talkmagic.co.uk

So I was socialising in my sporadic fashion, in a noisy bar.
Then someone demanded that I read their mind 'or something.' Now,
I happen to be quite hatefully snobbish about performing mentalism, waiting for the right moment/situation/planetary alignment or whatever.

I told this guy my lofty goals, and he replied 'The girl from misfits can do it in a nightclub.'

This made me feel quite bad, and I started reading.
The wonderful Black Hart, in his third Black Book offers the view that the
performance of magick is developed best in a noisy setting, and
I admit the idea is intriguing, so I propose an intellectual exercise.
Regardless of any (admittedly legitimate) views you may have regarding the performace of close-up mentalism in a noisy setting such as a bar or a club...
can anyone come up with tricks to perform in this setting?

Max Maven describes a routine called the psychic bartender in Prism.
Looch has the wonderful D.D in S.A.D
John Scarne had some quick self working effects that I like to use.
Someone, I think it was Mr. Browning, suggested the idea of a short billet reading/pendulum routine that is applicable in restaurants.

These are some suggestions. What have you tried that works?

Jadoo wrote:I told this guy my lofty goals, and he replied 'The girl from misfits can do it in a nightclub.'

"Yes, but that's just a TV show. I do it for real."

Or some other variation, depending on what you claim.

Your biggest problem is that you can't hear them, and they can't hear you. So, do anything that doesn't require much verbal communication. You could even come up with something that has instructions written down.

You could also try using the conditions to your advantage. Write something down on a business card. Put your pen/pencil away. "I'm thinking of a two digit number. What number is it?"

"Seventy-three."

"What's that?" You lean in closer.

"Seventy-three."

"Seventy-three?"

"Yes."

"I thought so."

You show the other side of the card, which says "73".

our biggest problem is that you can't hear them, and they can't hear you. So, do anything that doesn't require much verbal communication. You could even come up with something that has instructions written down.

I nearly busted a gut when I read this line. . .

Firstly, this is exactly why I detest fools doing "Mentalism" in the same way they would do Close-up/Table Hop Magic... WRONG ATMOSPHERE!

Mentalism and Bizarre Magick both gain optimum advantage when worked under INTIMATE settings... loud dance clubs, bars, and parties DO NOT FIT THAT MOLD so, as I've said for years WHY IN THE HELL ARE YOU RUNNING UP-HILL? Why would anyone think (for more than half a second) of doing Mentalism under such "impossible" environs?

Regardless whether you are someone that sticks with traditional magic or someone that's learned the value of NOT mixing obvious tricks with Mental themed effects, the first part of "the job" is to know what kind of facility lends itself best to the type of material you plan on presenting. In some cases you may find a facility large enough to do one style of magic in one area (such as the noisier room) and setting the more intimate "heady" stuff aside to be used in the quieter part of the room... typically, you will have to decide to do one or the other but NOT BOTH! At least, not both if you plan on being seen as someone "special"... someone that's actually studied his/her craft and does it all DELIBERATELY so as to gain the optimum sense of over-all advantage... that's the name of the game!

While a market has been developed for the strolling "Mind Reader" the actual purpose of strolling Mentalism if for it to serve as a means of meeting show patrons and pull off some pre-show set-up right under everybody's nose (Jon Stetson has to be one of the best I've ever watched exploiting this approach; he really needs to do a video on it but I can understand why he keeps it to himself). I'm not saying that "close-up" Mentalism is "wrong" only that too many people are mis-applying how it was intended to be used; my Paper-Clip & Billet routine (sold as THE READING) being a prime example -- there are people actually making a living doing NOTHING BUT that routine along with a $10.00 for 10-minute pitch -- IT'S NOT A MAGIC TRICK and as such, it (and all effects like it) were never intended to be used in Night Clubs by a table hopping finger-flinger.

Sorry, but this is an example as to why the majority of my peer group stay away from forums and magic clubs these days (and why I need to get away from them)

Magicians like mentalism because "it's cool" or, if we were more honest about things "because it allows us to seem superior to the typical mortal" and likewise, to be "more" than a mere magician -- a "court jester" as some would say. It is very rare that people "new" to this world ever stop to actually SEE that when you do a certain type of effect in one particular atmosphere that the reaction and SUPPORT of the audience will differ, or the fact that they react to YOU differently. . .
. . . because they actually see you in a far different light.

Not to be cruel or rude, but when you stop allowing the idea behind an effect to lead you by the nose and start looking at WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO in order to give to the effect an optimum sense of "value" to the public mind you will start becoming a true wonder-worker. The other step that you must take is understanding the value of setting; it's something we old dogs of the big stage understand all too well and why it seems "logical" to us, when working on the more intimate level with folks.

Having an effect/prop is not what makes you magical, it's understanding when, where and how to take that little thing and make it "bigger".

Think about it.

Jadoo wrote:Regardless of any (admittedly legitimate) views you may have regarding the performace of close-up mentalism in a noisy setting such as a bar or a club...
can anyone come up with tricks to perform in this setting?

Educated duck always works

Jadoo wrote:What have you tried that works?

Despite what some say, mentalism can and does work in noisy environments. I use The Third Man in loud London pubs to good effect. I even have witnesses on this forum who may choose to support my claim. Search TM for that effect to see the proof of it.

