What would it look like to you?

from both an external, public performance perspective, as well as the behind the curtain internal side...

External:
Popular enough to not have to explain what a mentalist is, respected as a theatrical performing art, clearly separate from magic.


Internal:
Secrets and methods not widely available, only to those who are willing to work for them and respect them.

How would you achieve the internal do you reckon?

External:

I think we all live it it already. It's ideal enough that myth, pop culture, and the arts have made the notion of Mentalism possible in the average persons mind. They are already prepared with ideas of what it is, or may be. It's really up to us how we wish to present them.


Internal:

I find that most of the best material is hidden in plain sight. With less people willing to read, I would plainly put methods in books. Hopefully avoiding the Ala Carte approach that is so prevalent now.

Good question I suppose. But aren't ideals by definitely un-achievable?

Of course I imagine a situation where I am one of the lucky few who have a knowledgable mentor to learn the secrets from. Which is the opposite of reality, and if I'm being honest, I am absolutely glad that I do have access to all that I do. I just don't like that the lay people can find secrets so easily...

World where I am young Erik Jan Hanussen.

Hmm, I'm concerned that that might not end well...

I think mentalism should be rarely experienced by anyone. And when they do experience it, it would be done by an extremely talented performer who makes the whole experience feel special and rare. For me, personally, (and I know I’m in the minority on this one) I’d also like to see mentalists make an effort to leave their audiences in an intellectually stronger position than they started. I’d rather have my audience be skeptical than gullible. I think it is possible to achieve this without diminishing their appreciation for mystery, and that the mentalism can still “feel” real, in an emotional, visceral way.

Yeah, but on other side he lived a rich and famous live.

I think personally I'd opt for a long life with reasonable comfort than a short one with opulence, but that's I'm sure debatable.

But hey - this is about ideals! So your ideal could be the first part without the second....

Iain, this is a great question. Just what would be "ideal" to my mind's eye?

I sometimes wish that people as a whole were more willing to accept magic. Willing to experience wonder without thinking everything is some sort of a subterfuge. Then again, when I see people and groups who are bogged down in superstition I doubt that wish. In past times some of us might have had an interview with Torqumada for practicing witchcraft. Probably not as funny as Mel Brooks made it look.

I also share the mixed feeling about accessibility of information with Last Laugh. I wish that people wouldn't Google up the methods as they are performed. But I am also glad I am able to find what I have found.

I'm not even close to sure what would be ideal. Great discussion. I'm looking forward to seeing more.