Magic is sleight of hand. Mentalism is sleight of brain!

Do you believe I can read your mind? I don't know what you think, but I learned how you think. Did you tell him the name you're thinking of? I didn't tell anybody. It's Smalley. Really? You son of a gun. I perform a lot and they say there's no crowd in the world you can't beat after you perform for Israelis because Americans come to enjoy the show, Israelis come to figure it out. >> None of your business, Oshi. None of your business, Michael. It's the None of Your Business Podcast hosted by Michael and Oshi. Welcome back everybody to another magical episode of the None of Your Business Podcast. I'm your host Michael Greenfield. With me, of course, is co-host Oshi Schwartz. And today we have an amazing human being, a mentalist, someone who already knows what this podcast is going to be all about. So I'm not even sure why we're doing it. Michael Sayman, everybody. Welcome to the program. >> Thank you for having me. Well, I I uh I know what's going to happen, but they don't, so uh >> So we might as well do this. >> Yes. We just do it. We do it for the people. >> We're going to pack it in. Of course, we thank all our subscribers, our listeners, the comments. We've been growing, Oshi. Every episode is growing more and more and more and it's directly in theme with who we are and what our podcast is about and that's growth-oriented personally and professionally. We're we're doing something right. >> Yeah. Yeah, I'm loving it. It's great. We're learning a lot on the podcast, meeting a lot of cool people, and people are along for the journey, so it's fantastic. >> Yeah, we appreciate all of our listeners and subscribers and this podcast is sponsored by PrimeSource. And of course, those of you know, it's a PrimeSource production, the None of Your Business Podcast. And if you want to see your nursing home or assisted living facilities costs magically disappear, contact someone in PrimeSource and we'll be there for you. You like that? >> You're going to run with this magical thing all day, aren't you? >> That's It's magically delicious. >> That's the second time we did >> Yes, I'm excited. We actually have some people in the audience today that are real big fans and aspiring magicians and mentalists, so uh it's amazing to see you and thank you so much for joining us again. We met in Israel. And when we met, you're not you're not aware of this that you had just done something you know you fooled someone that we knew like an hour before. And I was watching the video and I like oh my god this guy is great and I'm with my friend Joe and suddenly we see you and I like you got to do this all over again. >> I think I think I'm very aware just because I'm aware to all of these details. I've done it on Rabbi Lawrence. >> Rabbi Lawrence, that's right. That's right. >> go. It's >> And his son Moshe Simcha and then you did it on Joe Sutton who was with me and uh >> You'll be surprised how many how many people I I actually remember. I remember faces really really well. I don't always remember names. But I remember locations where I met them, how and things like that. So it's like when you say I met you, I know exactly who I met that day. >> Yeah, I'm curious. I have so many questions and also one of the things I did this time is I asked our audience what questions they would have for you and we selected the top few questions that they gave us. I did this through status. I didn't do it through any other social media platform, but I got a lot of responses. One of the questions that's hitting me right now is what is the craziest response you ever got from someone that you did a trick on? >> Um street stuff or stage stuff? >> Any anything. Tell me anything. >> I think the most there's like the most moving ones and the most enjoyable ones for people to watch on on social media. >> Yeah, tell me both. I'm curious. >> Uh I think the most special one was when I had people when I have people cry. It's so deep, so emotional, so like special, something that relates to let's say a a dead person they thought of or something happened because they thought of someone like that. Um and they they literally start crying and it's like me as as the performer I'm like oh my god, I just moved someone and I think that's very, very special as a performer." Um and then there is of course the ones that I just love when people go crazy. They just run away. They they're like, "Oh my god." Some people like they curse they curse they cursed. It's like the end of the video is like beep beep beep beep beep, you know, it's like it just doesn't end and I I absolutely love it. >> That's great. That's it. You know you did a good job. >> Yes, for sure. >> We have a little segment by the way called ChatGPT says what about you. >> All right. >> Have you ever done a ChatGPT on yourself? >> Um no, but I don't know if ChatGPT knows me enough, but let's go. >> You know, what do you What do you think it's going to say about you? If you had to guess one thing, what would ChatGPT say about you? >> Um I'm not sure. I don't I don't know cuz I I I have a It's funny cuz I know it but times what people would say about me, but >> You know what I'm thinking, right? >> Like a machine would know, you know, right? >> You know how people work. You don't know how machines work. Okay, I like that. So, you started doing magic at 10. >> Mhm. >> The age that most kids are discovering sports, you're discovering psychological warfare. >> Mhm. >> That's the first thing that ChatGPT says. >> Okay, that's not >> accurate? >> bad. Not bad. I started when I was nine. >> Nine? