I play this game professionally. I have come to realize that because of simply who I am, I am far more successful at convincing my audience that I can sense the energy-residue in an object handled by a participant than I am at convincing them I can read their minds. I have also TOTALLY convinced people I can bend metal. So, does all that mean I am a professional mentalist or Bizarre Magician? I don't care. I am being me and I get paid either way and my audience has fun.

Christopher

All the professionals that I talk to are completely in line with this. They also agree that there are no hard and fast rules about what is and isn't mentalism, only aesthetic choices.

Frankly, as I go through old notebooks, I realize that brainstorming (which is at least part of what’s happening on this thread) will produce a lot of short-lived avenues that don’t get us where we want to go. But those ideas can get us closer just because they are outside the box we started in.

I get exasperated with Mindpro’s strong definition of mentalism sometimes, but I respect him for having it and I appreciate that he holds a line. I do wish I actually had a better understanding of his definition, but that seems to be a difficulty in communication.

However, with no offense intended to Mindpro or anyone else, shutting down folks who are contributing “what if” ideas or “maybe one could” ideas is counterproductive. I fully expect that 95% of the ideas in my notebooks won’t go anywhere. And that’s true of performance ideas as well as physical art I might plan out. If I lose my excitement for an art piece during the planning stages, I won’t make it. But the idea process is what gets me to my passion.

On subject, I think the core of mentalism is that it demonstrates what the human mind can (apparently) do. But most of the popular approaches are either psychic or psychological. Is there room to perform mentalism with a spiritual frame or does it become something else if that’s your premise? One of the lines Osterlind uses in his L&L videos is “I don’t know how I do this...” This seems a bit disarming and allows him to break out of the range abilities already shown without having to explain the ability now shown. I don’t really know what other theatrical premises might be the next game changer. But I don’t think shutting off brainstorming opportunities will help answer the question.

Patrick

Patrick, please understand that none of this has anything to do with my definition of mentalism, but rather only as it pertains to the OPs original post as intended for most here as mentalism within the magic community.

Also, my distinction between working professionals and hobbyists and amateurs was by no means meant to be offensive or dismissive, but rather than just to point out that those who work professionally have different perspectives, needs, expectations, and understandings especially as it pertains to getting bookings and making an income from performing. This factors into how they create and position their performances. It was from this position I was referring.

No offense taken.

I would counter this idea with a slightly different take.

You don't have to perform something that is within a person's specific beliefs. I seriously doubt most people have any serious beliefs on most of what we do on stage. Why would they? Psychic abilities or psychological skills are not something your average person is going to put much energy into thinking about; it just doesn't apply to their lives.

Most people have a generic sort of blanket belief in a variety of things, and if pushed can develop more of an opinion.

The key, in my opinion, to a good performance is in developing a narrative within the performance that makes the claimed demonstration seem plausible. Really, this applies to any theatrical endeavor that wants to achieve immersion.

Another way to put it - Spiderman can't fly. The established narrative of Spiderman gives him specific abilities, and if he suddenly used an ability outside of that set without explanation, people would instantly be pulled out of immersion because ... Spiderman can't fly.

The mistake I most commonly see is a performer failing to either properly establish the character/premise, or failing to stay within the established character/premise. IE: Starting a routine as a display of mind reading, then showing they had predicted the outcome ahead of time. Or claiming to be a mind reader and then bending metal. What do those things have to do with each other?

If the premise, character, and scripting all flow together, though, then you get the synergy required to get people to buy into it.

WitchDocChris. I don’t mean to start anything I just want clarification. You stated that the audience most likely does not put much thought into psychic abilities. If that is the case, then why does it matter if I read minds then bend metal? The audience has no idea if you can do that or not. And by said definition they don’t know much anyways. I guess I’m trying to understand these points is all

That is one of the main benefits and appeal of mentalism is while some (audiences, lay people) may think they have an idea of what it is, they really don't know for sure. Their mindset stops at "this guy has some special abilities..."

As a performer and person in business, this creates many great and unique opportunities. This is where many miss this huge point (and amatuers and hobbyists haven't yet gotten to this point) that it (mentalism) shifts from being about you and what you think, want, and believe, to being more about the type of expecttions of others as I just gave and WitchDocCris was mentioning.

