405 entries in Mental Magic / Theory and General Comments
Creators Title Comments & References Year Source Page AA Categories
Mark Strivings Mixing Magic, Mental Magic and Mentalism in Strolling a.k.a. Who Are You Anyway? a.k.a. Is It Possible To Be A Strolling Mentalist? on magic and mentalism
2004 48
Robert Cassidy Part One – Preshow Work how to communicate with the booker before the show to ensure perfect conditions
Also published here 2004 3
Robert Cassidy The Myth of Tough Audiences
Also published here 2004 4
Robert Cassidy Venue Set-up on setting up the venue, microphone
Also published here 2004 5
Robert Cassidy Types of Audiences on performing, opening lines
Also published here 2004 9
Robert Cassidy A Different Type of Tough
Also published here 2004 12
Chuck Hickok Guidelines for Using Forces as a Mentalist six guidelines
2005 11
Chuck Hickok Essay #1: My Approach to Mentalism
2005 57
Chuck Hickok Essay #2: A Clever Out
2005 60
Chuck Hickok Essay #3: Believability and Mentalism
2005 62
Chuck Hickok Essay #4: Creating Entertaining Mentalism Demonstrations
Related to 2005 65
Chuck Hickok Essay #5: Thoughts on Multiple Moments of Amazement
2005 69
Chuck Hickok Essay #6: I Don't Do Book Tests on the structure of book tests
2005 72
Chuck Hickok Essay #7: Should Mentalists Present Prediction Routines?
2005 77
Chuck Hickok Essay #8: Exposure and Success as a Mentalist
2005 81
Chuck Hickok Essay #9: The Visual Aspect of Mentalism
2005 84
Chuck Hickok Essay #10: The Verbal Aspect of Mentalism
2005 88
Chuck Hickok Essay #12: Performing Mentalism is a Risky Business! on audience management
2005 97
Chuck Hickok Essay #13: Creating Suspense
2005 103
Chuck Hickok Essay #14: What Does It Take To Be a More Successful Mentalist?
2005 107
Chuck Hickok Appendix
  • Questions for the Serious Mentalist
  • My Overall Approach to Mentalism
  • My Development
  • The Structure of My Act
  • Presentational Excellence
  • Visual Aids
  • Helpers from the Audience
  • Performing a Routine that Uses a Force
  • Resources Mentioned in This Book
  • Tools for the Serious Mentalist
2005 173
Jon Racherbaumer Hobsonian Fringe Notes The Artful Ledger
on equifoque
  • Rules of the Game
Nov. 2005
Antinomy (Vol. 1 No. 4)
4
Christoph Borer Die schwarze Kunst
2006 130
Christoph Borer Mentalmagische Gedankensplitter on mentalism
  • Grundeffekte in der Mentalmagie sin
-Direkter, aber nicht zu direkter Ablauf
  • Klare, meistens einteilige Effekte
  • Symbole vorsichtig einsetzen
  • Die innere Überzeugtheit macht die Echtheit aus
  • Bedeutung, eigene Klarheit
  • Wagnisse
  • Esoterik versus Mental
Also published here
  • Mentalmagische Gedankensplitter in "Magische Welt" 2/2003
2006 153
Max Maven On Process Mentalism
2006 8
Hector Chadwick Playing Cards in Mentalism A short dissertation on the justification of their use.
2008 81
Hector Chadwick The Trouble With Equivoque: Thoughts on the nature of magician's choice
2008 117
Hector Chadwick An Equivocal Miscellany Further miscellaneous thoughts and techniques relating to the practice of equivoque
2008 143
Hector Chadwick "Commit Yourself" A brief thesis on the justification of thought documentation
2008 171
Luke Jermay The New Mind
  • The New Mind
"What does a Mentalist Use as Contraception? His Personality ..."
Jan. 2008
Genii (Vol. 71 No. 1)
21
Luke Jermay Giant Shoulders
  • The New Mind
five folded business cards on the table, one chosen, it contains the only true statement ("Luke Jermay is wearing a clown nose"
Inspired by
  • Rick Maue routine
Apr. 2008
Genii (Vol. 71 No. 4)
108
Patrick G. Redford Additional Forgotten Subtleties
2008 44
Carl Montada Gedanken über die Benutzung von Spielkarten im Bereich der Mentalmagie on using playing cards in mentalism
2008 18
Carl Montada Lesen - Senden - Verursachen on different plots/effect themes in mental magic
2008 32
Barry Cooper Are you a "real" mentalist?
