Greetings Fellow Magic Folk,

this weeks 'Picture Discussion'




This 'Routine' deserves 'High Merits' it's cleverly constructed and open for 'Interpretation' Likewise 'Presentational Variations'

his 'Justifications' for the writing on the Billets is cohesive and 'Logical', though notice he doesn't put an extreme focus on the 'Billets' as they are 'Unimportant' to him and the 'End Result'

He commences his performance with a 'Simplistic' demonstration which sets the 'Mood' Likewise establishes 'Character' and the abilities prior to having anything 'Written Down'

We Shall Discuss Henceforth

This Shall Be This Weeks 'Picture Discussion' due to lack of participation,

I remember it well, KOMO when EJ & Dick Foley were the anchors, happy days, Lol.

I could be wrong here but wouldn't it sometimes be better if the performer didn't act quite so smug?? Please, mentalists amongst us, don't take it the wrong way but it did appear a little too clean, even the drawing was a bit too close, it kinda gave the impression that he knew he would be right. Which I'm afraid took something away, for me at least, from the performance. I know time constraints and AP's running around behind camera's mining cutting their own throats don't help, but that being said, I think it would have added if he had appeared a tad more human.
From a performance point of view, it was very entertaining and he was able to hold the audience well, (note the same trick used on P&T to involve the host!!) For good afternoon TV it worked and I would have enjoyed it, maybe if I were not involved in magic I should not have noticed the points I mentioned, I don't know, what do others of you think?

Lukie

I agree it was well presented, well timed and paced, good voice projection and instructions given, and everything well justified.

The only thing that I found wasn't very justified was getting the third lady to draw on the billet. Because later he had her draw on the pad and the billet was never used or looked at again. He said the purpose of the billet was so that they couldn't change their minds, which was true in the first two examples, because they referred back to the billet. But in the third example, the billet was not used to determine if that was her original drawing, so to me, having her draw on the billet at the beginning didn't have any justification.

I think he got the first name a bit too quickly and with a bit too much precision, at least for my taste - saying that the E was in the second position from the start and the A was in the second position from the end was a bit too detailed for me.

But overall it was great, I enjoyed it, Bob Cassidy is a master so it is hard to find fault with his performances.

Indeed,

The 'Method' is quite Clever, as far as 'Envelop and Billets' are concerned, it leaves for a 'Clean Handling' and the giving of the Billets to the assistants,


Likewise it leaves it 'Open To Interpretation' one could simply 'Change Elements' IE the 'Drawing Duplication' which i personally felt was 'Forced'... not that the 'Drawing' was 'Forced' but to include it within a 'Billet Routine'


'thought Reading' is a 'Personal' and Likewise an 'Unknown' Operation,

how doth one truly get the Information? is it in bits and pieces? or is it the whole word?

One could go the Avenue of 'Think of the letter in the fourth position'

and so forth,

though if one says 'Focus on The Name then one should reveal the name

again, it's a 'Personal Preference' that the performer must decide upon, and it should be Established before any 'thought Reading' Commences, unless specified elsewhere

Brilliant Discussion Thus Far Kind Sirs

I agree with you masterofillusion but only because that's how I would have done it.

Mentalists (like magicians) come in many flavors. You choose your role based on who you are, same as an actor makes choices for his character based on his own interpretation. As a "mentalist" I present things as psychological experiments and tell people that I can exploit psychology to do the things I do. I then let my show continue from there. If they walk out thinking I can actually read minds I won't tell them otherwise.

I have many reasons for doing this, but the main reason is because I am truly fascinated by psychology and communication. This allows me to exist as an extension of myself when I perform. Which in turn makes it very easy for me to forget about what to do and say because I'm not saying or doing anything I wouldn't normally do. Thus I can focus on how my words and actions are being interpreted by the audience.

Bob has a unique style, but it works. He is very smug on stage and I would assume in real life as well. It's just who he is, and I'll admit some people might not like him for it, but he's done what many of us still need to do. Be ourselves.

Indeed Austin,

his 'Smugness' is himself, though he is quite humble, he was Performing at The Castle some months a go, and having an audience with him, you find he is Smug yet Humble' and is highly Knowledgeable

when he performs he Believes in his 'abilities' and 'Himself' and he is not shy of appearing as such, he is 'Unapologetic' that is 'Bob' take him or leave him, though he'll still read your thoughts

Humble he maybe when surrounded by fellow magicians but my point was sometimes that is not so nice in front of laymen. I take nothing away from the effects he presented, it was just his manner of presenting them that maybe needs tweaking.
But doesn't this bring us back to the point of character and persona again?

Lukie

Quite the Infinite Circle, and or 'Penrose steps' when you ponder it,

And whilst some audiences may not prefer his 'Performance Style' he is 'Unapologetic' which enhances the 'Realism' of his 'Persona' if that makes sense

Indeed, that makes sense to me. Good points - I enjoyed this discussion.

Indeed, 'Quality' 'Healthy' and 'Civil' Discussion, the World Should Take Notice