Search Results

Professional stage mentalist, magician, speaker and author of several (e)books. In 1978, with fellow mentalists Tony Raven, Scott Gordon, Mary Lynn, and Dian Buelmeier, co-founded the Psychic Entertainers Association (P.E.A.), which has since become mentalism's primary international professional society. Editor of Vibrations, newsletter of the P.E.A., from 1978 - 1981, and 1984. Performance credits include inter alia, Holland America Cruises, Hollywood's Magic Castle, network television, talk radio and Fortune 500 corporate clients throughout the United States.

Read his famous 39 Steps to Mentalism.

• A Brief Biography
• The Instant Memorization of Objects, Lists and Playing Cards
• Learning to Link
• The Peg System
• Playing Cards
• How to Know Which Cards Have Been Played

1st edition 2000, 12 pages.

In "39 gradini del mentalismo" Bob Cassidy ci accompagna per mano attraverso 39 testi fondamentali nella biblioteca di qualsiasi mentalista che si rispetti.

Cassidy offre la sua visione e le proprie preziose raccomandazioni circa i testi di grandi maestri del Mentalismo, tra cui Annemann, Corinda, Thompson, Bernstein, Banacheck, T.A. Waters e molti altri.

Perché proprio 39 e non 40 ad esempio? Sarà Bob stesso a spiegarvelo ...

Traduzione italiana a cura di Matteo Filippini

El legendario Bob Cassidy solía terminar su famosa actuación de mentalismo con una demostración que dejaba boquiabiertos a propios y extraños: era capaz de memorizar una baraja realmente mezclada por los espectadores en menos de quince segundos.

Este breve manual es la síntesis de décadas de trabajo para lograr ese efecto, al alcance de cualquier persona con unas capacidades mentales estándar. El sistema que aquí se describe permite memorizar secuencias completas no solo de cartas, sino de palabras nombradas al azar por espectadores, listas de objetos o cualquier otra información...

History - "Laboratory Conditions" - Bob's first commercial effect - was originally released in 1976 by Frank Pazel. Supplied with the effect were two pieces of plexiglas, rubber bands, some aluminum foil and a specially gimmicked pen. Except for the foil, none of the other items were necessary to accomplish the effect, but Frank felt that the effect wouldn't sell unless it came with props.

The late Ed Mishell gave the effect a very favorable review in Genii magazine - but, then again, Ed gave favorable reviews to just about everything. That, together with the fact that nobody in the magic world...

One of the inherent difficulties in presenting effective mentalism is that it generally lacks the element of surprise. The performer states that he will read a thought and proceeds to do so. He says he will predict tomorrow’s headlines and he does. Many would-be mentalists infallibly demonstrate so many different alleged mental powers that the element of believability is lacking as well.

By applying the "Side Effects" principle, the element of surprise is returned to the art and variety is introduced into a performance without sacrificing believability. Bob's good friend Ross Johnson, one...

You will learn how to prepare and gimmick two different kinds of bottles which allow wonderful lie detector and murder mystery effects or which can be used as adjunct in a one on one 'psychic reading.' With typical Cassidy genius one bottle allows you to glimpse colored marbles dropped in and the other bottle allows you to force a certain color of marble dispensed from the bottle. This opens the possibility for many routines. Bob describes two.

1st edition 2002; 4 pages plus video

• How to give readings with the disks.
• Effect: The two “Owl” disks are shown and their meaning explained. The mentalist next exhibits the “Hand” disk with the darkened edge and the sticker on the back. The spectator is asked to write a number, a short word, or a small picture on the back of the “hand” disk (on the sticker). This is done while the performer’s back is turned. The “hand” disk is turned face down, hiding the writing, and the disk is sandwiched between the face-up owls. (The darkened edged of the “hand” disk subtly proves that the “hand” disk remains...

These are the 2002 lecture notes by Bob Cassidy. As the nature of lecture notes often is, not everything is necessarily explained in detail, but many things are. For example, you will learn why Bob always has black lipstick in his go-bag, and many other wonderfully practical and effective methods and routines, some with detailed patter.

• My Mentalism Kit
• The Black Lipstick
• The Psychokinetic Pen and Keybending
• The Rainbow Pad
• The Three Envelope Test - the inside dope
• Card Memory
• The Enigma of #23

1st edition 2002, PDF 16 pages.

The Universe focuses upon one primary method, indexing, and several of its applications. While the effects all appear to be different from an audience’s perspective, they are, in fact, all variations upon the same methodological theme.

1st edition 2005; 27 pages

• Doctor Bob Live and in Persona!
• A Day at the Movies
• Doctor Bob's Opening Routine
• Doctor Bob's Killer Miller Caps
• The Billet Reading Portfolio
• Smear and Hear
• BONUS: Questions and Answers about Dr Bob and his important message to you!

1st edition 2002, 17 pages.

Techniques covered include: The Medium's Switch (2 methods), The Al Baker Switch (2 methods), Annemann Switch (2 methods), The Squeeze, The Moldavian Switch, Switch Blade Switch, Microphone Switch, The Impossible Envelope Switch, The Cajones Shuffle, Henry Hay's False Waterfall Riffle, Gambler's Palm Add-On, Erdnase Bottom Deal, and The Putty Switch.

