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Magic, Mentalism, & Cold Reading pt. 325.

I was working a corporate gig on Friday night in a swanky bar that was a bit too dark and loud for my liking. I positioned myself at the bar where the light was best, and invited a couple of ladies over to "see some magic". A small crowd soon gathered around. I did my strongest close-up routine which culminates in me palm reading the spec (cold reading combined with genuine) to divine a thought of card. The spec and the people stood around were all impressed, and a young lady pushed her way to the front.

"I'm not bothered about magic," she said, "but can you just read my palm?"

Seizing the moment, I said that I'd happily read her palm but I also had my tarot cards on me. Would she care to have her tarot cards read instead? Indeed she would!

Within moments I had a queue of specs all waiting to have their tarot cards read. For those interested, I did a quick 3 card reading for each spec combining cold reading with the true meanings of the cards.

The booking was for 2 hours. I spent approx. 30 minutes doing "conjuring", and one and a half hours tarot reading. In fact I insisted on doing a spot of pk silverware with one lady I'd developed a good raport with just to give myself a break from the readings. At the end of the evening the lady who'd organised the booking came over and enthused about how great the evening had been and how everyone was amazed by my "magic". She was rather drunk, but the happiness was genuine. They've now booked me for their New Years party.

This magic booking turning into a cold reading booking at the insistance of the specs is by no means a new experience to me, and happens at most events I work at. I'm sure that most pro (and indeed amateur) magicians are asked all the time "Can you tell my fortune?" "Can you tell me the lotto numbers?" "Can you tell me if I'm ever going to get married?" etc.

Most magicians would laugh this off, and then continue with their conjuring routines. But why? When a spec asks you if you can see the future, it's the perfect opportunity to take the magic onto a different level and introduce props such a tarot or pendulums, or begin palm reading. And remember, this evolution is spec led. You're not imposing it on them. You're taking the magic to a place that the spec wants to visit.

If you're a magician who doesn't use cold reading and/or divination techniques - the next time a spec asks you if you can tell fortunes etc., why not give it a go, just for fun? Let your imagination run wild and dare to let the magic develop to somehwere you've never taken it before. You may be surprised by the strength of the reaction from the spec, and by just how enjoyable the whole experience if for you yourself. In fact, I predict you'll love it!

I second everything you've written!

Likewise. In fact I generally just use magic tricks to get people interested.

ian69 wrote:Likewise. In fact I generally just use magic tricks to get people interested.

Yes, it's often the way. I use the tag "magician" just to get myself through the door. Once I'm there, psychic entertainer would be more appropriate. General lay folk don't know or care about the difference between magicians, mentalists, and psychic entertainers anyway. They just want to be amazed and mystified.

now im more confident in my tarot and palmistry - i love linking each form of magic together...i feel they each have a finger in each other's pie so to speak...

its one of the few times that audiences/members of the public aren't concerned with labels when it comes to being entertained...

i used to dj at indie clubs when i was younger, i ended up hating the mindset of kids only dancing to stuff they know the lyrics to; or just as bad, only ask for the same old tracks by a classic band...it was obvious who was really into their music, rather than the others who just bought the greatest hits cds...

how very snobbish of me! meh...true though...