The Derren Brown stuff...
Derren Brown is a British performer, magician, illusionist who uses hypnosis and NLP skills to produce some amazing effects. However, a word of warning - he is an extremely accomplished magician who has dressed up some old tricks to make them seem as if he is using hypnosis and NLP. At the beginning of his shows he openly admits that he uses all the techniques of the Magician - misdirection, showmanship etc to create his effects.
Some of his work uses genuine examples of subliminal suggestion, if you are a magician you'll spot which ones are not.... probably. It has been said that there is no such thing as a 'new' magic trick, they are just re-presentations and re-workings of classic effects. Bear this in mind when watching his shows.
Something Derren is a master of, it seems, is 'Cold Reading'. In his program he re-creates a classic experiment which blows astrology, palmistry, handwriting analysis etc out of the water. Check it out on this YouTube clip. Also, when you have watched this clip you'll never waste your money on a psychic reading!
Some people have suggested that Derren also uses 'Hot Reading' to produce his effects. With 'Hot Reading' the performer finds out information about a person before doing the 'mind reading' act. In its simplest form suitable information for Hot Reading could be gained by eavesdropping on a conversation in the pub. A week or two later the information could be 'mind read' from the individual. This is even more effective if you work together with an accomplice..
Similarly, if you stand behind someone at a cashpoint, especially if it is a friend of yours, you will probably be able to see them punch their pin number in! Some people are so careless when it comes to security! This could then be 'magically' revealed.
Of course, it is possible that Derren is able to get juicy 'Hot Reading' material from a subject by using rapid hypnotic inductions followed by the suggestion of amnesia... but I am happy to leave that possibility open for you to make your own mind up.
Whatever you think of Mr Brown, he has certainly made a lot of people explore the power of Hypnosis and NLP. The profile of this fantastically powerful tool has been considerably raised. I would strongly recommend you read his book 'Tricks Of The Mind', even if you are already into NLP and Hypnosis. His take on NLP is very refreshing.
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