While mentalism doesn’t exactly call for many props, there are some effects and tricks that can be improved with a little aid from them. Below, we’ve made a list of five (5) essential mentalism props you should have on you at all times.
Prop vs Gimmick: What’s the Difference?
Before we get into that, it’s important to answer this question.
A common misconception among beginner magicians and mentalists is that they think props and gimmicks are two interchangeable things. However, props and gimmicks are very different from each other.
Props are technically everything a mentalist or magician uses for their performances. This could include anything from tables, chairs, note pads, and cards.
Gimmicks, on the other hand, are items that have been slightly altered to help a magician or mentalist to create illusions. A few popular examples of gimmicks are nail writers, card deck gimmicks, and wallet gimmicks.
In essence, gimmicks can be props but not all props are gimmicks.
5 Everyday Carry Mentalism Props You Should Have
Now that you know the difference between a prop and a gimmick, let’s move on to discussing the five (5) everyday carry mentalism props you should always have on you.
Here’s a summary:
- Pocket Nightmare by Max Maven
- Out to Dinner Clip by Doc Eason
- Psychomatic Deck by Nathan Kranzo
- Sven Pad (Post It Version)
- Nail Writer (Sharpie BUG Writer)
Let’s take a closer look at these items and see why it’s great to have them on you at all times.
Pocket Nightmare by Max Maven
The Pocket Nightmare by Max Maven has been around for over 40 years and is one of the most powerful props any mentalist could have.
Pocket Nightmare is an incredible effect that mentalists and magicians can use almost anywhere.
Here’s what happens:
The mentalist asks his subject to glance at a card from the deck in his hand. To show the audience that there will be no tricks, no sleight of hand, he tucks away his other hand into his pocket. The mentalist then tries to guess his subject’s card.
“Is it a red card? Is it a picture card?”
Once he’s gotten enough information about his subject’s card, he gives his subject the deck and asks them to look for the card and place it in his hand. Of course, the subject won’t find the card in the deck because the card has now magically transferred into the mentalist’s pocket.
The prop comes in a sinister black box, inside of which is a deck of Bicycle playing cards. Thirty-six (36) of these cards are gimmicked (altered to help a mentalist perform a trick) and 15 are not.
You also get a link to an exclusive instructional video where you can watch Max Maven himself teach you how to use the cards in performing Pocket Nightmare.
Check out Max Maven using his Pocket Nightmare in this video:
Out to Dinner Clip by Doc Eason
The Out to Dinner Clip is a specially designed metal clip that can help you perform the Out to Lunch effect.
Not a lot of people like it because of its smaller design. But we like that it’s smaller than most clips as it’s unobtrusive and much less suspicious to audiences.
If OTL is one of your go-to’s when you’re out and about, we highly suggest you get the Out to Dinner Clip.
Check out this video using the Out to Dinner Clip:
Pro Tip: It’s best to only use between 6 to 12 business cards in your Out to Dinner clip. Anything above that can get you in trouble as the cards would be too tightly packed into the clip.
The Out to Dinner clip also comes with a couple of instructional videos to tricks you can do with the clip. That’s just one of the many reasons why this is a must-buy.
Psychomatic Deck by Nathan Kranzo
Imagine having a deck of cards that allows you to guess what card your subject has chosen from across the room? Well, that’s exactly what the Psychomatic Deck can do!
It’s a deck of gimmicked cards that come in both red and blue that helps you perform powerful mentalism effects. The set comes with a full deck of playing cards plus a variety of video tutorials that teach you how to use the cards in multiple tricks.
This prop is perfect for beginners who are only getting into card mentalism tricks. But it could still work for you if you’re an intermediate- or expert-level mentalist. (Just don’t expect too much from the video tutorials.)
Check out this Psychomatic Deck review:
SvenPad Sven Notes (Post It Version)
The great thing bout SvenPads is that they look like ordinary post-its that you see on desks at offices. Who would ever suspect that these pads would allow you to peek at drawings, words, destinations, and phone numbers without giving yourself away to your audience?
These pads are often used for prediction effects, but they are completely flexible. Feel free to use them however you see fit.
When you buy the pack, you get 3 pads of SvenPads which come in the customary yellow (or you can choose to get the neon pack). You’ll also get a 15-page instructional PDF containing tips for real-life applications of the SvenPads. What’s more, there’s an enhanced version of Bob Cassidy’s classic “Scary Movie” routine.
Here’s a SvedPad review you can check out:
Nail Writer (Sharpie BUG Writer)
This Sharpie BUG Writer goes perfectly well with the SvenPad Sven Notes. Easily write your predictions using the popular Sharpie permanent ink.
The grip on the Sharpie BUG Writer offers great stability and comfort. No need to worry about it slipping off your finger during performances. It fits perfectly well on the pad of your thumb.
Another great thing about this writer is that it writes exactly the way a Sharpie marker writes: with bold and clean strokes. The ink tip recharges immediately after 10 seconds, so you can make successive predictions without having to worry about running out of ink.
The Sharpie BUG Writer is refillable and comes with an extra bottle of ink in the package.
Conclusion
The props we’ve mentioned above are some of the best items to have on you when you’re out and about. They are easy to carry, aren’t bulky or inconvenient, plus they are very flexible in their application. You can use these props for multiple tricks.
Did we miss any of the other essential props a mentalist should have? Let us know in the comments below!