  • Presentation
  • Ethics
2008 98
Barry Cooper The ABC of ESP
  • ESP (Extrasensory perception)
  • Telepathy
  • Clairvoyance
  • GESP
  • Precognition
2008 100
Olly Crofton A Mad Explanation "Subvocalization" as fake explanation
2008 163
Stephen Minch A Vivisection of the Bizarre "Appendix I"
history of bizarre magick
2009 149
Derren Brown Pardon My English...
Also published here Oct. 2009
Genii (Vol. 72 No. 10 (The Jinx - 75 Years))
28
Derren Brown Pardon My English...
Also published here 2009 28
Robert Cassidy Performing Tips for Mentalists
  • The Pre-Show work that you ALWAYS must do
  • The Microphone
  • Radio Show
  • The 30 Second Rule
  • Two Points to Ponder
    • 1. You Read Aloud, the Participant Reads Along
    • 2. Pencils and Thumbs
  • On Performing
  • On Originality
2009 3
Christoph Borer 1. Einleitende Gedanken
Also published here 2010 1
Christoph Borer 3. Welche Effekte sind damit möglich?
Also published here 2010 1
Christoph Borer Warum sollte ich diese Force einsetzen?
Also published here 2010 1
Christoph Borer 5. Was für Prinzipien können angewendet werden? 1. Richtige Zuschauerwahl
2. Innere Überzeugung
3. Timing
4. Verbal
5. Blick
6. Weitere Sinne
7. Das dritte Auge
8. Körpersprache
9. Gefühl der Stimmigkeit
10. Massenkonformität
11. Aus dem vorhandenen (eingeschränkten) Wissen schöpfen
12. Zufall und Risiko
Also published here 2010 2
Christoph Borer 6. Wichtige Sätze zum Gelingen einer psychologischen Force
Also published here 2010 7
Christoph Borer 7. Verstärkung der Methode und der Prinzipien 7.1 Aufteilen in A und B Wahlgänge
7.2 Betonung vor und nach der Wahl verändern
7.3 Ein klares, einfaches Out haben
7.4 Mehrere Versuche zulassen
7.5 Durch die eine Handlung wird die andere stark beeinflusst
7.6 Durch Zusatzinformation mehrere Chancen erhalten
Also published here 2010 7
Christoph Borer 8. Verknüpfung mit anderen Techniken 8.1 Fingerfertigkeit
8.2 Mit One ahead
8.3 Mit Elektronik / Funktechnik
8.4 Mit Trickkarten
8.5 Heimliches Wissen
Also published here 2010 9
Christoph Borer 9. Wie lerne ich die psychologische Force?
Also published here 2010 10
Román García Una Visión del Mentalismo essay on mentalism
  • Caracteristicas esenciales de la magia
  • Magia realista y magia ficcional
  • Mentalismo ficcional
  • Las demostraciones
  • La credibilidad de las demostraciones ficticias
  • La importancia de la ambigüedad
  • La frontera borrosa
  • La convivencia del mentalismo ficcional con las demostraciones ficticias
  • La ética del mentalismo como demonstración ficticia
2010 91
Bascom Jones 19 Rules of Mentalism
Also published here
  • "19 Rules of Mentalism", pamphlet
2010 53
Andy Nyman The Screw-Up Factor on making mistakes
Also published here 2010 30
Andy Nyman A New Word
  • Essay 1
on the word "fauxcess" (fake process)
2010 61
Jamy Ian Swiss Mentalism vs. Mental Magic
  • Clarity of Effect
  • The Method is Not the Trick
  • Mental Magic
  • The Revelation of Thinking
  • Process and Derren Brown
  • Minor Processes
  • Process versus Procedure
  • More on Process: From Psychic to Psychologist
  • Predictions are Mental Magic
Also published here 2012 7
Jamy Ian Swiss Mentalism Grows Up
Also published here 2012 61
Bruce Bernstein Getting out of the Line of Fire
2012 77
Bruce Bernstein Magic & Mentalism
2012 95
Bruce Bernstein Disclaiming Disclaimers
2012 153
Bruce Bernstein The Gathering of Information
2012 186
Bruce Bernstein Basic Chops
  • 1. Information Gathering
  • 2. Secret Writing
  • 3. Understanding the Human Nature
  • 4. Suggestion
  • 5. Body Language
  • 6. Contact & Non-Contact Mind Reading
  • 7. Pencil and Sound Reading
  • 8. Magician's Choice
2012 205
Bruce Bernstein Practice
2012 209
Robert Cassidy The Psychology of Mentalism brief
2013 13
Robert Cassidy Plausibility on character development and writing an imaginary biography
2013 13
Robert Cassidy Fundamental Structures
2013 17
Robert Cassidy Common Misunderstandings
2013 18
