We know…
Not everyone can become a professional mentalist. But that doesn’t mean you can’t learn the skills every mentalist needs to know.
This is why, in this article, we’re going to show you the 3 best examples of mentalism in action.
Yes, these examples may seem too familiar to many mentalism fans, but it’s always good to start simple.
Plus, if you want to try your hand at it, these are the perfect examples to help you get started. It’s easy but will still impress your family and friends.
So without further ado, let’s get into it.
What is Mentalism?
Some may say it’s a form of magic, but that isn’t quite the right definition.
It is the art of developing a deep understanding of human psychology and behavior to provide others with unexplainable psychological acts. In simpler terms, it is a performing art focused on the mind and imagination.
Magicians mostly trick you by the sleight of hand, while mentalists trick you by influence and by reading your body language.
Gray Elephant from Denmark
Let’s start with probably the easiest one.
This trick is called Gray Elephant from Denmark. It is a popular trick, but even today, many viewers fall for it and are completely mindblown.
Now, this trick is actually very simple.
It’s important to note that there are no fixed instructions for it, and you will likely find variations of it online. For example, you might come across some that say “pick a number between one and 10 and multiply it by nine.” In the end, it won’t matter how you mix up the calculations because it will work the same.
Now, here’s the fun part. Whatever number they choose, the final number will always be 4. Go ahead! Watch the video again from the beginning, follow the instructions, try any number between the range, and you will get 4.
It’s just how math works, no magic there. Isn’t it cool how simple math operations can help you make your audience believe you can read minds?
Moving on, there are only a few countries that start with the letter D. So they will most likely choose the most common one, which is Denmark. Plus, they just solved a math problem, their minds are still distracted from that.
And well, of all animals that start with the letter E, elephants are the most popular. So 90%, if not 99%, of the time, people will choose an elephant for their animal.
As you can see, this example doesn’t require any skill or prop; it just leverages math skills and probabilities.
The Number Five/It’s Always Five
This next trick is a variation of the first one. It also uses the fun math element.
Here’s how to do it:
Ask someone from the audience to think of a number, and then add the next number to it. For example, if they choose the number 32, they need to add 33 to it. Then ask them to add nine to the total, then divide it by two. Finally, ask them to subtract the original number.
No matter what number they choose, they will always arrive at the number 5.
You’ll have everyone in your audience believe you can read minds. And it’s all thanks to the simple wonders of math.
While it is true that many people are reasonably good at math, these tricks do not necessarily use well-known equations but simple mathematical patterns. They might realize it, but probably not soon after your performance. Also, the average audience will only be wowed by your ability to predict a bunch of numbers and wouldn’t care much about how you arrived with such math problems.
Math is the magic here, which makes it a great example of mentalism in action. Try performing it to your friends and family, whether you’re training to become a mentalist or not. Remember you just need to rely on problems that have already been solved for you.
The Classic Mind-Reading Card Trick
Looking for something a bit more advanced?
Then check out this video:
It’s the popular mind-reading card trick that never gets old.
It’s a great trick because it’s one of those performances that can never go wrong, especially once you’ve mastered it. It’s got no math element, no predictability. So even for a smartypants watching, it will be quite a surprise.
Unless you’re truly psychic, it’s going to be difficult to predict what someone will write, draw, or think. Thankfully, professional magician Ed Marlo invented the technique called Convincing Control.
This is a card control or cull technique where you secretly place a selected card to the bottom of the deck. This allows you to have a peek at the card.
Once you know what it is, you can pretend to guess what the participant wrote, drew, or chose.
This requires a sleight of hand, which means you will need to practice over and over, especially if you’re not that skilled with cards.
Intentionally sticking out a fake card or the one you switched the selected card with fools your audience into thinking that there is no way you can cheat. It’s also a way to distract them when you slip the card to the bottom of the deck. I mean, your audience can only focus on one card, which is the one you’re holding out.
Want to master The Convincing Control technique? Then check out this video:
Conclusion
These are the 3 best examples of mentalism in action.
Of course, there are a lot more out there, and more technical ones as well, but these are some of the most tried and tested that are also beginner-friendly.
These examples will allow you to understand what mentalism essentially is and how simple acts can trick the mind.
Practice these with your friends and family, and you’ll be more confident to perform more mentalism tricks in no time.