MINDVENTION
The First Annual All-Mentalism Convention
Date: November 14 - 16, 2004
Venue: 3555 Las Vegas Blvd. South 737-1343
Venue: San Remo Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada

Review #1 by Gianni:

I have just returned from the Mindvention. Inexplicably, I have the urge to write a lengthy review.

First lecture (Sunday, 11-14-04, 3 p.m.): Chuck Hickok

Mr. Hickok was a corporate trainer by profession. He started in mentalism later than most, doing his first paid show at age 52. His style is that of a corporate trainer, i.e., clean-cut corporate style, jacket and tie, etc. He gave what I thought was a strong lecture, showing what I believe is his actual corporate mentalism act. He seemed to have no problem revealing what he actually performs and how his act operates.

My only personal negative: I saw Mr. Hickok’s lecture approximately a year ago on the East Coast.

Panel discussion (Sunday, 11-14-04, 6:30 p.m.): Topic was “Mentalism in Non-Traditional Environments.” Panel members: Marc Spelmann; Christopher Taylor (I believe); Mark Strivings and Terry Nosek.

The discussion was interesting. I found the openness of Messrs. Spelmann, Taylor, and Strivings helpful and interesting. My frank impression of Mr. Nosek was that he was uncomfortable revealing much of value.

Second lecture (Sunday, 11-14-04, 8:30 p.m.): Mark Strivings

This was the first time I had heard Mr. Strivings’ lecture. I thought he discussed several helpful things. I also came away from the convention from this lecture, the forums, the dealer room, etc. that Mr. Strivings freely and openly gives valuable advice and information to anyone who solicits it.

Presentation (Sunday, 11-14-04, 10 p.m.): Terry Nosek. Topic: Mentalist Marketing Materials.

Try to guess what this was about. I naively thought that it would be a discussion of contemporary ways to market oneself in the mentalism field. I was wrong. It was a series of slides of the advertisements and marketing materials of mentalists over the past 100 or so years. I left after seeing about 30 slides, sometimes as many as five from one mentalist. I heard the number 100 slides bandied about. I would have found 10 slides interesting, but scores of slides were valueless to me.

Third lecture (Monday, 11-15-04, 11 a.m.): Brad Henderson

I had never heard Mr. Henderson lecture before. As this lecture began I was prepared to be disappointed. I expected it be a dry. It was a lecture on the language and script we use in our performances. Ho hum. Not so. I was firmly impressed with Mr. Henderson’s articulation of the subject. He was a terrific speaker. His presentation was a tight, finely tuned analysis of the structure of our script. I found the entire presentation interesting, informative – and important.

Panel discussion (Monday, 11-15-04, 3 p.m.). Topic: The Ethics of Mindreading.

I am sorry to say that I missed this lecture. I was stuck at a card table, winning, and couldn’t leave. I heard many complimentary comments about the discussion.

Fourth lecture (Monday, 11-15-04, 7:30 p.m.): Alain Nu

Alain Nu is a low-key, polite and personable fellow. I had seen his show earlier this year at a college in the Philadelphia area. I thought his show was excellent. It was entertaining and mystifying. Hundreds of college students were drawn in, and I was jealous of his abilities.

As to the lecture, I found it missable. Mr. Nu candidly stated his discomfort with lecturing, and his disinclination to reveal his bread and butter. Fair deal. I would feel the
same way. But if you don’t have something strong to share, why lecture at all?

Attendee show (Monday, 11-15-04, 9:30 p.m.)

This is self-explanatory. Frankly, I thought most of the performances were very good. My particular standouts: Morgan’s metal bending was outstanding and Marc Spelmann thoroughly impressed me. He has an easy, professional style for a 27 year-old, and I thought his chair routine was excellent.

Fifth lecture (Tuesday, 11-16-04, 11 a.m.): Bob Cassidy

I had never seen Mr. Cassidy lecture. I enjoyed the lecture. Not so much for its substance, although there were some interesting ideas aired out. It was more for Mr. Cassidy’s style. He reminded me of George Carlin’s hippy-dippy weatherman. Kind of a burned out sixties persona. But it was fun. He carried himself with an unflappable stage presence. He gave you the sense that he could handle any audience and work around any snafus. (He later proved that at the final show.) I enjoyed seeing the results a performer thoroughly marinated in his style and experience.

Sixth lecture (Tuesday, 11-16-04, 3 p.m.): Max Maven

If you can filter out Mr. Maven’s pomposity and condescension towards us lesser humans, he does demonstrate a superb command of every aspect of a presentation. Nothing is unconsidered. From the way he shakes hands with a spectator to position them where he wants, to the rationale for his precise selection of every word spoken in his routines – everything is part of a powerful thought process. I appreciate Mr. Maven very much – from a distance.

My only personal negative: I saw the bulk of Mr. Maven’s lecture approximately two years ago on the East Coast.

Panel discussion (Tuesday, 11-16-04, 6:30 p.m.). Topic: The Creative Process Growing in the Art of Mentalism

I am sorry to say that I missed this lecture. I was stuck at a card table, losing badly, and couldn’t leave.

The final show was excellent. All of the performers were entertaining and astounding.

My final thoughts:
I was disappointed that several of the lectures were simply some presenters’ standard lecture fare or was weak. I had expected for an event such as Mindvention we would be hearing fresh, strong lecture materials. No one misrepresented anything. This was just my naïve assumption.

The event seemed well-planned and things seemed to go smoothly. For me, the highlights included seeing such a gathering of well-known mentalists. I enjoyed seeing their interactions with one another. It created those very warm feelings that occur when longtime friends gather. And even for those of us who do not fit into that group, just being in the presence of those feelings and catching snippets of conversations, insights, banter, etc. was a great treat.

The dealers’ room was fun. I spent most of my time at the Alakazam table with Peter Nardi and Marc Spelmann, simply because they had most of the newest material that I am currently curious about. Messrs. Nardi and Spelmann were very open and helpful in demonstrating their newest effects. (Parenthetically, I want to repeat how very impressed I was with Marc Spelmann. His polish and skills at such a young age were remarkable.)

Mark Strivings and Lee Earle were also extremely open and helpful, and I enjoyed spending time at their tables. Frankly, all of the dealers were open and helpful. I specifically mention Messrs. Strivings and Earle because I came to Mindvention already a fan of their wares, and appreciated my interaction with them.

My overall conclusion: This was a fun event with a lot to offer, and I am happy I attended.

Gianni

Review #2 by Marc Spelmann:

Mindvention was an absolute blast, The organisation was superb, the lectures excellent, the turn out great and the interaction with everyone from new practioners to advanced experts was a real highlight. There were effects being shared left right and center.

Michael Webber showed me the most incredible Out of This World routine presented in his expert style. Max Maven gave me some very valueable feedback after my performance along with the charming Chuck Hickok. Banachek was a pleasure to finally meet as well as Mark Strivings, Alain Nu, Brad Henderson and the one and only Bob Cassidy and Lee Earle. Mindvention has to be one of the friendliest conventions I have ever attended, every one was equal..

I know I will definately be back next year, Danny and Robert were true gentlemen from start to finish and ensured everyone had a great time.. Christopher Taylor was fantastic and his manuscript Inside Out is highly reccommended..

Morgan floored everyone with Liquid Metal and you have got to see it from the spectators view point, I did twice and it just melts..

I made many new friends at mindvention and feel I came away with some great advice, thoughts but most of fond memories of three days of pure bliss to a magic mentalism nut..

Marc Spelmann