Robert Cassidy The Opening Effect Comes Second
2013 21
Robert Cassidy A Thought to Ponder on surprise in mentalism and using loaded phrases when divining words, brief
2013 30
Robert Cassidy An Essential Secret on minor and major effects, tips on performing for only ten minutes
Related to 2013 41
Robert Cassidy An Introduction to the Interaction of Physical, Psychological, and Presentational Principles in the Performance of Mentalism
2013 60
Robert Cassidy The Subscript
2013 80
Robert Cassidy Riding the Web - The Original Subscript for My Psychic Persona different version than previously published
Related to 2013 82
Robert Cassidy Origins and Ethics on Norman Baker, the word Mentalist, disclaimer
2013 119
Robert Cassidy Introduction on new technology and mentalism
2013 153
Robert Cassidy Billet Fundamentals
2013 163
Robert Cassidy Staging It mental skill vs. psychic gift
2013 179
Robert Cassidy Presentation Skills: Taking the Stage how to enter a stage
2013 181
Robert Cassidy Other Ways That the Principle Is Applied During a Stage Presentation on the Side Effects principle
Also published here 2013 284
Robert Cassidy The Second Type of Side Effect - The Odd Things That Just Seem To Happen Whenever You Are Around
Also published here 2013 286
Robert Cassidy Part One: The Program lecture demonstration on intuition
  • The Introduction
  • The Presentation
2013 297
Robert Cassidy A Time to Define on presenting mentalism
2013 334
Robert Cassidy Magic in Mentalism
2013 336
Robert Cassidy The Intuitive Approach on intuition as an explanation for psychic abilities
2013 347
Robert Cassidy Introduction: The Two Eras of Modern Mentalism
2013 361
Hector Chadwick Problem: Announcing Intentions Alternative:

  • Don't say it
  • Write your prediction, then give the instructions
  • Think
2014 6
Hector Chadwick Problem: Incomplete Sentences Alternative:

  • "Give one to me"
  • "Give two of them to me"
2014 8
Hector Chadwick Problem: Interpreting The Outcome
2014 10
Hector Chadwick Problem: Lack of Purpose
2014 11
Hector Chadwick The "No Questions" Rule Setting the rule so that audience does not ask too many questions during equivoque
2014 12
Jorge "The Jack" Garcia Mentalism As a Real Experience
Also published here 2014 6
Jorge "The Jack" Garcia Reading Minds
Also published here 2014 7
Jorge "The Jack" Garcia Generating Meaning
Also published here 2014 8
Jorge "The Jack" Garcia How to Structure a Mentalism Show Pascal de Clermont's "The pyramid of credibility" and general remarks on structure
Related to 2014 9
Michael Murray Making Mentalism Memorable on people taking photographs to make the moments more memorable
2014 96
Michael Murray On the Level on getting a feeling what people believe in the beginning of the show
2014 100
Michael Murray What Does a Mentalist Do? verbal introduction to increase cooperation
2014 110
Jorge "The Jack" Garcia Mentalism As a Real Experience extended
Also published here 2015 13
Jorge "The Jack" Garcia Can Minds Be Read? extended
Also published here 2015 15
Jorge "The Jack" Garcia How to Structure a Mentalism Show extended article
Related to 2015 17
Jorge "The Jack" Garcia Ideas
2015 97
Jorge "The Jack" Garcia The Mystery of the Red Envelope prediction in red envelope, about how to build up suspense and using a prediction as a cyclic element
2015 106
Jorge "The Jack" Garcia, Juan Esteban Varela The Interactive Experience mentalism with the entire audience and using social media, group pendulum routine
2015 110
Hector Chadwick Words, Words, Words on visual appeal of mentalism performances
2016 29
Hector Chadwick Dat Claim Or Dis Claim? on disclaimers in mentalism
2016 42
Christoph Borer Das kleine Schwarze (Mentalmagie)
2016 109
Andy (The Jerx) The Revealing Thing Importance of thinking about how to reveal a thought-of word, describes a simple peek for a billet
2016 79
Andy (The Jerx) Third-wave Equivoque Third-wave equivoque is based on the richness of language rather than the ambiguity of action.
