Who do you think are the best mentalist performers?

Current Performers:
Jon Stetson
Mark Salem
John Archer
Alain Nu
Derren Brown
Tim Conover
Ehud Segev
Brian Gillis
The Evansons

This list is in no particular order

Tony

Banachek, Luke Jermay, Larry Becker, Bob Cassidy and Derren Brown. This list is given in no particular order as choosing between them is like picking a favorite child. These performers, to me, show an incredible ammount of showmanship, charisma and their material is top notch.

Assuming we are talking current day, OK here goes... Brown, Lesley, Osterlind, Banacek, Cassidy, Becker, Earle, Riggs.

Some of the less publicised: Karmilovich, Conover, Jermay, Kross, Tong.

I leave out Uri and Doc Shiels only because I don't think they consider themselves 'mentalists'. Both are eccentric geniuses in their own way and perform some similar material to what a 'mentalist' would do.

Cheers,
Al

Jeeze.....How could I forget Osterlind and Lee Earle?

I know what you mean, the only reason I left out Dan Tong is that I consider him a magical performer (my favorite performer at that) and not a pure mentalist (although he is one of the greatest mental magic thinkers of the past century). If I were including inovators and thinkers, Larry Becker, Lee Earle, Max Maven, Richard Osterlaind, Bob Cassidy, John Riggs, Ted Leslie, and Ted Karmilovich would top my list, but I was just considering favorite mentalist performers.

Tony

Um... not that the list you guys provided is bad or wrong, but I think honestly the best mentalist performer out there is Gerry McCambridge. I am kinda shocked nobody has mentioned him. Just look at the facts:

-NBC Primetime TV Special
-One of the most in demand and highest paid mentalist in the world
-The Only Mentalist In Vegas
-Very Successful full time pro for more then 20 years
-etc...

I mean not that the guys you guys mentiond aren't great they are, but If you are making a list of the best mentalist out there Gerry has to be on that list. Also he is a very nice and humble person, which is rare in Showbiz. I seen his show 4 times and everytime I seen it, the lay people in the audience are speechless at what he is doing.

Gerry has my vote as the best mentalist out there.. (with a close second being Derren and Tony C.)

My list is purely subjective. It is who I like and think is the best performer. I'm not baseing it on any other factors. Its all personal preference.

Tony

Derren Brown
Banachek
Berglas
Baxter (That's Me)

Outside of the B's:

Kreskin
Tim Connover

- entity

The best I have seen are (in no particular order):

-Max Maven. In my mind, he is possibly the best mentalist of all time. I have never seen an act that was so well structured. Max brings mentalism to a new level. He is also one of the most knowledgeable people in magic/mentalism.

-Tim Conover. One of the most dynamic, entertaining performers I have ever seen. Also fooled the heck out of me. Tim is probably the best all-around magician I have ever seen.

-Derren Brown. An incredible performer. He is another performer that raises the art to a completely different level. His books are also must-reads for mentalists and magicians alike.

-Richard Osterlind. He connects with his audiences in an amazing way. He is an amazing performer, and an all-around nice guy.

Those are my personal favorites.

-Karl

My favorites are:

Richard Osterlind
Max Maven
Banachek

Maven and McCambridge... yes agreed, how could I have forgotten!

Criss Angel.....
.............is not on my list.

Mine are as already mentioned:

Max Maven, his audience management and delivery is the best I have ever seen. I have only seen him in his video mind series, but seems to have a great sense of humor and rapport with his audience

Derren Brown, I love the way he uses the play of psychology as the misdirection for some good old magic trick. Making the moment of mentalism tangible.

Richard Osterlind - One of the most naturally performer, hard hitting effects and routines, and again has a great audience rapport

Banachek - Very hard hitting effects. Excellent performing style

Andy Nyman- had the chance to see his performance only this week (DVD), just love the bold in your face stuff he does, to me it show that delivery is everything, takes the audience along a rollercoaster ride.

My humble opinion. Some of the ones mentions already I have not ever seen so couldn't comment on them.

Regards

Steve

Its difficult, I rate banacheks thinking very highly but don't enjoy his performance as much as say derren brown, in terms of presentation I don't feel there is anyone at present, half as good as him in that aspect. I rate cassidy enormously for his thinking and contributions, the same as I rate max maven and richard busch.

I however do not rate gerry mcambridge regardless of what shows he has done, I feel he is a rather weak performer but that boils down to either his attitude/ego or just his genetic make up, I feel the same with marc paul.

I'm sure there are so many performers out there who are unknown to the majority who are probably fantastic and amazing performers

Derren Brown, Gary Kurtz, Luke Jermay.

Ross Johnson

Berglas, brown

Derren Brown, Gary Kurtz, Docc Hilford, Mark Salem, Max Maven

BERGLAS
Banachek
Brown
Carter

Just my 2 cents. But if you didn't know, Chris Carters show is fabulous. He has been awarded many campus performing awards! So go check him out http://www.mindcramp.com

Scott, glad you mentioned Chris. Yes, he could hold his own against the heavyweights like Becker, Earle, Osterlind, Maven and a few others. Very entertaining and an amazing performer. I would also like to add to the list Doctor Zodiac, who is a seasoned veteran to the field of mystic entertainment around the Chicago area. Catch his act if at all possible.

Snidini