Mentalist Gerard Senehi [Archive]

JamesDillon

18th August 2006, 02:16 PM

Has anyone heard of this person?
Mentalist, mindreader, and corporate entertainer, Gerard Senehi experiments in all areas of the paranormal. He is recognized internationally not only as a brilliant performer but also as a true master of the art of mentalism. Ever creative, and wanting to always push the edge of what is possible, find out what new ground he is currently breaking.

http://www.experimentalist.com/

He is a friend of a co-worker of mine, and recently gave a performance in our office that I was unfortunately unable to attend, but which I'm told by many who were in attendance included some impressive feats of mentalism, including sending a sealed letter to the office several days ahead of the performance that (I'm told) accurately predicted items in the news on the day of the performance.

Anyway, I told my co-worker about the JREF, and without any encouragement from me, he looked at the site and encouraged Mr. Senehi to apply for the million-dollar challenge. Mr. Senehi's response, I'm told, is that he is aware of Randi and the challenge, but that Randi is "afraid to meet [me]," presumably because Randi knows this guy is for real and doesn't want to be proven wrong.

Does anyone know if there is any history between Randi and Mr. Senehi? Has he applied for the challenge in the past?

Edit: To be clear, my understanding is that unlike some mentalists, Mr. Senehi claims to actually have paranormal mental abilities, including the ability to predict the future, read minds, and, yes, bend spoons.

William Smith

18th August 2006, 02:26 PM

A quick googling of both their names turned up some stories, but no proof of a prior encounter.

If Mr. Senehi will apply - which I am 99% sure he won't - we will see if Mr. Randi is afraid to meet him or accept his application.

When in doubt, bet on the Skeptics. ;)

Overman

18th August 2006, 02:37 PM

I do not believe that Randi would be afraid to meet anyone. I do believe that anyone with 'real' powers would be very excited to prove Randi incorrect and get a cool mil while doing it.

Some mentalists have to keep that aura of woo around them for the purpose of the illusion that they create. This may include Randi bashing, while they might be magic friends on the side....

Not everyone is in the cause for/against skeptical thought...some people just like being magicians...

JamesDillon

18th August 2006, 02:42 PM

Not everyone is in the cause for/against skeptical thought...some people just like being magicians...

That's true, but the impression I get in this case is that Mr. Senehi actively claims to have supernatural abilities. My co-worker is quite convinced that he does.

William Smith

18th August 2006, 03:18 PM

JamesDillon

18th August 2006, 03:24 PM

Overman made a good point: Dissing Randi in public - especially in front of believers - might just serve a promotional aspect. Cheap, perhaps, but useful and unfailing.

JamesDillon, does your co-worker count to the easily convinced or to the not-so-easily convinced kind of people?
He's a very smart guy, though I believe his perspective on paranormal claims is not one of immediate skepticism as would be the case here. He knows Mr. Senehi through an organization with which they are both involved, Enlightennext (http://www.enlightennext.org/), which rejects the materialist hypothesis in favor of belief in a spiritual plane that I do not really understand well enough to explain here, but it sounds interesting.

William Smith

18th August 2006, 04:05 PM

He's a very smart guy, though I believe his perspective on paranormal claims is not one of immediate skepticism as would be the case here. He knows Mr. Senehi through an organization with which they are both involved, Enlightennext (http://www.enlightennext.org/), which rejects the materialist hypothesis in favor of belief in a spiritual plane that I do not really understand well enough to explain here, but it sounds interesting.

Will you consider convincing your co-worker to post here? Or convince him convincing Mr. Senehi to post here?

So far, this is all chinese whispers.

JamesDillon

18th August 2006, 04:09 PM

Will you consider convincing your co-worker to post here? Or convince him convincing Mr. Senehi to post here?

So far, this is all chinese whispers.

I've been in touch with Jeff Wagg, and have extended the invitation to my co-worker to ask Mr. Senehi submit an application for the million-dollar challenge, with Jeff's confirmation that he is eligible to do so (i.e., that Randi isn't "afraid" of him.)

Frankly, I'm a little hesitant to ask my co-worker to post here, because I suspect many people here would be very rude to him (not you personally, but I can think of quite a few people who would go for the jugular the moment he posts anything), and I'm afraid that might make our relationship awkward. If Mr. Senehi does decide to apply for the challenge, though, I might reassess that decision.

