Was looking this up, and this sounds EXACTLY like me

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Joseph Dunninger has often been credited with saying. "Every time you add a prop to your act your price goes down." His reasoning should be obvious - every additional prop takes the illusion one step away from what "real mind reading" would look like. And, as Bob has noted many times in his previous ebooks, every additional type of mentalism you demonstrate (apparent telepathy, precognition, psychokinesis, clairvoyance, etc.) also detracts from the overall illusion.

Recently a "mentalist" challenged Bob on this point: "How entertaining is it to demonstrate the same ability over and over again? It is much more interesting for an audience if you do a prediction, then perhaps a blindfold test, a key bend, a memory test and maybe a picture duplication. My business is to entertain them - and that means variety. How entertaining is it to watch the same billet test presented five or six different ways?"

Why not throw in a few jokes, a tap dance and a piano solo? There's some variety for you!

(I'm reminded of the heckler Dr Bob once wrote about - the guy who yelled at Frank Sinatra after he finished a song, "So ya can sing, what else do ya do?")

The ability to transcend one's material is the hallmark of excellent performers in all areas of show business, but for some reason, even well informed "authorities" on magic and mentalism miss this point. A recent work on mentalism contained the following passage:

...Rare is the performer who can mesmerize a crowd by performing only mentalism. Usually these performers have some dynamic effect that will be remembered by the audience. Some performers can do this successfully. Others try and fail.

The fact is that you can't mesmerize a crowd with only mentalism. The statement that those mentalists who do "mesmerize" rely on "some dynamic effect" that people will remember, simply is not true. Those laypeople old enough to remember seeing Dunninger perform; rarely recall the exact effects he performed. They just remember that he was able to read people's minds. As his confidante and behind-the-scenes man David Lustig once said, "It's not what you do, it's what they think you do that counts."

If you have a ton of props and do twenty-five separate effects demonstrating every conceivable type of paranormal phenomena, it doesn't matter if you call yourself a psychic, a spirit medium, or Nostradamus' direct descendant and sole surviving heir - no one is going to believe you anyway.

The more minimalist you get, however, the more likely there will be audience members who believe you are doing the "real thing." Think of the leading "psychics" and "mediums" who nowadays have their own syndicated television shows. They use no props and only do one effect - the most popular being the claimed ability to converse with the dead. They never call themselves "mentalists" and you will never catch them at an SAM or PEA convention.

If you feel that they operate within an ethical "no man's land" that you would rather avoid, the solution is simple. Compromise - but just a little. Use a minor prop here or there. Call yourself a mentalist. Avoid doing private readings. Confine your "strong" performances to the stage and limit your speaking engagements and so called "educational" gigs to memory training, self hypnosis, and other similar non-paranormal themes.

The effects and handlings in The Black Book of Mentalism reflect the degree to which Bob has compromised the minimalist concept while maintaining a believable illusion of mentalism.

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My problem is that it doesn't mention even one of the effects in the book. Anyone know of any?

Here are the contents of the book:

Contents of The Black Book

The Message of Mentalism
Minimalism (A large part of which is quoted in the above review)
The Mirror Box and Tray (with routines)
The Match Box (with routine)
A New Look at Mentalism and Playing Cards
The Cards to Use
Utility Items
The Impression Book

Thanks. Bummer I read this too late, was rather disappointed. I don't know if this was for comedy or not, but just after the Minimalism section it has a one page section in the contents that is labled <paid advertisement> where it goes into something regarding how to make thousands with magic... xD

Magicfreak2 I'm not entirely sure what your saying. It seemed to cross over a little for me. So, out of respect, any chance of sharpening up your main point? ta,

bobser

Let me put it this way;

I read the description assuming that it would use very few props. The Match Box with routine is a clever idea, but I would never use matches/candles, or burn billets; ever. That, combined with the fact that you need to hold the box over their head just seems far too un-minimalistic.

I must give him credit for the Mirror Box and tray, it is a nice idea, but definitely not something I could ever use, as I don't often have a large cigar box, or 5 sharpies on hand, or, for that matter, would ever carry a flexiglass transparent tray around.

The rest of the material is merely personal opinions, and one nice little partial routine for a think-a-card effect, but its things that most people already have gleaned from common sense, and it doesn't include a method to determine the card.

Lastly, while the impression book is a nice idea, I have already been acquainted with the general method (as I doubt not, everyone else is), and I find it difficult to understand how to use it without drawing too much suspicion.

All in all, I'm sure that some people will llike it, but for what it was advertised, I feel that it didn't cut it for me at $25.

Wow...

Nathan

I bought my first Bob Cassidy book (The Art of Mentalism) back in the late 80's when I was 21 years old. I'm not sure what prompted me to pick it up at the magic shop. I didn't perform mentalism. But I think I was intrigued by the description of Russian Roulette. Anyway, I read through the book over the next few days, thought it had some interesting ideas, but nothing I'd ever really use. The book went on my self.

It wasn't in until I as in my 30's that I developed a serious interest in mentalism. I re-read my Cassidy book and realized it contained several terrific effects. I learned a few, started performing them.

I'm now in my 40's. I've re-read the book at least 10 times in the past 3 years. I now realize it's jam packed, not with just great effects, classic effects, entire acts worth of effects -- but more importantly -- it's a master course in thinking, structure, character, psychology and presentation. I can't wait to find out what else this book contains when I hit my 50's!

I can't imagine a single Bob Cassidy effect or book not being worth 10x its buying price.

Give it time, MagicFreak2 -- I think you'll love it one day.

Will do.

Calms my anxiety. Nice motivation you give in sharing this. I imagine when I'm 50 I will be closer to what I can only express by transcedental representations. Bob Cassidy is a top master of thinking AND performance. Respect!

*shakes head* the audacity of the modern torrent seeker

Beat me to the punch, Looch...

The problem is, I've still got another 34 years to go before it starts to make any sense to me

In your fifties and sixties several variations of the material will suddenly become clear to you. It will occur to you that Russian Roulette can be performed with three aspirin containers and a vial of Viagra. You will also learn what to do when the sudden urge to pee strikes in the middle of your act.

Bob

Bob -- lol...

Viagra and spontaneous urination, something to look forward to.

I guess when the Alzheimers kicks in I won't have to worry about any logical disconnect either.
:)

I have many many of Bob's books, and they are ALL gems. No offense, but these are comments I would expect from a 16yr old.

Ben S

I often feel the desire to pee during my act, I use to stress over it but quickly learned everyone is drunk I am performing for and has already peed on themselves so hey why not me too lol. Jk.

Let me clarify on this issue for Looch and Withnail once more as my response was deleted; I don't download magic torrents, I pay for PDFs.

http://imagicos.com/lybrary-blackbook.jpg

Hey Bob:

Would you email me or PM me. Looking for one of your old effects.

Thanks,

Steve
sconner08@comcast.net

The difference is that Bob is writing for people who are doing shows....not fooling their friends. Clearly, anyone carrying around a tray, a cigar box or 5 sharpies would come under suspicion....(The corollary is anyone who is on stage and pulls out a "wallet"--that is equally problematic). Magic and mentalism are contextual.

If you are 16 (and I gather that you are from this thread), there is nothing wrong with doing magic and mentalism...but it has to work for your environment right now. If your are 16 years old and walk up to someone and pull out a cigar--people will be suspicious. If you are forty years old, they will want to offer you a scotch.

Finally, most effects in Bob's work are effects that are used to illustrate a particular idea or point about mentalism or performance. Usually, it isn't about the effect. It is about the concept.

Very well said, Jeremy!

Nathan