You will also learn Bob Cassidy's ESP Envelope Switch which Bob considers the most undetectable switch he ever came up with. It is devious, versatile, and practically works itself.

Among the highlights of this stylistically produced DVD...

Brad Henderson taught it to Dance. Kross put it Into the Deep Freeze and Herb Dewey made it Red Hot. In The Real Work of Cold Reading Cassidy makes it explosive and blows it into another dimension.

A good deal of what has been written about cold reading is theoretically and practically wrong and/or misinformed.

Learn the 'real work' in this exclusive ebook.

1st edition 2004; 58 pages

This exclusive release describes in detail a complete 90 minutes mentalism/hypnosis program, and includes all of the information you will need to make it a feature presentation in your own work. Includes:

• The Mentalism Lead in - the Hows and Whys
• Induction
• Routines
• Innovative Techniques
• And more ...
• 10 MP3 sound files

Secrets of the billet king as told to the author.

Most modern mentalists were first introduced to billet technique in the pages of Theodore Annemann's Practical Mental Effects, which describes a single-handed switch, a two-handed version, and variations with a thumb tip. The techniques are very effective, but require a good deal of practice and careful handling to perform undetectably.

The Moldavian Switch is a technique that effectively removes the "difficulty factor" from billet work. With its several variations it can be used to present any of the many billet routines and effects published during the last hundred years. You...

In Appendix One of The Real Work of Cold Reading Bob included a cursory overview of a numerological system that could also be applied to the tarot or to regular playing cards. In The Psychic Tarot he has expanded on that and provided a detailed system of interpretation that will be accepted by those who have a general familiarity with the cards. As suggested in The Real Work of Cold Reading, the interpretations of the individual cards are derived - with the exception of the Major Arcana - by combining the general meanings assigned to the cards' suits with the numerological meanings assigned to their values. This is not only simpler and more practical...

You will learn five things:

• The Circle of Synchronicity
• The Vision
• The Third Method
• Doctor Crow’s Deck Switch
• Doctor Crow’s Complete Reading System

Everything you need to know about pendulums:

• The Principle of Ideomotor Movement
• Dowsing with Pendulums
• Using the Pendulum in Mentalism
• The Horizontal Pendulum
• Mikame Blue
• Flipchips
• A Rat in the Desert

[For beautiful pendulums and other resources for the mentalist visit Magic Pendulums.]

The premise of Hanussen's Proof, and Bob's search for an effective method, were inspired by an event that took place in the spring of 1930. The mentalist/psychic Erik Jan Hanussen was indicted and tried on charges of criminal fraud arising from a public demonstration of alleged "clairvoyance". As the trial neared its conclusion and the evidence against Hanussen grew, he concluded that his only chance of acquittal would be to demonstrate his ability to the court. His offer of proof was accepted, and, under the watchful eyes of the judge and prosecutor, the demonstration proceeded.

Hanussen asked his inquisitors...

You will learn the following effects:

• The Zener Effect
• The Black Book of Light & Dr. Crow’s Post Box Prediction
• The Medium’s “Office Switch”
• The Juice
• Dr. Crow’s Billet Routine

The "Swami Gimmick", aka "Nail Writer", "Thumb Writer", "Ghost Writer", "Medium's Secret Device", et al, has often been referred to as one of the most useful secret devices in mentalism. And it is - provided, of course, that no one knows the mentalist is using one.

While the existence of the Swami may be widely known, very few performers actually use one on a regular basis and even fewer have truly mastered the device. Used properly, even those who have heard of a nail writer (or "that little piece of lead under the thumbnail"), will have no idea that the mentalist is using one.

In Swami...

There is no argument about the dilemma faced by many newcomers to mentalism. Are mental effects best presented as natural phenomena of the mind, or as examples of rare paranormal or supernatural abilities?

Most of today's mentalists use the "mental skill" as opposed to the "psychic gift" approach, but only rarely are they particularly consistent about it. Even Joseph Dunninger, the pre-eminent mentalist of the twentieth century, sometimes made conflicting claims. While he stated that his thought reading skills were "scientific" and not those of a fortune-teller or psychic, his promotional materials often...

The Corvus Manifesto - a thought provoking essay by Bob.

The Photon Phenomenon - A low cost way to achieve an impressive visual effect. This is typical Cassidy brilliance. Imagine. You are on stage and have just asked the audience to concentrate on their thoughts. The houselights dim and, suddenly, your face is illuminated in an eerie glow. No doubt it is effective showmanship, but you would normally assume that a special lighting effect like this requires, well, special lighting. It doesn’t.

Dark Impressions - Those of you who are familiar with Bob's previous writings are well acquainted...

The companion volume to Staging It, this exclusive ebook for mentalists is devoted to audience handling. Bob has probably worked for the most difficult audiences in the world and this ebook reveals the techniques he has used that have enabled him to be successful in virtually any conceivable venue.

This, Bob believes, is among the ebooks he has written that he considers most important for those looking to succeed in the world of professional psychic entertainment.

1st edition 2004; 25 pages