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chmara Inner circle Tucson, AZ 1911 Posts |
Some thoughts on differences:
When younger children do not see a face -- it is a cognitive development theory - that they feel the person disappears. Children respond in surprise and amazement when an adult covers his/her face then quickly removes the hands and says "peek-a-boo." Laughter and delight -- until they grow wiser in cognitive skill. Is it not the surprise of revelation that gets most of us on the magic track (age does not matter) and allow us to play a more sophisticated game of peek-a-boo with our adult(er) audiences? We lead up to the moment of revelation (of a card, production, or disappearance) for a taaa-daah instead of a peek-a-boo. I would contend that most of our audience is cognitively ready for peek-a-boo magic and most are arrested in that stage of development. As mentalists, ours is a challenge, then, to move our audience from peek-a-boo and taaa-daaah to the quiet and fulfilling amazement of wondering not "how did he/she do that" to "I wonder if I could do that and how my future would be affected by that skill." It is the wonder of growth - from cognitive dissonance to adult growth and cogitation of how we use our brains while sophisticating our childlike responses to meaningful thought about human progress and potential. Can anyone use the skills of clairvoyance, prophecy, psychokenisis in their life? You Betcha they would like to. Can anyone be as credulous to believe these powers are "real?" You Betcha Can we as mentalists supply effective performances that open people's minds to their potentials and not just our peek-a-boo skills? My point is that mentalists have an opportunity to move from peek-a-boo to the mature art of wonder and creativity, but they must first train audiences (each performance) to move beyond peek-a-boo into thoughtful amazement. If as mentalists we still "buy tricks" more often than work on what our routines do for and to our audience's emotions and thoughts - then we might be magicians rather than mentalists -- peek-a-booers who have not move through to anything but a taaah-daaah "look at me performance. Mentalists (IMHO) have an obligation to make their audiences look into themselves and notice the mentalist as a facilitator or guru who touches something inside themselves other than childish games...but still knows the games.
Gregg (C. H. Mara) Chmara
Commercial Operations, LLC Tucson, AZ C. H. Mara Illusion & Psychic Entertainments |
Alexander Marsh Inner circle England 1191 Posts |
At this present time I have nothing to add, except to day... Great Post!
My stuff: AlexanderMarshMentalism.co.uk
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phillsmiff Inner circle UK 1794 Posts |
Thought provoking reading Chmara! Sometimes we need reminding of the potential power of what we do, that we can aim for more than just that 'wow' moment and deliver something enduring which has genuine value.
Thank you for your thoughts. Phill
The new Elysian Duets, marked cards featuring my unique Optical Marking System:
-+: https://phillsmithcreative.com/products/elysian-duets :+- |
mindpunisher Inner circle 6132 Posts |
Yes I agree but mentalism itself is just a branch of magic. You need to go outwith mentalism and combine a number of fields in order to achieve what you talk about. Then it becomes something other than mentalism as it is normally defined.
Something else that uses tricks as only part of the process. |
Dr Desmond Jones New user 44 Posts |
VERY GOOD POST! Remember, in acting it is our job to make the audience leave reality behind and believe our portrayal what ever it is. Mine: Psychic
"You Lady, you call him Dr. Jones, --Short Round!"
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Ed Mauve New user 76 Posts |
I like this, very thought provoking post. You just move me from peek-a-boo and taaa-daaah to the quiet and fulfilling amazement of wondering how all should be.. and all without even performing a single effect on me.
So... which books and dvds should I buy to start with this path? |
Richie Dagger Loyal user Tucson, AZ 267 Posts |
Very well put Chmara. A valuable lesson and reminder to all that bother to listen.
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caycemindreader Regular user UK 107 Posts |
Is this really someone making an interesting salient point without going on for pages and pages? That is progress.
Cayce |
CAROLINI Special user 607 Posts |
Very good post. Helps us to re-think what we are supposed to be doing.
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chmara Inner circle Tucson, AZ 1911 Posts |
Thank you for the compliments -- now go forth and do likewise.
But I digress. We have learned from the past - techniques and tricks. Now to frame them for the future. For the last two generations we have suffered 1 way communication from radio and TV. Now the net has given us depersonalized 2 way communication when the generations of men and women have barely evolved into an ability to communicate face-to-face. As mentalist performers, we depend on two way intimate communications with our audiences - when they have little experience with itoutside a small family circle in front of a TV. I cannot even count today's classrooms as 2 way communication. So - getting the intimate, thoughtful involvement of astonishment needs be developed with a lot more than tricks. Might I ask how you are gaining that in your scripts and routines??
Gregg (C. H. Mara) Chmara
Commercial Operations, LLC Tucson, AZ C. H. Mara Illusion & Psychic Entertainments |
DT3 Inner circle Hill Valley 1920 Posts |
Chomsky.
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Oyama Inner circle Portland, OR. 1054 Posts |
In my opinion that was a great post. I would have to say that I think the majority of the people we perform for are not looking for life changing events to shape their lives. Most people do not take this art as serious as we do. They want to see things that amaze. No matter what we label it as. I am not saying to forget about putting passion and emotion into your presentation, just don't expect everyone to see it the same as you do.
"it's better to live one day as a lion, than a thousand years as a lamb."
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