“Alex McAleer is one of my favourite mentalists. He knows more about presenting entertaining mentalism for real world audiences than almost anyone else I know.” – Ian Rowland
“It’s hard to find your own voice in mentalism without sounding like you’re trying to copy Derren Brown but you succeeded splendidly.” – Martin S Taylor (the Hypnotist who inspired Derren Brown)
“Again Alex proves how to construct and present contemporary mentalism.” – Marc Spelmann
“Alex’s Head Wired manages that rare feat: material that’s both very creative and very practical.” – Oliver Meech
What will he teach?
In this Penguin Virtual Lecture, Alexander Marsh teaches you some of the close-up and strolling mentalism that he has been using and developing for the past 10 years.
ESP Match & Tarot- First he’ll teach his simple and elegant solution to the five-for-five ESP match effect. You put down your card before the spectator every single time, and at the end you have a perfectly matching row of symbols.
Plus he’ll share a strolling variation that doesn’t require a table, and how this simple technique can take on a new meaning when applied to Tarot cards.
Business Card Peeks- Alexander is known for his billet work and has developed multiple ways to gain information over the years, here he teaches you multiple ways to use nothing more than a stack of business cards and a pen to reveal almost anything.
Drawing Duplication- Plus he reveals his preferred way to perform the classic of Mentalism that is the drawing duplication. This is ideal for casual settings as it perfectly motivates the drawing and allows the performer to start revealing the image before it’s even drawn by the spectator.
Automatic Drawing- Sticking with the theme of drawings, Alex reveals a simple and practical way to have a spectator draw an unknown image, without them ever knowing how they did it. No stooging or pre-show required, and can be used for stage or close-up.
The Mentalist At The Card Table- This is Alex’s close-up version of his stage routine ‘Never Play Cards with a Mentalist’ as featured in his previous Penguin Live Act. Alex combines easy to master techniques and just a pack of cards, Alex proves his ability to predict and influence a spectator’s thought, read their mind of a single card, and demonstrates his super power memory. He ends by showing the spectators latent super power memory skills too.
Blind Reading- Finally, because he couldn’t resist sharing a stage routine, Alex shares an impressive mind reading routine that involves ten or more members of the audience, each having their mind read in a direct manner, while the Mentalist is blindfolded on stage. This routine uses nothing more than your own mind and a common mentalism item – Alex even shows you how to make it in next to no time.
Who is he?
Alexander Marsh is the pen-name of professional mentalist Alex McAleer, who has been a working performer since 2007.
Under his pen-name, Alex has written several books including ‘Hybrid Mentalism’ and ‘Head Wired’, he has lectured at the prestiges Magic Circle, and contributed to several other mentalism publications including works by Jerome Finley, Elliott J. Bresler, and Banachek.
As well as performing at the usual private parties and corporate events, he has made countless television appearances around the world including ITV’s Good Morning Britain (UK), Seven Network’s Today Tonight (Australia), and NBC’s Access Hollywood (USA). In 2019 Alex appeared on BBC’s Blue Peter, the worlds longest running children’s television program.
In 2014 Alex took his one-man show to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and three shows to Australia’s Perth Fringe World Festival in 2016 and 2017 where he was nominated for the cabaret award. In 2014 Alex started touring extensively with the ensemble illusion show ‘Champions of Magic’ completing 6 UK tours including a run in London.
