There was a time when I bought everything I could afford be it book, DVD or trick, read Pennies and Inner Thoughts on a daily basis and studied mentalism 2 hours a day. At times I had various favourites, often determined by what I was working on at the time.

At some point - I'd guess about a year ago, I stopped buying, reading, studying, visiting Pennies and Inner Thoughts, and constantly tweaking my show and just went with what really worked.

When I look back now, while I've been influenced by many performers and creators, one is far ahead of the pack - Bob Cassidy.

I appreciate his common sense (make your own props so you understand them and can fix them), I appreciate the simplicity and directness of his methods and I love his sense of humour.

I don't promise this will be the case, but I am quite confident I could perform mentalism for the rest of my life using just what I have learnt from his publications and web seminars.

I'm in the same boat as destiny. Although it was brown who got me back into Mentalism. Looch and spellman also inspired me also. Fresh thinking to subtle ideas. For the last year I've been looking at Jerome and Scott grossberg in a non stalking way. Oh and Anthony j for his work and ideas in hypnosis.

Katherine Anne. (Don't worry if you don't know her...)

For showing me that Hypnosis does not use stooges.

Annemann, Cassidy and Fogel.

Annemann and Bob Cassidy for some of the best routining out there - check out "Test of the Tiber", "Whim of Tituba", "Fourth Dimensional Telepathy" (Bob's especially) and "Name/Place" - these are masterclasses in how to structure an effect, and to make it play for a large audience. Their published acts are both worthy of serious study as well.

Maurice Fogel for sheer testicular fortitude. Anyone who solves two conflicting commitments by calling in a bomb threat is on a different level than the rest of us.

Maurice Fogel for sheer testicular fortitude. Anyone who solves two conflicting commitments by calling in a bomb threat is on a different level than the rest of us.
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I knew Maurice. That "different level" wasn't an asset. It was actually a weakness. Recklessness was quite a speciality of his. Having said that he may well have been the greatest mentalist of all time rivalling even Dunninger. He was certainly the greatest I have ever seen, at any rate.

Steven King the author.

He confirmed for me that what I thought was possible is
and proved it by a personal interactive demonstration.

Also Anthony Hopkins, (Actor) for his help on how to let others see
what you do. Or make others interested in seeing you see what they cannot.

Jim


H.o.A-X

Marc Oberon and Derren Brown. I know that Marc is primarily a magician, but I've always liked his style, charm and the completeness of his performances (plus he created Bang On).

Derren Brown because his shows are brilliant (Hero at 30,000 feet), because he's an extremely competent and smooth performer, uses a variety of tactics (at least he says he does) to accomplish his ends, and because he excudes intelligents, not just wittiness.

I can well believe that. There's a chap I'm working with at the moment who seems to have a similar disregard for common sense or societal norms... the lows can be pretty low, but some of the places we end up (metaphorically and literally) are pretty amazing.

Over 20 years ago, after watching Lee Earle perform the Musing Box routine and then needing to wipe a tear from my eye and clear a lump from my throat after his amazing performance, I would have to say that Mr. Earle is at the top of my list!




David

Orson Welles, for his conviction and ability to suspend disbelief.

From everything I have heard about Maurice Fogel (including the touch of lunacy) he is my type of guy. A legend. Common sense is over-rated.

Yep I should have had Orson, on my list also.

When he was a young man he created things that would last forever.

Jim

H.o.A-X

Actually, jim's earlier post reminded me of a big influence of mine - one I've had for so long I don't even conciously think about him...

clive barker - the ***ation game, imajica and the great and secret show especially... he was the guy who inspired me to write short stories...

As of this morning, Fantastic Fig & Cat

Derren Brown.

G.M.

I couldn't agree more with these three, Looch. Although you should have included yourself! Bob Cassidy, to me, tops the list. I would also add two people: Richard Osterlind, for the simple reason that I don't think there's a better TEACHER of mentalism. I'd also add Peter Turner, as I truly think he has taken mentalism to a different level.

My favourites are

Bob Cassidy
Richard Osterlind
Pete Turner
Atlas Brookings
Derren Brown

Mark

Bob Cassidy # 1. Brilliant thinker, superbly skilled, polished performer, prolific author and living legend who helps others.
John Riggs for his devious and ingenious creations.
Banachek for being the most believable, convincing thought reader I've ever seen.
Agree Richard Osterlind may be the best teacher of mentalism of our time. His DVD sets are invaluable.
Derren Brown...amazing...

Derren Brown, Bob Cassidy and Michael Weber + Marc Spelmann are tops in my Mental book - and I love watching Docc.

I like learning from guys like Luke Jermay, Peter Turner or Looch but don't relate as well to their performance styles.

To me it's Derren Brown on one hand because of my limited familiarity whith other (I suppose magnificient) mentalists. On the other hand, first and foremost because I like his approach on adapting old phenomena and presenting them with a nostalgic charm as well as his incredible ability to blend method and effect by showmanship (his "red herrings").

Further, I can highly relate to his thoughts on the appeal of magic (from his book Absolut Magic).