Mentalism or Marketing Mirage?
Why do some mentalists keep rereleasing the same old stuff…
Is it because they secretly hope you won’t notice?
I think you may be right!
Have you ever bought a shiny new revolutionary mentalism download, then realised it’s nothing more than a dressed up version of something that same person released 3 years earlier, except now it has a dodgy soundtrack with someone humming instructions in a fake mystical language?
Yeah… Me too.
Welcome to the world of recycled tricks, renamed effects and rebranded nonsense. In today’s post I’m sock diving into the slippery realm of unethical creators. Those cheeky sods who keep churning out the same old material with new names, flashy thumbnails and promo reels that scream:
REVOLUTIONARY!
Let’s explore how to spot the sleights of sincerity, how to keep your mind, wallet and sanity clear of their foggy marketing machines.
The Rebranding Ritual: When old tricks wear new hats
Some mentalists seem to have developed a supernatural power to rename old effects like they’ve been struck by the spirit of a marketing demon wearing flashy suits.
Here’s how it works:
1: Take a classic principle, let’s say *** ahead.
2: Add a really cool sounding name like:
NEURAL STRIKE 5 or THE MIND LATCH PROTOCOL.
3: Film it in black and white then add wind.
4: Release it with the words:
Advanced… Never Before Seen… Game Changer…
Spoiler: It won’t change anything.
The Problem: This isn’t lazy… It’s deceptive.
Buyers can waste money on effects they already own, all the creator has done is disguised it with a new name.
The genuine creators get buried under the noise of these slick looking products and the art of mentalism slowly becomes a looping haunted tape of its own cliches.
I’m not against reinvention, far from it. Mentalism thrives on reinterpretation but if your reinvention involves changing the font and giving it a fancy new name, you’re not actually innovating… You’re impersonating.
The Disconnected Creator:
Promoting effects they don’t perform
Now, here’s a weird phenomenon that would even make the Oddsock oracle raise a mystical eyebrow.
Mentalists selling routines they’ve never used, never tested and don’t even understand. You’ll see them in product videos talking about how this is a game changer for real world performers. Meanwhile, they haven’t stepped foot on a stage since the Myspace era. (By gosh, that’s a long time ago!)
Signs of a disconnected creator:
The product video is 20% talking and 80% vague hype.
They never show the routine being used on a real person. I mean it’s a real person, just not a stranger. They usually request the assistance of a friend or a friend of a friend.
They might say things like:
I don’t really do this myself but I could see it working great in a bar brawl.
They’ve released 13 products and 2 variations of the same progressive anagram in 7 months, each one is their favourite.
This is like flogging tarot cards when you’ve never read a spread, don’t believe in tarot and think the High Priestess is a gothic Pokémon. It’s not just bad form, it’s intellectual cosplay with extra sequins and zero soul!
The Endless Drip Feed:
Milking a method until it cries and then selling the tears as a limited edition download
Some creators are sitting on one good idea but rather than refining it, they’re slicing it into tiny overpriced liquorice all sorts.
First you get:
NEURON: The core technique
Then three months later:
NEURON: Close up edition
NEURON: Street ambush routine
NEURON: Holiday spectacular add on
NEURON: Script only
NEURON: Hat trick (requires a hat)
NEURON: You should’ve just bought a book!
This monetisation strategy is built on the idea that people won’t notice they’re paying £20 for an idea that could’ve been written on a sticky note!
Pro tip:
If the revolutionary routine you bought last month is now being sold again with one tiny tweak, you’re not getting a second helping, you’re being spoon fed BS.
Why does this happen?
There’s a few reasons for this:
The magic marketplace rewards volume over value
Some creators are under pressure to pump out content to stay relevant, even if the content is creatively undercooked.
Beginners don’t always recognise rehashed methods.
So they buy and buy and buy, hoping the next one will be the big miracle they’ve been searching for.
See post: MAGPIE SYNDROME
Hype outpaces honesty
Let’s face it, saying: Uses a classic technique with a fresh presentation, doesn’t sound as sexy as: BANNED IN FIVE COUNTRIES!
So how do you spot the snake oil?
Here’s your checklist of caution:
1: Does the creator perform the effect live on video or in real world settings?
2: Is the method clearly explained in the product description or is it wrapped in fog and buzzwords?
3: Have they released lots of products in a short space of time?
4: Do the reviews sound similar across their other releases?
5: Can you trace the effect back to something in 13 Steps to Mentalism, Practical Mental Magic or a 2012 Penguin lecture?
If you answered yes to 2 or more, approach with caution or better yet, spend that money on something worthwhile…
Like socks with mystical symbols!
What About Ethical Creators?
Don’t despair. There are many brilliant creators out there, performers who have tested their material, explain it well and clearly love the craft.
You’ll know them because:
They reference the history of the effect.
They credit their inspirations.
They wear oddsocks!
They’ll include scripts, subtleties and performance context.
Support these creators, promote their work and write glowing reviews with emojis and symbolic sock references.
These creators are the ones keeping the torch lit while others are trying to sell you shadows for £39.95!
Fragmented Thoughts
Mentalism is sacred, it’s about mystery, psychological beauty and shared human wonder. When someone uses it like a gimmick factory, pumping out routines they don’t care about just to squeeze a few more coins from the curious minds, it dulls the entire art.
You’re different though, you’re here reading this, nodding and thinking:
I want to create something real, that’s heartfelt.
Something weird, beautiful and true.
That’s the only kind of mentalism that should exist.
Stay Weird
ЯYΛП MΣПƬIƧ
International Man of Mischief