So what do you do when you are doing a mentilist routine. You nail the performence and afterwords they look you straight in the eyes and go "Ok, so you can do that, what am I thinking of". I usually stare deep into their eyes and just go "Eww, why would you think of that". WHat do you do?

Usually I do one like that - "Stop picturing me naked!"
Or I'll tell them that it has to be directional like think of a number (then do a swami revelation)
Both go over pretty well.

Start singing a tv theme song- Like Sesame Street, Batman or Southpark

The overused "I am not getting anything, just a constant pinging."

The "stop trying to picture me naked"

"Yes you can buy me a round of drinks"

"No I wouldnt look good in spandex or leather"

"Oh, thats naughty" but say naughty with a strong accent 'Knot-Tie'

Just a few I have thrown out there.

i would read your mind except there is nothing in it....

or go into another short metalism effect and "read their mind again", that should get them to be quiet

I have two lines I have had success with.

Either, "If I said what you were thinking right now, you would be arrested..." and then very quickly move on.

Or...

I say, "You sure... Alright... I will try. But first you have to think about something other than elevator music..."

I know both are lame, but I use them all the time.

I'll say:
"Okay, tell me when you get one and then we'll talk"

Turn to their spouse and say " I don't think your that ugly"

"Focus, You are thinking that I can not really read your mind and that I will never get this right".


As always,
Dylan

"This guy really can't know what I'm thinking." I've used that one with some success. Lately though, since I'm moving more towards comedy, I've actually gently kicked the person's foot and said they were thinking "What the edited."

That has happened to me a couple of times as well. Then I went back to reading Banachek's Psychological Subtleties, chapter 7 entitled subtle numbers. And it gives a really great mentalism routine where YOU let the spectator(s) attempt to read YOUR mind.

It's pure genius and has worked for me about 95% of the time. If you want a better description on the patter, which doesn't expose the secret, let me know and I'll help to describe the routine in great detail if needed.

So right after I write down the numbers I'm thinking of, and then have THEM read my mind, has freaked people out sometimes. They are then left there scratching their heads wonder, "Now how in the h*ll did I just read his mind?!"

They'll remember that mentalism effect for a longtime to come, which can or cannot be said when you, the Magician, attempts to read the spectators mind instead.

Give it a try, I hope it works and good luck.

All I here is elevator music.

I like using the classic, "A mind is not like an open book..." line.

Ask them to think of a number between 1 and 3.

I'd maybe do one of two things (though usually I make it quite clear that I'm not a mind-reader):
1) Say "I can't read your mind but I can tell you what the next thing you're going to say is"
"what's that?"
"Nope, that's not it" (usually results in a victory for you... cause either they start to say "no" and you win, or they say nothing and look confused, and you win again)
2) Say "don't think of a black cat"
then pause and say "you're thinking of a black cat" before they can respond

........elavator music

I don't understand... are you saying that you tell them that they are thinking of elevator music? What's the point in that? Or are you simply implying that my post, or someone else's post was bad?