talkmagic.co.uk

I think Lawerence and Lady of Mystery should become TM superheroes. Pink and fluufy lycra and cape and all that. And spread hugs and pink fluffyness whenever there is a squabble.

Here here! We should have cape logos made up for them for their signatures.

Michael Kras wrote:Thank you to both of you! Very useful information, and the Craig Browning thread is a great start. However, I am looking for a more modern mentalism approach such as the works of Max Maven and such. Anyone have anything else?

Thank you! By the way, does anyone own Nothing?

Michael Kras

Oi!

The question is, do you want to LEARN MENTALISM or are you just wanting to find out how to do tricks that look like it?

Ok... after I went off really big time with a post blasting you out of the water I went back through this thread and thought I'd change a thing or two... so here it is...

Though you will find those that will shout and scream the contrary, few (very, very few) without grey in their hair make convincing Mentalists. Sure, you can do tricks that look psychic or paranormal but sadly, most of the public will see them as being just that -- TRICKS and as a mentalist that is the last thing you want (again, there are those obsessed with thinking otherwise but they aren't mentalists in most cases, they are jerks exploiting the term in order to be part of the current trend. Too, they tend to be cynics who don't believe in anything but their own over-rated and typically false sense of intellect; angry folks that don't want anyone else to have hope or dreams in that they sold theirs).

I was 21-22 when I first attempted to do a solid Mentalism show. It was a hit! The success of that show scared the hell out of me though.

Why?

Because I was not yet experienced enough in life to accept the obligation we have when it comes to dealing with the public after such a show. Bear in mind, I'd been doing Tarot/Psychic Readings for several years prior to this so I was fair at Reading people and too, my legitimate (private life) involvement in metaphysics and religion lent strong credibility to what I was doing on stage. It was all of those "trimmings" that had me looking more like some New Age guru vs. the showman I was... especially in those days.

Unlike traditional magic being a mentalist can entail a great deal of obligation which requires us to be a bit more "seasoned" in life in order to be credible as well as reputable. These early experiences made me run away from Mentalism for about a decade more, placing me in my early 30s before I started taking it serious again and understanding how to do it in a manner that lent respect to my audiences as well as my own beliefs and principles... that includes respecting the craft itself and not belittling it to the status of being "nothing but tricks" as so many do.

Now, at 14 and 15 I was doing big illusions and a "Blackstone" styled show but as I understand things, most teens in that age group are doing table magic at the local Pizza Parlor as well as Birthday Parties and maybe some fundraising programs about town. We're not typically ready to hit the big times e.g. we are still earning our chops and literally, learning how to do the job -- how to have guts and how to deal with issues. That includes busking the streets as well as hefting equipment and shows for others (I've booked far too many hours as a roadie of the years )

Show Biz ain't all glamor but it is all work (lots of very hard work.) That includes focusing and finding our niche in life, which frequently takes a bit longer than we'd like, especially when we are young and want everything our way right now... the world just don't work that way.

Shifting gears is find but ask yourself why and more important, be honest about your answer.

Many are still jumping onto the Mentalism bandwagon because it's seemingly the big thing... in truth, it has become passe and is quickly on the wane when it comes to the issue of "trend", the pro-Gambler and Hustler idea is the new raising wave in the wings which will (thankfully) redirect most back to the security of their playing cards and coin tricks and out of a side of the magic world that's a bit more demanding when it comes to intellect, patience and cunning. I'm saying that to be rude, only because most of what we've seen in the past 8 years or so under the banner of "Mentalism" is everything but. So make certain that your desire to learn Mentalism is legit and not just your fantasy of becoming yet another clone of Derren, Criss or David...

If you don't want to do kiddie parties develop a formal manipulation act; there's nothing that sells faster than a good looking young person doing a Channing Pollack styled manipulation act. They get lots of work within the proper social circles as well... so maybe a dozen doves and some card fans hold your answer rather than chasing the same elusive grail everyone else is after? Maybe you could be the next Artful Dodger (as in Oliver Twist)... if your personality is right, delivering that fast talking street hustler everyone loves as your new persona.

Think about it and see who and what kind of person you really are inside before you just throw up your arms and go chasing after the golden chestnut.

My Karl Fulves self working book arrived tonight, I went through the effects earlier. There are some great effects in it that I'd love to work into my routine.

Just for the record I do not want to be a mentalist and will not claim to be. As I do not have the time to learn it and its not really me. (I still love to watch it though and enjoy the ignorance is bliss when doing so).

Basically the Karl Fulves book is great for sleight of hand people who would like to add a bit extra to their arsenal.

Forgive me, but I'm not reading through three pages of responses before posting this...

EDIT: I decided to read after all. Beautiful post, Craig. Gave me some new inspiration Now on with the show...

Michael Kras wrote:After a nightmare of a kids show

You're going to give up after just one show? Perhaps it's because you aren't quite as good as you think you are! It should be a message to try HARDER and put some work into it before you give up.

Michael Kras wrote:My adult shows are best, so I thought I should add a Mentalism show to my slection of shows for hire.

Please don't. For the sake of we performing mentalists, young and old, please forget this idea entirely for the time being. Here's why:

1.) You have trouble selling a magic effect. In mentalism, presentation is nearly everything. If you're having trouble working on the presentation of the effects you've showed us via PooTube, I dare say you'll never put together a decent mentalism show.

2.) Mentalism in its purest form (I'm thinking Bob Cassidy and company here) doesn't mix well with magic. It's like a Oil and Water routine gone horribly, horribly wrong. I've been trying to do both for nearly a year now (might I add that my first mentalism show isn't until September--14 months after I got into it) and it's hard as hell. I was talking to an expert in the field of magic (whose name will go unmentioned, but his last column in the Card Corner is coming out shortly) who was telling me that to really be both a successful magician AND convincing mentalist, you'd pretty much have to lead two lives: a mentalist on the road and a magician in your hometown. You can't be both in the same place, and imagine the heck of a time your manager would have selling your act. "So, do you want a magician or a mentalist? I've got Mike and Mike."

3.) Mentalism takes a LONG time to get the hang of. Like I said, I've been working on it for three years, but only really learning for about ten months and I'm nowhere near ready to put on a show. I am anyway, since that's really the only way I'm going to get ready, but I fully expect to put on a shoddy performance... though all of my small parlor performances and such have gone remarkably well.

Michael Kras wrote:I am thinking about purchasing Max Maven's Nothing DVDs, but am not sure if it is worth the money. Does anyone here own it?

Yes.

Michael Kras wrote:Is it a good buy?

Yes

Michael Kras wrote:Just that DVD alone I am sure would answer all of my prayers if the hype is correct.

Certainly not.

Michael Kras wrote:Are any of Sankey's mentalism DVDs good?

See above response.

Mike, think about what you're getting yourself into. Respect the art and put a LOT of time into it before putting together a half-assed show and calling a few card forces "mentalism."

Ciao,
Rob

P.S. I don't really like the way that monker guy talks down to the rest of us either, Mike. But let's all go the way of Lady of Mystery and think pink and fuzzy thoughts, shall we?

Thank you, Rob. Presentation is THE most important factor of magic for me... what I work hardest on. I think I could pull it off, but I won't. Not because I can't, but because I am too young to add the serious and dramatic ambience a mentalism show requires.

And it wasn;t just the one kids show... all of them are nightmare gigs so I am just going to drop it.

Thank you!

Michael Kras

OK, I think this thread has been pretty much tied up in summary, so I guess it's time to lock it as it did show signs of backlash.