By simply looking at the title of this thread, some will think it should be moved. Or, possibly deleted. After all, this section is reserved for Mentalism.

But, this thread is most certainly about mentalism.

Today, people from around the globe are talking about, and mourning, the death of David Bowie. Personally, I am devastated. He has been very inspirational to me ever since 1970. For quite a long time, I have stated that he was the one true artist in the world of Rock.

As I said, millions of people are talking about David today...and a lot of those folks don't even know the vast majority of the songs he recorded. Sure, they may recognize a few things that get airplay; but they don't know anything from Heathen, or Reality, or Earthling, or Outside, or Lodger, or Low, or Black Tie White Noise, or a number of his other releases. And most of those folks never even heard of Tin Machine.

But they all know David Bowie.

So, do you want to be a great mentalist? Then learn an important lesson from David. True character development will always take you higher than the songs (or, in the case of mentalism, the effects) you perform.

And true character development is so very different from the lazy caricatures that most mentalists hide behind. True character development requires knowing who you are, and understanding why you are doing the things you do.

Like David, your character can appear to evolve, morph, and even radically change. But, at its heart, it actually stays the same; with all of the different phases merely revealing other sides of the same persona. After all, from The Man Who Sold The World, to Ziggy, to Aladdin Sane, to The Thin White Duke, to Pierrot, to The Goblin King, to The Outsider, and eventually, to The Legend, at the core, he was always Bowie.

So stop searching the outside world for more effects, and start searching inside of yourself to see who you truly are. By honestly doing so, you will become better at everything you do.

Thank you, David. You made me a better creator, a better performer, and a better person. I am now going to try to soothe my broken heart with Blackstar.


Keep the change,
Rick

Great post.
Perhaps some if not most will get it.
Perhaps some if not most will heed it.
Perhaps some will even make it reality.

Reminds me of a little story Rick from one of your books. About the person who walks along the beach and sees a shiny glimmering rock in the sand.....

J

Great post Rick.

Great words about a great man from a great performer.

Greg

Excellent insight and correlation to mentalism. A guy that truly understood what it meant to be an entertainer, an artist, not just a performer.

His movie Labyrinth has a great Mentalism effect.

I remember a great ending to someone's show, with a number prediction where the numbers were turned 90 degrees to reveal Bowie ( there was more to it) and the out music was Jean Geni I believe , great ending to a show

He was one of us...

Blackstar

https://youtu.be/kszLwBaC4Sw

What many do not know is that David Bowie was a very accomplished coin magician. I spent around 45 minutes with Bowie in the early 80s showing each other coin tricks and he was highly skilled. I didn't realise at first that it was Bowie and due to his high level of skill, I assumed he looked so familiar because I'd met him at a convention or the circle. He was also a really genuinely nice guy.

Mark

He started out as a mod, and he was really called davy jones, but changed it for obvious reasons...

a true original...and one of my favourites...

and he was initially quite influenced by anthony newley of all people, but if you listen to bowie's early stuff - you can hear it!

He will be missed.I loved his music.
A icon for sure.
Todd

Great story. I never knew that about him. Still can't believe he's gone.

Thank you for that, Rick.

Great post Rick - fabulous really.

I had some similar thoughts about Bowie earlier today.

Thanks for that Mark - great tidbit - who knew!

I'm also a massive Bryan Ferry fan.

Here is a rare interview & Performance with Dinah Shore about 1975:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxe4h7U8jow

Bryan came from a similar time/space and glam sensibility.

Saw him in concert 1990 when I was 19 years old. Can't believe it's all over. Way too young.

Very insightful post Rick. Thanks.

As it happens, I spent the weekend re-reading The Death and Resurrection Show: From Shaman to Superstar.
It all makes perfect sense when you think of Bowie.

Post of the year here, amazing. When did you clock it was him?

Phill

After Lemmy and now Bowie it feels as if the UK is having an identity crisis!

Rick, thanks for starting this very informative thread.