Jan 16/21 9:20 am This is just a little after 7 my time. I am sitting in my den watching Jan Forster showing how to use a wallet for Cassidy's Name/Place routine. It feels like MINDvention to me...and it doesn't at the same time. I have never been to a convention of this calibre while sitting in my den. It's weird.
Jan Forster is speaking and there is a steady flow of comments on the side: people are talking about the wallet he is using...sending smiley faces...and I am smiling -- because Forster is always so clever with his use of everyday props. I am trying to figure out how exactly to see the video AND the comments. Being 'technically challenged' it is a mystery to me when the screen gets big but the comments I was following disappeared. Ah well. I'll figure it out. Eventually.
It seems to me that MV should have a small cloud of stale smoke wafting up from the casino. I should be seeing Danny hunched over whispering to to the tech guys. I should be digesting whatever stuff I ate from the buffet and wondering why, oh why, I ate so much of that food I didn't even particularly like. (I have this theory that everything at buffets like that is really just one thing...one food 'matter'...but that's another blog I guess.)
There should be a room full of guys spaced apart wearing everything from t-shirts to three piece suits. I really miss this because it's always fascinating to see the people, watch them interact, watching them come together and then drift apart again...wander into the Dealer's room for the first of 200 times over the weekend.
It's also wonderful to meet old friends and make new ones. These meetings take place everywhere: outside the main room, in Jack's (which I understand isn't even there anymore) -- in the restaurant...the Dealer's room. I am not sure how this is going to work this weekend. But I understand there is going to be virtual "Jacks." Right now Gerry McCambridge is talking about how to get a show in Vegas. This is something new: starting the day with mentalism themed talks. I like this.
Right now there are 106 people watching. Yup. Just like MV. Going to watch Gerry now. Back later.
Jan 16/21 9:54 am...Just popping back to add something. It NOW feels much more like MV. Know why? I was watching Finnish performer, Pete P. talking about card calling and my IM popped up with a message from my New York pal, Joe Leo. We talked...visited...and it was splendid. I haven't talked to him in months! It was good catching up. I could almost imagine running into him in the Dealer's room and deciding to go downstairs to share a coffee. Feeling more like MV...
Jan 16/21 12:22 pm. Yup It's MV alright. I've been talking/chatting/texting with friends for an hour. In some ways it's even BETTER because we can share all kinds of information...talk about a what the speaker is saying...or just catch up.
I'm getting pumped right now because my own lecture is about an hour away. A lot of work has gone into this. Certainly work on the lecture...but Sheree recently revamped the site from the ground up. A total re-creation. It's wonderful! We have been working all week to ensure that SECRET ASSISTANT -- our book on Nail Writers is finished...Sheree has the most remarkable pendulums done.
There's a whole team working behind the scenes. So it's interesting to see it all from this perspective. Jamie Salinas, a performer and tech guru, just set me up with a link to join the meeting. Told me to join 20 minutes PRIOR to my lecture and to ensure that my MIC is turned OFF...lest a rude sound be made while the Stefan is lecturing. It's an interesting perspective.
Lunch is just ending...here comes MV again.
I'll be back after my lecture. Send a few kind thoughts my way.
Jan 16/21 12:16 LECTURE over! I wanted to share more than I did. But time ran out. There was a LOT of additional material. All of the material is in the Extended Lecture Notes. These can be purchased on their own -- or they come FREE with a the order of a MV pendulum. Richard Osterlind is on right now. Back later!
Jan 16/21 7:31 pm This ALWAYS happens when I start into an MV blog. I begin with the very best of intentions and then this happens and that happens...and I want to chat with this guy...and......the next thing you know? It's 7:30. And all of the things I've seen and felt and learned sort of blend into this pleasant blur that I don't expect to be able to sort out until MV is over. Yes. This is ABSOLUTELY MINDvention -- a great big beautiful beast of a convention. My buddy Eric Samuels talked at length about how to choose the right volunteer for the right effects...material from his new book "Setting the Stage." Good job, Eric. But the highlight of the day, for me, was the conclusion of Richard Osterlind's presentation. He spoke about how important it was to protect the mystery of what we do...to keep it beautiful. It's at the core of what makes him a performer. Me too. We will get a stage show tonight -- and I am looking forward to it. It should start in about half an hour. No cover charge...tip your waitresses.
Jan 17/ 12:24 EXACTLY like MV. Spent time in a Zoom room with some other mentalists for a while last night. Woke up today tired and expectant...wondering what I will learn this morning. And I learned some AMAZING things. These MV Minutes are wonderful: the idea is that they bring in mini lectures and all three today were wonderful. Kenton Knepper started off with a fascinating talk about silent influence. If you haven't seen this, it's like Body Language x 100. Using body cues and ACTING, Knepper made it look like a fork was actually bending. I loved this -- partially because it uses Body Language to achieve a powerful effect that takes place in the mind of the spectator! If you haven't seen this make sure you don't miss it. Next: Rick Maue with some suitably deep thoughts about creativity. Sheree and I were watching and nodding the whole time. Mark Strivings -- the maker of the best Nail Writers on the planet talked about the genesis of walkabout mentalism -- and gave us great information. But something he talked about tripped an idea in my mind. Think Psychometry...with blending Cold Reading and Body Language. Consider this.