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cafeinst Elite user 489 Posts |
I am an amateur magician who used to do children's birthday parties as a teenager. I don't have much money to spare. I want to do some really good mentalism in my show. What books would you guys recommend? BTW, I don't want to do card tricks in my show. I think they are in general boring. Also, I don't like sleight of hand stuff. I like self-working stuff.
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Jay Are Inner circle 4186 Posts |
If you like self working, mentalism is not for you my friend...
xxx
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Zebaztian Special user The Netherlands 655 Posts |
Try 'The balloon book on mentalism'.
My mind reading routines: http://www.basjongenelen.nl/goocheltrucs/. Scroll a bit down to the English routines.
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David Alexander Special user 623 Posts |
Magic is just a vehicle for a personality to interact with an audience.
Card tricks are boring if you present them that way. |
ElliottB Inner circle 3250 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-01-19 11:51, Caféinst wrote: I have not purchased it yet, but maybe the new ebook from Rick Maue called "The Road." Rick said that the material is relatively sleight free, and that it is strong stuff he uses in his shows. |
Dick Christian Inner circle Northern Virginia (Metro DC) 2619 Posts |
Sorry to tell you, but I must agree with Jay. If your experience is limited to kiddie shows (and there's nothing wrong with that -- it can be a very lucrative market if you like kids and are REALLY good at it) and no-sleight self-working stuff (nothing necessarily wrong with that either) you should not be considering mentalism.
My guess (and I might be wrong) is that you are interested in mentalism because you perceive it to be the currently "hot" and "in" thing and someone (who is probably no more familiar or experienced with it than you are) has suggested that it's relatively easy and doesn't require any manipulative or other skills that demand extensive study or practice. Nothing could be further from the truth. Mentalism has been appropriately described as "the most adult form of magic" with good reason. It is in many ways both the most subtle and sophisticated and in many respects the most demanding of all of the magical arts because it relies so much more heavily than the others on an understanding of psychology and the ability to not only manipulate objects on occasion, but to manipulation the audience's perceptive and cognitive processes which is by far the more demanding of the two.
Dick Christian
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Samuel Catoe Inner circle South Carolina 1268 Posts |
Caféinst, I suggest you start with Self-Working Mental Magic by Karl Fulves. This is just a start though, and mentalism is NOT self-working regardless of the title. Many mentalism routines rely heavily on your ability to think EXTREMELY quickly, an excellent memory, and (who'da thunk it) sleight of hand. I know you may look at that and say "I have a good memory", and you may. That isn't enough for certain routines and effects. You will have to train your memory in the same manner you have to train your hands to hold and move cards, coins, and other objects. You have to train your mind to think quickly AND differently than it normally does also.
You must be prepared for every contingency, for every possibility, and have a response for even the most unique events because mentalism, while forgiving if your effect fails, is very UNforgiving to poor performance. Mentalism REQUIRES you perform it well, and I don't mean the mechanics of the trick either. I mean the presentation. Mentalism succeeds or fails based purely on the presentation. If you are looking to present it in your magic show, you are looking for what is known as Mental Magic. I recommend the Mental Epic as a possible routine. There are many other good routines out there, but few will pack flat like the Mental Epic board and also lend themselves well to a kids show like it will.
Author of Illusions of Influence, a treatise on Equivoque.
PM me for details and availability. |
Lord Of The Horses Inner circle 5406 Posts |
My books.
;)
Then you'll rise right before my eyes, on wings that fill the sky, like a phoenix rising!
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Mick Ayres Special user Hilton Head Island 998 Posts |
Caféinst,
Like my friend Paolo, I too offer a few books that describe complete mentalism acts in detail. Each act has been audience-tested hundreds of times. However, your presuppositions about playing cards may get in the way. These acts do use cards but the routines are relatively sleight-free. That being said, if you are serious at all about mentalism, be aware you have to work your butt off scripting and rehearsing if you hope to be any good at it. Best, Mick Ayres
THE FIVE OBLIGATIONS OF CONJURING: Study. Practice. Script. Rehearse. Perform. Drop one and you're done.
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mormonyoyoman Inner circle I dug 5,000 postholes, but I have only 2440 Posts |
The Amateur Magician's Handbook is the best introduction to mentalism and how to present it, especially for one who hasn't much background in mentalism. You'll find it downloadable at http://www.lybrary.com/amateur-magicians-handbook-p-565.html
*jeep! --Grandpa
#ShareGoodness #ldsconf
--Grandpa Chet |
Simon (Ted) Edwards Inner circle London 1528 Posts |
No one has mentioned Corrinda's 13 Steps to Mentalism yet. It's a book of principles, largely, although there are plenty of effects too, some of which are "self-working" (dreadful phrase - you still need to present them). To get the most out of the book you should be happy to create your own effects using the ideas set out. If you just want a list of self-workers then the Fulves book is the one you need.
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John C Eternal Order I THINK therefore I wrote 12945 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-01-19 15:53, Lord Of The Horses wrote: His Books ! |
mmreed Inner circle Harrisburg, PA 1432 Posts |
Check out Split Reality. Its a decent self working mentalism routine.
Mark Reed
Wedding and Event Entertainment |
jeremysweiss Special user 742 Posts |
The 39 steps.....
The Shock Doc
<BR>www.TheShockDocShow.com <BR> <BR> <BR>http://ballycast.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/ballycast-024-2009-03-21.mp3 <BR> <BR>"....Jeremy Weiss has the greatest card trick of ALL TIME!"--Jamie D. Grant. <BR>Start listening to iTricks 11/12/09 |
Miraclemakers Special user INA 685 Posts |
13 Step by Corinda, of course...
but, you can start with self working mental magic by karl Fulves |
Hedberg New user 51 Posts |
Practical Mental Magic by Theodore Annemann
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Hypnotic Winter Special user Ireland 720 Posts |
Um, No cards, and no slight of hand eh, I guess your left with contact mind reading and blindfolds, again in Corinda, it also has memory feats, such as the knights tour.
H.W
When your only reality is an illusion, then illusion is reality.
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mental4u New user 80 Posts |
Chuck Hickok's books Mentalism Incorporated should be at the top of the list. He is a great writer that understands the concept of a complete show with well thought out presentations. the routines are top notch also.
Gregg Lancaster Mental Masterpieces College Station, Texas |
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