Mentalism in Vogue

Gary Scott

Hi Banachek,

Mentalism seems to be all the rage at the minute, especially with the likes of Derren Brown catching the public's eye.

What do you think about this ' impact' of TV mentalism and what direction do you see mentalism going in the future?

Banachek

I think I have answered this question elsewhere so will not cover it again other than saying that Mentalism has had a continued roller coaster ride as with any of our related arts. Copperfield goes on TV and everyone is doing and illusion. Doug Henning did a dancing cane as well as Donny Osmond and next thing you knew everyone was doing it.

Blaine did a levitation, next thing everyone is doing it however you already see a decline in the levitation and the biting coin.

Geller did metal bending, next thing you know everyone was.

Derren is the big thing in the UK right now, this will change over time.

It might take about 20 years or so, but I suspect that this trend will slow down with the next big phenomenon.

Mentalism Versus Mental Magic

Huw Collingbourne

First, a very warm welcome to Magic Bunny. I hope you enjoy your time here!

Many mentalists insist on a distinction between 'mentalism' and 'mental magic'. Do you think this distinction is clear-cut and, if so, how important do you feel it to be?

Banachek

I have given the idea much thought lately and have come to the simple conclusion that the difference is the performer and his presentation. Two performers can perform the same effect and for one it will look like magic and for the other it will look "psychic."

David Blaine is a perfect example of someone who can take something magical and make it look real. He does so with lack of magical presentation. He just does it and let's it speak for itself. No long stories or patter, it is just: "look at this impossible thing, I can't explain it, I just do it!"

Having stated this there are obviously some effects that will look magical no matter how you dress it up, but there are few that can can't be made to look "real" and that is the key. How do I make it look "real?” Blaine made it look "real." Maric made it look "Real."

If you look at many of the Indian Fakir's they performed standard magic but they were looked at as "real" not so much because of the ignorance in their respected countries but more due to how they presented themselves. Many fake evangelists took and take standard magic tricks, adapt them and make them look "real." Jim Jones was a perfect example of this.

Strange Venues?

Sinogeek

Hi there Banachek and welcome!

A slightly off the wall question, apart from the 'normal gigs', you might have had the opportunity to perform in some unlikely places. If so, in your career to date, what's the weirdest/strangest venue you have performed in and how did it feel?

Banachek

I used to perform in many makeshift comedy clubs. These consisted of hotel, nightclubs, basements and so on. The worse was a country Western Club across the street from an oil refinery. The stage was the dance floor with a huge support beam in the center around the corner from the main area of the bar, and no seats.

I have performed outside in raging winds. Not good for a mentalist who uses book, papers and envelops. I have performed outside in 110-degree heat (not good for a mentalist who wears a jacket to hold props.)

Probably the worse has been walk around. Once I performed at an outdoor party doing walk around. I was done with one table and turned around to go to another. I stepped into open airspace and promptly into the pool (full suit); I walked straight out the other side of the pool and up the steps like nothing happened. Felt like an idiot till the host told me, "We really need to light that pool you are the 6th person to have done that since we moved here. They gave me some swim trunks, a dry deck of cards, I had some extra index cards and was ready to go. At least I fit in now for the theme of the Hawaiian Luau.

I once performed upon a train from Houston to Galveston. I missed the train as it left the station but the stationmaster took me to an area further down the track where the train slowed almost to a crawl. I jumped on board. Much to the surprise of the hosts who could not understand how I could just appear on the train. They knew beyond any doubt I had not boarded with everyone else. I never told them.

I once performed at the Disney Swann Hotel in Florida. Five minutes into y act I realized that 95 percent of my audience did not speak English. I quickly brought up someone who could translate and made it through the show with some slight changes.

I once showed up for a gig and found out the audience unknown to me in advance (agent did not inform me) was at a nudist colony. Very, very distracting. Especially when you point out body language. You can imagine the things that were going through my mind.

Another time an agent booked me at a gay biker bar and did not tell me in advance.

The only show I refused to perform at was when I showed up and it was a kid's party (all three and four year olds) my stuff would not work for them. Luckily my price keeps me well out of these areas now.

Probably the most disturbing moment (not place) was the time I was doing a Bar Mitzvah. I was asked to involve the kid that was being celebrated. I decided to use him for a map routine. As I tore up the map I had him select a piece. I turned to the audience to discuss what had happened so far and they started to laugh, (at least some of them) I turned back to the kid to get the piece and he had the entire thing in his mouth chewing and swallowing it. That was the last time I ever performed at such an event other than the pre-dinner.

Mentalism and Psychics

Huw Collingbourne

Many people who earn all or part of their living as 'psychics' are, in fact, well known (and often well liked and respected) in the mentalist community. How do you feel about the very close ties between many mentalists and avowedly fraudulent psychics? Can we, and should we, all be happy to work and socialise together in harmony or do associations between the mentalist and psychic fraternities compromise our honesty and integrity?

Banachek

Wow, a loaded question if ever there was one.

I think there is enough room in the world for us to try to get along on some level however I do not think we should compromise our own beliefs and integrity as a result.

I am a friend with many I disagree with and do so quite openly. If they can see that I have the right to do so without getting personal, we can get along.

We all have someone in our family or a friend whose ethics we despise yet we don't hate the person. We don't accept what they do but we accept the person. Now there are extremes of this. Especially when it gets personal.

I never have a problem stating what I see as the truth and pointing out a lie as I see it and believe it to be. If someone is blatantly lying then by all means call him or her out on it. Just make sure it is not in the context of entertainment. Be careful in this area and make sure you understand fully the context. Of course this context can mean different things for different people but there are some very bold lines with this as well for example, if someone crosses over and starts to give personal advice or if someone starts to blur the edges of science and entertainment by going into a laboratory, these are definitive hard lines they have crossed over.

Having said that, I can only speak for me and what I should or should not do in any particular situation. What you do would be based upon your own standards for ethical behaviour.

For me a perfect example is my wife is devout catholic, I am not. I support her fully so long as she does not force her beliefs upon me. She has so many other incredible qualities that one area of her life does not make her whole. There is much more there to look at. Her intent with her belief is also taken into consideration by me.

Intent is often the gauge I use to decide if I will have respect for someone or not in this area we are discussing. I can respect someone but not agree with him or her or even like what they do when it comes to this area we are talking about.

I think part of the getting along comes from picking our fights. I am not so sure that there is as close relationship suggested by your post when it comes to outright intended fraud. I think almost any psychic entertainer I know would expose someone taking advantage of another human being by using such ruses as the Devil Egg or Pigeon drop type scenarios or the “your money is the root of all your evil, bring it to me so I can burn it all” and so on.