I also use ESP cards a lot - even before I had my own printed (so this isn't an embedded advert!). They are so clear that even if a person at the back of the crowd can't hear what's being said s/he can still see when things match. And of course they feed off everyone else's reactions to some extent.

Drawing duplications are good, too. Buy an SAW and you're ready to go.

So those are three things that definitely work in my experience. And believe me, I'm not fooling myself or anyone else that I'm 'cool'. If I can get a group of people laughing and enjoying the performance then it's job done as far as I'm concerned.

T.

*cough* go Naked and write it down *cough*

Ah now, court jesters can be powerful. Ever read King Lear?
There is also a rather macabre Edgar Allan Poe short story called 'Hop-Frog' featuring a court jester
that I think you would like, Mr Browning, judging by your profile picture.

I do understand what you mean, by the way.
I know from experience that a palm reading in a quiet study
is better than a dozen Swami effects in a night-club,
however sometimes this is impractical. I know I should probably wait until conditions are right, but sometimes this is hard to justify
when Im the only psychic the person asking for an effect is ever likely to see. It justs feels rude to reject them, you know?
What do you do in that situation?

I like the old videos of uri geller performing surrounded by a noisy crowd, and I also like the views of Ted that entertainment
and a sort of joint wonder are good goal's in themselves. Different horses different courses?

The very first thing I wrote is closer to my real attitude, Craig. If you read my post again, you'll see that I didn't say that I perform anything like that myself.

In fact, I struggle to hear over background noise at the best of times, so I would probably decline to perform (although I am certain some people can mental effects work perfectly in very noisy places - The Third Man would be very good). However, Jadoo asked a question, and I did my best to help within the remit he set.

Craig, Considering you say you need to get away from forums, you seem to spend a lot of time writing lengthy essays on them. What on earth would you do with all the free time? Just an observation, take it as you will good, open minded gentle folk x

Jadoo, personally I think you should stick to your snobbery. I don't know what reasons you give to those wishing (or in this case demanding) to see 'an effect' but so long as it's a) congruent with your mentalism persona and b) polite, then I see no problem with it. Part-Timer's suggested to reply to the Misfits statement is ideal imho.
If you haven't already, then you really ought to pick up a copy of Paul Brook's The Alchemical Tools, it's not a book of effects but rather a treatise on making your performances so much stronger.

That all said and done, if you really really really want to 'do' something in such an environment then I'd go with a reading. Depending on your persona, a palm reading would be ideal or if you're more the body language kind of person then you can tell them you've noticed a few things that they've been doing/how they've carried themselves etc. which has already told you a great deal about them.
And here's the lovely bit; because you're in a noisy environment you need to get in close, whisper their reading even. When I do this, I keep a polite amount of physical contact, taking their wrist gently in my hand in a muscle-reading-style 'grip' with the other hand on their shoulder.

Delivering their reading in this manner achieves a number of things. Firstly, they can hear what you're saying and the slight physical contact creates an atmosphere of intimacy, what you're telling them is for them only, it's deep and it's personal. This is how we tell secrets to people after all.
In addition, it also adds a sense of wonderment for those watching. They don't know what you're telling your participant, all they see is nods and agreements from them.
At the end, take a step back and invoke a bigger reaction. Ask (suggest) them that what you just said was bloody amazing, "That was pretty amazing huh? And I just got that from <insert bs>"
Voila, they've just had a great reading and their friends are amazed too without even knowing what's occured. Furthermore, they'll be talking about you. "What did he say, how did he know" etc. and that will promote interest in you.

What Vanderbelt said.

I myself often have local towns folk come up to me after hours if I am sitting in the tavren and ask me to show them something, I often come prepared simply because these people are what help spread the word about what they have seen. Now granted Im in a Rural setting and work many towns which helps where if you are in a city setting it maybe diffrent.

Now given that the people seem to know you preform that would mean they know you which based on your responce or thoughts sounds like you do not really like these gents that much to preform in which case go with what you feel like. If you think that it may benifit you to display than what do you ahve to lose? If they are the type that would interfer with your preformance or try to debunk it that leave it be. I would also stress to them that the Misfits is just a TV show and that there is no comparison to what TV producers think and the real thing. Just my thoughts

Based on my own limited experience, I would say that every time I tried to do mentalism in a dark environment, the result was far from satisfactory. I think mentalism relies on such basic tools (billets for example) that if the effects are not done in broad daylight, people become suspicious.

Same goes with voice. They have to hear you and understand what you're trying to say.

Regardless, if I had to rise up to such a challenge, I would either:
1. Shrug, say "but I'm the real thing, and I don't do requests." and go on socializing. So you're a snob - so what?

2. Use some visual effect. Take one card from a deck, put it in your pocket, then tell the guy to draw a card on a large piece of paper (drawing as in painting, not taking a card from a pack) and show it to everyone... and then show that the card you put in your pocket was that one.
Or use iForce. Or tell him to put one hand in the air, then show you knew which hand he was going to put up. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Now send him to the hell which pesky spectators come from, and resume socializing.

When its very noisy in Pubs I only do comedy mindreading.

her: read my mind.

me: OK, If I can read your mind would you give me £50... let me see... you're thinking... there is no way I'm giving him £50.

her: you're right.