Mentalism

MagicShadow9 · Nov 2, 2008

Well i've never really looked into mentalism in the past. But i recently saw Derren Brown touch a girl's hand without actually touching it and paying for a diamond ring with pieces of paper. Well this got me interested in mentalism. So what the best book, DVD, pdf, etc to start out with in mentalism? thanks!

Randomwrath · Nov 2, 2008

I can't really say, not being a mentalist myself, but my prediction is that most people will direct you towards '13 Steps to Mentalism' available here (currently out of stock).
For future reference, try using the search bar before posting a thread, you'll get a lot of sarcastic comments. This sort of thread has been posted multiple times.

blahblah · Nov 2, 2008

13 steps to mentalism
practicle mental effects

after that

sleight of mind (this is suggestion type stuff)
building blocks (suggestion)
tricks of the mind (awsome book)
3510 (lots of routines and articles)

and so and so forth (he he) the stuff you probably want (derren brown stuff) takes lots of work in memory, sleight of hand, suggestion, hypnosis, showmanship and psychology (sp.)

mentlism is really (normally) a very good presentation for (sometimes) a simple trick, like forcing a card, and pretending it was "meant to be" or whatever.

when you have read them books you gonna be very good at mind magic.

also, when you do mind magic it often seems either

1. impossible (like muscle reading)

2. a let down (a card force)

their isn't normally much to look at other in mind magic, unless you decided to go into tk/pk.
the people your gonna wanna look into (if your serious) are
docc hilford
kenton knepper
derren brown
eugene burger
corianda
tony andruzzi
sean fields
and lots of others.

Chaseman27 · Nov 2, 2008

13 Steps To Mentalism is a book that is the best starting point out there.
It goes through TONS of stuff and will keep you busy for a whole year

Hope this helps
-Chase

blahblah · Nov 2, 2008

yeah, get 13 steps but buy a few swami gimmicks, other wise half the stuff cant be done (as easily)

Randomwrath · Nov 2, 2008

Oops, double post. Sorry.

Randomwrath · Nov 2, 2008

blahblah said:
13 steps to mentalism
practicle mental effects

Chaseman27 said:
13 Steps To Mentalism is a book that is the best starting point out there.

blahblah said:
yeah, get 13 steps

I rest my case. Now where's my paycheck?

coastaldude · Nov 2, 2008

I was in the same boat as you a little while ago.

This is what I did. Got 13 Steps to Mentalism (Corinda) and took a week and a half out of my life to read over anything that looked interesting. It is good but alot of the stuff is for stage. That is the main problem, so get some swami gimmicks and use the ones he recommends.

Second I got 3510 and E.I. (Luke Jermay) from penguin and they are just to good. 3510 has a few tricks but it really helps out your presentation. E.I. is so simple but so powerful but you will need to get some blank faced playing cards to make it easier. Both of these will help you out on your routine and presentation.

Next pick up Building Blocks (Luke Jermay) and that will help with some close up magic and work on tricks that will question peoples reality.

Lastly pick up stuff from Banachek, Richard Osterlind, and Max Maven. Banachek has so much stuff out that it will keep you busy for years. Richard Osterlind has some neat tricks Ex. Radar Deck is best mentalism with a deck imho. Max Maven Prisms is really good, somewhat like Building Blocks but more tricks and some presentational advice.

Kenton Knepper is good but I prefer to pick up stuff that has more than one trick exception being E.I since it was from Luke Jermay and it allows an emotional connection if done properly.

To sum this all up, Mentalism should be performed when you have worked with all types of magic and have done them properly. It will help you with understanding where you stand on mentalism. The reason is because you aren't doing a sleight of hand where you get caught, instead you are accomplishing the feat of making the spectator(s) believe you have done something like mindreading etc. So good luck and PM me if you would like some help with mentalism.

fridoliina · Nov 2, 2008

Get Practical mental magic, all Banacheks books and dvds and your aswell as the once mentioned above.

To do the stuff Derren Brown does it will take you several years to be able to do, not because its technicaly hard but it will take several years to develope the character and confidence needed to pull it off.

revelation77 · Nov 2, 2008

By now, you should know that the best thing to get is 13 steps to start with.
Buy it.
Read it.
Study it.
Add some creativity and new ideas to some of the effects, then move on.
I second the guy saying buy some swami gimmicks, it'll help. Also, I can definately reccomend Richard Osterlind's material. The 'Mind Mysteries' series are incredible. They are the best products, cheap, loads of amazing material, each trick is a performance level trick.

blahblah · Nov 3, 2008

I would say instead of building blocks get sleight of mind.

aparently sleight of mind is better than building blocks (they both are book about suggestion)

also I wouldnt get emotion inteligence so quick.
it looks like a fun routine but their is so much stuff in 13 steps, also have a look around, theirs lots of gimmicked decks in mind magic, if thats your thing great, but it sounds like you want derren brown type stuff, if you do buy his dvd and book/s from his website.

just experiment, with mind magic its totally flexible, you can mix it with coin magic, card magic, stage magic, bizzare magic...

oh and I only have 13 steps, im just saying what looks and sounds good from reviews and forums and stuff

revelation77 · Nov 3, 2008

blahblah said:
I would say instead of building blocks get sleight of mind.

Should you be suggesting a product over another when you own niether?

blahblah · Nov 3, 2008

coastaldude · Nov 3, 2008

What I wrote down was stuff I have used and bought and had good experiences with. Emotional Intelligence is probably the easiest magic you can do starting in mentalism, but then again it's not about the sleights but about making the believe factor sink in with your spectator.

I would say that get 13 Steps and wait about two to three weeks before you get anything else, the reason being is because it has a ton of ideas for billets, swami gimmicks, blindfolds, presentation, and publicity. The second reason is because you won't do half the stuff they mention unless you plan on getting into stage.

The reason you should practice in cards and coins imo is for what they offer. Cards are fairly simple and allow people to work on their patter and presentation aspect. Coins require alot of practice but the main thing they offer is making them believe in something, such as putting the coin from the right hand into the left hand. You put this believe factor from coins and the performance from cards then you got yourself a dam good mentalism act.

I will leave on this note on what is good mentalism walkaround since that is what I look for. Psychic Serial on MONEY from penguin is the perfect transition from money to mentalism or vice versa but is something that is quick and easy and uses the spectators money.

Swami Gimmick is really good but you don't just use it for that but instead make a billet switch or centre tear into your prediction.

Technique is very good and is impromptu mind reading but takes practice to understand not only how not to get caught but understanding what is what.

Lastly Radar Deck, this is about 20 bucks (forgot where from though) and is so simple it is nearly self working and works well with a transition for cards to mentalims or vice versa also. So good luck on what you choose and make sure you have a script so in case you like to experiment you know where to go in case you studder or mess up or just don't remember what the hell you were talking about.