talkmagic.co.uk

Okay there are a lot of mentalists here. Or at least a lot of people interested in mentalism. So I have to ask a question. And I don't mean to be rude or disrespectful. I ask in perfect honesty to see if there is an actual answer for this.

Often times I see a magician/mentalist get on the stage. Coins are placed over his/her eyes, then gauze over the coins (or vice versa) then a blindfold over the gauze, then a hood over the entire face and then the performer then turns his back to the audience. I know how all this works. I'm not asking anyone to divulge secrets my question is why all the overkill? Is there really a point to a hood after your blindfolded? And then do you really have to turn around? Do spectators actually question if you can still see after you have already ducttapped coins and guaze over your eyes? I've seen this done time and time again and I fail to see the point but because I've seen it so often I feel there must be a point and I'd be interested to know what it is. So I don't ask this in amusment or a put down. Just a question to satisfy my curiosity into the psyche of the performer or the audience or both.

And I'll come right out and say I'm not a fan of mentalism. It is just not my thing. I only do two bits of 'mentalism' I use a method to read a serial number off a bill, (or note as you would call it) and I never see the borrowed note. And I do the occult board, that is the three prediction thingy. I use a three pieces of paper rather then a gimmick and totally impomptu. I only mention this so you will understand that I have a neglegable amount of performance experience in mentalism and my question is honest. Although I see how it can look like mentalism bashing.

Now put a mime in front of me and you will see some bashing. They drive me just a little nuts.

After I have the hood put over my head, I then have my assistant cover the hood with quick drying plaster of paris.

She then paints the plaster cast black
and glues ceramic tiles over the whole thing.

I then get on a train and go at least 140 kilometers before the object is brought out for me to "receive".

But that's just me...

I assumed it was just an anachronism from old Victorian spiritualism.

That example is a bit over-the-top, I agree. The idea is, presumably, to ensure there isn't some smartypants saying, "Ahh, those are those x-ray coins made of see-through plastic. They look real from a distance, but up close, they are transparent. And everybody knows that you can get blindfolds with polarised filters. He wrinkles his nose and the micro-processors realign the fabric."

Yes, you could have a dodgy blindfold. Yes, maybe the hood is a trick, in spite of being examined. But dough? Coins? Tape? Even if there is some way to fake all that, if he's not even looking in the direction, how can he see?

I think it's overkill, myself, and almost suggests there's a trick. In fact, not every blindfold routine requires sight. I've got a routine that I developed which works perfectly with no sight whatsoever and there are a fiar number of others.

I tend to agree with the advice that blindfolds are best used to do something that would be impressive even without the blindfold. That's not the only use, but it helps get round any suspicion.

I've always thought it was overkill, too. Why not just fake a fast palm to the hooter in a Hong Kong stylee to see if he flinches?

The real giveaway is after having gone through all that, the mentalist then puts their glasses back on!

Wasn't there a quote in 13 steps that goes something like:

Boy: Mommy, why is the mentalist covering his face with coins, tape, and dough?

Mother: He's being blindfolded so he can tell us what he sees

It's a bit ironic, isn't it?

bmat wrote:Okay there are a lot of mentalists here. Or at least a lot of people interested in mentalism. So I have to ask a question. And I don't mean to be rude or disrespectful. I ask in perfect honesty to see if there is an actual answer for this.

Often times I see a magician/mentalist get on the stage. Coins are placed over his/her eyes, then gauze over the coins (or vice versa) then a blindfold over the gauze, then a hood over the entire face and then the performer then turns his back to the audience. I know how all this works. I'm not asking anyone to divulge secrets my question is why all the overkill? Is there really a point to a hood after your blindfolded? And then do you really have to turn around? Do spectators actually question if you can still see after you have already ducttapped coins and guaze over your eyes? I've seen this done time and time again and I fail to see the point but because I've seen it so often I feel there must be a point and I'd be interested to know what it is. So I don't ask this in amusment or a put down. Just a question to satisfy my curiosity into the psyche of the performer or the audience or both.

And I'll come right out and say I'm not a fan of mentalism. It is just not my thing. I only do two bits of 'mentalism' I use a method to read a serial number off a bill, (or note as you would call it) and I never see the borrowed note. And I do the occult board, that is the three prediction thingy. I use a three pieces of paper rather then a gimmick and totally impomptu. I only mention this so you will understand that I have a neglegable amount of performance experience in mentalism and my question is honest. Although I see how it can look like mentalism bashing.

Now put a mime in front of me and you will see some bashing. They drive me just a little nuts.

Honestly, you're right.

Stephan Minch refers to such thing as "Magician's Guilt"... the need to "prove" we are doing things on the up and up.

Yes, there is a logic to all the wrapping up of the head as well as the hood... the hood being the thing that removes the idea that we somehow see "through our nose" in that some folks are wise to one of the peek techniques a few exploit. But not all of us use that method or even related methods, as the aforementioned author has pointed out, there's a ton of stuff we can do with a legit blindfold and absolutely NO PHYSICAL SIGHT.

Though I've used some of the more elaborate blindfolds in the past, I use a simple "eye pillow" now days... I literally bought it in the cosmetics section of a department store for $5.00... it's a real blindfold... whatever that is. Aside from this I love one of folded handkerchief methods described in Corinda in that it's simple and you get your sight as you need it... the point is, less is more and in the real world of the Psychic, you don't need to "prove" you're being honest, it's assumed that you are... at least, if you are doing your job "right".

This is not only true with Mentalism however... magicians over sell a lot of things including items used in escapes... a real escape artist don't have to prove things, they just do "the stunt"... they do their job.

The point is, this insecurity or "habit" hurts far more than it helps and the result is actually creating or "inviting" suspicion when and where it is not needed.

You've asked a very valid and logical question... keep it up!

TheWickedWitchOfTheWeb wrote:The real giveaway is after having gone through all that, the mentalist then puts their glasses back on!

That reminds me of a Drew McAdam quote: Why would a mentalist need to put on his glasses to read your mind?

when i use one, which isnt often, i use a gimmicked one that cost a fiver...i reviewed it ages ago, but i still use it...works a treat...

someone puts it on, nothing...pitch black...

i put it on, can see straight ahead..lovely,all for a friendly fiver...

i think the main point is to do something quick with an audience member wearing a blindfold, giving some basic proof of non-vision, then you use the same one...job done..