Reading In The Years
No, that's not a Steely Dan deep cut... it's more of a confession, if you will.
With more than 40 years (!) of presenting readings, it's been interesting to see how approaches to this niche of psychic entertainment have changed over time. In the 1980s, the general consensus was that to be a successful reader, you only had to memorize a bunch of vague Barnum statements or a few "never-fail" demographic-based lines -- the main intent was to rack up a series of hits that would convince your audience that you were truly psychic.
Many people discovered that you could memorize lines until you were blue in the face, but still be unable to deliver a reading.
I have to admit it -- I was one of those people, and it's reassuring to hear from AM that he was, too. Maybe it's a phase that all psychic entertainers have to go through to discover what really works and, perhaps more importantly, what really matters to both ourselves and our audiences. More about this later...
While working on the production of the Pro Shop edition of Readings for the Modern Mentalist, I was struck with two reasons why contemporary performers are especially fortunate.
First, because over time the bar has been raised for what constitutes an effective reading, and much of that has been the result of a redirecting of attention so that the participant is the main focus of the reading. Don't worry, though -- that warm fuzzy feeling the participant experiences from the reading will carry over to a well-earned regard for you and your abilities.
The second reason is that while the majority of books on readings have promoted a specific reading system, there have been few books that lay out a clear framework for the performer who has never given a participant-centered reading. The fact that a seasoned pro has taken the time to fill this gap is much more than just icing on the cake.
Like many of us, AM has read hundreds of books from the top authors in the field of readings, but he has also applied that knowledge over the course of thousands of hours of giving readings, and the end result is a clear and concise structure that will work effectively in nearly every situation.
Following the straight-forward advice in Readings for the Modern Mentalist, you will be able to form a more genuine human connection with others, an ability that will allow you to provide readings that will show people a new perspective, which in turn will help them to better understand themselves.
Beginner or Pro?
As AM says in the introduction, this is the book I wish I had when I began giving readings, and I wonder how much faster I would have reached my desired level of professionalism if I'd known then what AM is sharing with us now. Readings for the Modern Mentalist is aimed towards performers who are either hesitant about incorporating readings into their performances or are looking for the best way to start, and it's the best one I've read in recent memory that can benefit a wide range of performers with varying levels of skill.
If you find that adding readings to your repertoire is for you (and if you haven't, I strongly recommend that you do), it is by no means the last book you'll need on the subject. But, from someone looking back 40 years, it is an excellent place to start.
Having said that, however, it's important to point out that there is material in Readings for the Modern Mentalist that even seasoned readers will appreciate. If, for example, you've been giving palm or Tarot readings for years, you may find yourself drawn to AM's five approaches to creating an impromptu numerology reading.
Or, if you're intimidated by memorizing the meanings of hundreds of symbols and colors, you'll find AM's 3-step approach truly liberating, and you'll be able to create on-the-spot readings based on literally anything you can see or think of at the moment. Memorize a simple 3-step approach vs. hundreds of meanings? I think you can guess what my choice would be.
The Core
It's important to emphasize that Readings for the Modern Mentalist is not trying to teach you a specific system -- it actually provides a new context that allows you to concentrate on how readings can help the participant. So, yes, there is a general system of how to turn symbols, numbers, and colors into an effective reading, but it is such a simple and flexible system that it can be applied to any kind of reading.
For AM, it is more important to understand the system than it is to memorize a ton of information. For this reason, he explains the applied psychology behind everything he says during the reading, which is a better path to understanding than the conventional "Say this, because it works for me."
There are plenty of examples from AM's actual readings that illustrate how easily this clear and concise system can be incorporated into your performances, be they scripted or impromptu. Again, there is no requirement to memorize AM's words -- adopting his approach will be sufficient to create a new mindset that you can draw from anytime, anyplace.
So, yes -- in the oft-used phrase... the system taught in Readings for the Modern Mentalist is "... perfect for walk-around, close-up, parlor and stage."
But, Wait...
Of course, there's more. In an FAQ, AM answers questions like...
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I think you'll be especially interested how AM analyzes the the classic Psychometry A to Z premise and adapts it into his readings framework.As you probably know, Psychometry A to Z is a powerful tool in any performer's kit, and AM's version takes it to the next level.
Testimonials
Long-time subscribers to the Pro Shop already know about my reluctance to include testimonials in its marketing. Simply put, it's way too easy to get some friends to write glowing reviews. In the case of Readings for the Modern Mentalist, however, I think it's worth noting the stature of the following two reviewers. I know I pay attention to what they think, and I think you should, too.
~~ Richard Webster |
~~ Luca Volpe |
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Readings for the Modern Mentalist
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