One of the best mentalism acts I've ever seen was Bob Cassidy's.

The entire cost of his props came to $5.

The most expensive prop in his show? A deck of playing cards.

Yet this is the guy who regularly performed in biker bars...

Ted Lesley is one of the best at mixing magic and mentalism. However, when he did shows, he never let the props dominate his act, unless he was doing a big product promotion for something like an automobile company. Then, all bets were off. He was in the entertainment business, not just a mindreader.

OTOH, I don't like big, proppy shows, when it comes to mindreading. Although the David Wayne/David Copperfield "Wall prediction" is a very impressive illusion, and it promotes the idea that DC has very strong mental powers, it does not have the same impact on an audience of lay people that Kreskin or Richard Osterlind has.

There is a certain "purity" and directness, shall we say, "intimacy," that comes about with a show which has few props.

Big props are not necessary to make a show entertaining or amazing. I saw Hal Holbrook entertain an audience of 1500 people. His only "prop" was the cigar that he used to signal the start of the second half of his show -- his presentation of Mark Twain.

I think advertising a show as an evening of "Magic and Mentalism" is like advertising a show that is an evening of "Music and Bluegrass."

Mentalism is not about your toys. It's about your ability to interface with the minds of your spectators.

When Banacheck does his fork bending, you are less aware of the fork than you are of the bend. Think about that.

And think about this:

There is one magic prop that many serious mentalists have worked into their shows. It doesn't come across as a prop. It comes across as a demonstration of very serious mind power. What is it?

It all goes back to who you are as a performing character in a show, and what you are trying to communicate.

If you want to communicate how a host of magical, mysterious objects enable you to do strange things, great. That communication goal, that premise, can guide you in the selection not only of extraordinary props, but set pieces, costume, and music.

If you want to communicate that you have a strange innate ability to sense other people's thoughts, that's another great starting point. And it will likely lead you to a very different place than the one described in the prior example.

There are some who believe that mentalism is just another kind of magic show. But the theatrical premise is vastly different. And like any satisfying performance, it demands unity among its parts to support a cohesive whole.

In general, a mentalism show is centered on the performer's relationship with the minds of his audience. Given that context, it's no more necessary to have props in a mentalism show than it is in a hypnotism show, a stand-up comedy show, or a talk show.

Best,
Neil

Hippety-Hop Rabbits?

Nah...

It's a dove pan!

Close. It's the Linking Finger Rings.

Now, why would really great mentalists use that in a mindreading act?

1) It makes a direct connection with three or four people, which can play itself over the whole crowd.

2) It doesn't really involve any props, per se. You are working with items the members of the audience brought.

3) It demonstrates mind over matter, which is a type of mental phenomenon.

Any silly thing can be a demonstration of real power rather than a parlour trick... if you respect the intelligence of your audience and present it accordingly.

As audiences get smarter and tastes change, the props have to evolve as well - but I personally believe that banning props altogether and saying they shouldn't be used is overreacting.

I agree. My audience is my biggest tool (some might use the crude term, prop). And if they were banned, I would not have much of a show,

I agree with you Tony.

You can always let them inspect themselfs for gaffs but very few will take you up on it.

They are the perpect prop-I know crude but it is friday.
-Jim

I don't think anybody is proposing the banning of props, Malchat. In the service of the kind of mentalism performance described above, however, I don't think it supports one's premise for them to be given much importance.

Best,
Neil

Just a thought - my SOM pad is the telephone message pad that my wife brings home from the office. This pocket book (autome) I bought at the airport on my way here. These cards I picked up at the casinos in Las Vegas (I actually have 4 different decks issued by the various casinos which I use for a poker demonstration). In other words we can use apparently ordinary items if we give an ordinary everyday reason for why we have them. In addition my other plain note- pad is all I use for my mental epic presentation. Well maybe I also use a litlle something extra that no one will see, but you get the idea.

Carolini, if they're everyday objects, you don't need justification. The pad is something you write on. Your pen is something you write with. Your wallet is something that contains money and receipts. Your book is something you're reading.

These are things people have contact with every day of their lives. Suspicion should not be an issue.

Let's think like normal people, not magicians.

Best,
Neil

I was going to bring up that normal people don't notice the things worry about...



Nice point Neil

I would add that the items have to be realistically available to you or have context (to) in the current situation. At a business function, I would not be carrying my pocket copy of Love Springs Eternal, or even a dictionary. Nor would I have a kitchen knife or a bag of marbles. I might however have one of the new management or business books with me, my keys, and some pocket money.

Tony

Agreed.

Phill,

I wish I had one hundred billion dollars to be safe!

Richard

Richard, you have one hundred billion good ideas... that's good enough.

Greg

One hundred billion good ideas translates into many more billions....

Sure it can. So how would you present a MM Square Circle as a demonstration of real power?

I'm not advocating the banning of props by any means. I'm advocating focus and common sense.

Perhaps the problem is that a Magic prop can look bizarre but a mentalist should
only use normal or casual props?
Supposing a performer produces a card with words on it and makes it disappear
That is magical
If he asks you to pick a word from it that is fishy
A preprinted list is suspect
If he gives you a pencil and paper and asks you to write any word on it that is mentalism
;-)
TJ