Edit: As for the "chinese whispers," you can get at least a flavor for Mr. Senehi's claims through the link I posted earlier. I'm not sure if there's a link to email him directly, but I would imagine there probably is.

jimtron

18th August 2006, 04:12 PM

Some mentalists have to keep that aura of woo around them for the purpose of the illusion that they create. This may include Randi bashing, while they might be magic friends on the side....
There's lots of Randi bashing on this mentalist forum (http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewforum.php?forum=15&96714). If you search that forum for "randi" you'll find many threads.

The sealed letter prediction thing is a known mentalist (non-paranormal) effect. Does Senehi call himself a mentalist? Usually when that term is used, they don't claim supernatural powers (offstage at least). The ones that do mentalism effects and claim supernatural powers usually call themselves "paranormalists," which I believe Uri Geller does.

eta: Here are a few Randi threads (http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/search_results_topics.php?search_id=1764859); note that TAM guest Banachek is often mentioned as well. This one's (http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=148809&forum=15) a doozy. By the way, one of the particiapants in that thread is Jack Galloway, AKA Jim Callahan, who was mentioned in one of Randi's commentaries (http://www.randi.org/jr/081205another.html).

JamesDillon

18th August 2006, 04:13 PM

The sealed letter prediction thing is a known mentalist (non-paranormal) effect. Does Senehi call himself a mentalist? Usually when that term is used, they don't claim supernatural powers (offstage at least). The ones that do mentalism effects and claim supernatural powers usually call themselves "paranormalists," which I believe Uri Geller does.
He does call himself a mentalist, but my understanding is that he also claims that his powers are genuinely paranormal, not just stage tricks.

Out of curiosity, how is the mailing the letter thing done? I couldn't figure out how he could have pulled that off, assuming that the description I heard from my friend was accurate.

Edit: Maybe Mr. Senehi's claims of paranormal abilities are just a self-promotion pretense, but if that's the case, he takes it very far, as my co-worker and he are apparently good friends, and my co-worker appears to sincerely believe that the man has actual supernatural abilities.

jimtron

18th August 2006, 04:17 PM

He does call himself a mentalist, but my understanding is that he also claims that his powers are genuinely paranormal, not just stage tricks.

Out of curiosity, how is the mailing the letter thing done? I couldn't figure out how he could have pulled that off, assuming that the description I heard from my friend was accurate.

I predict that his paranormal powers will not withold controlled testing by someone familiar with this area.

Sorry, but I wouldn't want to divulge any mentalism secrets here. (eta)But paranormal ability is not required, just like spoon bending.

William Smith

18th August 2006, 04:33 PM

I've been in touch with Jeff Wagg, and have extended the invitation to my co-worker to ask Mr. Senehi submit an application for the million-dollar challenge, with Jeff's confirmation that he is eligible to do so (i.e., that Randi isn't "afraid" of him.)

Mr. Randi isn't "afraid" of him? Quelle surprise! :D

Your actions regarding contacting Mr. Senehi and letting him know his application would be welcomed was pretty much what I had in mind when I asked if your co-worker would join the forum.

Well done, JamesDillion. Please follow up on your co-worker's contact with Mr. Senehi.

Frankly, I'm a little hesitant to ask my co-worker to post here, because I suspect many people here would be very rude to him (not you personally, but I can think of quite a few people who would go for the jugular the moment he posts anything), and I'm afraid that might make our relationship awkward. If Mr. Senehi does decide to apply for the challenge, though, I might reassess that decision.

Fair enough.

Edit: As for the "chinese whispers," you can get at least a flavor for Mr. Senehi's claims through the link I posted earlier. I'm not sure if there's a link to email him directly, but I would imagine there probably is.

Oh, I already got his "flavor". Reeks of trickery.

Let's just see if he is not afraid to apply for the Challenge.

He may donate the mil to found a new enlightennext chur--, eh, chap--, um, cathedr--, er, building...type...thing. Or go on a co-ho-ke binge with Andrew Cohen. Whatever.

jimtron

18th August 2006, 04:39 PM

Maybe Mr. Senehi's claims of paranormal abilities are just a self-promotion pretense, but if that's the case, he takes it very far, as my co-worker and he are apparently good friends, and my co-worker appears to sincerely believe that the man has actual supernatural abilities.

