Marc Paul Lecture.
http://www.marcpaul.com/
Overview.
Marc Paul lectured at the Ipswich Magical Society last night, after very kindly agreeing to fill in at the last minute when Andy Nyman had to pull out due to filming commitments.
Well quite honestly I’m not sure many people could have filled that particular gap so well. However, Marc Paul was, in a word... "Awesome".
I have to confess I was already a big fan, and have his lecture notes and his "Mind To Mind" DVD, but seeing Marc perform in person with all the little (and yet so so important) subtleties was a learning process all by itself.
This was a proper lecture, Marc wasn’t just demonstrating "tricks" and explaining how they were done he was also talking about the little nuances that help to make a performer of mentalism into a great mentalist. He spoke at length about what works and why. About how you are always on the look out for little coincidences that you can claim credit for, and generally how to handle any situation.
There was nothing too difficult to do from a sleight point of view in his lecture notes, however to sell the effects as well as he does is a real art and it was fascinating to watch him at work.
I have outlined the effects he demonstrated below, but for me it wasn’t the actual effects that was important last night, it was watching his presentation skills. His performance skills. In short it was watching his skills as one of the best mentalists.
The effects were split into two main categories, "Macro Effects", which involve larger groups of people, and the more impromptu "Anywhere, anytime, anyplace" effects.
The effects
Anytime, Anyplace, Any book
This I guess is now almost a trademark effect of his. Although he used a paperback book he bought with him it really is a booktest that can be done Anywhere, Anytime and with any book. It’s very simple in principle, in fact in reality it’s down right cheeky! and yet when he performed it last night it seemed like a minor miracle.
He flicks through the book asking the chosen spectator to say stop at any time. When the spectator shouts stop, he stops flicking, quickly turns his head away and asks the spectator to note the first couple of words on the page.
When the spectator has done this the book is closed and placed back on the table. The work is done. The fun can begin.
The spectator is asked to think of the words with the full “picture them in your mind spiel”, whilst Marc Paul grabbed a blank pad and started sketching the words.
It wasn’t a matter of just revealing the words – the main thing to be learnt was “How” and “when” the words where revealed. Reading the lecture notes is one thing, as it very clearly explains how this works, but watching Marc actually do it turns it from a great effect into a miraculous one.
Everyone think of a Number
This is one of his “macro” effects, that is to say ideal for a larger group of people. In order to select someone who he can use he needs someone who thinks on the same wave length as him, and so he asks everyone to think of a number between 1 and 10. When everyone has a number in mind, he rolls up a sheet of paper and throws it into the audience. After it is caught by someone he asks for it to be thrown from person to person until every one is happy that it has been randomly distributed.
The spectator who finally ends up with ball of paper is then asked to name the number they were thinking of. They are then asked to unfold the ball, on which a number has been written.
And guess what. The numbers are the same.
New Effect
If it had a name I apologise, as I have forgotten it. This is an effect that Mr. Paul has only been working on for a couple of weeks and consequently doesn’t yet appear in any of the lecture notes.
The mentalist produces two decks of cards. One red and one blue. Two spectators are chosen and each selects one of the decks. Then two sealed predictions are shuffled and handed out, one each to the chosen spectators.
The first spectator's chosen deck is then picked up by the mentalist, removed from the case and spread so that the audience can see that they are all different.
One by one cards are then taken off the top and placed on the bottom of the deck. The spectator is then asked to shout "Stop" at anytime. When "Stop" is shouted, the mentalist stops and hands the card on the top of the deck to the first spectator.
This is then repeated with the other deck for the second spectator.
The two spectators are then asked to both shout out the name of their card. Everyone is expecting them to be the same, but they are not. The mentalist jokes that that would have been a very lucky coincidence.
The two spectators are then asked to open their sealed envelopes which of course reveal that the card they will select will be the… and of course both predictions are correct.
Very powerful.
The £85 Question
This is one of Marc Paul’s favourite effects, and I can easily see why. Four bank notes are places into an open a wallet with just their ends peeking out. A 50 note, a £20 note, a £10 note and a £5 note. In short £85.
A member of the audience is challenged. In this case our illustrious president.
The spectator stands behind the mentalist who is facing the audience. The mentalist is holding the open wallet behind his back, and the spectator is asked one by one to remove the 4 notes (in any order) and to place them into the jacket pockets or trouser pockets (one in each pocket).
When this has been completed, the mentalist closes the wallet and puts it away. He claims that by reading body language he will determine which pocket which note is in. If he gets any wrong, then the spectator can keep the notes.
