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Terry Holley Inner circle 1805 Posts |
Ok...... this is a rant. But I long for the "good ole days" when mentalists seemed few and far between. It used to be that the ability to perform mentalism was unique. Not even close any more. Grrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!
There! I'm done....but not finished! Terry
Co-author with illusionist Andre' Kole of "Astrology and Psychic Phenomena."
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mastermindreader 1949 - 2017 Seattle, WA 12586 Posts |
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On 2013-02-01 14:57, Terry Holley wrote: I agree that everyone and his uncle seems to be calling himself a mentalist nowadays. But the ability to perform it properly remains unique and actual mentalists are still few and far between. Good thoughts, Bob |
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granterg Special user 593 Posts |
I can't speak from experience, but I guess the mentalism world was very different before the internet.
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funsway Inner circle old things in new ways - new things in old ways 9982 Posts |
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I concur
"the more one pretends at magic, the more awe and wonder will be found in real life." Arnold Furst
eBooks at https://www.lybrary.com/ken-muller-m-579928.html questions at ken@eversway.com |
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mastermindreader 1949 - 2017 Seattle, WA 12586 Posts |
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On 2013-02-01 15:41, funsway wrote: See? We do agree on some things! :eek: |
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Olympic Adam Inner circle 1259 Posts |
If you surround yourself with only mentalists it will seem as though that is all that exists
Protection for mind readers and mentalists: http://tricksofthemind.com
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mastermindreader 1949 - 2017 Seattle, WA 12586 Posts |
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On 2013-02-01 15:37, granterg wrote: So was the magic world. Simple ideas were submitted to trade publications and not released as eBooks. (Books were generally written by experienced people who had spent years learning and practicing the art- not by guys who who decided they were mentalists a few months earlier and who were completely unfamiliar with the classic texts.) You had to research and learn on your own and by in-person contact with other performers. We knew each others' names and faces and the idea of spilling everything to anonymous curiosity seekers was non-existent. The internet really has done very little to advance mentalism. Its primary effect has been to trivialize it. |
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C.J. Inner circle There's a lotta rambling in my 2366 Posts |
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On 2013-02-01 15:52, mastermindreader wrote: I'm going to be honest here and say that my journey of learning has still been like this, Bob. Sure, I have access to many ebooks as well, but I realised early on that this was a mentoring art, and sought to find people who could train me. There are none in my city, save one student like me who put me on to a "less public" forum, where people know my name and face. I never did get around to joining your own workshop, which was once top of my Procrastinator's To-Do list. Maybe tomorrow...
Connor Jacobs - The Thought Sculptor
Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur Be fondly remembered. |
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Jim Klodzen New user 58 Posts |
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On 2013-02-01 15:52, mastermindreader wrote: Couldn't have said it any better! |
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Colin Inner circle Las Vegas 1355 Posts |
Are people mentalists? Or magicians doing tricks dressed up as mentalism because is the sexiest clothing at the moment?!
... As long as its amazing, it's all good. Just decide what you want to do and then do it as best you possibly can!! X
Check out Psych-Artist.com now for free essays and other resources.
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Greg Arce Inner circle 6732 Posts |
I rarely post, but boy do I agree with Terry. I live in Hollywood and in the last few years just about every magician around me has turned to mentalism.
I moved to Hollywood in 2000. For the first few years I was probably one of very few that did mentalism at the Castle. Many nights I was the only one. Over the years that was not the case. I had to start checking out other acts because suddenly I was duplicating stuff others were doing. The crazy thing is that the duplication would be when, let's say, a card magician suddenly did a book test in his act or the guy doing coins and Ninja rings would do some key bending. It was crazy. I started to pull away from it all when one night I found myself doing an impromptu show to a group that stayed late. I'd say there were about 40 milling about. I did my show and I thought that was that. Suddenly one of the managers said that they would do one more Palace show for this group. They filed in... and I followed. I sat in the back and watched the show. Somewhere in the middle of the shows, the MC started a routine. This MC had been doing comedy magic. Well, he goes on to do a version of Sneak Thief. Basically, a similar routine to how I had just ending my show. The ENTIRE audience turned and looked back at me. You could that they were perplexed in that they thought what I had done was special and here they were seeing it again. I actually whispered to them. "He's a friend. I had to teach him something." I would say that over the years I've had dozens and dozens of local magicians ask me for advice on how to turn to mentalism. It's gotten out of hand. I now refuse. I tell them to read certain books and leave it at that. These are guys that a few years ago were card and coin guys or did comedy magic or anything but mentalism. And the funny thing is that they all say the basic thing when wanting to know about mentalism. Either it's "Oh, I've always had an interest in it" or "Well, you know they say that mentalism is the adult version of magic". Interesting answers, but where were they years and years ago when I was doing it. The real reason many are doing it is that it's the latest fad. If Derren Brown hadn't become popular, if David Blaine didn't start inserting mentalism into his street performances, if Criss Angel was also doing the psychic bit, etc, then this would not be the fad. I'm sure it will pass as everything does. I'm old enough to remember everyone wanted to do hippie style magic when Doug was around. I remember everyone trying to do illusions in Copperfield style. And, sure enough, I was here to see the David Blaine clones. This will pass. I just hope it's sooner rather than later. Greg
One of my favorite quotes: "A critic is a legless man who teaches running."
