Blog: Mind of a Mind Reader
Jeff Newman: Mentalist, Magician, Trickster.
How To Hire A Magician In Calgary: 7 Steps From A Mentalist and Magician
Are you planning a corporate event in Calgary and looking for entertainment that'll leave your guests in awe? There's no better way to do that than hiring a magician or mentalist to amaze your guests at your next event in Calgary!
Hiring a magician is a great way to add an element of surprise and delight to your event. But how do you find and hire the right magician in Calgary? Luckily for you, I am a magician in Calgary who specializes in corporate event entertainment and offers a variety of performances, including close-up magic and stage shows, so I may know a thing or two that can help you out. So, I put together this handy guide to walk you through the steps to ensure your event is nothing short of magical.
ROI of Fun: How Corporate Entertainment Boosts Employee Morale and Productivity
One of the biggest challenges employers face today is creating an environment that keeps their employees engaged, happy, and productive. And while there are plenty of ways to create that environment in a day-to-day landscape, many employers plan things like holiday parties, staff appreciation events, and more to help show their appreciation to the employees who keep the lights on.
The downside? A lot of times, those events can, shall we say…fall short. They’re boring, there’s no excitement, and it winds up being another place where employees watch the clock while waiting to leave. So, how do you fix this? Three words:
Get. Great. Entertainment.
The Art of Corporate Entertainment: A Strategic Guide for Success
Corporate events have come a long way. What used to be just a few drinks and a cheap meal with some co-workers has evolved into powerhouses of engagement, networking, and, increasingly, entertainment.
And while most organizations are adding entertainment to their events for fun, corporate entertainment has also increasingly become a strategic tool. It’s a way to nurture relationships, reinforce brand identity, and foster an environment where collaboration and innovation can thrive.
A Mentalist Explains: Pareidolia And Faces That Aren’t Really There
Have you ever seen faces in places they don’t belong?
Maybe a wall outlet with a surprised expression? Or a smiling face in the holes of a cardboard box? Or the shadow of a person in chipped paint on a wall? Or, maybe most controversially…a face on the surface of Mars?
A Mentalist Explains: The Fox Sisters And The Birth Of Spiritualism
Psychics. Mediums. People who claim to speak to the dead. All of them can be traced back to a couple of young girls in 19th-century New York. Mentalist and magician is here to tell you (and debunk) the fascinating tale of the Fox Sisters.
The Psychology of Illusion: How Magicians Manipulate Your Mind
“How do you do that?!”
I get this question a lot. It comes with the territory of being a professional mentalist and magician. After all, performing the impossible is my job, so naturally, people want to know how I do it. But the truth is that there’s a lot more to it than just tricks.
Have you ever watched a magician perform and found yourself completely baffled by their tricks? You're not alone. Magicians have been captivating audiences for centuries with their illusions and sleight of hand. But have you ever stopped to think about how they do it? Not just their methods, but how do they manage to manipulate our minds and deceive our senses?
The psychology of magic is just as interesting as the methods of magic tricks, so let’s dive into the psychology of illusion and explore how magicians use it to create their mind-boggling performances!
Music To A Mentalist's Ears
People are surprised by what my favourite compliment is.
After all, I take a lot of pride in what I do, and I put a lot of work into my shows. So, like most people, I like the occasional compliment about my work now and again, and it's not uncommon to get compliments from the audience when we meet after the show. But every once in a while, I get (what I think is) the best compliment someone like me can receive. Let me explain...
After performing two shows on the Grand Princess this February, I ran into a woman from the audience while waiting for the elevator. She stops me and tells me what she thought about the show.
Magic: A Scientific Approach
Recently, my fiance and I were sitting with in my living room with a magically-inclined friend of mine. We had spent the afternoon discussing a few projects we all had on the go, and like these discussions usually do, we all went off on our unique tangents into stories, Youtube videos, and archival photos in our various social media profiles. You know what that’s like, right? Of course you do.
Now despite this wizard-friend knowing me for at least two or three years, she was unaware of my previous lives that have led me to the current magic-and-mentalism-based career I’ve chosen. Just to catch you up, before I was a professional mentalist, I was a baseball player, a bartender, an undergraduate scientist, an actor, and improviser, and of all things, a poster-child for the University of Lethbridge (which, in fact, was the direct result of my combined expertise in the “scientist” and “baseball player” fields...Maybe I’ll tell that story at a later date, but for now, back to the original story).
How To Become A Mind-Reader
When most people see or hear about what I do, there's a batch of inevitable questions that I expect to encounter from curious audience members. They have different variations, but they're all usually based in one of the following:
"How did you do that?!"
Can't tell you. If I did, not only would I be an absolutely terrible mentalist, but I can guarantee you'd be utterly disappointed.
"Tell me: does what you do give you an edge with the ladies?"
Nope. I'm just as scared of women and rejection as the next guy. (Luckily, I've managed to trick one into thinking I'm awesome, so I don't have to worry about it anymore.)
"But really though, do you have, like, intuition, or something?"
No. Although every once in a while, I manage to know exactly what the aforementioned lady wants for dinner before she says anything.
And, finally:
"How did you get into doing this? How does one become a mentalist?"
I like to think that the answer they're expecting is something like, "Well, I was an ambitious student at the Institute Of Magick And Mind-Reading in London where I spent unfathomable time and tuition dollars on honing this particular craft. Once I graduated, I decided to break my oath to keep my powers a secret in order to come here, tonight, and entertain you." The inquirer usually has a look of disappointment when I tell them that I learned how to do what I do by simply reading and research, rather than some fantastic story about attending a special school, being born with childhood "powers," or running away to join a circus and befriend a psychic gypsy-lady. From a distance, becoming a mentalist or magician looks an awful lot like getting a college degree. Research, read everything you find, practice what you've learned, and go back and re-learn when you make a mistake. While "I learned it from a book," is a very simplified explanation, it's basically how it is. At least, that's how I acquired the skills to be a mentalist. But, the steps that lead me there are far more interesting.
After hearing this question a bit more than usual lately, I began to think about it a little more thoroughly. So, I've decided to give you, dear reader, a step-by-step guide of how Jeff Newman: Mentalist came to be.
I'm Not Evil, I Promise
When I wrap up a show, I like to talk to my audience. I like stick around the venue, thank the people who hired me, the people I involved in the show, and generally try and have as many conversations as I can with people from the crowd.
I do this for a few reasons. I always ask if people enjoyed the experience, and truly listen to their compliments and criticisms. I also like to stick around and help maintain the fun atmosphere I just spent so much time and energy to create. But mostly, I like to show my audience that I'm a real, live, approachable human. It's not unusual to have people approach me with a sideways glance and say something like "Wow, you really freak me out," or "do you have...you know...a 'gift'?" after a show. While it's not a regular thing, it does happen from time to time. But, I tell them it's all just a show, they laugh, we have ourselves a merry little time and, for the most part, it stops there.