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noesgaardk New user Saskatoon, Canada 14 Posts |
I'm a regularly performing magician and I'd like to work on some mentalist routines.
Could anyone recommend a book, DVD or download to start off with? Thanks! Ken Noesgaard |
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Sean Giles Inner circle Cambridge/ UK 3517 Posts |
Henry Hay - Amatuer magicians handbook
Tony Corina - 13 steps to mentalism |
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WitchDocChris Inner circle York, PA 2614 Posts |
First I have to ask - what is your motivation behind this addition?
From your post and your profile pic I have to assume you're usually more of a classic magician/clown? I am thinking maybe you're looking for mental magic rather than the likely significant amount of change to performance style that mentalism would require.
Christopher
Witch Doctor Psycho Seance book: https://tinyurl.com/y873bbr4 Boffo eBook: https://tinyurl.com/387sxkcd |
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Mindpro Eternal Order 10585 Posts |
Couldn't agree more. My first thoughts were the exact same.
Perhaps the first step is to understand the difference between mental tricks and effects, and Mentalism. |
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noesgaardk New user Saskatoon, Canada 14 Posts |
That is my current target audience, yes.
I'm looking to diversify. I get requests for gigs with adult audiences and I find the mentalism show is a very interactive genre. Classic magic is a bit more demonstrative and the interactive is more my style. For children's shows I will stick to my tried and true clown magician/balloon twister shtick, but this would be a whole new act, new persona. |
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WitchDocChris Inner circle York, PA 2614 Posts |
Ok! My advice is to start with Bob Cassidy's Fundamentals. Though you will get a lot of recommendations for 13 Steps, I look at that one as more of a reference volume. You wouldn't learn a language by reading the dictionary.
The big decision you want to make is: Are you doing mental magic, or mentalism. Magic is related to mentalism but they are not the same thing. They require distinctly different theatrical approaches to do well, and frequently the results will be drastically different as well. Personally, I think the best way I can sum it up is saying that magic encourages the suspension of disbelief, whereas mentalism encourages belief.
Christopher
Witch Doctor Psycho Seance book: https://tinyurl.com/y873bbr4 Boffo eBook: https://tinyurl.com/387sxkcd |
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noesgaardk New user Saskatoon, Canada 14 Posts |
That's what I was looking for!
Thank you, I'll track that down. |
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gmeister Inner circle 1588 Posts |
Quote:
On Aug 8, 2016, WitchDocChris wrote: Nicely said. |
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dgcoates New user 15 Posts |
Quote:
On Aug 8, 2016, Sean Giles wrote: For me this is an easy one: Anything by Patrick Redford....his new book "Applesauce" is stunning. I see him often working the counter at the Wunderground Magic Shop, in Clawson, Michigan
Dennis George Coates
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dgcoates New user 15 Posts |
Quote:
On Aug 8, 2016, gmeister wrote: But we must be careful to not abuse the ability to make someone believe and imply, either directly or indirectly, there are spiritual/mystical forces at work....See the foreword by Teller in PS1 by Bannachek
Dennis George Coates
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dgcoates New user 15 Posts |
I love to do mentalism for a variety of reasons: (1) as expounded upon by Max Maven; A wrong answer can be stunningly more profound and amazing than the "right" answer...once I was doing "Destination Unknown" by Ickle Pickle and gave the wrong answer and the spectator grew very silent and turned pale. He stated that's not what I chose but its really weird because I was just in "Hartford" for my father's funeral. This required some delicate and compassionate handling, of course. 2) Mentalism offers way more opportunities for amazing coincidences...was once doing the Dekram Deck for mother and her young teen age son...when she stopped on "my card" it was the six of spades. She asked if I could do it again for her son and when he stopped on "my card" it was the Seven of Spades..six and seven of spades. I really played that up, before revealing the card, and spoke of intense love and bonds between mother and son and how genetics can even influence thought. I just improvised as I went, like that was exactly what I had intended. Another strange coincidence was when I happened to have "Free Will" (by Corbuzier) in my pocket and, without any promoting from me, the conversation turned toward the religious thoughts regarding Calvinism (predestination) and Arminianism (free will)..guess what came out of my pocket?
Dennis George Coates
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dgcoates New user 15 Posts |
Prompting from me
Dennis George Coates
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WitchDocChris Inner circle York, PA 2614 Posts |
When I say "mentalism encourages belief" that does not mean belief in the supernatural.
Whatever you claim in mentalism, the performer is encouraging belief in that claim. If you claim to be a master of suggestion and influence, like Derren Brown, then you are going to be building your presentations around psychology, maths, etc.
Christopher
Witch Doctor Psycho Seance book: https://tinyurl.com/y873bbr4 Boffo eBook: https://tinyurl.com/387sxkcd |
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noesgaardk New user Saskatoon, Canada 14 Posts |
Quote:
We must always use our powers for good... |
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Sudo Nimh Inner circle 1866 Posts |
I'm not going to get into trying to tell you what's right and what's wrong, what is mentalism, and what it isn't. No point.
Have a look at Richard Osterlind's "Easy to Master Mental Miracles" series. Why? Several reasons. First, you'll learn a good variety of some classic effects that you can master relatively easily. There is also more than enough material in this 4 volume series to build a show with. Even if you decide afterwards that maybe mentalism isn't your cup of tea, you'll still have learned some excellent effects that you'll probably use regardless. Second, Osterlind is a great Mentalist. He has a pleasant personality and will give you a great visual example of how this branch of Magic should be presented in performance. There are other approaches to be sure, but Osterlind's is good and solid. If you're still interested and want to go further after that, there are many excellent resources available. A quick search here on the Café will give you more than ample information to take it from there. Best of luck |
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B_man2012 New user Republic of Croatia 100 Posts |
I agree with Sudo,
EMMM is a great series that thought me the fundamentals of mentalism. Richard's likable personality along with his mastery of the art will give you more than you can hope for.
~ The Croatian Mentalist ~
>PM me if you need help with anything graphic design related! |
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noesgaardk New user Saskatoon, Canada 14 Posts |
Thanks for all the suggestions so far!
I have ordered: 13 Steps to Mentalism Practical Mental Magic Prism by Max Maven Fundamentals by Bob Cassidy |
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noesgaardk New user Saskatoon, Canada 14 Posts |
Quote:
On Aug 16, 2016, Sudo Nimh wrote: Is EMMM a video series? |
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B_man2012 New user Republic of Croatia 100 Posts |
Yes, its a DVD set
~ The Croatian Mentalist ~
>PM me if you need help with anything graphic design related! |
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Sudo Nimh Inner circle 1866 Posts |
Try not to bite off more than you can chew at first. Baby steps.
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