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Uh and I actually I started naturally as a mentalist, got into magic as a result. And only after two, three years in magic, I was I was directed back into mentalism mentalism. I was told, "You could do proper mentalism. Why don't you do that?" And that's where I shifted back into proper mentalism. >> I'm going to love learning the difference between magic and mentalism and so on. >> Definitely. >> When you were nine, just real quick, what was your first thing you did? How did this come to you? >> So, I basically I got into, you know, this there's a very simple trick where you put down four cards, four card like rows of four. Then you ask people to choose a card and then you say what row is it in and then you collect them, you spread them the opposite way. So, that way the cards cross, right? >> It's a process of elimination. You're able to know this one and then you know that one then you know what card it is, right? Every kid learns it that way. >> And I didn't know that's how it was done in the beginning and I was able to do that immediately. Just they looked at a card, was able to look at the room and just at the person thinking of the card and was able to tell him what card they were thinking of. Um and only then I learned it was a trick. There There was a trick to it but I was doing it with a with proper mental of just like looking at people. Of course I wasn't as good as I am today. He uh he developed a lot. I always say it's like being musical. Um It's like a uh uh the fact that you're musical doesn't make you Mozart, right? You need to study notes, you have to study uh rhythm, you have to study many many things in order to perfect the talent or the ability you already have. It's not just like oh one day I get up and I'm able to read people. So it's >> That's pretty cool. So you think you let I mean you know that you have a like a natural inclination of reading people and you knew that at a young age and you adapted that and built on your skills. >> I I didn't know that like 100%. I was like okay, I assume that's how you do magic and it naturally pulled me into the how do people react to the to it, how cool it is. Um and slowly slowly I shift like I got into magic because of it. I didn't know the difference between mentalism and magic. I was like oh magic mentalism I didn't know what's mentalism. >> How would you define in one sentence the difference between magic and mentalism? >> I would say magic is slight of hand, uh making you let's say uh if I do uh let's say uh I do that, right? So many people would naturally look where I look, right? So I'm I'm getting you to look a certain place or when something else happens in a totally different place. >> Distraction. >> Right? Um and then mentalism I would say it's more like uh magic of the brain. So it's how you think, what you think, influencing you to think a certain way. Um That's in like two words. >> Okay. Okay, perfect. I love that. Uh he doesn't read minds, he just stares into your soul until your childhood secrets volunteer themselves. Wow, so before we started, you did ask a sheer question, right? And like uh we'll get to that soon. And I'm thinking that you can uh you can embarrass people sometimes, I guess, right? Does that happen? >> I had situations, yes, that happened on stage where I asked people to uh You could cut this out, by the way, if it doesn't fit the podcast, but I asked someone to think >> the podcast. >> a think of the name of a name they uh their first crush, their first love. It actually happened again like 2 3 weeks ago, and happened to be same gender. And it was very tricky how to reveal it or not to reveal it, because when I asked them what's the name you're thinking of, they said a different name. They said a uh uh uh It was a woman, she said a male's name. But I for sure saw a female's name. Like I was for sure I was sure that was the name. Um so it was very tricky how to reveal it. I said uh But you actually thought of a different name as well. Um that was maybe your second love or something like that. I'll just show you. If it is, agree or don't agree to uh