Price$40.00
Media TypeBook
CategoryMentalism, Philosophy, Collectibles
Date AddedNov 18, 2003
Dance, The
Henderson, Brad
Brad Henderson
(Based on 1 review)
Topics include ethics, reading onstage, misses into hits, skeptics and two professional mind reading routines.
Few teaching texts have been released to the performance community of theatrical mind readers and 'psychic entertainers'. Many are small pamphlets of 15-20 pages, which when available can command prices as high as $80-200. Unlike these 'traditional' texts, The Dance focuses on cold reading not as a product but as a process. The how's and why's of cold reading are presented to the student in a clear and concise fashion. Many books try to teach you what to say, The Dance teaches you how to say it, when and where.
Brad Henderson has been a professional entertainer and mind reader for over 20 years. He has lectured to some of the most exclusive gatherings of magicians and has garnered a considerable reputation for his own psychic reading skills. He presents seminars on the Psychology of Communication to business people from a multitude of industries. His own performances walk the edge of theatrical techniques and legitimate psychological manipulation that borders on eerie. Not only has he studied the art of cold reading for years, but has hands on experience, in the trenches, using his skills to entertain and educate audiences throughout the U.S.
The title typifies the author's approach to the techniques used in psychic readings. Each reading is like a dance; interplay between psychic and subject whereby the reader surreptitiously gains information and leads the listener into believing he is speaking in terms of specifics, when in reality generalities abound. The key lies in keeping the listeners unaware of this process and rewriting their memories of the events which occurred. Teaching such an 'organic' and 'live' process is a difficult task; The Dance attempts and succeeds in a manner never before conveyed in print.
Though a rather advanced book, The Dance asks key questions which every potential reader should answer before embarking on their studies. Sections of The Dance include:
The Myth of the Cold Reading: There is a common perception that there exists one very general script that will hold true to most people. The Dance is one of the only texts written on the subject which abandons such a notion in favor of teaching the real techniques used by successful psychics. Our opening section lays down the philosophical framework of the text as well as explores the way general statements are believed to work, and reveal their inherent weaknesses.
Also, The Dance explores the ethics of misrepresenting to our audience that what we do is "real" and offers for the first time a reading paradigm which is both engaging and ethically sound. What's My Motivation?: One of the more frightening revelations begins as a discussion of the personality types naturally drawn to the pursuit of Psychic Readings. Control, power, and ego fulfillment which pervade the industry.
The Dance advocates a NEW approach deviating from the Classic Svengali - the dark, mysterious, power hungry character who knows all and sees all. Learn how this more modern approach makes the public a willing accomplice to the "mediumship" process and insures that they receive real value from their time with the Psychic. Also, learn who should stay away from this kind of work and why. . Sections include: How to Ask a Question, Does This Make Sense, Multiple Choice, Negative Question and the Method, Beware the Stereotype, Tricks of the Trade (data collection), We have Ways of Making You Talk, Back Pedaling, Projectile Missiles, Celebrity, and Recapitulation. Finally, we close with PERFORMANCE PIECES. Here are two show stopping presentations straight from Brad's working repertoire. Both will give you the opportunity to showcase your readings skills.
The Dance is a powerful, fascinating, and educational treatise on the techniques some 'psychics' use in their Mediumship practices. By offering informational tools of this sort, the performer is empowered to critically evaluate these types of psychic experience and make informed judgments as to their validity. At the very least, by allowing the performer to glimpse inside a very real world of deceit, connivers and their verbal deception which borders on art, they may walk away with a better understanding of how we as human being have the incredible power to deceive our fellow man for purposes of good or ill.
An incredible value. 121 pages of professional quality material designed for the working performer.
See Brad's product page or your favorite dealer for purchase information.
Reviews
(Top ▲)
When I received The Dance, it didn't strike me as a complete "how to" on cold reading. I was somewhat disappointed. From the hype I was expecting a thick, extensive, encyclopedic treatise on the subject of cold reading! The hardcover book seemed, and is, a bit thin -- a mere 121 pages of large print. Brad gives his opinions and views on cold reading and explains that cold reading doesn't REALLY exist. That cold reading is a myth. There is no formula, no stereotypical demographics, no neuro-linguistic programming, and no script that can teach you how to do it. You must learn by doing and taking instruction. How is that helpful? Read on!
What Brad Henderson does in this book is give you the real work on cold reading. He explains that it is a communication process and he gives you tips on making that process effective, communicating, listening soliciting and gathering information to make yourself a better reader. He teaches you how to effectively be wrong and fail forward, a skill many cold readers lack. He teaches you how to solicit information and ask questions without seeming like you're fishing. He teaches you how to be a part of the reading rather than just being a party to it. He teaches you how to use your method to effectively get the sitter to search themselves for the answers and deliver hits.
I am a mere dabbler in this having only read one other booklet on the subject, Completely Cold by Kenton Knepper and J. Tank. I decided to give The Dance a try. I scared the hell out of myself! The sitter was an associate. I began by using the sitter's palms and asking some questions based on things I felt intuitively about this person. Hits. I continued with another hit and then another, all from the techniques described in the book. The sitter began feeding me more and more information resulting in a successful reading. I explained to the sitter that I don't do readings that this was a rare occasion and asked that they not share the experience with anyone else. The sitter told their spouse, who now would also like a reading. Brad help!
If you are looking for a script or quick learn on cold reading, this isn't the place to look. If you want some powerful tools that can help you become effective with time and practice, well then I see some future success in achieving a goal that has thus far eluded you. Does this have any meaning to you?
What Brad Henderson does in this book is give you the real work on cold reading. He explains that it is a communication process and he gives you tips on making that process effective, communicating, listening soliciting and gathering information to make yourself a better reader. He teaches you how to effectively be wrong and fail forward, a skill many cold readers lack. He teaches you how to solicit information and ask questions without seeming like you're fishing. He teaches you how to be a part of the reading rather than just being a party to it. He teaches you how to use your method to effectively get the sitter to search themselves for the answers and deliver hits.
I am a mere dabbler in this having only read one other booklet on the subject, Completely Cold by Kenton Knepper and J. Tank. I decided to give The Dance a try. I scared the hell out of myself! The sitter was an associate. I began by using the sitter's palms and asking some questions based on things I felt intuitively about this person. Hits. I continued with another hit and then another, all from the techniques described in the book. The sitter began feeding me more and more information resulting in a successful reading. I explained to the sitter that I don't do readings that this was a rare occasion and asked that they not share the experience with anyone else. The sitter told their spouse, who now would also like a reading. Brad help!
If you are looking for a script or quick learn on cold reading, this isn't the place to look. If you want some powerful tools that can help you become effective with time and practice, well then I see some future success in achieving a goal that has thus far eluded you. Does this have any meaning to you?