Paul Brook's Blog

Best Chip Shop Advert Ever

2012-03-09T08:26:00.000Z

Are you looking for some wedding entertainment?

Try a psychological Mind Reader - http://www.PaulBrook.co.uk

Fantastic Easter Prank

2012-03-08T08:00:00.000Z

Thinking about booking live entertainment for a work event?

Here are some must see guidelines - http://bit.ly/y052LW

Psychic Speakers

2012-03-07T09:20:00.000Z

How to use some Mind Reading during my program?

An article on the placement of a mind reader at your event - http://bit.ly/wzwHYw

Morning Task: How to Deal with People who were Noisy During the Night

2012-03-06T09:33:00.000Z

Do you yearn to be who you want to be, and even more?

Over fifty unique secrets are waiting for you here - http://tinyurl.com/6vb8cog

I Guess this Guy is Following the Rules?

2012-03-05T09:13:00.000Z

What is it, exactly, that psychological mind readers do?

Learn what really happens, in this free article - http://bit.ly/zsFz3C

Oh Dear...Epic Fail!

2012-03-02T09:51:00.000Z

Why is it that businesses hire a psychological mind reader?

Five secrets they don't want their competition to know - http://t.co/MfqpeprM

Dark Clothes for a Thinner Figure

2012-03-01T06:24:00.000Z

What is it, exactly, that a mind reader does?

Learn the basics, in this article - http://bit.ly/zsFz3C

Hipster Universe

2012-02-29T09:58:00.000Z

What is it, precisely, that mind readers do?

Learn the basics, inside this article - http://bit.ly/zsFz3C

Prince...Charming?

2012-02-28T09:08:00.000Z

Discover how to read minds - grab the FREE 'How to Read Minds'

eBook right now - http://bit.ly/x9Qe1g

On Using Et Cetera, etc.

2012-02-27T11:00:00.000Z

Just what can a doodle of a tree say about you?

You will be alarmed by the accuracy - http://www.TreeReadings.co.uk

What an Amazing Idea for an Escalator

2012-02-24T11:56:00.000Z

Considering booking live entertainment for a work event?

Here are some essential top tips - http://bit.ly/y052LW

Go On...Eat Cake!

2012-02-23T10:42:00.000Z

Don't forget to be a part of my 'Paul Brook Mind Reader' FaceBook fanpage,

at this link - http://on.fb.me/wpOzzd

12 LifeHacks That Will Change Your Life

2012-02-22T10:17:00.000Z

Relax & watch me mind reading on the streets. Over 20,000 viewers already have,

see what you're missing - http://tinyurl.com/MindVid

A Few Tattoo Translations

2012-02-21T09:48:00.002Z

Be sure to 'like' my 'Paul Brook Mind Reader' page,

by clicking this link - http://on.fb.me/wpOzzd

I think I will give the Mushrooms a Pass

2012-02-20T14:17:00.000Z

Struggling to find some corporate entertainment?

Paul Brook Mind Reader is the answer - http://www.PaulBrook.co.uk

Belated Valentines Day Funny

2012-02-17T10:34:00.000Z

What is it, precisely, that mind readers do?

Discover what to expect, in this free article - http://bit.ly/zsFz3C

Completely 'Aww' Inducing

2012-02-16T11:08:00.000Z

When should I use a Psychological Mind Reader during my event? An article on the placement of a mind reader

at your event - paulbrooksblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/when-should-i-use-psychological-mind.html

When should I use a Psychological Mind Reader in my event?

2012-02-15T11:10:00.001Z

When should I use a Psychological Mind Reader during my event?

An article on the placement of a mind reader at your event.

You are organising an event and you have decided to get some mind reading entertainment booked. But where should the mind reading be placed within your program?

It may not seem too important, but if you don't know where you need the entertainment, you may end up paying for more than you need. By getting a good idea of where and when you will need the entertainment, you will be more in control.

Having a good idea of where the entertainment is needed allows you to be clear and concise when you are in contact with the entertainer. If you ring the entertainer and sound as though you haven't a clue, it opens you up to possible overcharging with unscrupulous individuals.

Let's get you up to speed with some types of performance, and when they may be suitable for your event:

Mix & Mingle / Walk Around

This is when a mind reader moves around among your guests and performs for them while they are stood up. Places where this may be suitable in your program:

At the bar prior to the start of an event, as guests are arriving.
Transitional periods when rooms are being turned around and guests are stood in a holding area.
Where you are attracting the attention of people who are walking by, such as in a trade show.
During a wedding, where the photographs are being taken and large numbers of guests are not taking part in activities.
Any unseated event where guests are stood up throughout.

Table-to-Table

As the name suggests, this is where a performer moves between tables and performs standing while the guests remain seated. For this reason this style of performance works best for:

Pre-Cabaret show entertainment.
Banquets where food is being served.

