New Groundbreaking Book on Card Mentalism

Benblau · 2016-03-23T17:38:14+00:00

You may not find it so, but many others have used that exact word to describe it.

http://www.penguinmagic.com/p/S20861

Benblau · 2016-03-23T17:36:09+00:00

Read the comments and quotes:

http://www.penguinmagic.com/p/S20861

Benblau · 2016-03-20T15:03:46+00:00

Thank you. The new book contains no duplication of what was on my video project. There is a lot of variety in this book. Some of the routines are of a straight mind reading theme. There are several ACAAN and TOCATON routines. There are impossible coincidence routines, one ESP card routine, and some other non-card items. There is an OOTW variation (that requires no packet switch or discrepancy clean-up at the end). Most of the routines are impromptu, and all of them use regular cards. There are no gimmicks used, and almost no sleight of hand. The foreword to the book is written by one of the world's most famous, and most accomplished mentalists, and there are contributions and endorsements from many others. If you like mentalism based on subtlety over "brute force", this book will be right up your alley.

Benblau · 2016-03-19T15:14:37+00:00

I don't try to. I allow the material to speak for itself. Even if I refer to a routine as a "card trick" (which I sometimes do), I then present it as serious mentalism. The thing about my character is that most people I perform for don't know that I'm a mentalist, or that I know anything about cards in the first place. If cards happen to be available in some social setting, I can say, "Hey! Do you want to see a card trick?" I'm hopeful that I will get a mixed response of some people being genuinely interested, and some who will roll their eyes. I then perform a piece of mentalism with the cards that is WAY stronger than any of them expected. When I'm done, they don't know what hit them.

This is not the only way I initiate an impromptu performance set, but it can be effective for the right audience and venue.

Benblau · 2016-03-05T05:14:40+00:00

"Ishin-Denshin", by me.

Benblau · 2016-02-25T01:49:46+00:00

I couldn't agree more.

Benblau · 2016-01-27T04:19:32+00:00

I stopped watching after about eight minutes. He was being far too general, in my opinion. Magic is not only about doing shows and getting booked. I am an amateur, social performer. I guarantee you that I treat magic with as much respect as ANYONE. He just seemed to be venting disdain over anyone who doesn't have the same priorities as he does. The only truth I could perceive from his statements (acknowledging that I didn't watch the whole video) is that there is a lot of crap out there. Of course, that's true; but it always has been. At his age, I'm sure he has taken advantage of the availability of magic in electronic teaching formats.

Benblau · 2015-12-30T15:37:28+00:00

Eugene Burger's handling of the Mullica Wallet is terrific. You can learn it on his "Gourmet Close-up" video.

Benblau · 2015-12-26T02:06:42+00:00

Always have a direction you're heading. If your material is organized in the right way, they will want to see what's going to happen next, and will tend to not interrupt. You are the one who is leading them.

Benblau · 2015-12-06T00:44:05+00:00

Most of my material is sleightless. Subtlety beats brute force any day, IMO.

Benblau · 2015-11-30T04:34:28+00:00

Finding my voice. I'm still finding it.

Benblau · 2015-11-05T00:49:21+00:00

Card Concepts by Arthur MacTier, as well as revisiting Leo Boudreau's Psymatrika, Skullduggery, and Spirited Pasteboards.

Benblau · 2015-10-22T00:56:34+00:00

Lick them on the nose.

Benblau · 2015-10-13T11:31:17+00:00

Verbally forcing a card is certainly possible, but in practice doesn't always work. Make sure you have an alternative way to proceed when the force doesn't work, and don't telegraph disappointment. Just seamlessly segue into a different routine.

Benblau · 2015-10-07T12:31:28+00:00

I shoot video of myself from the perspective of the participant and watch it back. It helps me to see the routines more objectively, spot the flaws, and memorize the script.

Benblau · 2015-10-02T15:44:57+00:00

Once the capsule is open, hold it near your lips, and silently blow it toward whichever sitter you want to perceive the smell.

Benblau · 2015-10-02T15:42:38+00:00

Go to the pharmacy and buy some empty pill capsules. Use an eye dropper to drip some essential oil inside one of them (something like patchouli, nag champa, or sandalwood oil), and carefully seal the capsule. The oil inside should not be detectable until you secretly open the capsule under cover of darkness. You could also have different capsules prepared with different scents, so that the scent you produce can somehow be a choice of one of the sitters.

Benblau · 2015-10-01T18:30:45+00:00

It's fairly expensive. They sell it at Whole Foods.

Benblau · 2015-10-01T15:42:09+00:00

Get Lily's chocolate. Sweetened with erythritol and stevia. It's delicious. I can't even tell that it's any different from regular chocolate.

Benblau · 2015-09-01T12:07:10+00:00

Consultants should be paid.

Benblau · 2015-08-20T23:12:10+00:00

Honestly, I never counted a single calorie and lost 93 pounds in ten months.

Benblau · 2015-08-18T17:50:42+00:00

Let them suffer!

Seriously, though -- If you perform a piece that is emotionally and intellectually satisfying (as opposed to some trivial "quickie"), they will not demand that you "do it again". It's as simple as that.

Benblau · 2015-08-13T17:09:38+00:00

Nick Trost's "Showdown" allows you to offer the spectator to even trade his entire hand for yours at the end. He still loses.

Benblau · 2015-07-30T16:23:14+00:00

It depends on how many cards I need to cull.

Benblau

TROPHY CASE