On Oct 15, 2020, Mindpro wrote:
That's a nice overview Martin. So true. The Blaine specials began in 1997, Brown's in 2000 so that aligns close to Lior's timeline.

This is when the magic-mentalism boom and bandwagon began within the magic community as well.

On Oct 16, 2020, Lior wrote:

Quote:

On Oct 15, 2020, Mindpro wrote:
That's a nice overview Martin. So true. The Blaine specials began in 1997, Brown's in 2000 so that aligns close to Lior's timeline.

This is when the magic-mentalism boom and bandwagon began within the magic community as well.

Yes. I wrote it in the original post.
I am looking through some magazines to see when
they started doing more articles and more reviews
about mentalism and when did it became more
mainstream in Magic and Genii.
Lior

On Oct 16, 2020, Lior wrote:
I was lucky to see a real show of Chan when he visited Israel.
I was 21 years old. 1983

On Oct 16, 2020, Lior wrote:

Quote:

On Oct 15, 2020, Mindpro wrote:
That's a nice overview Martin. So true. The Blaine specials began in 1997, Brown's in 2000 so that aligns close to Lior's timeline.

This is when the magic-mentalism boom and bandwagon began within the magic community as well.

Yes. I wrote it in the original post.
I am looking through some magazines to see when
they started doing more articles and more reviews
about mentalism and when did it became more
mainstream in Magic and Genii.
Lior

On Oct 13, 2020, Mindpro wrote:

Quote:

On Oct 12, 2020, Lior wrote:

What made you cross the border and when was it?

Lior

I'm always surprised when this topic comes up as it showcases magician's limited perspectives and understanding of mentalism. It always assumes all mentalists came from magic. It also helps others understand the divide.

There are some us us who came to mentalism NOT through magic at all, but rather through the mental arts without ever knowing anything about "magician's mentalism" or trickery. We came from actual mental interests and abilities such as the memory arts, hypnosis, etc.

It was only later we discovered what magician's consider mentalism.

So it is short-sighted to think all mentlaists come through magic (although I get this is a magic forum) yet explains the frustartion to mentalists that have come here to discuss the mental arts and more than just effects and trickery.

Funny this comes from a recognized PEA Member. Seems it may be just a magician's mentalist club these days too, Lol.

I think what magicians consider mentalism with the boom started in the late 1900s and early 2000s. It was a bandwagon that arrived in the magic community and it has only recently left town in the past few years. After such a bandwagon boom, the smoke clears and only a small fraction remains. The same happened after the standup comedy boom. Look at all the magic mentalists that have gone back to magic yet still "perform a mentalism effect or two" in their magic shows. They feel no responsibility to mentalism or the mental arts.

I came to mentalism in 1980 and you are correct there was VERY little available on it as an art. It was only though efforts in trying to learn and discover more about real mentalism that it led me to stumble upon magician's mentalism and all that comes with it. Initially, it was kind of exciting thinking these others had common interests, only to quickly become disappointed that their interests were not the same as ours.

At least during this time even the magic community through the '80s and early '90s treated their version of mentalism with more professionalism, respect, and standards. There was only a handful and they seemed to understand it being executed separately and independent of magic. I have old VHS performances from the PEA where the lecturers and performers actually clearly say "please do not share this with any magicians" for obvious reasons and they foresaw what this information would do in the hands of magicians that didn't undertsand these foundational differences and separation.

There does seem to be a lot of 'elitism' from many 'Mentalist' performers who have to make it absolutely clear to their audiences and peers that they are a 'Mentalist' and not a magician.

On Nov 21, 2020, TomB wrote:

Quote:

There does seem to be a lot of 'elitism' from many 'Mentalist' performers who have to make it absolutely clear to their audiences and peers that they are a 'Mentalist' and not a magician.

I find this started in the 1970s with PEA members or PEA wannabes having the elitist attitude. These mentalist has passed on their attitude in their literature to reprogram future mentalist that they are not magicians. However, most mentalists realize they are magicians that perform a mental effect.