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Race Blakhart Special user Selma,CA 624 Posts |
It is so interesting to me, but it seems like it would be a very tricky genre to practice.
What advice would you want to share if you could go back and give a message to yourself when you were first starting out? What is it about mentalism that 'floats your boat'? |
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mastermindreader 1949 - 2017 Seattle, WA 12586 Posts |
Hi Race-
Welcome to Penny. It's customary for new members to tell us something about themselves first. Do you do any mentalism at all? If not, what about your background in magic and as a performer? |
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Race Blakhart Special user Selma,CA 624 Posts |
I am a lifetime fan of magic, but only recently started getting into the performaning side of it.
I have been a performer, in one way or another, since I was a child. I am now 34 years old. I am also recently disabled (3 years ago) from a hit and run car wreck that left me unable to walk without some type of assistance. (Forearm crutches in my case) I still don't know if this is a permanent situation for me, but I figure since I have nothing but time on my hands, I can finally start focusing on magic. I guess you could say that I am still trying to find myself, magically. I have several personas I've used throughout the years in my music, but with magic I am starting fresh. I absolutely love to create, and have found Kevin James to be a great influence in that area. But mentalism intrigues me like no other. When I was younger, not so much. But at 34, I am very interested in learning more, as I feel I might "fit" into this genre more comfortably. If there's anything I missed, or any questions I can answer about myself, I'm an open book. There aren't many questions I won't answer about myself. Thanks! Cheers, Race Blakhart |
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Godzilla Inner circle Tied & Untied Witches on 5316 Posts |
Chics !
"If you watch Godzilla backwards, it's about a big ass lizard who helps rebuild a half burnt-down city, then moonwalks back into the ocean"
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WDavis Inner circle 1276 Posts |
Godzilla,
I got your subscription of "Hen House: full of naked chicks" with this recent server snaffoo. Your a sick lizard |
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Godzilla Inner circle Tied & Untied Witches on 5316 Posts |
Hey Walter, you know I was kidding ... Magi, don't get chics !
But, I did think, I may have had a haunted item once.
"If you watch Godzilla backwards, it's about a big ass lizard who helps rebuild a half burnt-down city, then moonwalks back into the ocean"
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WDavis Inner circle 1276 Posts |
Ooo that's right, I had forgotten about that...
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David Thiel Inner circle Western Canada...where all that oil is 4005 Posts |
Welcome, Race...
I honestly think there are three seminal books on mentalism: Osterlind's "Principals of Mentalism", Cassidy's "Artful Mentalism of Bob Cassidy Volume 2" and "Mentalism Incorporated" by Chuck Hickok. Those three are the basis. I'd advise myself starting out to be bold and unintimidated...and to seek the joy in the performance...and to forget the vast majority of things I learned in magic. Mentalism feels like magic way down the rabbit hole, so you need to be comfortable with that. Nice to see you here. David
Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Except bears. Bears will kill you.
My books are here: www.magicpendulums.com www.MidnightMagicAndMentalism.com |
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Race Blakhart Special user Selma,CA 624 Posts |
Thanks David! I took those down in my notes so I don't forget. I've been getting such valuable information since I joined the Café. I hope to keep that trend going as I seek out more about mentalism.
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Al Desmond Inner circle Secret Mountain Lair in Conifer, Co 1511 Posts |
"What drew you to mentalism"
The simple fact that I can read minds. (This was not meant to be sarcastic. It makes a point. Find the point.) |
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Mindpro Eternal Order 10587 Posts |
Race, welcome. I'd like to hear you answer your own question - what drew you to mentalism and why? Also where are you from?
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Steve_Mollett Inner circle Eh, so I've made 3006 Posts |
Kreskin
Author of: GARROTE ESCAPES
The absurd is the essential concept and the first truth. - Albert Camus |
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Mike Ince Inner circle 2041 Posts |
I was drawn to mentalism when Waters' M,M & M was published around 1990. It wasn't until I saw Derren Brown use a pseudo-psychological subtext that I thought I could be comfortable performing as a mentalist.
The way Brown combined mindreading with human body stunts surprised me. It was creative and inspiring, and so much better than announcing an effect before doing it. He filled every moment with something interesting, funny, or amazing. That's what drew me to mentalism. What kept me in mentalism was the thrill of learning and performing new things. A mentalist demonstrates abilities everyone wants to possess, gets paid better than most magicians, and can easily fit an act into a briefcase. What's not to like?
The secret of deception is in making the truth seem ridiculous.
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starstruck Regular user Croatia 111 Posts |
Mystery. Mystery is what got me interested, and I want to transfer that mystery feeling to my spectators.
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Robb Inner circle 1291 Posts |
Insanity, quite clearly. I honestly think this all the time... Only a mad man would stand on a stage and pretend he can read minds and see the future. Pretty odd thing to do, no?
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DocBenWiz Special user Meridian, Idaho 992 Posts |
Watching Dunninger on TV, although I did "Super Memory" ("25 objects) and Magic Squares) in high school and fiddled with hypnosismin college, it was
... about 15 years later after seeing Kreskin in person, while also working with T.X. Barber,PhD ((RIP, Theo), experimental psychologist as my boss and his specializing in "hypnosis" double-blind professional studies and publications; switched over from "standard" magic (cards, close-up, etc) to mentalism almost exclusively.
"Pay no attention to that strange man behind the curtain" (it's only "Doc Benjamin from the Amazing Wizardelia Wagon")
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Dr Spektor Eternal Order Carcanis 10781 Posts |
Another question - What drives you away from mentalism?
"They are lean and athirst!!!!"
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Ben Seatreader Regular user The College of Winterhold 103 Posts |
There seemed to be a limited range of magic within 'magic' that could only be broken through mentalism. A coin can for instance disappear, teleport, bend, multiply, levitate. A human mind however, has an infinite number of possibilities! Mentalism to me is the ultimate form of creativity within magic. Did the coin simply bend for no reason, or was it a mystical metaphor for the cleansing of the spectator's negative emotions, brought about through their innate strength of will?
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Ben Seatreader Regular user The College of Winterhold 103 Posts |
You would also be hard pressed to find a cups and balls routine that has the emotional impact of a good cold read. Not to diminish the eye-catching work of our illusionist cousins. They often carry most of the pazazz! It is merely a matter of preference. We could learn a lot from one another if we weren't so keen on labelling ourselves.
Advise to past self: the magic is not in the method, despite the hours it took you to master it! Storytelling is everything. |
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Ashton New user 85 Posts |
One of the things that drew me to mentalism is a fascination with telepathy. It may not be real. But maybe it is possible and we just haven't figured out how yet.
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