Short note

How does a moment
of mentalism play out?

Tijl Kerckhove, mentalist 1 min read

A moment of mentalism with a small group often goes like this.

How a moment of mentalism plays out, in six steps 1. Joining in: How depends on the situation and the people. 2. Introductions: Learning names, reading the group, working out what suits whom. 3. The mentalism begins: I introduce the idea. 4. A choice or a thought: A name that means a lot to someone, or simply the number of dots on a dice. 5. Perhaps something more: Another effect or two. 6. The next group: The group talks it over. With Walking, I move on. With Seated, a new group sits down. JOINING INHow depends on the situationand the people.INTRODUCTIONSLearning names, reading the group,working out what suits whom.THE MENTALISM BEGINSI introduce the idea.A CHOICE OR A THOUGHTA name that means a lot to someone,or simply the number of dotson a dice.PERHAPS SOMETHING MOREAnother effect or two.THE NEXT GROUPThe group talks it over.With Walking, I move on.With Seated, a new group sits down.
A moment of mentalism: five to twenty minutes in all, depending on the context

The busiest part is the introductions. While I'm learning names, I'm reading how the group works and deciding which effect suits whom, so the group gets the most out of it together.

About the author and this note

Written by

Tijl Kerckhove

Mentalist from Antwerp, available for corporate events and private parties across Belgium, in English and Dutch. Writes the occasional short note about the craft. More about Tijl →

Share this note

← back to all notes

Further reading

Other relevant notes