I don't think this is terribly uncommon. At the forum I linked to above, there seem to be a lot of mentalists who either truly believe in supernatural abilities, or are "taking it far" by pretending to believe.

steve s

18th August 2006, 04:49 PM

JamesDillon

18th August 2006, 04:54 PM

He's just an illusionist. He was on the Ellen DeGeneres show back in February. It took me all of 5 seconds to figure out how he did his tricks, and I don't even have any training in magic.

I started this thread (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=52338&highlight=gerard+senehi) about the tricks he did on the show.

Steve S

Thanks for the info. It sounds like he did basically the same sort of stuff at my office function. I enjoy a good mentalist performance as much as anyone, but it's a bit disturbing that he seems to be trying to persuade people that he has genuine paranormal abilities.

We'll see if he accepts Jeff's invitation to apply for the challenge, but I don't think you have to be psychic to predict that he'll have some other convenient excuse.

calebprime

18th August 2006, 04:55 PM

The sealed letter prediction thing is a known mentalist (non-paranormal) effect. .

I predict that his paranormal powers will not withold controlled testing by someone familiar with this area.

Sorry, but I wouldn't want to divulge any mentalism secrets here. (eta)But paranormal ability is not required, just like spoon bending.

Aww, C'mon. Please? I'm dying to know the sealed-letter trick. Is it simply some clever way of switching the letter? A hint?

jimtron

18th August 2006, 05:00 PM

Aww, C'mon. Please? I'm dying to know the sealed-letter trick. Is it simply some clever way of switching the letter? A hint?

I'm sorry, but I'm not at liberty to divulge the information.

calebprime

18th August 2006, 05:17 PM

I'm sorry, but I'm not at liberty to divulge the information.

On the Ellen show, it looks like he could be simply writing the word with his right hand ("Que") after she tells him what it is.

The floating cig trick, though, that's amazing!

But in fairness to him, doesn't he present himself as a magician who is just doing tricks, or is he claiming more?

JamesDillon

18th August 2006, 05:24 PM

But in fairness to him, doesn't he present himself as a magician who is just doing tricks, or is he claiming more?
It appears both from his website (read the "Philosophy" seciton) and from what my friend has told me that he seems to be claiming that his abilities are not mere tricks, but are actual paranormal manifestations.

steve s

18th August 2006, 05:33 PM

But in fairness to him, doesn't he present himself as a magician who is just doing tricks, or is he claiming more?

When he was on Ellen, she kept hyping him as the geniune article and that they weren't mere "tricks." Of course that was her saying it and not him, though he repeatedly dismissed anyone who didn't believe in his abilities as skeptics.

Steve S.

JamesDillon

18th August 2006, 05:36 PM

though he repeatedly dismissed anyone who didn't believe in his abilities as skeptics.
Aren't we? :)

Edit: After a bit of deliberation, I've decided to share a bit more of my conversation with my co-worker that made me a little suspicious of Mr. Senehi. Trying to be open-minded, I asked where I might be able to see one of his performances. I was told that he doesn't usually do public performances, but does mostly corporate events, "because he can charge a lot more money that way." Ok, fine.

Conversation goes on for a bit, and then near the end of it (upon realizing for the first time that my co-worker actually believes that this guy has powers), I said, "If he really has the ability to predict the future, why work at all? He could make a billion dollars in the stock market, no problem." My co-worker's response was, "He's not really that interested in making money. He just thinks it's important to show people that these things exist." I think he also said something about how he can't use the power for his own benefit, or something, but I don't see how that's consistent with using it as a paid profession. But in any case, it seems like if he's not interested in making money, the best way to spread the word about the existence of these things would be to give public performances, rather than appear only for well-paying corporate events.

William Smith

18th August 2006, 06:23 PM

jimtron

18th August 2006, 06:53 PM

Aren't we? :)

Edit: After a bit of deliberation, I've decided to share a bit more of my conversation with my co-worker that made me a little suspicious of Mr. Senehi. Trying to be open-minded, I asked where I might be able to see one of his performances. I was told that he doesn't usually do public performances, but does mostly corporate events, "because he can charge a lot more money that way." Ok, fine.

