Why Consistency Matters in Mentalism

I believe consistency can be one of your strongest tools for creating believable, powerful effects in mentalism. Take the simple act of asking spectators to write things down. If you’re going to peek their information later, having them write it makes total sense. But even if you’ve already forced the thought—using a gimmicked book or another method—I still think it’s worth asking them to write it down anyway.

Why? Because consistency helps hide the method. If you only ask them to write some things, and not others, the audience might start connecting the dots. “Ah, he only needed it written when he was about to read my mind… maybe he peeked.” That little inconsistency can leave a trail. But when the process is always the same—write it down, go through the motions—it becomes just “how it works.” Nothing to question.

Even more interesting: asking them to write something down when you already know what they’re going to write actually reduces suspicion. Fewer moves, cleaner execution, and the illusion feels more impossible. Ironically, the “extra” step helps erase clues instead of adding them.

Now, I know some performers argue that changing the process—maybe having keeping the last piece of information unwritten—can make an effect feel stronger or more impossible. And I totally get that. It’s a valid artistic choice. Honestly, I don’t believe in absolute rules when it comes to magic or mentalism. What I’m sharing here is just a personal theory, not a truth carved in stone.

But for me, having a consistent structure—maybe even a bit of ritual around the writing—also sets a tone. It defines the space. It gently tells the audience, “This is how this works,” and helps avoid those awkward challenges after the show like, “So, what am I thinking now, Mr. Mindreader?”

In the end, mentalism (like any art) is made of ideas—theories we test, adopt, adapt, and sometimes break. Each of us builds our own rules based on what feels right for the kind of experience we want to create. This idea of consistency is one of mine. And if sharing it sparks you to reflect on your own process, then that’s the real value. Because that’s how we all get better ❤️