2016 123
Andy (The Jerx) Dewey Defeats Truman Solutions to common issues magicians have with headline predictions

Issue 1: Too bold a power to claim
Issue 2: What if there's a tragedy that day?
2016 165
Luke Jermay, Joseph Barry Luke Jermay on creativity, NLP, card magic vs. mentalism, boredom, ethics & disclaimers
Dec. 2017
Operandi (Issue 2)
22
Jamy Ian Swiss Dichotomies: Mentalism versus Mental Magic
  • Clarity of Effect
  • The Method is Not The Trick
  • Mental Magic
  • The Revelation of Thinking
  • Process and Derren Brown
  • Minor Processes
  • Process versus Procedure
  • More on Process: From Psychic to Psychologist
  • Predictions Are Mental Magic
Also published here 2017 46
Gerry McCambridge Chapter 1: Acquiring the Information
  • Before you Arrive at the Venue
  • Pre-show On-Location Gathering
  • During the Performance
2017 3
Gerry McCambridge Chapter 2: Using the Information
  • Structured Feedback
  • Improvisational Feedback
2017 9
Gerry McCambridge Chapter 3: Making Leap of Faith Guesses cold reading and learning info about audience members in the moment
2017 15
Gerry McCambridge Chapter 4: Dilute your Misses covering up for “misses” during cold reading
2017 21
Gerry McCambridge Chapter 5: Using the Dual Reality making it seem to audience as if performer knows more info about spectator than he possibly could have
2017 25
Gerry McCambridge Chapter 6: Using Cancelling Methods
  • Pre-Show Patter
  • Onstage Patter
2017 29
Gerry McCambridge Chapter 7: The Blindfold general info about using blindfolds
  • Straight-ahead or Sideward Peek
  • Straight-down Peek
2017 37
Gerry McCambridge Chapter 9: How to Begin Doing Q&A general advice
2017 55
Gerry McCambridge Chapter 10: Selecting Audience Members
  • Gender Selecting
  • Avoid Drunks
  • Check if they Need Glasses to Read
  • Required Skills
2017 61
Gerry McCambridge Chapter 11: Consider the Venue
2017 67
Gerry McCambridge Chapter 12: Using a Disclaimer
2017 71
Gerry McCambridge Chapter 13: Thirteen Performing Tips general advice
2017 75
Gerry McCambridge Chapter 14: Summary brief outline of info covered in book
2017 81
Gerry McCambridge Chapter 18: Performing Q&A on TV general advice
  • Working the TV Host
  • Working a Guest in the Green Room
  • Working the Audience
  • scanned copy of “Permission to Tape Release” form
2017 125
Gerry McCambridge Chapter 19: Practice Slips examples of filled-out slips from audience and comments on how to go about revealing the info, many more practice slips without any comments
2017 137
Christoph Borer Ein paar einleitende Gedanken
  • Zu den Kunststücken (about the tricks)
  • Was ist Mentalmagie? (What is mental magic?)
  • Welche Effekte gehören zur Mentalmagie? (Which effects belong to the category of mental magic?)
  • Ethik und Moral (ethics and morals)
2018 16
Christoph Borer Aspekte der psychologischen Force - 1. Einleitende Gedanken
Also published here 2018 30
Christoph Borer 2. Was ist eine psychologische Force?
Related to 2018 30
Christoph Borer 3. Welche Effekte sind damit möglich?
Also published here 2018 30
Christoph Borer 4. Warum sollte ich diese Force einsetzen?
