talkmagic.co.uk

This is in response to the Derren Brown Oxford Ball effect. Although Derren Brown makes his effects seem as though they are very complex, they are not at all. Telling people that he relies on psychology and suggestion is part of the effect. Most of his effects can be done by anybody (assuming they have good presentation). Only the effects that relie on hypnosis are out of reach of some people. I can think of a very interesting way that Derren Brown could have done the effect at the Oxford Ball without the use of any hypnosis or suggestion. Another famous effect that Derren Brown is known for is the Mind Punch. It has nothing to do with psychology at all!

Hmmm... no one has mentioned KENTONISM from Wonder Wizards... it works!

The question is, why do you want to encourage someone to forget something?

The average layman will forget all about the typical magician in under 15 minutes after seeing them. In their mind, very little about magic is "memorable" so to me, it is more important to give them something to remember vs. encouraging them to forget... don't you think?

As has been pointed out, this kind of psychological technique requires guts, experience, more guts, and confidence... along with experience.

If you want to become the next Derren Brown (which is where I'll assume yuo got this inspirtation) you must start at the beginning (just like he did) and work your way up (just like he did) and in so doing, STUDY the nuances of what you are saying and doing... it's literally a science and for that reason, it works slightly different for everyone that attempts it and it don't work for everyone.

Hands free "psychological" technique is "true" mentalism in that it is clean, hands free and no garunteed! It's not like learning a magic trick that you know will work if you do this and that, it has a risk factor that is innate to it and only through continual practice, experimentation and study will you be able to master it. Even then, you will have the ocassional miss e.g. you need to follow Banachek's advice (Psychological Subtlties) about designing your routine so that it don't matter if or not you hit. If you hit then you have a boon that let's you move in an alternate direction with your act but if you miss, you are prepared to go another direction that totally takes away from the fact that there was a miss.

Now come's the point of decision; are you going to invest the time required for actually learning how to be a proficient mentalist or, are you going to keep searching for the holy grail of it all and a quick answer (which don't exist)?

allan_6448. IF you think Presentation comes 2nd then you are well and truly up the gum tree that most amateur magicians get stuck up.
Come on fella. The tricks are merely hooks to hang the presentaion/entertainment on. Lay audiences don't applaud methods/techniques. They applaud presentations.
Even Fred Kaps said,'Method comes 2nd. Presentation first!'
Without well devised presentation coupled with personality and some theatre techniques you may as well take up tiddly winks!
READ Strong Magic by Darwin Ortiz, Close Up Presentation by John Mendoza, Maximum Entertainment by Ken Webber for starters.
For someone at your leverl my series Dear Magician (1 to 36) published in 2005 in Abra might start you off on the right course.
You can possess all the secrets and methods in Magicdom & go down a bomb at Magic Conventions,BUT without the right Presentations, in front of A REAL AUDIENCE, you are a failure.
Allen Tipton
You really haven't thought about this enough.