How about no presentation at all, it seems to work for David Blaine.

"shifts from being about you and what you think, want, and believe, to being more about the type of expectations of others" - good advice.

Not limited to Mentalism, though. Any endeavor based on audience engagement can benefit from looking at affairs from the point of view of the other person(s) --
teacher, musician, clerk in candy store, magician, handyman ...

No sure why you think an "amateur" (one who does not accept pay) cannot have that knowledge or knowledge?
If anything, being concerned over getting a repeat billing might dilute concern over what is best of the observer, or bias selection of effect as to time or "amount of pay."

Yes, we can all agree, methinks, that many "new to performing" choose what is easy, popular, cheap or "all about me."

Maybe it is more "growth" than "shift" - and good mental based effects do require at least an illusion of interpersonal connection more than "wanna see a card trick." (opinion)

Sadly, few in any audience today have expectations not borrowed from social media, or wants not plunked in head by a marketer (politicians and religious folks included).

I would suggest that most spectators do have a notion about paranormal stuff, but no depth of understanding - so they are open to being taught or swayed as to what is important or 'real.'
Folks paying to see a known Mentalist may have personal experience and be looking for validation more that enlightenment.
Some may be confused over what a Mentalist does vs a conjuror, hypnotist, psychic, etc. - and need some gentle guidance in to theme.

So, would it not be prudent to start off a show with effect/demonstration designed to measure the extent of experience or expectations before plunging into some "deep stuff?"
You can use all of your empathic and non-verbal skills to gauge reaction to phrases and themes while building trust and focused attention.

I am amazed by a performer in any endeavor who has a set list of 'favorites' to inflict on all audiences and settings.
Even an actor who has an exact script to follow strives to make that evening's performance unique and special for the audience of the moment (professional or amateur).

Even more sad (to me) is evidence that many spectators today will be "more entertained" by poor performances they "can figure out" than good effects that require then to think or be involved emotionally.

Just what does a lay spectator in a general audience expect of Mentalist? Does that change if they know the performer is being paid?

I remember one performer of old who knew that he might be recognized at any time and be asked to perform. So, when entering a restaurant or store
he would drop key words or draw attention objects. He was alert to people's reactions and interests at all times - always "on" to discovering interest and expectations.
If he did perform later he was astounding as his selection of effect or story line was alive to that particular group of people.

Not sure that would work today with so many people lost in a cellphone, but a good peformer does not have to wait for the curtain to go up in order to connect ...

Because when you switch up the ability being displayed without giving context for the switch, you are breaking the narrative that has been established. It's poor story telling, and poor stories don't engage and immerse. It's difficult for an audience to immerse themselves or engage in the performance if they are constantly trying to figure out what's going on.

In my experience it's often not even a fully conscious thought on the audience's part. Most of them won't actually think (or say), "Why does being able to read minds let him bend metal?" What will generally happen is they will walk away thinking, "I wonder how he did those tricks." Which, if that's goal that's fine, but that's not mentalism.



David Blaine has plenty of presentation - he just doesn't have much spoken scripting. His presentation is in his body language, his clothing, his mannerism - his whole brand, really. All of that is calculated and done completely on purpose.

He's also not a mentalist

I agree, he tends to position himself as an "exceptional artist" which transcends any title we can define. Smart if you can pull it off.

True.

Hey Alexander, cool thread (and name), I agree with you that 'Look what I can do' is quite a boring story to tell with your magic/mentalism, personally I think that if the story isn't worth telling without the trick, then it isn't worth telling with the trick.
I'm spending a lot of time trying to make mentalism stuff more audience-centric as well,and having quite a hard time. Magic tricks are usually pretty easy, but revealing a word or something just doesn't have that outcome they can see and click that things aren't right. I'm sure there are plenty of great ways to do it though, keep on trying!

And yet you dismiss the work of Derren Brown. I would have thought he had "created and positioned his performances" in order to "get bookings and make an income" rather well. I suspect any clients you have would be very grateful for his income and position in the world of Mentalism. He is the one of the most successful and most talented mentalists in the world.

I am surprised at some of the responses here. The theme is "alternate premises" not a definition of mentalism or even how to present or frame the premise.

