul » May 20th, '08, 09:21

you would be a good audience for chaplin or stan laurel. They were silent.
Do you use patter in your performances?

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Postby Bigtone53 » May 20th, '08, 14:39

I would be (and am) a great audience for all the silent movie stars. The difference is that I choose to go and see them when I want to; they do not appear suddenly and demand attention. Equally, I do not try and force what I do on anyone else who has not expressed an interest in seeing what I do (apart from my family, but they do not count!) :lol:

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