#mentalism

Michael Breggar is a columnist for The Linking Ring journal (the house organ for the I.B.M.) and has written dozens of articles about putting new scripting ideas to old close-up tricks. He has also authored several books that fit his style and are quite cleverly written. For example, “The Expert at the Cod Table” by S.W. Ordfish and “Raiders of the Lost Card” by “Jerseyana” Michael Breggar. These tongue-in-cheek titles give a glimpse into his comical and satirical thinking and writing.

Michael has also invented and marketed several magic tricks (mostly with a comedic mental twist) that are part of some professional magician’s repertoires.

The reason I wanted to talk with my friend on the podcast this week was to let the rest of the magic community into his creative mind with the hopes that listeners will be inspired to think of some of the old tricks that they (we) have been performing for years and consider updating them with clever new scripting. But our conversation quickly becomes quite deep as we talk about the importance of building a strong routine and act using the three legs of building a show. In a world of short attention span, we should consider the importance of how every little thing matters that influences our audience's perception of our magic.

The Projection of Others

revealing whats underneath through what we think of others

In Psychological projection is a defense mechanism where someone unconsciously attributes their own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors onto another person or group. Often seen in situations where someone is attempting to avoid accountability or real self awarness. You will meet people in this lifetime where all they will do is avoid true accountability. Playing tne chronic victim forever. They will say false things about your character as a way to save their own skin and divert the blame back to you. All this is is them running full themselves. What they will say about you is just them outing who they are inside. It will never be about you, but always what they are afraid to face within themsleves, cause to look their demons in the eyes will shatter the dystopian they created in their head. Making them face all the people they have wronged with their exertions. 🤍

Jay Alexander is a mentalist who operates and performs at the San Francisco Magic Theater. More than just a mentalist, Jay performs across the country and even entertains as half-time entertainment at major sporting events. He has been a resident of San Fran since 1986 and has seen it go through a lot of changes, including Earthquake McGoon’s where a trove of Carter posters was unearthed.

Jay has a lot of great advice for performers and mentalists in this episode. Having an expansive background in mentalism, he has “cracked the code” to make mentalism seen, heard, and entertaining in the loud environment of basketball stadiums. He shares ideas with us this week along with stories about his theater and Earthquake McGoon’s.