I won’t go into Marc Paul’s beautiful example of body language reading, but the first two notes are successfully guessed. The mentalist then claims that he was so sure about where the £50 and £20 notes were placed that he made a prediction before the show. An envelope is removed from his jacket pocket and handed to the spectator.
It of course tells where the £20 and £50 notes are.
So You Can read Minds… Prove It!
This is an effect that Marc Paul uses over the phone when a potential client has phoned to ask for his services. When asked what it is exactly that he does, his answer is along the lines of…
“I use various lesser known psychological techniques to give the impression that I can read minds”.
This of course will more often than not prompt the (almost jokingly) challenge "So can you read my mind now then?"
Well this effect is the answer to that. With a few quick questions and no small amount of acting, he will quickly be able to determine the Star Sign of the potential client and consequentially, get the booking.
Direct Thought of projection
This is an effect based on Bruce Bernstein’s “Pseudo Telepathy”.
Four spectators are invited up on stage. The performer shows the audience 4 post cards, each one with a different action.
- Think of a Colour
- Think of a Number
- Think of a Shape
- Think of a Letter.
The four spectators are then instructed to read their card and to hold it close to their chest so that the performer can’t see.
With no questioning whatsoever the performer is then able to determine which spectator has which card, and also what Number, Shape, Letter and Colour they are thinking of.
This is another great effect that.
The Human Pack of Cards
This is another "Macro" effect designed more for a larger audience. Someone of importance is asked to join the performer on stage, and they are handed a prediction. Then the entire audience is asked to stand up and to think of a card.
The spectator then is asked to eliminate groups of the audience until only one remains standing. For example they may ask all people with glasses to sit down. Then all woman to sit down. Then everyone with a checked jacket etc. It really doesn’t matter. This is a fun part of the act and will be enjoyed by all.
When there is just one person remaining they are asked to name the card they were thinking of.
The helpers prediction is then revealed to show that it matches exactly the card called out.
Specified card at Specified Number
The effect is simple. A card is thought of by one spectator, and a number between 1 and 52 is thought of by another.
The cards are then handed to the second spectator who counts them out one by one until the number they thought of is reached. It is of course the card merely thought of by the first spectator,
No way!
Yes Way!
(Sorry, I think that I’ve been watching a little too many L&L DVD’s recently).
Syncronicity
I was already aware of a great trick called “Triple Impact” by Matt Ellison. It would seem though that Marc Paul’s “Sychronicity” was the trick that “Triple Impact” was base on.
A deck of cards is shown to be normal. A spectator is called up on stage, the cards are fanned and the spectator is asked to think of any one of them.
The spectator then curs the cards and places one in his top pocket, one in his left pocket and one in his right pocket.
The performer then removes a card from his top pocket and asks the spectator to do the same. They match.
The performer then removes a card from his Left pocket and asks the spectator to do the same. They match.
The performer then removes a last card from his Right pocket and asks the spectator to do the same. They also match. What the dickens!
The magician then asks the spectator to name the card they were thinking of, simultaneously pulling out a card from his inside jacket pocket.
THEY ONLY BLOODY MATCH!
Telemental Ending
Telemental is a Dan Archer effect for which Marc Paul has created his own strong prediction climax. And it is a very strong ending to an already impressive effect.
Simply speaking the effect is as follows. Four Spectators are selected and asked to stand. Each one is asked to think of a symbol from a selection of four. One by one the performer will determine the selected symbol and the spectators are asked to sit down.
However, there is one spectator left who he can’t quite read. (That was me by the way
). The performer then claims that he suspected something like this would happen, and out of a pocket he removes a sealed envelope that he opens and reads.
In large writing, big enough for everyone to see it says.
A man with Dark Hair
And Glasses
Will think of the symbol with…
3 Vertical Lines
Just out of interest, Yes. I have dark hair, wear glasses and was indeed thinking of that symbol.
That Marc Paul guy is very clever you know.
Impromptu with borrowed deck
At one point in the evening, Mr. Paul borrowed a deck of cards from someone in the audience and went into a few very nice impromptu card tricks. It was actually nice to see that Mr. Paul it would appear is not just a pretty face (or indeed a mentalist) but also a skilled cardician.
There’s no reason why that should make him a better mentalist, but for some reason it certainly made me personally think of him as a better performer.
Bottom Line
Marc Paul has the persona to pull off this specialised form of magic perfectly. He was entertaining and very informative.
Buy the notes, buy the DVD, but above all, if you get a chance, go and see him lecture or even perform. You won’t regret it.