disagree, like if to show the audience. Then I showed it to her. They were like completely in shock. I put it down, and we kept going. >> So no one knows? >> No one knows, but it was uh >> That's unreal. >> That is scary stuff. You were so confident that you told her >> Mhm. >> quietly, right? What it was, because it's it's fascinating. >> usually I'll there's two two ways I'll reveal stuff. Sometimes I'll I'll write something down, I'll show to the audience, and I'll reveal it before they say the answer. So what's the name you're thinking of, for example. And then sometimes I'll I won't show it to the audience, and I'll say what's the name you're thinking of, and then I'll reveal it only after they say. So it depends also how sure I am or what's the age of the crowd. So for example, when I do Pesach programs or things like that, you have many kids in the audience, and it's very different to the corporate events I do. So, when I do a corporate event, I know when I'll show something, no one is yelling the name, "Oh, it's uh Right." Right? Um but when you deal with kids, only you need to be aware of a kid is going to yell before he says the name, you ruin the >> divulge it. Yeah. >> Another another question we got asked from one of our audience members is one of our fans, I should say, is did you ever really get it wrong and like mess up and you're like, "Oh my god." Like, what was that like for you? >> Yes. First of all, it happens. It happens uh not as much nowadays, but I feel that first of all, the the the you know, the excitement of being able to to be wrong is very exciting. It's like it's like uh some people go get their adrenaline jumping off of cliff, I take the risk of messing up on stage. Um I think in the beginning I used to be very nervous about being wrong. But slowly slowly you realize that you it's much First of all, I have no problem saying, "Oh, I was wrong." if I was wrong. Uh and the second thing is if I I'm trying to think. Me- Base Like I'll I'll There There is a tricky thing where sometimes magicians do it a lot, mentalists do it as well, where you do as if you have like a mistake and it's a dip, right? And then you basically recover and you get it right. Now it's much stronger than before cuz you had that dip. >> Almost makes it look like it was a part of the act. >> So, at this point, meaning after years of of performing, I learned that the performance is many times about making it look like there's a dip or things like that. And that's much stronger, the effect is much stronger. With that said, you could actually get it wrong, you know? And you mess up. >> if somebody like lies to you? Like they're just being very stubborn and you know that you just probably the name they told. >> question by the way. >> And then the person just says no, it was that's wrong. How do you prove How do you prove it? >> I perform a lot I performed a lot in Israel and I still do and I I travel a lot back and forth and they say there's no crowd in the world you can't beat after you performed for Israelis because they're they're smart. They're they're not like smart they're they're very direct they're very they try they Americans come to enjoy the show. >> Yeah. >> Uh Israelis come to figure it out. Which is totally fine but they they come and they try fooling you as well so you need to learn how to uh uh perform in that way so it's like let's say uh I'll ask someone to think of a name they think of a name I'll tell them okay usually I won't ask you to write it down or anything but then I'll ask you to just write it down on a big board. Now they can't change their mind. Even if it's even if they want to change their mind and say 1 2 3 we both turn it over. >> Yeah. >> I uh so that's ways ways you figure out how to deal with different crowds. >> Love that. Chat GPT doesn't have that much to say I guess yet but there are two more things that are interesting. Corporate gigs love you. >> Mhm. >> That's what it's saying. Nothing bonds executives like publicly being outsmarted by a man in a hat. So uh tell me about your corporate gigs. Also another great question that we've gotten which is what was your biggest performance ever that you've done so far and what are you dreaming of? What's that one performance that you're saying I want to do X Y and Z? >> Um So I'll start with the first one. Why why why corporate why corporate events and why people love it and I do know that I'm doing a good job is I love personalizing my show. I really really take the time to personalize my show even when it's not a corporate event. I do like let's say it's a birthday party I'll make it about the person that's having the birthday party. When it's a corporate event I'll make it about the company so let's say they have their the name of the company they have a certain values the company goes by. Let's say they have um I don't know certain products or certain