There’s a degree of artistry and finesse that goes into a mentalist show. It’s not just you pretending to read other people’s minds; it’s making your audience believe.
If your goal is to stage an epic mentalist show, you’ve come to the right place.
Below we’ve made a list of tips and tricks for stage mentalism that you can use to up your game.
Common Tricks Performed by a Mentalist
If you’re having trouble deciding which tricks to put into your show, this list of common tricks performed by mentalists might help:
- Telepathy
- Telekinesis
- Future prediction
- Extrasensory perception (ESP)
Let’s get to know each of them.
Telepathy/Mind Reading
This trick is sometimes included in mentalist stage shows but is most often used in smaller crowds.
Mind reading is divided into two categories: Hot Readings and Cold Readings.
Cold Readings, as its name suggests, are done cold. This means the mentalist relies solely on the information he/she gathers from their subject on the spot.
With Hot Readings, on the other hand, the mentalist already has some information about their subject and base their predictions off of the data they already have.
Telekinesis
Any demonstration that identifies the mind as having the ability to manipulate, influence, or move physical objects falls under the category of “telekinesis.”
These stunts are often done with the help of strings and magnets.
Future Predictions
This is basically any trick that involves a prediction. Mentalists commonly use this technique in card tricks or number tricks.
Here’s a simple example that you can try out:
7 Tips to Stage an Epic Mentalism Show
Whether this is your first stage show or your twentieth, these tips will help you improve your skills and give your audience a show they will never forget.
Here are the 7 tips:
- Read books about mentalism
- Learn how to make wise and educated guesses
- Practice the art of persuasion
- Be confident in your performance
- Pay attention and listen closely
- Know your strengths
- Don’t rush the process
Let’s take a closer look at each of these tips.
Tip #1: Read books about mentalism
With the popularity of audio and video recordings, books have become one of the most underrated sources of knowledge. Not a lot of people make time for it anymore!
But reading books about mentalism is probably the most important thing any mentalist could do.
Because mentalism involves understanding human psychology and body language, the best way to get a deeper understanding of the two is through reading.
With reading, you can get into the nitty-gritty details of mentalism and understand the specifics better than if you were just watching a short 3-minute video.
Here are a few titles we recommend:
- 13 Steps to Mentalism by Corinda
- Body Language Mastery by Brandon Cooper
- Mind Control by Derren Brown
- Prism The Color Series of Mentalism by Max Maven
- The Art of Mentalism by Bob Cassidy
- Devious Realities by Pere Turner
- Building Blocks by Luke Jeremy
Tip #2: Learn how to make wise and educated guesses
A lot about mentalism is being able to make wise and educated guesses relating to your audience. Seasoned mentalists can identify their subject’s true thoughts and feelings through careful observation and interpretation.
There are several ways a mentalist can do this.
For example, in cold readings, a mentalist asks their subject to think of a person, object, or place, then proceeds to ask them a series of questions to help them make an educated guess about the subject’s thoughts.
Here’s a video of Derren Brown guessing people’s professions:
Tip #3: Practice the art of persuasion
Think about any successful mentalist you know. Have you ever wondered how they’re all incredibly amazing at selling themselves and their act?
That’s because experienced mentalists are experts at persuasion.
The word has gained a rather negative reputation over the years. But it’s not about convincing someone to do something they don’t want to do. Neither is it about making someone do something that could harm themselves.
It’s more about making the audience believe in your ideas.
Tip #4: Be confident in your performance
The secret to a compelling performance is confidence. If you believe in what you’re doing, then the crowd watching you will also believe.
However, if you doubt your abilities and show that in your performance, then you’ll have a hard time connecting with your audience.
You should be able to trust your skills and instincts when you’re on stage.
The secret? Practice.
Practice your act until you’re confident enough that you know everything from start to finish.
Tip #5: Pay attention and listen closely
People tend to unintentionally overshare personal details. An experienced mentalist takes advantage of this and listens until he gets the information he needs. This is why audiences are so surprised when a mentalist reveals a secret about them.
If you have poor listening skills, you might miss out on crucial details that can reveal the truth about your subject’s life and character.
Tip #6: Know your strengths
You should know your strengths and weaknesses if you’re planning to stage a show. This can help you avoid tricks that could ruin your whole program.
Maybe you’re interested in cards or playing with people’s minds? Or maybe you feel like sleight of hand is your strongest skill?
Whatever niche you choose, make sure it’s something you specialize in. This will help people recognize your style and appreciate your tricks more.
Tip #7: Don’t rush the process
Staging the perfect show takes time, so you don’t want to rush through the whole process.
Set aside time for planning and practice. Rehearse acts, review techniques, and go over signature tricks. Meet with your production managers, your stagehands — make sure that everything is going as smoothly as it possibly can.
When you make time for everything, there’s less likelihood that you’ll overlook important details. It also gives you more wiggle room for adjustments and changes.
The Bottom Line
If you’re planning to stage a mentalist show — whether it’s your first or hundredth — preparation is always key. You don’t want to step on stage not knowing what tricks you want to play or how you want to play them.
So, make time to read up and review your techniques. Practice and rehearse your act until you’re confident you have everything pinned down. Know your strengths and more importantly enjoy the process.
Good luck!