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Up and comer master magi Blake Vogt has been on Ellen quite a bit, and here’s his latest appearance.

 

Did you know that Gerard Butler is the author of three books on classic European history and holds a doctorate in Aeronautical engineering? 

Of course not. Because I just made that up. But for a moment there you really were convinced that the guy who played an ambulatory slab of bronzed beef in 300 was a certified genius. I accomplished that in much in the same way that mentalist, Lior Suchard, convinced the people in the video above that Butler could solve a Rubik’s cube behind his back. Namely, with lies.

Okay, maybe I’m being a bit too harsh on Butler. Yes, the man is known for his grimacing, tough guy roles, but he’s also done Shakespeare. 

Admittedly Shakespeare with more explosions than one is used to. 

Lior Suchard is a mentalist who was once described as, “quite good,” by my mum.

So contrary to the claim made in the above tweet, Alex McAleer did not literally crawl inside of Tory Shulman’s head. If Alex McAleer could literally crawl inside of people’s heads, Champions of Magic shows would be a lot messier, and would likely get far fewer volunteers from the audience. 

So while you won’t get to see McAleer burst victoriously from a human skull, clad in nothing but gore and bone fragments in the video above, you will get to see him do that whole mentalism thing he’s known for. He then talks about the art for a little bit. It’s interesting stuff. 

Blessed with a sharp wit and delightful moustache, the British mentalist and world-renowned “memory expert,” was appearing to promote the Champions of Magic US tour, which is now underway.   

And no, I don’t care what the Oxford English Dictionary says about the word, “literally.” Fight me. 

Not everyone appears into magic at first glance (wild, I know), but even the most jaded individual can’t help but be impressed when an experienced mentalist messes with their head. That’s what happened this week on Pickler & Ben, when Max Major showed off a pair of mind-reading tricks with a marker and a pad of paper. While co-host Ben Aaron didn’t seem into it at first, by the end of Max’s routine, he couldn’t help but be impressed. Check out the video above, and visit Max Major’s website to watch more of his mind-bending work.

Every time I watch Derren Brown’s act, all I can think is that it must be overwhelming and probably terrifying to be the unwitting participant in his mind games. (The Push? Hell to the no.) Turns out, my impression isn’t that far off.

Richard Critchlow was the subject of a wildly elaborate stunt by the envelope-pushing mentalist for his Trick or Treat television show back in 2007. He was put into a trance in a phone booth in the UK, but when Critchlow came to, he stumbled out of the booth and onto the streets of Morocco. Now, more than a decade later, Critchlow has penned an essay about the experience for The Huffington Post.

His account feels partly like an episode of Twin Peaks with a healthy dash of Punked. “All I remember is 1,000 things going through my head and that I was scared,” Critchlow said of his realization that he had been transported thousands of miles away. No crap. This is one you really have to read for yourself. Tl;dr – anything could happen if you sign on to work with Brown. Anything.

Juliet Arndt is the epitome of an international performer. Audiences from Russia to Jakarta have seen her unique approach to mentalism. These days, she’s based in Dubai, where she aspires to become the David Copperfield of the Middle East.

She spoke with Gulf News about her act. Arndt said many of the other acts in her field play it for laughs. “Usually it’s comedy hypnosis, and people are embarrassed in the show,” she explained. “So my show is completely the opposite. I use a lot of storytelling and I combine hypnosis with magic, with illusions.”

Arndt is a big believer in the power of the human mind, and that’s true in her off-stage career too. When she’s not performing mentalism, she works in hypnotherapy and cognitive coaching. Her interest in the medical side of hypnosis came from her grandmother, a healer who passed on her knowledge to Arndt. “[People] are listening to the hypnotist and going into a trance to establish new patterns. Because everything that we think is a pattern — for instance how we deal with stress — and I’m helping people develop a more resilient personality.”

If you’re in Dubai and want to catch her act, Arndt is performing at The Junction on May 11 at 2:30 pm and 7:30 pm.

Televised magic is having a bit of a renaissance, and mentalist Oz Pearlman is one of the latest to take advantage. He’s the star of a new special called Oz Knows, which will air on May 12 on NBC after Saturday Night Live.

The program all takes place in New York City, and Pearlman offers a tour of the city in addition to his mind reading skills. He entertains people at iconic locales such as McSorley’s Old Ale House, Katz’s Deli, and backstage on Broadway. The teaser clip above gives a taste of what to expect with the special.

Magic tends to be an art form all about the visuals. The whole “now you see it, now you don’t” act does require you to, you know, see. So while many magicians want their chance to dazzle your eyes on a television show, mentalists can still ply their trade over the audio airwaves.

First off, let that serve as a reminder for all the mentalists out there looking for places to perform. Radio. My tip to you.

Second, Canadian mentalist and hypnotist Spidey made a recent appearance on CBC Radio. Fresh from messing with Steve Harvey on the revived Showtime at the Apollo, the performer brought his act to a more intimate setting of the radio studio for Here and Now.

And, because this is the digital age, there is also video of his visit. Best of both worlds! Watch (or just listen for that true radio experience) him do his thing below.

Mark Toland is taking his mind reading skills on the road. The mentalist is a staple performer at The Magic Penthouse in Chicago, but starting this summer, other cities across North America will get to experience his unique and focused take on the craft.

The Out Of My Mind Tour will be making a few major stops and doing multiple shows at festivals around the continent. Toland is kicking things off with the San Diego International Fringe Festival in June, then will be at the KC Fringe Festival in Kansas City in July. Next is the Edmonton Fringe Festival in Alberta, Canada in August. Finally, he’ll be participating in United Solo, the world’s largest solo theater festival, in New York City in September. Check out his website for the complete rundown of dates and ticket information.

In his tweet announcing the tour, he noted that Out Of My Mind is “starting to come together,” so be sure to keep tabs on Toland in case he adds more shows closer to your hometown.

Sometimes, good things simply fall into your lap. Mark Toland, a Chicago-based mentalist and mind reader, had long been interested in delivering a presentation for TED, a prestigious series of world-wide conferences originally focused on technology, education, and design; now just about any topic or inspirational idea is fair game for these impactful lectures. Magic and magicians have featured in quite a few. Mark tells GeniiOnline how he wound up landing the coveted gig at long last, which gave him a chance to speak about his desire for honesty and sincerity as a performer versus the deception inherent in being a professional mind reader.

For the rest of our interviews with Mark, check out the links here:

Part one: Mark Toland explains how small town life and zero back-up plan made him a pro magician

Part two: Mark Toland defines the ever-evolving Chicago-style magic

Part three: Mark Toland’s theatrical approach to mentalism finds freedom within limitations

Part four: Mark Toland shares why the Magic Penthouse is a treat for performers and audience alike