Conversation goes on for a bit, and then near the end of it (upon realizing for the first time that my co-worker actually believes that this guy has powers), I said, "If he really has the ability to predict the future, why work at all? He could make a billion dollars in the stock market, no problem." My co-worker's response was, "He's not really that interested in making money. He just thinks it's important to show people that these things exist." I think he also said something about how he can't use the power for his own benefit, or something, but I don't see how that's consistent with using it as a paid profession. But in any case, it seems like if he's not interested in making money, the best way to spread the word about the existence of these things would be to give public performances, rather than appear only for well-paying corporate events.

I wonder if the co-worker is accurately speaking for Senehi, or being presumptuous. How well do they know each other? I don't see any explicitly bogus claims on Sehehi's site (http://www.experimentalist.com/):

Mentalist, mindreader, and corporate entertainer, Gerard Senehi experiments in all areas of the paranormal. He is recognized internationally not only as a brilliant performer but also as a true master of the art of mentalism. Ever creative, and wanting to always push the edge of what is possible, find out what new ground he is currently breaking. His corporate mentalist shows have an unusual effect on his audience. It is not education - it is strictly entertainment, but his impromptu approach to mentalism engages the audience while they witness things that are impossible right in front of their eyes, impacting them in ways that can only be experienced. He has also brought mentalism to a walkaround setting - ideal for many corporate events. (bold added)
He makes implications about powers, but this is showbiz after all. I don't see anything wrong with a magician or mentalist implying real powers, but if they explicitly claim them offstage--that's a different story (http://www.uri-geller.com/).

I haven't seen evidence that suggest Senehi is guilty of misrepresenting himself, although it appears others have: the co-worker and Ellen Degeneres.

jimtron

18th August 2006, 07:05 PM

Here's the Ellen clip (http://web.mac.com/experimentalist/iWeb/Site/Movie.html).

Pup

19th August 2006, 07:46 AM

This thread is amusing to me, because it comes at just the time I'm preparing for a role as a spiritualist who believes in the existence of supernatural powers but nonetheless knows he's doing things by trickery because he can't quite get the powers to work for him.

Got that? I'm a skeptic. I'll be pretending to be a spiritualist who really believes. But I'll be doing a sealed-envelope-reading thingy that the spiritualist knows he's faking for dramatic effect. Enough levels of reality there? :)

Anyway, my points are:

1) Nothing about Senehi so far negates the same possibility. Or the same except without the layer of skeptic underneath.

2) My role will be ad lib, so I need to have ready enough excuses to protect the illusion. Why don't you do it again so I can watch closer? Why don't you do it this way? Why can't you read my mind right now? For me, it's a one-time amateur gig. For Senehi, it's a living, so he's got to be ready for even more. Why don't you apply for Randi's million? Why don't you predict the stock market or the lottery? Having the excuses prepared is just as much a part of the schtick as the sleight of hand or the gaffed props.

3) Being a complete non-magician with some acting ability but no previous sleight-of-hand skills, I picked the simplest and oldest envelope-reading trick, and practiced at home on my wife, who of course knew it was a trick and even knew that she was working as my stooge. I told her to watch and see if she could catch how I did it. She couldn't figure it out. Oh, she knew how I read her first sealed envelope, because she'd already told me what was on it. But the others? No clue.

Four separate times I did it, on four separate days, nice and slow, full daylight. She tried to trick me by drawing pictures instead of writing words. Still worked, still no idea. I was as shocked as she was, because it seemed so obvious. But to non-magicians, even the oldest simplest tricks can be amazing, and again, Senehi isn't a rank amateur doing an old trick, he's got the incentive to hone his skills to be really good and come up with new stuff.

tkingdoll

19th August 2006, 08:02 AM

I just watched the Ellen clip. Oh joy. Looks like we have a Geller for the new generation.

I was going to say I can't believe anyone is stupid enough to fall for that lame spoon-bending schtick, but as these things are cyclical, it's about that time for a new bloke. Now we need a new Randi to smack him down.

William Smith

19th August 2006, 08:29 AM

Good post, Pup.

For me, the downside to the very skillful act of a spiritualist, stage magician, mentalist, is the similarity to other make-believe arts, e.g. a hustlin' pimpin' playin' smokin' dopin' gangsta rappa.