The entertainment should be used between courses to reduce any apparent waiting time. Have the mind reader approach the tables as soon as guests begin to be seated. When the first course arrives the entertainer should withdraw to the side of the room and wait for the next table to finish their first course. The entertainer then carries on performing at different tables until the next course arrives. This pattern continues until all of the courses are consumed. After the last course the entertainment should continue until the main part of your program begins.

Stage Show

An interactive stage show that can last anywhere from 20 - 45 minutes. But put it in the wrong place and your audience may not want to interact!

The best time to have stage show entertainment is after any food has been served, but before any speeches. Mind readers will often be able to revitalise your audience and get their minds focused once more. Therefore, allowing your speeches to be better received.

Even if you do not have any speeches, you need to make sure that the stage mind reading show isn't placed too late in your program. Due to the interactive nature of the show, if people become tired or too intoxicated, the show may well suffer.

In Closing

Mind reading is a wonderful way to keep your guests entertained and enthralled at times where they could possibly become bored. Dead spots within your program can drain all the life out of the event, don't let this happen!

You now have a better idea of when the different styles of mind reading are best utilised. Before you make that phone call to a mind reader, take a few moments and work out just where the dead spots could be in your event. Then, from the information above, work out what the best type of performance will be for your event. Having that informed information will give you that extra edge when you hire the entertainment.

Corporate events, weddings and private engagements are all different, so you may want to discuss a unique characteristic of your event and get an opinion on how mind reading will be used for maximum efficiency. If so, please, feel free to get in touch with me at info@paulbrook.co.uk

If you would like more tips from a professional entertainer then feel free to follow Paul Brook Mind Reader on Twitter @PaulBrookSays or take a look at his website:

http://www.PaulBrook.co.uk

Best Optical Illusion of the Week

2012-02-15T10:12:00.000Z

Thinking about booking live entertainment for a work event?

Here are some must see guidelines - http://bit.ly/y052LW

Valentines Day Cards for the Socially Challenged

2012-02-14T09:52:00.000Z

Thinking about booking a mind reader for your next event?

Stay safe by following these essential tips - http://t.co/6xds4rDy

One Cat + Cardboard + Pen = FUN!

2012-02-13T09:22:00.000Z

Watch me mind reading on the streets. More than 20,000 folks already have,

take a look at what you're missing - http://tinyurl.com/MindVid

The BEST Tattoo Ever!

2012-02-10T09:46:00.001Z

Considering organising a stage show act for a work event?

Here are some must see top tips - http://bit.ly/y052LW

Top Secrets For A Successful Stage Show

2012-02-09T17:20:00.001Z

Top Secrets For a Successful Stage Show

Getting the most out of the entertainment you pay for.

You are the organiser for an event that needs stage show entertainment. The venue is booked, the guest lists have been sent out, the entertainment has been hired...and there is nothing left to do...or is there?

Often, stage shows that incorporate the audience, such as comedians, magicians and mind readers, can be destroyed by a few little things; small things that you have the power to change. However, a lot of organisers are not aware of these little niggles that can ruin the event.

If you are thinking of booking a stage show entertainer, or have booked one for your next event, here are some amazing tips that will make your event phenomenal:

Don't Keep Your Distance

Stage shows can be extremely interactive, this is especially true of mind readers. This means that the audience should be as close as possible to the stage.

From time-to-time, venues may place a dance floor between the tables and the stage. If you notice this, simply ask the banqueting staff to move all of the tables closer to the stage...remember, you are in charge!

Fill Those Front Tables First

This follows on from 'don't keep your distance'. People naturally tend to stay away from the very front tables, and as a result, if there is a deficit of guests, the front tables will be sparsely populated at best. This creates another empty zone between the tables and the stage, limiting audience interaction.

A wonderful tip is to place 'Reserved' signs on the tables furthest away from the stage until the tables closest to the stage are full.

Keep People Together

Catering staff will always try to fill the room by spreading out the tables and chairs to use up the space. This type of distancing may well utilise the space but doesn't build a connected room.

It is better for your event, and the entertainment, if there is an atmosphere of intimacy. This is true of small venues as well as large ones.

Remember that you are the boss and the banqueting staff are there to please you. Not the other way around!

Remove Tall Centrepieces on the Table

While tall centrepieces can look beautiful and flamboyant, they can also obstruct the view of your guests. This is of course a barrier for inter-table communication as well.

If tall centrepieces cannot be avoided then make sure that you ask the banqueting staff to place them to one side before the show and return them after the show has ended.

Close the Bar During the Show

Whether it is a free bar or not, people at events enjoy to drink. But people moving around during a stage show are disruptive to everyone in the room.

The best way to handle this is to have the bar closed during the stage show. A great tip is to cover the bar with a table cloth. Therefore, allowing people to see at a distance that the bar is currently closed.

