talkmagic.co.uk

So I was sitting around over the weekend after a twisted ankle prevented me from performing for a few days and decided to do some research on performers of our art and i realised that other than two or three fairly famous people there are precious few mentalists from the UK who seem particularly recognised for their talent.

What's the general conscensus regarding British performers? Do you reckon that it's more that the UK public is less interested in magic than, say, the Americans? and who are people's favorite British mentalists?

Cheers,
Edantes
xx

Derren Brown is the first that comes to mind.

Berglas too.

Lenoir wrote:Berglas too.

Wow, that was quick!

Definitely Berglas, although a lot of people know him as the "magic set guy"

Ahh well! He is an incredible performer, not only creatively and technically, but also in the way he managed to create this amazing legend around himself. He built up so this prestige, especially for magicians, and people will never stop talking about it. (The Berglas Effect.)
Also, I love the fact that if I'm ever baffled by an effect by Derren, I know it's in Berglas' book somewhere, almost always! Muhaha!

i think there's actually quite a few, but they're not tv famous thats all...

I agree with you Iain.

I kind of like Jermay but I'm unsure about him.

Obviously Derren is a great mentalist and magician but I often worry that young, new magic enthusiasts try too hard to be like him.

Nyman

Oh god, how did I forget Nyman?!

Edantes wrote:
Obviously Derren is a great mentalist and magician but I often worry that young, new magic enthusiasts try too hard to be like him.

I agree. For the first few weeks of learning and performing mentalism, I was guilty of that, but soon found that for me, giving any explanation at all greatly diminished the effect, and limited what effects I could perform. Being scared of audiences finding out the real method is not an excuse magicians and mentalists should have to use. Although I must admit, Derren pulls it off brilliantly*)


*So brilliantly in fact, that I am expecting a Uri Gellar style uproar in a few years, but with psychology, instead of psychic ability. Nasty lay people...

So brilliantly in fact, that I am expecting a Uri Gellar style uproar in a few years, but with psychology, instead of psychic ability. Nasty lay people...

Haha, very possible!

Be careful what you say about those lay people mind, they have ears everywhere!

Even some of the trees are their spies...

*puts on tin foil hat*

HA! That made me laugh

So to remain at least half on-topic, what's your opinion of Luke Jermay?

I think in any country there'll be a tiny handful of household names in magic, a reasonable bunch of respected names within the industry, a small army of jobbing magicians who perform to pay the rent, and a sea of hobbyists who just love magic.

I seriously can't think of any country where there's more than one or two well-known names in magic (well-known to non-magicians, that is).

Pete

A good showman+mentalist, in my opinion deserves the TV spot more than Criss Angel...