Mind Reading in the 21st Century? More Than Tricks?
Mind Reading or Magic
Mind Reading in the 21st Century… Expectations are high, and there’s also some healthy skepticism. As a mentalist, you had better deliver a strong, visceral experience. I’m not saying you have to claim supernatural powers, but your performance should leave your audience questioning what they’ve witnessed. You simply know things you couldn’t possibly know. In the same vein, good (or great) magic works the same way. Your audience must feel there is no way you could know what you do. Good “great” magic works the same way. Your audience must feel there is NFW!
Although I don’t advertise myself as a mentalist or mind reader, as that’s not my primary focus, I do have a few pieces in my repertoire that create an experience where I seem to know things I can’t possibly know. Interestingly, the reactions to these “tricks” demonstrate why many magicians transition from traditional magic to mentalism and mind reading. It’s almost like an automatic upgrade in terms of respect. After all, when people hear “magician,” they often picture someone performing at a children’s birthday party. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that.) Let’s be honest, we’re all concerned about our status… at least a little bit.
In the above photo, I am revealing the name of the young lady’s grandfather.
Derren Brown-Mentalist-Illusionist
Many people know the name Derren Brown, especially those in the U.K. but his reputation goes well beyond his homeland. His reputation is truly worldwide.
Derren Brown is an English mentalist, illusionist, and writer. He is a self-described “psychological illusionist” whose acts are often designed to expose the methods of those who claim to possess supernatural powers, such as faith healers and mediums. Wikipedia
My first introduction to Derren’s work came from his videos, which were heavily magic, manipulation—based, with a touch of psychological “mentalism.” His sleight-of-hand abilities were/are top-notch. He could have been a successful magician, but his passion led him to become…Well, Derren Brown.
If any of you are readers of my blog, you know how I emphasize the inclusion of video on our websites. It’s our greatest asset to demonstrate our skills to potential clients. Videos will add credibility to our 5-star reviews. Some reviews appear to be over the top…the proof is in our live performances.
I sometimes visit other magicians’ websites; it’s good to see what others have to offer. There are truly some well-done professional presentations. However, I recently visited a “mind reader”‘s” website and was searching for a video that would demonstrate his credibility of mind reading skills. There was none. The only videos were some short clips of quick “eye candy” that laypeople find impressive, but they had no relevance to mind reading.
To wrap things up I’ll leave you with a final thought…If you were a mind reader, why not leave a fragment of evidence?
Joe Ferranti
Massachusetts Magician
www.ferrantimagic.com 339-927-4710