Both very entertaining on various levels when done by pros. Both just pretending. And that's when the misunderstandings start.

They end with people shelling out big bucks to and virtually handing their lives to "mediums" and "spiritual teachers" and "psychics".

They end with white middle class teenagers staging "gang fights", "pimp slapping" girls and referring to themselves as "n*gg*z". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_cj77jym_U http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S-lFPgyOzA&NR

Oh, the humanity. ;)

NobbyNobbs

19th August 2006, 10:03 AM

It appears both from his website (read the "Philosophy" seciton) and from what my friend has told me that he seems to be claiming that his abilities are not mere tricks, but are actual paranormal manifestations.

Funny, but I was about to say that, reading from the same section, I got the impression that he is a magician with a facade of being paranormal. Specifically..

Is it real or illusion?
Ah-ha! Sorry on this one. My job is to make people ask this question not to answer it. And from the number of people (scientists, politicians, doctors, etc.) who ask me this question, I think it's working…

This sounds like a magician's answer. Wouldn't someone who truly thinks they are paranormal say so?

wert

19th August 2006, 10:20 AM

Everything in the Ellen clip is standard magician material.

Hell, one can even buy the "cigarette flotation " directly from the creator right here. (http://www.downloadmagic.com/levitate_objects.htm)

The clip on creator fearson's site is a lot more impressive than the performance of it on ellen.

Gord_in_Toronto

19th August 2006, 12:19 PM

Well, this Thursday I'm off to see Max Maven who is a true mentalist! To quote from the WWW (sorry can't post the url due to my lowly status here):

"Max Maven is a magician and mentalist. He gives the impression that he uses advanced psychological principles and methods to "read spectators" minds

Gord_in_Toronto

19th August 2006, 12:22 PM

Well, next Thursday I'm off to see Max Maven who is a true mentalist! To quote from thw WWW (sorry can't post the url due to my lowly status here):

"Max Maven (born Phil Goldstein in 1950) is a magician and mentalist. He gives the impression that he uses advanced psychological principles and methods to "read spectators" minds. Orson Wells is said to have written that Maven had the most original mind in magic. He has been a consultant with such magicians as David Copperfield, Penn & Teller, Siegfried & Roy and Doug Henning."

Friend of Randi and supporter of reality (such as it is).

Based on what I have seen of Max on TV, I expect to be completely and utterly mystified and there will be no nylon thread involved!

"Psychic" posers like Senehi do a disservice to rationality and to the general public. If he was any good he would admit "It's all a trick" like Max does. A pox on them all.

William Smith

19th August 2006, 12:34 PM

"Psychic Posers"! :D That's what I was going for with my last post.

Btw Gord_in_Toronto, if you want to boost you post count without getting warned or having to think: http://forums.randi.org/forumdisplay.php?f=28

jimtron

19th August 2006, 02:27 PM

"Psychic" posers like Senehi do a disservice to rationality and to the general public. If he was any good he would admit "It's all a trick" like Max does. A pox on them all. Has he ever called himself a psychic or claimed paranormal powers? So far, I haven't seen any evidence that Senehi is making any bogus claims.

Any specific examples of wrongdoing by Senehi?

eta: I don't see a major difference between the way Senehi presents himself vs. the way Maven does; and so far I don't have a problem with either.

Max Maven site (http://maxmaven.com/index1.php)
Senshi site (http://www.experimentalist.com/)

tkingdoll

19th August 2006, 02:28 PM

Has he ever called himself a psychic or claimed paranormal powers? So far, I haven't seen any evidence that Senehi is making any bogus claims.

Any specific examples of wrongdoing by Senehi?

Did you watch the Ellen clip? He defines what he does as something that cannot be explained by science.

jimtron

19th August 2006, 03:52 PM

Did you watch the Ellen clip? He defines what he does as something that cannot be explained by science.

Well, that's obviously not true, but in my opinion that's not so awful. He calls himself a mentalist and an entertainer; to me it's not so heinous to fib a little during a performance. It would be another thing if he went around (offstage) saying that he had true paranormal powers--that's what Geller did (as well as selling crystals and other snake oil).

If a magician, during an act, says "this box is empty;" that may be a lie, but so what? If, after the act, the magician claims what he does involves real supernatural power and not an illusion; that's a problem. But to lie a little during an act is no biggie, in my view. I'm pretty sure Maven lies during his act too.

