This is something I learned from my experience being a deaf entertainer and I now realize it can be a helpful tip when you can hear too. All those years I was deaf I had to learn how to deal with some issues. Especially when it came to audience participation. Just a simple thing like asking a volunteers name when they come up to assist you really does make a difference. Asking their name and them saying their own name out loud for the audience to hear and applaud to is a subtle yet powerful experience. So I always ask them their name as I shake their hand when they come up to help me. I tried my best to read their lips so I can tell them it's nice to meet them by name. But that wasn't always possible for me. So I had to learn how to deal with this. How I dealt with the situation is to simply say, "It's nice to meet you" and move on. So I just didn't even mention the fact that I didn't catch their name.

Well now that I can hear I realize that even when you can hear it's still possible to not catch their name. This can be for a number of reasons. Maybe it's an unusual name or in my case I can hear but my hearing is far from good hearing.

So my tip is this. If you ask their name and for what ever reason you didn't hear or understand them. Don't dwell on it. Just say something along the lines of "Nice to meet you" or "Thank you for joining me". Then just move on. I don't think it's very good to have them repeat it a few times. Once is fine but if you still can't get it then just move on. I've read that there have been studies that suggest a persons name is the most powerful word they'll hear. Even if a person doesn't like their name it still has an emotional impact when they hear others speak it. So I think if you put them in a position to make them work to get someone to repeat it looses some of that emotional impact. It looses it's "Sweetness" in their mind.

I hope I was able to explain my point here clearly enough.

Ron Jaxon

Sometimes I forget their name half way through my act. This should never happen, and it usually doesn't, but on the odd occasion it does.

I always like to say their name a few times throughout my routine. If I have actually forgotton it, I never ask for it again. I press on and try to make my wording as natural as possbible without using their name..

"Thankyou for coming up and participating, now can the audience please give him a round of applause!"

Something I've learned, but often forget to practice is that when you hear someone's name use it at once and use it as often as you can and you will almost never forget it.

I've written about 14 books for you guys!! HL.

Yes Harry. I've read some of your books and they've been very helpful. I use some of the techniques quite often. Especially the remembering names and the peg system. My problem with names is not hearing them in the first place.

In fact here's another tip that comes straight from the methods taught in Harry's books. If you have trouble creating secure passwords for internet services. I know they can be a pain. Use Harry's number peg system to turn words you'd remember into numbers. Numbers are more secure then words. For example someone who knows you might know what your into and guess your password. It would be easier to guess "cardtricks" then it would to guess "7411470".

I went a little off topic there but I do recommend anyone who's having trouble remembering names or remembering anything for that matter to pick up Harry's work. I haven't had to write down a shopping list since I read the memory book about ten years ago.

Ron Jaxon

While visiting Reno I purchased your Memory book and a couple of hours later realized I did not have your book with me. I remembered I placed it alongside one of the slot machines I was playing. I returned to the Casino and asked their Lost & Found if anyone turned in a book. I did not want to name the book and figured I wouldn't have to because how many books get lost in a casino? Well I did tell them the name of the book and it got quite a laugh from the security people. They didn't have it so I purchased another.
Great Book, just make sure you read it before losing it.
Iven

Good, Ron. Wish I could be as much help in the hearing dept. but, obviously, I can't. Gotta' tell you that I've met numerous people over the years whose names I would just as soon not have heard/remembered!! HL.

Great tip, I am quite forgetful especially with names, good advice on not letting it ruin the flow when performing. I usually link it to someone I know with the same name, but for obvious reasons this doesn't always work. (I don't know enough people). Which of these books would you recommend first?

There's no "first." Just pick one and it will probably be all you need. Go to my magic site (listed under this post, with the word "magic" in it) and click on "Memory Books" etc. The second site listed under this post is for a much more expensive course. Then, if you have any questions, go to the one remaining site listed under this post (with the word "earthlink" in it). And so on... Harry L.

I've stopped asking people their names. It wasn't a conscious decision, but I misheard the names so often, and my lipreading is not good. I had too many awkward moments -'What is your name?' 'Kelly', 'Hi, Terry' 'No it's Kelly, not Terry' 'Oh sorry Kerry'. I'm sure you know the sort of thing, Ron. Even worse is 'What's your name?' 'Mzzznly' 'Sorry, I didn't catch that', 'Mzzkrnly'.

Thinking as I write, here. Perhaps I need to open with something where I get them to write their name down without telling me. Could I use 'Kiss' for this. 'Don't tell me your name; write it down alongside one of the numbers 1 to 10, depending on how happy you feel right now. OK now fill in the other 9 spaces with a different names.'

I was thinking about Harry as I read the first couple posts in this thread, and he’s right; pick up ANY of his books and start reading. I was impressed by the foreword in one that made the simple claim that JUST BY READING this book you will automatically improve your memory. Then he made good on that claim! Thanks, Harry!

My problem is similar to what Ron describes as “not hearing” it in the first place. It’s sometimes acceptable to repeat it back as a question. “Hello, my name is R**g*y”. “Reggie?”, as you shake hands. This gives them the chance to repeat (hopefully more clearly) without being too awkward. If you miss it that time, go ahead with the pronouns.

When I was a young man “touring the world” I met a GORGEOUS woman from France, and we talked for quite a while. I NEVER got the name right. “Christine?” “No, Christine.” “Christine?” “No, Christine!” “Christine?” “No, CHRISTINE!” To this day, I still wonder…

Harry is probably the foremost expert on memory in the country. MUCH better than the charlatan doing infomercials! I was going to buy one of Harry's books to help me out...but I forgot which one.

Most people aren't "just bad at remembering names". In actuality, they never really bother to learn a person's name in the first place.

Maybe for a person, but not for a computer. Your 7-digit example, there are 10^7 or 1,000,000 combinations (counting 0). For 7 alphabetic characters, there are (26^7)-1 or 8,031,810,175 combinations. 8,000 times more possibilities.

Purely numberic passwords are not recommended by most security experts.

Being hard of hearing myself I know how hard and frustrating it is when someone does not enunciate properly. Esp when it comes to their name. for me the best thing is sometimes ask one more time then move on. or sometimes if you have an assistant have them ask the name then tell you. this can end allot of confusion

After years of playing with a VERY LOUD BAND, my hearing has decreased noticeably, and I’ve had to pay much closer attention to what’s being said.

The assistant is a great idea! It takes the heat off of the performer, and doesn’t embarrass the volunteer.

I played Santa Claus for the first time last year, and wasn’t as well prepared as I’d have liked (it was a last minute “draft” decision, that luckily played out very well!) I got some excellent advice and encouragement from many folks here at the Café, including one that I fully intend to use this year.

While the parents are filling out their forms, an “elf” (assistant) will make sure to get the correct pronunciation for each child’s name. (Gone are the days of David, Jimmy and Sue. Hello, DeShayla, Rau'shee, and Jaghanmogini!) Then, via wireless headset, I’ll receive each name, so that as the child approaches, Santa can call them by name.

Hurray for assistants!

Doing a lot of sales-like stuff in business I've had to get VERY good at talking around someones name I've forgotten.

Its not that hard witha bit of practice and judicious use of pronouns

Much easier to learn how to REALLY remember names.

Heh you are probably right Harry.

But I've been doing it my way for so long, now its a bad habit...

Pick up a book of mine, if you can find it, called Secrets of Mind Power. There's a chapter or two on how to break bad habits! (And acquire good ones.) HL.