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Slide Special user 533 Posts |
Just came back from seeing Marc Salem's show: Mindgames Too. Really, really wonderful. For me the revelation was seeing such classic mentalism effects both performed wonderfully and playing so well. Some of the comments I heard after the show came from a doctor asking if some of his power came from the study of Tantric yoga.
It has sent me right back to my Annemann and Corinda. |
Gianni Special user WILMINGTON, DE 993 Posts |
I saw MindGames Too this afternoon, and wrote the following note on another board. Then I saw your note here at the Cafe and thought I'd cut and paste my remarks here:
This afternoon I saw Marc Salem's show on 42nd Street in NYC. I thought a few of you might be interested in the effects he performed. First, a few points: 1. The show was very entertaining. Marc does an excellent job of keeping the show moving and the audience entertained and having a fun time. 2. The theater was perfect for the show: 200 seats, none of them bad. (I don't know how, but I ended up in the front row center.) 3. The following list is from memory, so it is incomplete and not necessarily in exact order. But I think it will suffice for the flavor. Opening effect - just for mental exercise - the magic square. Several effects in which the amount of change in a person's pocket and a word randomly picked from a newspaper somehow are the exact predictions written down in pencil in Marc's notebook. A memory effect in which Marc remembers the stories on randomly distributed pages of a newspaper. An effect in which 3 audience members are each given a free choice of one of four envelopes. When they are opened, each contains a $1 bill, and Marc's envelope contains a $100 bill. A set of book tests with 3 different audience members. An effect in which the time on a wife's watch ends up matching the time on her husband's watch even though the husband's watch has been secretly wound from across the stage. An effect identical to the description of Larry Becker's Sneak Thief Supreme. An effect identical to the description of Death Trap. The closer - a 20 minute blindfold routine. Half-dollars placed over the eyes, then tape, then a blindfold. Marc then identifies objects held under his hand, and also divines information about audience members from info they wrote on cards. The highlight of this bit, IMO, was Marc's divination of a serial number from an audience member's $100 bill. There was also a final watch move, i.e., the watch hands moved through no perceptible force. Well, there you have it, a taste of Broadway. Again, a very entertaining show in a very nice, intimate theater. Gianni |
Drewmcadam Inner circle Scotland 1239 Posts |
I was lucky enough to catch Marc Salem when he was performing at the Edinburgh festival back in August. What makes Marc’s show so enthralling is neither the quality of the effects nor the originality of the effects (though both are high), rather it is his sparkling personality – and that’s something you either have or you don’t. Perhaps up-and-coming mentalists should take a closer look at Marc and his uncanny ability to build instant rapport with the audience.
I was at the show in my professional guise as a reviewer, and thought it one of the most entertaining shows I’d seen in a long time. I also had the honour and privilege of interviewing the man for a preview and a major article – the more publicity the better, eh? – and I can tell you he is one of the most charming and affable individuals you could hope to meet. So, for anybody out there who hasn’t yet clambered out of their armchair to see his show – GO! NB. Marc’s TV special is coming up soon on the Sci-fi channel. If you’re very lucky, you might just get a glimpse of me in there somewhere… see if you can work out which one I am! |
Ken Regular user Belfast 112 Posts |
Hi Drew,
If you here any more information about Marc's TV special on the Sci-fi channel please let us know. Many thanks Ken |
Slide Special user 533 Posts |
Oh, I agree. So many of the actual effects were standard and classic mentalism. But the presentation is everything and Marc does a brilliant job of using effects that work under his "non-verbal communciation" metaphor. For instance he does an effect called Death Trap which I've seen performed rather poorly at the Squished Eyeball theater in San Francisco. But in Marc's hands it becomes a brilliant demonstration of non-verbal communication and brings gasps from the audience.
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magicadam New user London, Uk 25 Posts |
I caught him in England. The act seems the same. IT was a big shame that 20 mins was devoted to being blindfolded however. Entertaining though.
Coincidence? I think not... Adz |
Slide Special user 533 Posts |
I don't know about that. I thought his blindfolded combination of PK and mindreading with the cards was a really great combination. The way he performed it you really forgot that the audience had just filled out cards.
Anyway, it prompted me to go out and buy Sealed Vision. |
Drewmcadam Inner circle Scotland 1239 Posts |
For anybody living in the UK... Marc Salem is coming back. Mind Games opens on Tuesday April 30th for an eight week run at The New Ambassadors Theatre in London's West End.
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Jonathan Inner circle Oklahoma 1223 Posts |
I have sealed vision. Anyone help me out with the way he used that in his presentation? I don’t want to copy the effect, but I would like to know his method and presentation (obviously sealed vision takes care of most of it) to expand my knowledge. It’s things like that, that really help me in my application of ideas into my original presentations and effects.
jonathan Grant jgrant@mail.snu.edu |
Mr Amazing Special user 617 Posts |
Yes, I obviously agree with everyone - it was a terrific show. I saw it (his first one) in London some two or three months ago.
I am yet to see someone as skilled with a boon as he is. It was also very interesting to see how he handled difficulties, e.g, he forgot a word in one of the book tests and he got out of it by quickly pulling up what I believe was Strivings little peek device. It was all very quick, so few noticed. On other occations the participants were difficult in that they wouldn't answer or they'd simply give a clearly wrong answer (e.g, during blind fold: "I am sensing a can of some kind, right?" "NO!"). I must say that the psychometry/blind folded bit was too long though. After a while I got the impression that some audience members were beginning to suspect the workings as he had to "spread out" the fill-in cards on his little stand. I also think it was a mistake to let the people on stage stand right next to the stand as they clearly could see what was going on and their reaction was somewhat revealing to the rest of the audience. (Mr. Salem may not know about this, actually, as he really can't see what is going on around and behind him). My wife - who may not exactly be the average spectator - "got it" very early on (and I had to go into the usual "well, I don't know... he even had coins behind so how could he..."). Summary: (even if the complaints got an unproportionately big part of the above) SEE IT!!! It was the best show I've seen on mentalism ever. /M |
bitterman Inner circle 1189 Posts |
Does anyone know if he is still touring with the show?
If you are not cheating, you are only cheating yourself.
Dutchco is about to put out some new Ebook: DUTCHCO. Get 'em while you can. |
SHOC New user Las Vegas, NV 72 Posts |
Marc Salm on Broadway opens May 17
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