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mentalism
- Thread starter arbaaz786
- Start date
Get "13 steps to mentalism" - in my opinion there is no better way to get into mentalism...
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With respect, I disagree.
The 13 Steps is like a dictionary. Yes, it teaches, but I think it's better to start with other resources which aren't so intense. You don't learn a language by reading its dictionary. Steerpike has a good beginner's guide for Mentalism but it's on his blog which I do not have saved on this computer.
Craig Browning also has a couple good resources for beginners in mentalism which are free. Which, again, I do not have saved on this computer. Perhaps send him a message?
I think it's better to ease into mentalism since it requires so much in the theatrical side of things. Pick one thing you want to do - one trick, basically. Then learn a method to it. Then learn another, and another. Eventually you'll realize that mentalists don't do tricks - the use systems to achieve an effect. They might do the same thing a half dozen different ways, each one cancelling out the possibility of the other, all the while looking identical so no one can deconstruct their methods. It also involves a lot more 'realism' than magic tends to bother with. You have to be well versed in whatever your claim is to be able to do 'actual' mentalism.
The 13 Steps is like a dictionary. Yes, it teaches, but I think it's better to start with other resources which aren't so intense. You don't learn a language by reading its dictionary. Steerpike has a good beginner's guide for Mentalism but it's on his blog which I do not have saved on this computer.
Craig Browning also has a couple good resources for beginners in mentalism which are free. Which, again, I do not have saved on this computer. Perhaps send him a message?
I think it's better to ease into mentalism since it requires so much in the theatrical side of things. Pick one thing you want to do - one trick, basically. Then learn a method to it. Then learn another, and another. Eventually you'll realize that mentalists don't do tricks - the use systems to achieve an effect. They might do the same thing a half dozen different ways, each one cancelling out the possibility of the other, all the while looking identical so no one can deconstruct their methods. It also involves a lot more 'realism' than magic tends to bother with. You have to be well versed in whatever your claim is to be able to do 'actual' mentalism.
The three FREE downloads here will give you an overview on Mentalism itself but will likewise give you some long lists of resources that you should invest in so as to learn more and better round out your skills. But the first lesson I'll give you is to not look at Mentalism the same way you do magic; we don't do "tricks" we create effects that affect people at the psychological and frequently, emotional levels that go well beyond the ability of common magic and that is because the psychology is different; with Magic the public knows for fact that it's all tricks and what they are witnessing is for fun. With Mentalism we deliberately invoke belief and present what we do as being legit be it some kind of Psychic ability or something more analytical like NLP or FACS techniques or having a Photographic Memory, etc.
Just like Magic, Mentalism has some sub-categories such as Hypnosis, Seance work, Readings, etc. but too, Mentalism comes with far more "rules of thumb" than magic; it is an art form that works best with a disciplined mind and maturity; sadly, many have gotten into it for sake of ego and thus, we have seen an ugly deterioration of the art in the past decade.
Best of luck!
MENTALISM RESOURCE BOOK
http://www.lulu.com/us/en/shop/p-cr...ion-resource-list/ebook/product-15574606.html
LEARNING TO COLD READ
http://www.lulu.com/us/en/shop/craig-browning/learning-to-cold-read/ebook/product-17796796.html
THE SWAMI
http://www.lulu.com/us/en/shop/p-craig-browning/the-swami/ebook/product-20536357.html
Just like Magic, Mentalism has some sub-categories such as Hypnosis, Seance work, Readings, etc. but too, Mentalism comes with far more "rules of thumb" than magic; it is an art form that works best with a disciplined mind and maturity; sadly, many have gotten into it for sake of ego and thus, we have seen an ugly deterioration of the art in the past decade.
Best of luck!
MENTALISM RESOURCE BOOK
http://www.lulu.com/us/en/shop/p-cr...ion-resource-list/ebook/product-15574606.html
LEARNING TO COLD READ
http://www.lulu.com/us/en/shop/craig-browning/learning-to-cold-read/ebook/product-17796796.html
THE SWAMI
http://www.lulu.com/us/en/shop/p-craig-browning/the-swami/ebook/product-20536357.html
I think that "13 steps" is more than a dictionary.
Of course it is kind of a reference book, but it still offers the possibility of an insight into the world of mentalism. So for me this book was the perfect introduction to mentalism - but I do not deny that this may be different for someone else. I think it depends very much on the "learning type".