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mastermindreader 1949 - 2017 Seattle, WA 12586 Posts |
Hi Greg!!
Good to see you here again. Missed you! Best- Bob |
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JanForster Inner circle Germany ... when not traveling... 4190 Posts |
Greg, it looks like we are picking up on that in Germany as well... At least we can study what's going on in the U.S., normally "we" follow with some delay. We try to protect us, I keep my mouth shut ... Jan
Jan Forster
www.janforster.de |
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Mindpro Eternal Order 10587 Posts |
Man, I couldn't agree more with what Bob, Terry and Greg (good to hear from you) have said. Mentalism has become trivialized, more about "tricks" than effects, and rushed to be performed slopily and thinly at best. The key components of what mentalism should be are becomiing lost.
These justifications of the Internet, ebooks, and dvds be young hot shots that couldn't have put in the time or effort has gotten out of hand. Also the "I don't have anyone in my area" argument is also terrible. So what! If you are serious hope a train, take a plane, find a way to see the greats. I've hoped a plane and traveled across country just to hear lectures from Ted K. and recently Marc Salem, It's what you do if you are serious rather than accept excuses and justification, and turn to the latest "hotshot" kid because he sharing or selling his stuff on youtube, ebooks or dvds. This is common with both mentalism and stage hypnosis. Everyone wants to be seen and heard and no one wants to put in the time and go through the process. I was at the Comedy & Magic Club in Hermosa Beach a coupe of weeks ago and the same thing happened, a magician decides in the middle of his act to become a mentalist and somehow expects the entire audience to somehow believe in his abilities. It was poorly perceived. No story, no conviction, no depth, just a quick rush to get to the payoff and his applause cue (which was terribly weak and confusing). Lets cram in a mentalism bit between to magic tricks - this is what it's come to lately. And what makes it worse is I'm convinced these guys think they are doing the same and on the same level as Bob, and other top pros. It is really terrible. It seems to do little good to even try to discuss it around here. I've noticed even Mindvention has had more magicians and "magicky" mentalism with younger guys, especially from overseas than ever before. I'm really hoping to see a throw back to real mentalism. At least this is a place where younger guys have a chance to see the pros and study ad learn from them. But that too gets buried as they think just because they drink with Bob in Jack's they are peers and somehow on the same level. |
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C.J. Inner circle There's a lotta rambling in my 2366 Posts |
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On 2013-02-01 19:17, Greg Arce wrote: We need someone who works in TV to devise a new hit show about balloon modelling and kids birthday parties to send the crowds running back in that direction!
Connor Jacobs - The Thought Sculptor
Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur Be fondly remembered. |
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granterg Special user 593 Posts |
Maybe this is just my imagination, but I wouldn't be surprised to find more charisma and charm in the old day among mentalists.
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Greg Arce Inner circle 6732 Posts |
[quote]On 2013-02-01 20:43, C.J. wrote:
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We need someone who works in TV to devise a new hit show about balloon modelling and kids birthday parties to send the crowds running back in that direction! How true, how true. I kept hoping for the next guy to come around and become an instant TV success. I've said it before, if the next guy comes around and suddenly does the most incredible rope magic you've ever seen... and gets multiple shows... you'll then see tons of rope magic DVDs and effects. The young guys will be saying, "I've always loved rope magic." Guys will suddenly switch to rope magic and say, "Of course this is better. It's a natural object. People buy that this is real magic. I'm not doing it because everyone else is doing it." Greg P.S. To the Great Bob: Actually I never technically left, but I kept reading posts. I just decided not to get involved in the threads themselves. But believe me, I still got a lot out of all your posts.
One of my favorite quotes: "A critic is a legless man who teaches running."
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Dr Spektor Eternal Order Carcanis 10781 Posts |
Because the essence of mentalism traces back to spiritualism and before that other ancient forms of mystical divination and communion - last bug modern update was really URi and taking a scifi approach.... The current trend if the art is imbued by the cultural aged fast paced action media - and one can see it everywhere transforming the world unto a cut and paste universe
"They are lean and athirst!!!!"
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takeachance Inner circle 3764 Posts |
You need go no further than here on the Café. The new age mega wave of mentalist have made themselves legends (in their minds at least and a small circle of dedicated followers)purely from selling high priced e-books and posting on internet sites. Very few earn their chops performing in basement clubs etc like the old school.
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mindmagic Inner circle London 1740 Posts |
I think Derren Brown started it over here. We've had great mentalists in the UK before but they're all distant memories - David Berglas was the last high-profile TV mentalist that I can remember.
Barry |
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