What is Mentalism – Part One

What is Mentalism?

Good Question! In the next few paragraphs, I hope to explore the meaning of this term and other terms you might encounter as you explore the topic. My goal is not to offer a dissertation, nor split hairs, but to help the general reader better understand the topic and even perhaps see how booking a mentalist for your next event could be the best decision you ever make!

Mentalism is a word used primarily by magicians and other mystery entertainers to describe presentations related to the power of the mind.

As a descriptor, it is broad in scope. Not only would it include magicians who perform tricks that create the illusion that they can read minds or predict the future, it would also describe memory experts, lightning mathematicians, body language readers, NLP influencers, hypnotists, and those who present what they claim to be genuine displays of psychic phenomena.

Because it is such a general term, I have always referred to myself as a mind reader, as that most clearly conveys what I do and how I do it. I read the signals, tells, and clues that people give off and, coupled with my understanding of human nature, am able to figure out and even influence what you are going to think, say, or do.

In many cases I am reading you and thereby reading your mind.

Recently, thanks to the television series The Mentalist and the viral video clips featuring Oz Pearlman, the term has become more commonly used by the general public. As this article is intended for the general public, we will refrain from pedantry. Suffice it to say that a mentalist is someone who offers super-human or seemingly impossible demonstrations of the human mind—for entertainment purposes.

And that is a key distinction that IS worth preserving: Mentalism serves the purpose of entertainment.

Of course, this raises a question about characters such as John Edward, Sylvia Brown, and the Long Island Medium. These are particularly challenging examples to classify, but they are not mentalists. First, their main goal is not entertainment but to provide advice, or insight, or communication with the spirits beyond. (Honestly, their first goal is to make money, but I shall refrain from further commentary.) Now, the fact they each have presented ticketed shows or have television series blurs the line because all of those have an “entertainment” component, but this isn’t the place to split hairs.

Second, I believe each of these people claim to be speaking with the dead, and I’m not sure if that’s classifiable as a “mental phenomenon.” Yes, they are using their mind as part of the process, but is spirit communication a demonstration of the mind’s ability or the spirits’? Consequently, these people, along with tarot readers and aura interpreters,  would be considered “psychics” and not mentalists. Their goals are different.

There is however a small number of performers who present shows with the sole purpose of entertainment who claim to rely on genuine psychic abilities. We would call these people “psychic entertainers.”

All psychic entertainers are mentalists, but not all mentalists are psychics or psychic entertainers.

Photo by petr sidorov on Unsplash

Psychics can be a fun addition to an event too, but they engage one on one or in small groups. They are ideal for events with mingling and multiple experiences occurring throughout a space.

If you are looking to entertain the entire group, then look for a mentalist, mind reader, or magician who creates the illusion of reading minds. And if you’re looking for the most amazing mentalist experience you can have at your next party of event, call or text us and lets see what amazing things WE can do TOGETHER.

(This post was written entirely by a human being using their human brain. No AI was involved at any stage of the production.)

Tune in for Part 2 soon: Why Hire a Mentalist for Your Next Corporate or Private Event?

For more information on booking The Mind Show or a custom Mind Show Seminar for your next event, contact themindshow@gmail.com or call/text 512-431-3057.