talkmagic.co.uk

Tomo wrote:

Mandrake wrote:Not so much wrote, more like conceived, nurtured and after a long gestation period gave birth to it... and subsequent siblings...

Tee hee. I've got the stretch marks and piles to prove it!

I just pushed my lunch to one side. :vom:

Tomo wrote:

Mandrake wrote:Not so much wrote, more like conceived, nurtured and after a long gestation period gave birth to it... and subsequent siblings...

Tee hee. I've got the stretch marks and piles to prove it!

*shudders and seals copy of naked mentalism in a plastic bag*

spooneythegoon wrote:Why not? The swami gimmick makes available some of the best effects in mentalism.

Because it just feels like a cheap way to trick people, rather than something requiring a skill other than sly writing. I am the same with cards. I prefer to use regular decks than gimmicked ones (though I do find myself drawn to some gimmicked decks).

We each find our own level, but it's always going to be a trick, so I'd just worry about the effect, and use whatever you can to bring it off.

Are you kidding me?! The Swami is one of the most powerful tools available to a mindreader. I would give up every prop I own before relinquishing my trusty NW.

Pagali Zonda wrote:

spooneythegoon wrote:Why not? The swami gimmick makes available some of the best effects in mentalism.

Because it just feels like a cheap way to trick people, rather than something requiring a skill other than sly writing. I am the same with cards. I prefer to use regular decks than gimmicked ones (though I do find myself drawn to some gimmicked decks).

Magic and mentalism are all about cheap tricks dressed up as miracles. Swami writing does require skill to perform well, and is very versatile and powerfull. At least give it a go, because your spectators don't know it was just "sly writing" and you may find you like it after all!

Barefoot Boy wrote:Are you kidding me?! The Swami is one of the most powerful tools available to a mindreader. I would give up every prop I own before relinquishing my trusty NW.

I just had the frightening image of you doing this with your toes...

Yes, I can! Just like Carl Franks!!

Im currently in the same situation and the best books Ive found are anything by Bob Cassidy. They are informative and very entertaining to read. When I had the opportunity to meet him at the castle he told me he goes out of his way to make them as funny as possible (Which he does well he is probably the funniest guy Ive ever had the opportunity to see preform) They also have a wealth of incredibly practical tips laid out flat for you.


Casanova

Casanova wrote:Im currently in the same situation and the best books Ive found are anything by Bob Cassidy. They are informative and very entertaining to read. When I had the opportunity to meet him at the castle he told me he goes out of his way to make them as funny as possible (Which he does well he is probably the funniest guy Ive ever had the opportunity to see preform) They also have a wealth of incredibly practical tips laid out flat for you.

Casanova

You really can't go wrong with Bob's material but for the novice I can't emphasize too much, the value behind;

* FUNDAMENTALS
* THE BLACK BOOK OF MENTALISM
* THEORIES & METHODS FOR THE PRACTICAL PSYCHIC
* THE PRINCIPLIA

There are a few others but in my opinion these four are pure dynamite with his Cold Reading material following suit (should be read before you read any of the other popular garr-barrge that's out there; start with Bob and then go directly to Richard Webster & Ron Martin before you get poisoned by the myriad of experts who've never done professional Readings. . .


Another, albeit "strange" suggestion I'll make. . .
While it can be a bit confusing in parts and seemingly not focused on "Mentalism" there is a wonderful "biographic" work entitled Erik Jan Hanussen - Hitler's Jewish Clairvoyant by Mel Gordon. I suggest it for a handful of reasons the least of which being the various methods that are exposed (literally... this book was written for the general public, not the magic market). The two main things this book will reveal however, is how MENTALISTS actually worked in the late 19th & early 20th century (and, thank the gods, many are reviving in our current era); they played it as REAL not as if they were presenting a Magic Show that kindof demonstrates pseudo-mental prowess.

The other thing it reveals is the length to which cynics will go to prove someone a fraud (I'm still reading the book but found the chapters covering the Hanussen trials in the Czech Republic quite disturbing; the accusers using more under-handed tactics and semantic loop-holes than the supposed charlatan).

The other interesting point this story makes when it comes to staged mentalism, is how, when one tips how they do certain things, they become even more believable -- it's a curious psychology but one that worked quite well for Hanussen, who regularly exposed or replicated other acts as well as making fun of his own work. . . then again, the man was a bit schizophrenic

Another, albeit "strange" suggestion I'll make. . .
While it can be a bit confusing in parts and seemingly not focused on "Mentalism" there is a wonderful "biographic" work entitled Erik Jan Hanussen - Hitler's Jewish Clairvoyant by Mel Gordon. I suggest it for a handful of reasons the least of which being the various methods that are exposed (literally... this book was written for the general public, not the magic market). The two main things this book will reveal however, is how MENTALISTS actually worked in the late 19th & early 20th century (and, thank the gods, many are reviving in our current era); they played it as REAL not as if they were presenting a Magic Show that kindof demonstrates pseudo-mental prowess.

The other thing it reveals is the length to which cynics will go to prove someone a fraud (I'm still reading the book but found the chapters covering the Hanussen trials in the Czech Republic quite disturbing; the accusers using more under-handed tactics and semantic loop-holes than the supposed charlatan).

The other interesting point this story makes when it comes to staged mentalism, is how, when one tips how they do certain things, they become even more believable -- it's a curious psychology but one that worked quite well for Hanussen, who regularly exposed or replicated other acts as well as making fun of his own work. . . then again, the man was a bit schizophrenic Twisted Evil

This sounds incredibly intriguing im going to look into this.

Casanova

^ If you enjoy that, you might also take a look at 'The Messing Effect' by Bob Cassidy. Tells the story and exploits of Wolff Messing (a near contempory of Hanussen) and his brush with both Hitler and Stalin.