Gord_in_Toronto

19th August 2006, 10:10 PM

No. I think they present two very fronts.

Like the Not-so-Amazing Kreskin, Gerard Senehi is ambivalent on how he does what he does. From his website:
"Is it real or illusion? "Ah ha! Sorry on this one. My job is to make people ask this question not to answer it. And from the number of people (scientists, politicians, doctors, etc.) who ask me this question, I think it's working"."

Max's site says:
"Using an advanced (and highly unorthodox) set of psychological principles and techniques, Max is able to discern the thoughts of total strangers. Subliminal persuasion and the power of suggestion are pushed to the limit. People magazine hailed his work as "a new form of participatory theater.""

Senenhi, while using tricks purchasable from magic shops pretends it all "might be" "real". Max says it is not outside of science (and his actions in the magic community support this).

Stage magicians love watching others in their profession do "magic" tricks. They say, "Wow. You did that well. Or, "How did you do that? I haven't seen that one before."

Society does not need people lending credence to parapsychological piffle using stage magic.

I'll let you know if Max tells any lies.

JamesDillon

19th August 2006, 10:18 PM

To clarify, I have no direct evidence that Mr. Senehi has ever explicitly claimed that his abilities are paranormal. However, I trust the word of my co-worker who claims that Mr. Senehi has made such statements to him. Obviously, my co-worker's word carries more weight for me than it does for people who don't know him. I can confirm that Mr. Senehi gave a free performance at my law firm's office, in gratutude for the pro bono work the firm has done for Enlightennext (this was confirmed in an office-wide email from the firm administrators that I received). From this, I think it's fair to infer that my co-worker is a close acquaintance of Mr. Senehi as he claims to be, and to accept the accuracy of my co-worker's account of Mr. Senehi's statements about his abilities. My co-worker is convinced that Mr. Senehi has actual paranormal powers, and that his performances are not mere magician's tricks. My co-worker also told me, again anecdotally, that Mr. Senehi has claimed that the spoon-bending trick is a manifestation of real psychic ability. Having not been in touch with Mr. Senehi myself, I can't confirm anything more than that.

JamesM

20th August 2006, 02:17 PM

FWIW, Senehy is clearly aware of the challenge (http://www.experimentalist.com/experimentalist_shows.html):

The audience decides one of ten possibilities. No restrictions here. They can pick one of ten dates that they choose, one of ten names that they choose, etc. They can even consult the Amazing Randi to set up test conditions. Gerard will wager up to $5000 that he can correctly guess the selected of ten items. (Winnings will be donated).

Pup

20th August 2006, 05:29 PM

Out of curiosity, how is the mailing the letter thing done? I couldn't figure out how he could have pulled that off, assuming that the description I heard from my friend was accurate.

More evidence that this is a standard trick, and you can learn to do it too, for the low low price of $75. Act now!

http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=125760&forum=71

Instead of an envelope, the headline prediction is sealed in a glass box two weeks ahead of time, but otherwise everything else would apply.

From the ad:

It contains 3 HEADLINE PREDICTIONS that are 100% correct, and they have been notarized two weeks earlier! During this time the magician stands on the other side of the stage, NEVER TOUCHING THE BOX NOR THE SLIPS OF PAPER!

The press and VIP can take the notarized slip to the notary the next day and he will verify he READ and NOTARIZED this slip 2 weeks ago!

Zax63

21st August 2006, 12:52 PM

I wish she had given him Geschwendigkeitsbegrenzung* instead of Que for that last trick but I guess they would have needed to extend the show another 10 minutes.

*German for speed limit

Gord_in_Toronto

21st August 2006, 06:30 PM

Not enough space in Quick Reply. I'll try again.

Gord_in_Toronto

21st August 2006, 06:33 PM

Argh! Damn the Quick Reply limitations and the inability to edit. I'll try again.

Gord_in_Toronto

21st August 2006, 06:40 PM

FWIW, Senehy is clearly aware of the challenge (http://www.experimentalist.com/experimentalist_shows.html):

From the same page: "As there have been so many requests for repeat performances The Experimentalist has developed a second stage/stand up show. It features the same creative experimentation but also calls on the audience to make the miracles happen. Having seen and participated in unbelievable experiments the first time they saw him, wouldn’t it make sense that the next time things would be taken a step further and they would have to partake in making these experiments happen themselves?"

