Derren Brown

[Dreamofaces]

Hey everyone. Ive recently gotten into the Derren Brown type stuff. The only problem is I dont know where to begin. Ive downloaded a lot of books about him and books on his work, I just dont know what order to take them in. Im only 18 and fully aware that something of this takes years and years to learn. I read in his article that it took him 10 years to learn what he knows. I also read that you have to be willing to give up 90 % of your repoitore and routines. I feel Im ready to take this next step. Ive been doing magic since I was about 6 and going with it steady. Us as Magicians are known to mystify our spectators, but I think its time I learned something that truly mystifys me. This is the Derren Brown type stuff. I refer to it as "Derren Brown type stuff " because I feel that is the easiest way to sum it all up. The things he does puts a smile on my face and makes me feel so great that a human being can be capable of something of that nature. In closing, if anyone can help me get started in this area, please do so. Your help will be much appreciated. Thank you.


Matt

[Seeker]

Well well,
Have I got a few things to say to you. Hahaha

I am on the same path my friend. But let me give you this advice. Alot of the effects that are "Darren Brown-ish" can be done with basic slight of hand. Some, I admit, is psychology. (I suggest you start your studies ASAP on that subject)

As for suggested reading. Look in hypnosis. Not saying thats what you want to get into, but it is VERY similar. You have to create a AWWW factor if you will.

I have posted in the Army of 52 Forums a routine that is "Brownish" if you will that is right up your ally. Check it out if you have access.

PM me and we can talk more about this stuff in detail. I know it seems I am rambling a bit, but there is so much I can tell you. For those reading this now and wanting the same info, PM me.

-Seeker

[Giggip]

I have to say that I am a massive Derren fan. His work just hits his spectators on such a personal level and that is what we should all aim to achieve.

My advice to you would be to get all of his material. I know it will be expensive but, trust me, it will be worth it. You can learn alot just from his performances alone.

He has also just released a book to the general public, which I am reading at the moment. It has been an excellent read thus far and covers alot of the areas of his work. It will give you some good footing to begin with so I would start with that if I were you.

If you need any additional help, feel free to PM me.

[evilvlad]

Honestly, the "Derren Brown type stuff" is an absolutely afwul label.

Derren's work and career should be the epitome of finding your niche and exploiting it to the extreme, until your OWN style arises. Following HIS material just because HE touches spectators on a personal level is just a means of ridiculing what he stands for.

Derren is Derren, and should be left at that. If you're interested in his approach to magic (and he himself calls it that), then I suggest purchasing his books.

You said it yourself, it took Derren over 10 years to develope his unique style (one that is still arguably in development). For you to think that ANY thread would help you achieve that level of skill and ability is wrong and, again, against all that Derren's work stands for.

To simply try to copy him is the wrong step already.

Let me ask, are you willing to commit the next decade of your life to working on personalizing your performance? If so, get good enough to work magic at least part time, and through that, begin to personalize your material and approach.

Becoming a good magician doesn't come from reading a forum, not even a book. In fact, only experience will allow you to become a truly awe-inspiring and unique performer. When I say experience, I don't only mean in magic (and that does play a major roal), I mean in life. Live life such, that you can entertain an audience for hours on-end by just reciting stories of your own life and experiences. Forget the magic or the mimmickry, choose life first and foremost.

The rest will come. Anyone who gives you a list of tricks is only doing you a disservice.

[KeenanG]

Only experience will allow you to become a truly awe-inspiring and unique performer.- EvilVlad (Said Above)

I'm sorry but this...

THIS is truth.

AMAZING words.

Keenan

[Dreamofaces]

I am fully aware that the only way to get the best out of yourself is through the experience of performance, which is why I perform every chance I get. To throw 90% of my routines away as they stand right now is a sacrafice Im willing to take. I know only positive things will come out of it in the end. I often compare magic to music because I have a strong feeling and passion for music also. The same applies for music as it does magic. When I started playing guitar, I played Black Sabbath, Led Zepplin, ACDC, the legends. Its through these legends that are going to get you to the next step of originality. You take a lil of this persons style and form, and mix it with this persons style and form. Through this YOUR orignal style is created. The same applies with magic. So what Im looking for is a "Derren Brown type style", NOT HIS STYLE. A little of his work combined with David Lawsons, James W Cook, and pieces of my own mind as well, will make the style I am looking for that I can proudly call mine.

[gamerguy1142]

Hopefully, all of the people here on the forums are striving to be as powerful as Derren Brown. I know I am, his work is what started me in Mentalism.