If is were to ask, "What are alternate hair colors" I do not want opinions only from hair stylists. I want them from everyone who know what hair is and can see colors.
Any later question of which dying method is better is a completely different question.

I like to explore ideas from diverse sources on any subject, feeling confident that I can sort out the kernel from the chaff.
Please don't suppress possible ideas because of some personal bias or prejudice.

Also, the notion that only methods used by money making folks is standard seems strange. That can be one standard for deciding what approach to use
with a similar audience base - never as a standard for considering an idea or premise.

"If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always did."

For me - I desire the ability to choose premise and presentation based on audience expectations, setting, time restraints and more. I need a full pouch of options. I may choose a mental based effect, conjuring, a story or none of those. Please keep the ideas coming, but do not limit the flow of ideas just because they don't work for you.

Yes, I know I am not a "real mentalist" because I don't charge money for a performance and never pretend that I have special powers. I just demonstrate interesting things that my audience considers impossible or highly improbable for them. I desire to kindle imagination and potentials, never to limit them.

So - a premise for mentalism is, "Take what the audience expects and hopes for in life and give them a vision of more."

David Thiel wrote:
I have one declarative statement I use all the time and every single word is true: "I am not doing anything here onstage that you couldn't do with the proper training, techniques, methods, experience and intuition." That's it.

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That will do!

I'm a bit late to this thread,

Normally I start reading and then as soon as people start !@#$%ing at each other my eyes glaze over and I move on, but scattered within this thread there has been some good advice. I've been a hobbyist, a part time pro, a full time pro, a hobbyist again and then for the last two and a half decades a full time pro once more.

It took me a long time to settle into a premise that suits me and is consistent with the types of effects I perform, that said does your premise need to be consistent?

Some have suggested that reading minds then bending metal for instance is out of context, but I grew up watching Uri Geller, read minds, bend metal, stop and start watches, predict outcomes, locate objects in small containers, duplicate hidden drawings, demonstrate remote viewing and germinate seeds etc. At the time a large proportion of the general public believed he was the real deal, mind you it was the 1970's.

Did he bill himself as a magician, a mentalist, a psychic, a mystery worker. To be honest I really can't remember I'm not sure he actually Pidgeon holed himself like most of us tend to do.

I can't suggest ideas for an alternative premise all I can do is share a quote that I read in 1986, one that changed my thought process with regards to the performance of mentalism. The quote at the time was originally aimed at magicians but I think today it is just as relevant to mentalists.



In my case, trying to "bridge the believability threshold" (and I'm still actively working on it) has consisted of a lot of experimentation, experience, and years and years of getting it wrong. I have the feeling that if I had been willing to just go with the 'as long as my audience is entertained' mind set, I'd have made a lot more money over the years.

What I am trying to say (I think) is that from a commercial standpoint, the magician doing mental tricks, the modern mentalist reading body language or the Psychic entertainer approaches, are easier to sell than the premise that you are an evolutionary advanced alien from a distant galaxy who can tap into the universal energy that surrounds us all.

"So how much do you study psychology?" someone asked me this past weekend after my comedy club comedy mind-reading show that ended with me doing a strip tease dance, and my shirt half-off and a predicted word written in magic marker on my chest and the crowd laughing hysterically and going wild.

I find it hilarious that someone would ask such a serious question after seeing my crazy 75-minute comedy club show. But regardless of my ridiculous and comedic style of presentation, there's always someone who takes me a bit too seriously. Almost ALWAYS.

"Not as much as you probably think," was my response. After he and his girlfriend pressed me a bit harder, I told them what I tell everyone who pressures me for an explanation of sorts--"It's just entertainment."

We went on to have a nice and fun conversation, and I didn't make a big deal out of shooting down their desire to believe it is something "more," nor did I smother them with false premises or explanations of my supposed "abilities."

The vast majority of people, including everyone else in the club, walk past as they are leaving and smile at me and say "that was really fun" or "thanks for a great show" and one guy even said "Dude! I wasn't really expecting much but THAT WAS REALLY GREAT!"

My approach has been the same for many years. I consider myself like a Harlem Globetrotter of mentalism/magic--complete with all of the skills of ball-handling and playing the game, entertaining to watch, but no one expects me to compete on any real level and win any championships.