How to start getting to mentalism

[Avishai]

Im in card magic for a while and know a bit of mentalism but very very VERY basic, I ordered 13 steps to mentalism but after I'll read it I want to know where can I learn guessing names and mind forcing cards. What books?

 

[WitchDocIsIn]

Thirteen Steps to Mentalism isn't a great starter point. I know a lot of people recommend it, but it's like learning a language by reading the dictionary.

This topic has been posted before and this thread has my suggestions and others as well: https://www.theory11.com/forums/threads/looking-to-start-mentalism.57544/

 

[Avishai]

i brought 13 steps to mentalism and this is the book im reading now, i am in a search for a routine of a clean name guess, the spectator thinks of a name nothing is written down and i just guess it, i read guess who of peter turner, isnt exactly what i was looking for, is it taught in 13 steps to mentalism or there is other place it is taught

 

[WitchDocIsIn]

That is definitely not in 13 Steps, and nothing Turner has put out (at least not that I've read) will satisfy that criteria.

Unfortunately I do not believe there is a method published that is that clean. Any video you've ever seen that looks that clean is not showing the vast majority of what it took to get to that point. By which I mean there is always, always a lot of compromise. Pre-show work, forces, Progressive Anagrams, outright stooging, or something else along those lines. The "top mentalists" you see on IG, YT, etc. are only showing you the best sliver of what they actually do to get those results.

That being said, it can still be an incredible experience for the audience, which is all that really matters.

The methods used by the "Greats" will almost always be disappointing, though.