All these suggestions are great, to add to the pile, I think one of the strongest things you can do when getting into mentalism is to WATCH, not just read.
Youtube is a fantastic resource for this kind of stuff, type into the search bar things like; mentalist, mind reader, psychic and anything else that you feel relates to the subject.
Just like an actor training for his latest role, it's worth seeing what else is out there and what the people that are 'real' look like when they are demonstrating their skills. From there, it's just a hop, skip and a jump to form your own interpretation. You'll find qualities that you like and qualities that you dislike in all the performances, so write a quick list of these and you'll have in front of you a rough character profile!
Good luck!
Youtube is a fantastic resource for this kind of stuff, type into the search bar things like; mentalist, mind reader, psychic and anything else that you feel relates to the subject.
Just like an actor training for his latest role, it's worth seeing what else is out there and what the people that are 'real' look like when they are demonstrating their skills. From there, it's just a hop, skip and a jump to form your own interpretation. You'll find qualities that you like and qualities that you dislike in all the performances, so write a quick list of these and you'll have in front of you a rough character profile!
Good luck!
While I fully understand what you're saying, Dee, I don't fully support it in that far too many of today's young people are addicted to video vs. the word and as such they can't seem to learn anything unless it's in a video format. This is very disconcerting in that it limits the ability for both, the individual as well as the art to grow.
By all means, using video in tandem with books is a great idea but I'd limit it to (for an example) "Lesson Focus". . . if one is studying 13 Steps it makes sense to watch videos in which people are doing routines using a Swami or doing Billet work and so forth, so you understand it from the observer's point of view as well as the technical side. I've actually thought about creating a "Teach-In" channel that would do just that; help walk people through the various chapters of Corinda and the other bibles of the craft so they can see as well as read. Catch is, I need a better video situation as well as a way to make it worth my while (that's a lot of work, too much to just give away).
Something special really needs to be created that bridges these two "keys" for learning however.
By all means, using video in tandem with books is a great idea but I'd limit it to (for an example) "Lesson Focus". . . if one is studying 13 Steps it makes sense to watch videos in which people are doing routines using a Swami or doing Billet work and so forth, so you understand it from the observer's point of view as well as the technical side. I've actually thought about creating a "Teach-In" channel that would do just that; help walk people through the various chapters of Corinda and the other bibles of the craft so they can see as well as read. Catch is, I need a better video situation as well as a way to make it worth my while (that's a lot of work, too much to just give away).
Something special really needs to be created that bridges these two "keys" for learning however.
I could be off the mark here, but I think Dee meant watching people who are claiming to genuinely do these things. Like all that footage from the soviet projects involving supposed genuine psychic abilities.
Oh, I certainly second that point. When I coach people wanting to learn a Q&A act I tell them to watch John Edward or the Long Island Medium for a couple of hours prior to doing a show. I started doing this at least a decade ago and it improved on my timing and ability to be effective. But then I also encourage (as did my teachers) my students to actually turn off the analytical B.S. they've been told to use and listen to their gut; it's uncanny how accurate our intuition can be when we learn to just go with it.
Banachek points out in his talks about PK and flatware that with believers you only need a very slight bend to be seen as "real". This is something most bender types don't seem to get, but it is what we really need to keep in mind. . . not just with bending but all things we present with a paranormal-esque feel around it. Watching real world psychics (especially if you see them live, at Psychic Fairs, New Age shops, etc.) is the best way to learn how it works in the real world.
Banachek points out in his talks about PK and flatware that with believers you only need a very slight bend to be seen as "real". This is something most bender types don't seem to get, but it is what we really need to keep in mind. . . not just with bending but all things we present with a paranormal-esque feel around it. Watching real world psychics (especially if you see them live, at Psychic Fairs, New Age shops, etc.) is the best way to learn how it works in the real world.
I do not recommend 13 Steps as the first mentalism text. It's a textbook. Incredibly valuable, but also very dry and at times difficult to follow. I recommend in my beginner's guide to start with Self-Working Mental Magic by Karl Fulves to get an idea if this is a direction you'd be really interested in, then moving on to Cassidy's Fundamentals. I'd also add that Craig's free ebooks also round out that early education. If you can get those books and you're not really feeling it, mentalism is probably not the right fit for you.