If you announce the temporary closure at least half an hour before the show begins, it allows your guests the chance to grab a drink or two to keep at the table.

Never Have a Break Immediately Before the Show

Sometimes people will lose track of time during the break and not return in a timely manner. People arriving part way through the show will disturb the enjoyment for the other guests.

If people need a break to use the facilities they will do so as and when they need to. Let's treat them like grown-ups.

Place The Stage Show Before Any Speeches and Awards

It's no secret that people switch off during the speeches and awards. This is especially true if food was served just prior to them.

You need to make sure that your guests are charged up, alert and listening to the speeches and awards; too much time and effort has gone into them to just to let them fall on deaf ears.

By having the entertainment before the speeches, you give people a chance relax, revitalise and become excited. At the end of the performance they will be amazed and feel alert, ready to hear your important messages.

Can the People at the Back can see the Stage Show?

When dealing with groups larger than fifty people, a stage or a riser should be used. Most acts can and will perform on the same level as the tables, but this stops a large number of people from seeing what is happening.

Of course the same applies for both the sound and lighting. Without either, the audience will have a difficult time understanding what is going on.

In Closing

When you hire an entertainer for a stage show, it is in your best interest to make use of him, or her, as best as you can. Wonderfully entertaining acts can become dull or lack lustre if the above tips are not applied. As the event organiser it is within your power to take care of these variables which could make your carefully planned event begin to unravel.

Always remember that when you hire a venue you have the right to ask for things to be done the way you would like them. Don't allow the venue to stipulate things that will make your event dull, boring, or lose cohesion. If they baulk against your request, be sure to put your foot down.

If you would like more tips from a professional entertainer then feel free to follow Paul Brook Mind Reader on Twitter @PaulBrookSays or take a look at his website:

http://www.PaulBrook.co.uk

What to Expect from a Psychological Mind Reader

2012-02-09T13:55:00.003Z

What to Expect from a Psychological Mind Reader
An insight into what we do.

Psychological mind reading is all the rage at the moment with bookings being taken for corporate events, weddings and private parties. The extremely entertaining antics of mind readers on television have boosted this niche form of entertainment into the public arena. The best news of all is that the public love it.

I mean, what can be more entertaining than having your mind read in person?

When we watch a mind reader on television there is always those niggling questions:

"Is the person having their mind read an actor?"

"What has been going on before the camera starts filming?"

"What have the editors cleverly omitted?"

But when you are standing there and it is happening to you, and the people you know, there is no question that what you are witnessing is the genuine article. This is why people find it to be exceptional entertainment.

So it's obviously a blessing that television shows have raised the profile of mind readers...right?

Well, it's a double edged sword.

While the profile of mind reading has been raised, the abilities of mind readers has been greatly inflated. The use of television and it's editing possibilities has enabled the presenter to perform impossible feats of mind reading; that would not be possible without the media of film.

This is something that we all expect from television these days, as editing allows for shorter, to the point programming. It also isn't a bad thing, as these types of show are immensely entertaining.

I would simply like to readdress the balance and give you a list of things that a real life mind reader may be able to provide at your event for your guests, in order that you can make the best informed choice:

Drawing Duplication

The performer will ask a guest to draw an image and the mind reader will then attempt to replicate the image that the guest has drawn. Even though it was drawn covertly.

Book Tests

Using any book, a word is selected randomly by the guest, from the millions of words inside, and the mind reader will attempt to deduce the word or phrase that the guest is thinking of.

Influence

The mind reader may influence one or more guests to think of certain numbers or words. Even though the answers will feel like completely free choices, the performer will be able to demonstrate that he had, in fact, implanted them via some form of prediction.

Amnesia

After having the participant memorise a symbol or word, the mind reader will then attempt to wipe that symbol or word from that person's mind. Sometimes the thought may disappear completely, at other times it will be sufficiently altered.

These are but a few broad categories that give you a basic idea of what to expect from a psychological mind reader who attends your event. I myself perform a few things that are beyond this basic list. However, I feel it is important to keep the list as generic as possible in order to encompass what the vast majority of mind readers will be performing.

At the time of booking always feel free to ask the performer what is included in his performance repertoire. Most likely the material will fall into one of the four categories above.

In Closing

You should now have a more realistic view of what a mind reader can offer at your event. Live mind readers may not have the capability of television tomfoolery, but the minimal difference in the abilities demonstrated are more than made up for by being there in person. People just love to see mind reading with their own eyes and experience it first hand.

If you want to discuss any of these points then feel free to get in touch via my Twitter account @PaulBrookSays or through my website:

http://www.PaulBrook.co.uk

How Would You Spend Your Last Hour?

2012-02-09T09:20:00.003Z

Are you looking for some wedding entertainment?

Try a psychological Mind Reader - http://www.PaulBrook.co.uk