Naquada

I was speaking with someone yesterday morning about Derren Brown, a once magician thats now turned superstar, well I guess mentalist (thats being able to seemingly control, read or manipulate someones mind, as opposed to just being a complete nutter!)

I find everything he does insanely interesting for a number of reasons. Firstly its incredibly clever, I can say that I know he doesnt use stooges, or actors in the sets he does, as really there is no need to. and secondly, its just insanely clever
Derren uses a number of techniques to get the response he needs from subject. These include, but are not limited to, NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), Cold Reading, Suggestion, Waking Hypnosis, body language, behavioural trends (eye movement, muscle reading and more)

I knew of Derren along time ago, when I used to go to magic conventions alot.. he was funny then and more than a great ‘close-up’ magician. Over the last year or so I’ve read a lot of his books and manuscripts that he wrote and compiled during that transition from magic to mind, although he still says that his current career is a mix of magic and suggestion..

So how does he do what he does… Lets take the case I was talking about;

A women is taken into a room, shes stood in front of a window and spoken to about whats going to happen.. shes then taken to the side of the room and asked to walk across it (back to Derren) and stop at some point, Derren closes his eyes and grasps his hand into a fist at the point he wants her to stop. funnily enough she stops (without being able to see derren) at the point he makes a fist.

She’s then brought back to the side of the room and asked to walk across its entire width. Again, without her seeing Derren makes a fist and she stops, this time unable to move from the spot, and clearly stating that she is ’stuck’ and ‘unable to move her feet’

So how does this work ? Derren uses (I believe) a number of techniques here;

Interruption of her habitual framework, which in turn leads to a state of hypnosis, Anchoring, and the rest.. is showmanship (or something I call showboating, which is doing something to make it look like your doing it, but your not!)
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