Derren browns hypnosis and showmanship tactics to manipulate others

[Lesandwilma]

Can this actually be done or is it all some kind of scam?
Me and the wife were talking about this and this reminded me that i once seen derren brown in a building and was watching people walking away and would tell them to turn around and they did, this has to be part of the show as no one has mastered telepathy yet so this had to have been a scam.
Does anyone know of any of his techniques that work and if so is there a dvd or book you could recommend?

[erin-x]

I love Derren Brown and don't think anything he does is a scam. He has a recommended reading list on his site if you wanted to have a look... http://derrenbrown.co.../recommended-reading/ :)

[albalass]

was it the same show that he got everyone in a shopping mall to stop and put their arm in the air at the same time? i think he's absolutely brilliant. i've seen him live a few times and left me speachless. i love him.

[hc4361]

Derren Brown is a master of his craft and I love his shows.
I believe he does not use stooges and would suggest in the example you give there was some kind of trigger the people saw - a poster, a person in costume, a piece of music, etc that made people look back.

I am a big fan of Derren and appreciate the way he denounces charlatans and explains 'how it is done'.

[albalass]

i agree hc, i used to go to mediums and tarot card readers. after seeing one of derren's shows on these scams i've never spent another penny on it. seeing a master at work and how they were all falling over themselves to get him involved in their extortion really opened my eyes.

[Lesandwilma]

Well he certainly has many books out which i couldn't afford all but will have fun going through the list, you are most kind erin-x.
No albalass if my memory serves me correct he was in an office building on the 3rd floor or so watching workers going by i think.
Hc4361 from the little of him i've seen he does appear to be honest and very good at what he does which he clearly says is illusion and tactics so no otherworldly magic.

[Maydup]

Derren Drown is excellent at what he does, he is a first class showman; a modern day magician. He uses suggestion, persuasion and traditional trickery, but its up to you whether you call that "a scam". As far as I know he never pretends to be doing it for real.

[hc4361]

Lesandwilma, have you looked in your local library for his books?
Or eBay, Amazon etc?

[Lesandwilma]

Sorry scam was a a bad choice of a word, what i meant was does he have help to carry off his work or is it all him? Illusions especially large scale ones need many people to carry it off, remember David Copperfield making the Statue of Liberty disappear?

[hc4361]

albalass, I am SO pleased you have 'seen the light'.
Take comfort from your memories of loved ones, they are your most treasured possessions.

[Lesandwilma]

No hc4163 i've never used ebay or amazon though i've heard of them plenty and the local library was closed down a year ago so looks like i need to order online. What has ebay or amazon got that other online bookshops lack?

[erin-x]

Did you watch his new show last night? The Assassin? From looking at the assassination of Robert Kennedy and how the guy who shot him cannot remember anything about the shooting at all, he decided to see if he could take a member of the public and hypnotise him to shoot Stephen Fry. It was amazing.

[hc4361]

eBay and Amazon sell 2nd hand books - it is far easier to browse them than trawl through charity or 2nd hand bookshops :)

[hc4361]

I am a big fan of David Blaine too, but accept he uses a lot of trickery to produce a good show.

Derren Brown doesn't - what you see is what you get.

[Lesandwilma]

No unfortunately i missed it but remembered it being advertised which spurned this question erin-x, i may have to catchup on the net at some point.
Hc4163 well i'll certainly look into it, thanks for the tip and thank you all for your time and interesting answers.

[hc4361]

Les, did you watch his Seance show?
I found it fascinating and grounding.

[sir.prize]

Here are lots of episodes you can watch

http://www.channel4.c...periments/4od#3242945

[rosyposy]

The episode you missed was the first of four shows, the next one is next Friday,at 9pm on Ch.4 and he sets himself up as a game show host to see if we are all capable of evil when part of a group, sounds as good and thought provoking as The Assassin was last night.I agree, he is amazing.