Also published here 2018 31
Christoph Borer 5. Was für Prinzipien können angewendet werden? 5.1. Richtige Zuschauerwahl
5.2. Innere Überzeugung
5.3. Timing
5.4. Verbal
5.5. Blick
5.6. Weitere Sinne
5.7. Das dritte Auge
5.8. Körpersprache
5.9. Gefühl der Stimmigkeit
5.10. Massenkonformität
5.11. Aus dem eingeschränkten Wissen schöpfen
5.12. Zufall und Risiko
Also published here 2018 31
Christoph Borer Was ist eine Vorhersage? 1. Die Vorhersage (prediction)
2. Die offene Vorhersage (open prediction)
3. Die Nachhersage ("postdiction")
4. Die unscharfe Vorhersage ( diffuse prediction)
5. Die unklare Vorhersage (unclear prediction)
2018 86
Christoph Borer Grundsätzliches general thoughts on predictions
2018 89
Christoph Borer Chancen und Gefahren einer Vorhersage opportunities and risks of predictions
2018 90
Christoph Borer Techniken
  • Zufall (coincidence)
  • Force
  • Freie Wahl, verändern des gewählten Gegenstandes (free choice, changing object)
  • Vorhersage mit multiplen Outs (predictions with multiple outs)
  • Vorhersagen austauschen, verändern, anpassen (switching, changing oder adjusting predictions)
2018 91
Christoph Borer Interessante Fragen
  • Wie wichtig ist die Anzahl der Wahlmöglichkeiten?
  • Wie wichtig ist die Dauer zwischen Zeigen der Vorhersage und der Wahl?
  • Wie wichtig ist die Darstellung der Vorhersage?
2018 94
Christoph Borer Vorführen mit esoterischen Hilfsmitteln on the use of esoteric props, rune stones, tarot cards etc.
2018 234
Christoph Borer Esoterische Begleitung esoteric company to add to routines, props and concepts
2018 250
Christoph Borer Warum führe ich mental vor? why do I perform mentalism
2018 298
Christoph Borer Mental mit Spielkarten??? Klar doch! on mentalism with playing cards
2018 302
Christoph Borer Darf ein Mentalist lustig sein? on mentalism and humor
2018 303
Christoph Borer Dürfen Zauberei und Mentalmagie gemischt werden? on mixing mentalism and magic
2018 304
Christoph Borer Was macht einen Mentalisten aus? what defines a mentalist
2018 305
Christoph Borer Digitale Mentalmagie on digital mentalism and techniques
2018 307
Christoph Borer Grundeffekte und deren Bedingungen terms and conditions of the basic effects in mentalism
2018 308
Andy Nyman Love Me. I'm A God - The Prediction Predicament
2020 28
John Lovick Get Outta My Way, I'm Going to Hell on prediction effects in general and the career of Penn & Teller
2021 1
Meraux Dantes Gourmet Interaction thoughts on performing mentalism
June 2022
Elixir (Vol. 3 No. Florida Issue Part Two)
117
Álvaro Pérez Berbel The Management of Added Information
  • Writing
  • Collection
  • Election
  • Reading
  • Elevation
Related to
  • "Sobre la técnica" (Jon Zabal, Fechorías, p. 114)
May 2022
The Hermit (Vol. 1 No. 5)
218
Joshua Jay The Test comment on equivoque effects
  • Doing It isn't the Same as Getting Away with It
  • Five Other Gripes
    • 1. Uhhhh.
    • 2. Meaningless movement
    • 3. Broken sentences
    • 4. Fewer Predictions, Please
    • 5. Breaking the Rules
2022 6
Anson Chen Mentalist's Dilemma I
2023 78
Anson Chen Mentalist's Dilemma II
  • Question of Value
2023 114
Anson Chen Best Story Wins
  • Magic In Story Form
  • Creating Stories with Magic
  • How Will They Remember This?
  • Ultra Mental Deck
  • Spoon Bending
  • The Hierarchy of Mind Reading
2023 208
Michael Murray The Collective Conscious theatrical finale for a mental magic show, standing ovation
2023 12
Michael Murray Selling the Reaction increasing impact of routine by changing form of prediction
2023 14
Richard Mark Presentation
35 34