The Mentalist’s Most Powerful Tool: Rapport!

“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much
you care.” Zig Ziglar

I don’t care how great an effect is or how well you present it.
If you don’t have rapport, you won’t present yourself
effectively. Period.

If you want to be remembered, rapport is the key.

So what is rapport and how do you create it? (more…)

The Resort Business—Part II…

So, yeah. I’m sitting on my deck at this beautiful resort
talking with my buddy about how he made a terrific living
working resorts, with no competition.

Easy work too.

Imagine this: you’re driving your car (more…)

How To Make A Powerful And Memorable Impression III

I was once told that the secret to success is this:

1. Find out what people want and…
2. Give it to them!

Overly simple, to be sure. But true!

Bluesfest has been a hugely successful event in the town I
live… Ottawa. It’s the largest festival put on in the nations
capital.

It started off as a truly blues-only festival. I mean, really
snobby. I was reminded that there was complaints about Robert
Cray as he performed a few commercial-type songs and wasn’t
truly blues! It was THAT snobbish.

Now, today, you’ve got to know your stuff and hunt down the
blues!

But what most fail to realize is that the first festivals barely
made it financially. Today, they still struggle, but have
stacked the odds in their favor by bringing in powerhouse acts
that suck in revenue.

Bottom line? The producer gives people what they want. It’s that
simple.

With Mentalism, it’s the same.

If you want to be successful, you’ve got to give people what
they want. Period.

Do that, and you’ll make a (more…)

The Resort Business…

Every time you pull out a prop, your fee goes down.

Not sure who originally said that, but it’s true.

I remember—as though it were yesterday—hauling a big trunk
around when I did kid birthday parties in high school. I had a
terrific booking system that I came up with that got me booked
up to four shows a weekend. But I cussed and cursed every time I
packed up that black trunk and traveled around.

Today, as a mentalist, everything fits into a nice classy
leather
briefcase/bag. And I get (more…)

How To Make A Powerful And Memorable Impression II(And Get
Booked/Paid)

So I’m at Bluesfest. Like most festivals, there’s a comradarie
amongst everyone there. Think about it. A few thousand people
are packed in to see Buddy Guy, for example. We all love the
same dude! Sure, some like his early stuff. Some like his later
stuff. Some hate his covers and others think they’re great.

Doesn’t matter. It’s a common theme. We all love the guy.

So, my girlfriend and I grab some food and we have to share a
picnic table with these two ladies. Of course, conversation
starts up and up comes the “what do you do for a living?”
question.

“I’m a psychic and a hypnotist,” says I, trying to look
mysterious with my fingers covered in BBQ sauce from my fabulous
ribs… (more…)

How To Make A Powerful And Memorable Impression (A Lesson In
Psychometry)

Psychometry is the ability to take an item and simply by holding
it, pick up vibrations about the owner.

I’ve had this gift since I was a child.

Okay. I chose to have this gift when I was a teenager, and
created the backstory about having it as a kid. It’s not a total
lie, though, as I did like holding things when I was a
toddler… the psychic flashes are just (more…)

Everything Old Is New Again…

I was talking to a mentalist the other day about a new booktest
he just got. My eyes glazed over. He collects them. He told me
the number he’s got… I truly forget the number… but it’s a
staggering amount.

He’s on a constant quest for the latest and greatest booktest.

Good for him. But I reminded him that I completely fried his
brain a few years back with the Phone Book Test from the
Annemann Act.

Didn’t interest him because… I didn’t use a trick book!

Someone once said that there are two types of magicians. (more…)

Permission To Succeed

A customer of mine asked me how to go about getting into the
psychic reading market in his area as there are a couple of
established and well-known readers already there.

WAIT.

Before you skip this article and think that this doesn’t apply
to you, think again. What I’m about to teach you applies to
anything. ANY THING. (more…)

Annemann’s Mind Or Muscle

Here’s a tremendous effect that I remember vividly first doing
in Mr. Lansdell’s grade 7 class. (more…)

Another ‘Old Chestnut’ That’s Simple And Powerful…

Let’s reset the scene.

Last week, you’ll remember that it was Christmas day and I’m at
a friend’s place as I have no family locally here. It was a
great day and we were drinking wine socially in their huge
kitchen. I was asked about hypnosis and demonstrated pain
control by placing a hot match in my hand… only having it
vanish and appear—burnt—in the matchbook held by one of the
spectators.

The presentation was very, very strong. Jaws were slack and eyes
were bulging. Quite fun for a really simple effect. But it went
further. (more…)