Hey guys,

Do you have any suggestions on making mentalism look more real to an audience? Any tips on performance and presentation? Thanks.

From,
Cornelius.

Don't be 100% accurate. There is some sort of crazy notion in people's minds that if you're a psychic it's okay to fail because if it were a trick it would always work. Be a little off... on the effect, I mean. For instance, someone is thinking of a famous landmark and you draw the Eiffel tower and write it on the bottom, but they call out the Washington monument. Within seconds most people will see that you got the right image, but called it the wrong thing. It's a miss that plays like a bigger hit. I do this all the time with NW stuff. I use what I call the Six-degrees-of-separation theory. I try to give a prediction that I play off as incorrect, but that someone in the crowd will eventually see the connection. I did this once a long time ago by accident and saw the intense reaction I got. I wrote Fry and they called out France. I started whincing about the mistake and apologizing when someone started to shout, "No, it's French Fry! don't you get it. French Fry." I know it sounds strange, but when the spectator supplies the connection it becomes a much stronger effect. I don't recommend that all your effects end wrong, but throw in one or two that are slightly off and you are suddenly the real thing in their eyes.
Just my opinion.
Greg

Cornelius,
Write to me at paul@mindguy.com and I will send you some material to help you in your quest.
PSIncerely Yours,
Paul Alberstat