A short refresher a brushup, or possibly a first time look.

Did some of you skip the mentalism 101 class?
(Judging from some of the recent posts I would say yep).

Before anyone cracks wise, I do understand I am not a mentalist.
But they did let me into monitor the class every so seldom.

Here are a few of the rules for the use of force for mentalists.
Compiled from my rather meager but nicely illustrated notes.
(Most of the illustrations are not suitable for a family audience and really have little to do with the notes ,
but they do draw ones attention).

Let us move onto the topic at hand that being the use of force.

Anything that brings into play the thought process of an audience member is going to go south.
Not may, or could, it is a definite sure thing you can place big cash on.
The human brain is not a 100% fault free construct.
Any human interaction with any system, no matter how perfect will eventually lead to a system failure.

You will not know when or were, but it will happen.
This is a fact.
Plan for it and have an exit strategy.

In addition, anything the relies on the performers ability to think will go south sooner or later so be ready for it.
Yep you will screw up.
You will make a person do the wrong thing, you will say the wrong thing,
you will not arrange objects correctly, and you will skip a set or a series of pegs in your memory system.
You will switch for the wrong packet, or secretly exchange things that should have stayed were they were.

But the great part is no one will know but you.
Yep you have a head start.
You better know how you will use it.

Note: Always hard force if you need to definitely get from point A to B to C.
(Hard Force, no real choice).

But even that will not work every time because of the interaction of the human being.
You better be ready for it.

Script for all possible outcomes.
If something does go south, and you have scripted for that possibility, guess what?
That is just were it was meant to go because that is what was to happen.
Remember you know first so you get to pick what should be done next.

It is not a case of an alternate ending, it is simply another presentation and
should be just a strong.

Mentalism 101 is not a hard class, but it is the most important one.
A bit painful for some I think, for the simple reason it enforces the fact that one
must think ahead and plan.

It entails work, and in some cases, a good deal of it.

Nobody likes to be told they have to script an act for every possible outcome.
It is work.
But so is writing a novel, short story, play.

Outline, rough draft, script, edit, rewrite, edit, rewrite, for days or months.
Same goes for most art really.

If you are doing a straight cause and effect presentation, you deserve to get burnt from the heat of the Devils front porch
for not creating a layered presentation.

Grab a mirror, and look at the problem with what you are doing.
Yes, you are the problem if you get into such a situation.

Some may not know what a direct cause and effect presentation is because they skipped M-101

It is basically performing mentalism like a magic trick.
For example: Hey think of a number now look at this piece of paper that just happens to have your named number on it!

Does not get any better than that now, does it?
No back story, no reason, no script, no real value as art.
Also no were to go if the gaff goes bad on ya.

For example I would never use Rhyme Time, A psychological force, Card Force, or number force as a direct cause and effect presentation.
Why would you? Unless you are a magician you should see something wrong with doing so.

When first exposed to Rhyme Time years ago, I saw it for what it was, a very clever interactive forcing tool for creating a compelling layered
presentation. Mick can confirm I was not overjoyed he put the principal/effect out.
In fact my words were a bit pointed.

As I saw it, it allowed the revelation of a word simply thought of.
Pretty impressive stuff when scripted as part of a presentation.

Just had to find a way to use it, and layer it with other tools and scripting to create
a presentation.
It became another tool in my war chest.

Yes, I have used it, and it will work 100%, but I am ready if it does not.
It is part of a larger work, and is not the main happening if you will.
But it is a strong memory for the audience or assistant later.

In one of my manuscripts, these types of effects are titled gateway tools.
They illuminate and mark the garden path.
Making it more interesting and memorable.
Eventually blending into a large work of art that is remembered as an experience.


Best Wishes,

Jim


H.o.A-X

Some great tips there I think. I have started planning my act out and also thought it would be a great idea to script for when it does go wrong. Try to think of all occurrnces, so when it comes down to it you have just taken a different path and not really gone wrong at all.

Thank you for the post. It was interesting reading it.

A valuable post.

Great post Jim. Thanks a lot.

Chris

Direct Cause and Effect Presentation versus Layered Presentation...

A very powerful and useful distinction.

And a very interesting set of terms to discribe this distinction.

Thanks Jim.

Thank you Jim.

For real.

An educating post for beginners and those taking their baby steps in the world of mentalism.

Some excellent points. Thanks for posting.

Couldn't agree more.

This is priceless. This is what people miss when you don't belong to Jims private forum. Thank you Jim!

Aaron