Mentalism & Spiritism: page 61

Twenty years have passed since Bob wrote The Art of Mentalism. He was thirty-four years old at the time. While he is pleased that the book has been well received over the years, much of what he wrote no longer accurately reflects his approach to the art.

In The Art of Mentalism 2 (1995), he focused primarily on the presentation of a complete mental act. In the present volume, Bob gives you effects and essays that focus on the theoretical basis of successful mentalism.

1st edition 2003; 25 pages

Joseph Dunninger has often been credited with saying. "Every time you add a prop to your act your price goes down." His reasoning should be obvious - every additional prop takes the illusion one step away from what "real mind reading" would look like. And, as Bob has noted many times in his previous ebooks, every additional type of mentalism you demonstrate (apparent telepathy, precognition, psychokinesis, clairvoyance, etc.) also detracts from the overall illusion.

Recently a "mentalist" challenged Bob on this point: "How entertaining is it to demonstrate the same ability over and over again? It is much...

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

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...

Thompson and Rutledge are two extraordinary creative mentalists who have created entertaining and incredibly deceptive mental routines. Thompson writes in the preface: "I've enjoyed the joint effort. It tended to point up a number of basic truths that I hadn't thought about for a long time...such as how different two people can be, and how much better an effect can be made if two minds work on it."

CONTENTS

• MY FRIEND, TONTO
• WITHOUT BENEFIT OF MAGICIAN
• MENTAL SCALES
• ONE WAY TO ONE WAY
• FIVE THINK
• LAS VEGAS EYES
• FUTURE TERRIFIC!
• - Basic Glide Force
• - Squaring With The Left Hand ...

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...

Scotland goes mental! (If you want the English version of this theme see Mind Blasters.)

Roy Walton
Guardian Ghost: A dead Pharaoh summons a frightening object to deter tomb raiders from robbing his tomb. In this case it is a ghost; the ghost of the Pharaoh himself!

George McBride
Streamlined Who Knows the Card: A card mentally chosen by one spectator is found by another spectator. Clever stuff!
Mirakill: Predict the colors of cards that have been freely mixed by a spectator.

Jim Cuthbert
Have a Drink on Me: A multiple prediction of hotels and drinks freely chosen by members of your audience.
Book Test: Jim's rendition...

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 "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...

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 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...

Dunninger performed his mentalism on the radio in 1929 and from 1943-1944. This is one such episode from 1944. Dunninger starts with divining the letter number combination SO85999, the state Texas and the name Nora. The guests are senator Ford, Joe Laurie Jr. and Harry Hirschfield.

The MP3 format allows you to listen to it with your iPod, any other MP3 player or on your computer.

Dunninger performed his mentalism on the radio in 1929 and from 1943-1944. This is one such episode from 26th April 1944. Dunninger starts with divining the name Sallye Kaufman and the birth date May 8th 1902. The guests are congresswoman Ruth Bryan Rhoda, newsman Fred Archibald and musician and movie star Vaughan Monroe.

The MP3 format allows you to listen to it with your iPod, any other MP3 player or on your computer.

Dunninger performed his mentalism on the radio in 1929 and from 1943-1944. This is one such episode from April 12th 1944. Dunninger starts with divining the number 3150 and the names 'Cobin' and 'Forman'. The guests are Betty Smith author of "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn", Richard Rodgers songwriter and Bea Wayne singer.

The MP3 format allows you to listen to it with your iPod, any other MP3 player or on your computer.

Dunninger performed his mentalism on the radio in 1929 and from 1943-1944. This is one such episode from July 191t 1944. Dunninger starts with divining the name Malini and then divines places and addresses. The feature effect is a murder divination. The guests are Raymond Edward Johnson of "Inner Sanctum," Muriel Stafford graphologist, Marion Chocket "Ellery Queen's" Secretary and Dick Brown singing star.

The MP3 format allows you to listen to it with your iPod or other MP3 player.

Dunninger performed his mentalism on the radio in 1929 and from 1943-1944. This is one such episode from February 23rd 1944. The feature effect is a ticket divination and the guests are Brigadier General W. A. Danielson, W. B. Fowler president of the 19th Century Club, Jimmy Brown captain and second baseman of St. Louis Cardinals, Roy Acuff Grand Ol' Opry maestro.

The MP3 format allows you to listen to it with your iPod or other MP3 player.

Dunninger performed his mentalism on the radio in 1929 and from 1943-1944. This is one such episode from January 19th 1944. The feature effect is a ticket divination and the three guests are Beatrice Kay, singer, Carmel Snow, editor and John G. Shalit, entrepreneur.

This show #1 recording is not of the best sound quality. The other shows are of better quality. However, remember that these are old radio shows from the 40s. These are not your typical hi-fi CD quality recordings.

The MP3 format allows you to listen to it with your iPod or other MP3 player.

Read minds in just minutes. Know the image someone has drawn on screen and is merely thinking of using your Palm Pilot™. The spectator draws any number, image, or symbol on the Palm Pilot™ and then visualizes it in their mind. The magician then reads the spectators mind as he sketches the image they are thinking of right in front of their eyes!

The results are different every time, it's immediately repeatable, and it's easy to do! Spectator can examine everything without being able to figure out how it's done.

Effect: The spectator is shown a drawing program on the Palm. You draw a...

This is a very clever card trick for PalmOS devices (PDAs, cell phones), so good that it can be performed several times with little worry that the secret will be revealed.

Read minds and know the spectator chosen card without you seeing, touching, or hearing your Palm Pilot™! You can even do it over the phone!

The trick uses no sequences, no calculations, no audio cues, no timed events, no secret buttons or patterns, no beaming, no stooges, no guessing, and it is immediately repeatable. No Reset!

Let them try it over and over. The results are different every time! The spectator can...

This is one of the strongest magic tricks you can do with a Palm Pilot or other PalmOS devices (cellphones, PDAs). It is basically a nail writer without the difficulties of learning to use a nail writer.

Effect: The spectator is shown a drawing program on the Palm. You draw a tree or some other doodle to demonstrate it and then erase the picture which you drew...

Explain that you are going to make a prediction about an event that is going to take place in the future and that this event will involve a unique three-digit number, which may or may not have significance in the spectators' life. ...

This ebook teaches you a key bending method that uses no chemicals, heat, key switching, gadgets, or other devices. Just 3 ordinary borrowed keys and a little bit of mind power.

Very well illustrated with 14 photos and clearly described.

Presentation: Ask the audience if someone has a key you can use which they will no longer need. If they do not have a key they want to part with, you can provide the key. Start off with three keys. Have the first key inspected by an audience member and ask them to verify that it is a real key with no marks or bends in it. Retrieve that key and hand out...

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.]

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...

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

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...