Rule number 2 in Stage Magic. Never repeat a trick -- the rubes might figure it out.

Thomas

22nd August 2006, 02:15 AM

I wrote Senehi a couple of days ago, to see if he would try to convince me that he had paranormal powers. His answer just arrived today, and here's the correspondence:

Hi Mr. Senehi,

I watched your show on Ellen. It was quite amazing.

You state on your website that you’re a mentalist, but Ellen also states that you’re “not doing magic”. Do you have any genuine psychic or paranormal abilities?

To which he replied:

Dear Curious One,
That is a very good question, not one that I answer, but very good indeed. In fact it is a question I try to create and not answer.
Warm regards,
Gerard

Just a mysterious one…

Note that he's refusing to give a straght answer, which is entirely consistent with the contents of his webpage. Read especially the section here (http://www.experimentalist.com/experimentalist_intro.html) that goes: "Paranormal Phenomena - Is it real?".

Is he a fraud? Perhaps a borderline fraud. I'll leave that for you to decide. But it looks slightly like Dillons co-worker has interpretated Mr. Senehi's "evasions" in favor of his own worldview.

William Smith

22nd August 2006, 05:33 AM

Good move, Thomas. Tip of the hat.

Mr. Senehi's evasive response to this simple straight question should not really surprise anyone. He has a business to run. Nothing more, nothing less. He has the entertainment schtick down - even "world leaders" ask for his advice. :D

"This is fortunate for the audiences as it means he is willing to boldly risk stretching the very fabric of reality to discover a place where entertainment happens in an altogether different dimension."

Could this be any vaguer? :rolleyes:

JamesDillon

22nd August 2006, 09:57 AM

But it looks slightly like Dillons co-worker has interpretated Mr. Senehi's "evasions" in favor of his own worldview.

It seems like that may be the case. I can't fault the guy for trying to maintain a mysterious image in order to bolster his business, and he does carefully avoid any explicit claims of paranormal ability in his website (though some statements, especially in the Philosophy section, seem awfully close to me). If my co-worker's account is accurate, Mr. Senehi makes more direct claims of supernatural ability in private, but if he isn't willing to follow up on those in public, then there isn't much more to be said about it.

Robaato

22nd August 2006, 10:18 AM

Not enough space in Quick Reply. I'll try again.There are no limitations to the Quick Reply box that I am aware of. The box will scroll if you need more space. What is the nature of the problems you're having with it?

JamesDillon

23rd August 2006, 10:53 AM

Thomas

23rd August 2006, 10:59 AM

My co-worker forwarded an email from Mr. Senehi to me today that clears all this up, and confirms what we already suspected. I don't feel that it's appropriate to paste the text of the email here, but in short, Mr. Senehi confirms that he does not claim to have paranormal powers and intentionally leaves that question unanswered for the purpose of maintaining a mysterious image. There must have been some miscommunication somewhere along the way, but it's now clear that Mr. Senehi does not claim to have any abilities that would qualify him for the Challenge.
I'm still corresponding with Mr. Senehi, and he understood full well that I couldn't tell him I was a skeptic at first (in order to get an impartial answer). He don't like psychic posers and frauds, as I asked him straight up, so I don't think it would be fair at all to consider him one of the "bad guys".

William Smith

23rd August 2006, 05:03 PM

JamesDillon and Thomas, I have confidence in your judgment on this matter. Forum members with a Futurama avatar can't possibly be bad guys either. :)

JamesDillon

23rd August 2006, 05:31 PM

JamesDillon and Thomas, I have confidence in your judgment on this matter. Forum members with a Futurama avatar can't possibly be bad guys either. :)

What if it was Bender? :)

William Smith

23rd August 2006, 05:41 PM

What if it was Bender? :)

"Bite my shiny daffodil a$$!" :D

jimtron

23rd August 2006, 05:45 PM

After I looked at Senehi's Web site, I had the feeling that the co-worker was not accurately reflecting Senehi's point of view.

Personally, I don't see a problem in keeping things vague.

Gord_in_Toronto

23rd August 2006, 08:58 PM

After I looked at Senehi's Web site, I had the feeling that the co-worker was not accurately reflecting Senehi's point of view.