If you are interested in his type of work, it will take more than the 13 Steps to Mentalism and all of Banacheck's work, and all of Osterlind's work. I've started out with the 13 Steps and Banachek, and I aim to look into Osterlind to establish a solid base in Mentalism. After that, it will be years of performance and getting to understand your audiences to get to Brown's level of work. He uses more than your basic mental forces and psychology.

To become great, you have to know all of the greats before you. After you know them and their work, your own style will emerge and hopefully be just as, if not more, powerful than any of them.

[baronen]

I think he is fun to watch. It is sertantly inspireing to watch. When you see what he is capable of it makes you work even harder.
I don't think by buying a lot of stuff will make you become a better performer. It's the hours infont of the audience that will make you great.

By the way. Derren is working on a special for the US viewers. It is called "Something Wicked coming your way".

[polkablues]

Really, the best way to get an inroad to Derren Brown's approach to magic is to read "Pure Effect" and "Absolute Magic". Really, his theories on presentation of magic and on crafting your persona as a magician are worth even more than any of his effects.

Also make sure to read up on your Corinda, your Annemann, your Dunninger... all the great minds that worked to develop what we think of as mentalism. The same basic principles that they used back then are still used in full force today, and the more you learn about the classics, the more you realize that Derren Brown is merely one in a long line of mentalists before him, albeit a very good one, who's happened to come up with a presentation that's modern, clever, and devastatingly convincing. In a more modern vein, you can find a lot of the seeds of Brown's magic in the writings of Kenton Knepper and Docc Hilford.

And as one who's also studied hypnosis, I thoroughly recommend it. Hypnosis and mentalism go together like apple pie and vanilla ice cream. Ormond McGill's "Encyclopedia of Stage Hypnotism" is a great resource, and a great place to start.

[Stephen R. Morris]

Hey everyone. Ive recently gotten into the Derren Brown type stuff. The only problem is I dont know where to begin. Ive downloaded a lot of books about him and books on his work, I just dont know what order to take them in.

Matt

My apologies but am I the only one who picked up on the above sentence?

Assess your ethics and be prepared to invest both your time and money. Get rid of those ebooks and start afresh without a guilty conscience

Make your primary purchase Corinda - if you can then proceed to entertain a group of people, be it friends/family/strangers for 10 mins anytime you want, you are ready to expand. Give yourself a pat on the back - this will take time and there is no need to rush.

The aim is to understand the deceptive principles contained within the book. Once this has been achieved, it can be applied to anything hence giving your individual edge.

Regards,
Stephen

Regards,
Stephen

[gamerguy1142]

Polkablues, I'm glad you mentioned the hypnosis. A lot of Brown's effects have roots in hypnosis, except that he does not do it in a conventional way. He picks subjects that are VERY susceptible in the first place, and then talks them into a trance that allows him to execute some truly insane effects.

Also, as far as Brown using the classics goes, the basics of his chess playing stunt can be found in the 13 Steps.

[Dreamofaces]

Ok everyone. Ive come to my conclusion of starting with Corinda. Ive been reading Pure Affect and have already read Behind the Scenes. Thanks for all the help guys.

[baronen]

Don't tell me the point of this is to make a Derren clone out of everyone?
For the record. He does not rely that much on hypnosis as this thread would make it seem. That is just his aproach. He found his. You find yours.

[lordofthegerbil]

Right, the first thing that you have to realise with Derren Brown is that he doesn't use any where near as much psychology as he portrays in his shows (btw, do they ever show his programmes in America?). I'm not going to say that I know how all his tricks are done - I don't think anyone does. But, for instance he does the best version of OOTW I've ever seen, using a traditional technique, but played as a kind of psychological effect. A lot of his TV stuff uses dual reality etc - something none of us have luxury of using.

He does have two books and a DVD out. Pure Effect, whilst a great read, is focused mainly on traditional close up, so not really applicable here. If you don't mind using cards, his DVD 'The Devil's Picturebook' has some amazing mentalism on it (I use Invisible Deal and Extreme Mental Effort, both brilliant), and it's all practical. Also, get Absolute Magic here on E. It's got an amazing chapter on defining your own presentational style, and the ideas are very easy to translate to mentalism.

My advice, right now, would be to buy Absolute Magic, grab a pen and jot down ideas as you read through. To do 'DB type stuff' won't be easy, but it is possible.

[baronen]

A lot of his TV stuff uses dual reality etc - something none of us have luxury of using.

Why would you say that?