Personally, I don't see a problem in keeping things vague.

May I in my most humble state in this group, disagree?

Anything that leads credence to so called psychic phenomena or any woo-wooizm in general is not a good thing. The co-worker may have got the wrong message but Senehi does not particularly go out of his way to disabuse it. Someone who claims to be an "Experimentalist" and then uses fishing line and $75 magic store tricks while leaving it for his audience to decide, is not on our side. The general public does not have the tools to see that they are tricks. Pretending that they may be real psychic phenomena is a disservice to rationality and society in general.

Magicians such as Houdini and Randi did not need to do this. They both were quite successful in their times.

When I see Max Maven tomorrow I will know that, no matter how mystified I am, it is all trickery.

Gord

jimtron

24th August 2006, 12:40 AM

When I see Max Maven tomorrow I will know that, no matter how mystified I am, it is all trickery.

Let us know how it goes, and if Maven explicity admits to doing magic tricks, or if he "lies" about what he does or speaks about it in vague terms.

He's an excellent mentalist.

TheBoyPaj

24th August 2006, 02:05 AM

What if it was Bender? :)

Nah. That would be lame.

Thomas

24th August 2006, 03:57 AM

May I in my most humble state in this group, disagree?
No! You have to pass 500 posts before you're allowed to disagree with us, didn't you read the membership agreement? :D

Actually, I agree with you to some extent. But I think it would be most fruitful to chase those who downright claim to have paranormal powers or psychic abilities. As they are the ones the believers clearly can use as "evidence".

Also, what is worse for a mentalist/magician: To be vague about what you're doing, or downright claim that you're doing something else than you actually are? Isn't that evasion vs lying?

William Smith

24th August 2006, 08:31 AM

Nah. That would be lame.

"Me want snusnu!"

juryjone

24th August 2006, 09:10 AM

The general public does not have the tools to see that they are tricks. Pretending that they may be real psychic phenomena is a disservice to rationality and society in general.

I'm reminded of Harry Anderson doing the "needle through the arm" trick. He would repeat, over and over, that it was a trick, yet audience members would still show, through their cringing manner, that they weren't convinced it was a trick.

It doesn't take much to convince some that real magical powers are involved.

Gord_in_Toronto

28th August 2006, 02:11 PM

I did attend Max Maven Show last Thursday after my wife and I had a nice dinner at Cafe Modesto on Bloor Street first. A bit expensive, though.

The show was somewhat disappointing since in around two hours Max only seemed to do about five tricks. His patter was very good and kept the show moving though. He was tossed a bit of curved ball when the person he picked out of the audience for his first trick turned out not to know what a card deck was, did not know how many cards there are in a deck or the names of the suits! And she was also somewhat deaf. During the course of the trick she had to ask her husband for help. Not a good start but Max struggled through.

For his final trick he had 50-cent pieces taped over his eyes with "industrial" tape (it looked like black duc(t) tape), additional tape across his face, including along the bridges of his nose, and finally a blindfold. He then identified random items from the handbags of two audience members, the values of cards which nobody but the holder saw and read the numbers of a twenty-dollar bill. Very impressive.

For this and his previous "mentalist" acts he required the individual with the object to "concentrate on it" and look specifically at it. In the person holding five "random" cards behind his back she was required to keep her knuckles on his back and look at the cards one at a time. He would say such things as the card you are looking at is black (or red), get a response (most times "Yes"). He would follow up by identifying it as a low value or face card, then the exact value and the suit, with the same confirmation procedure. Occasionally, he would get something wrong and the mark would agree that, yes, she had really switched her attention to the wrong card.

He did say at one point, "As I said, this is all psychology," but he had not mentioned psychology earlier that I had heard. He did say something at one point like, "Prepare to be mystified".

He did not say he was a psychic but did not say he was not.

He did one trick that involved a gimmicked lock (I know this is a magic trick you can buy) but still claimed that psychological forces were at work when they were not.

So my position on him being entirely "clean" with respect to his non-wooness is not really validated. Indeed, I could be convinced that it is all "stage magic" and the psychology aspect is just his particular shtik.

I'll continue to stand by my position that that people should not be shown tricks with the pretense they are real woo.

Gord
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One day I'll be allowed a real sig.