things or when I am see an event they have certain pieces of information they want to bring up and make them not boring. Uh so that's where I would say I shine where even other performers, other mentalists, or other magicians aren't able to do it the same way that I do it um because I really make it about the client and it's not about me, it's about them. Uh so that's the first thing. The second thing is you ask what's the biggest crowd or what's the biggest stuff? Um I performed for crowds over 2,000 people. Um smallest crowd I ever performed at was uh I think uh four people. >> You got paid? Corporate event, yes? Really? >> Corporate event, four people. Um all four of them they landed with a helicopter. They had a dinner with a chef. And I performed and base I didn't even know that I wasn't able to get any information beforehand or anything about who am I performing to. I thought >> Where was this? >> It was in in um how do you call it? In In Tiberia, Tiberias in uh in up north. >> It was a very they had like a whole like kibbutz type of uh day like on their helicopter then they came they had like a chef and me. It was like a very uh >> Obviously very high-end people and uh they probably wanted to have discussions. They didn't give you any real information. >> Yeah, for sure. But I I have many many clients like that I can't really talk about or things like that that are more like VIP. You fly into a secret island, you perform, you >> land, you take a boat, you perform >> You've actually done that? You've you've you've landed >> I've done I've done weird stuff like that. >> What's the craziest thing? Like you're saying already things that are shocking me like so being able to >> Uh I'm trying to think like of a a place that I've done. I've done a place in Turkey. I flew in Turkey. That wasn't That wasn't like a border or anything, but it was just like a very specific experience. I had I had an experience actually with a chef from Bahrain where I met in in Tel Aviv in Kempinski Hotel, which of course it's owned by their family. The their family. >> that. >> So, it is. >> Yeah, wow. >> And then I met him again here in New York. And whatever, there's like certain certain set of settings and certain things where it's like, "Oh, it's me and my wife would love to have like a dinner and performance with you." Or stuff like that. It's like really weird situations and I love it. It's like it makes you really think, "Okay, so I have this really weird situation. I need to perform in front of like 100 people, 200, 1,000, two whatever it is." And then it's like suddenly >> Wow. >> It's a It's a weird It's a weird experience, but I love it. >> Do you have a dream of doing a larger audience? Is that something you think about? >> Um it's a tricky it's a tricky one because I love love love the small events. I love like 30, 40, 50 people events. And I also love the huge events, but they're very very different when you're very different. When you perform on a big stage you basically uh uh it's it's a show that you're you can't expect any any any interactions, right? You're far away from the audience. Even though I do run to the audience, I bring people out, I do things with the whole audience, but it's not the same as when you're sitting in a room and someone just next to you is like, "No, no, do this. Why that?" You know, it's like it's very it's uh it's it's very different. >> Yeah. >> Of course. >> It's a Yeah. >> I'm curious. Another great question we got here, and this is actually I believe from Rabbi Lawrence. I don't know if I'm supposed to give away who's asking the question, but I I I I don't think he'll mind. Um you know, there are two other I'm going to say other, you're in that group, popular mentalists that are out there right now making some noise along with you, of course. Uh Lior Suchard and Oz Pearlman. What, if anything, is different from you and them? And how are they different from each other and you? Um I think they're both much older than me. They're both uh 43 or 44. 40 I think they're both 43. >> I'm 28. >> Oh, wow. >> So, I'm much younger than not much younger than I look, but I am younger than many times what people assume. >> Yeah, you carry yourself uh little older than that. It's a compliment. It's a maturity. Yeah. >> Israelis, they Yeah. Like very experienced, you know, with a lot of stature, like happens and you start doing it. Start traveling and doing what what I do. But um what I would say would be the big difference, probably um I wouldn't say they're old-fashioned. They're amazing and I love their work and I and I know them personally. I know Lior more than uh Oz personally. Um I think each one has their style as well. I don't think I'm either of them. I think I'm a combination of both. I have like a little bit of each one and I and there's definitely even to how and what we do. So, I see a difference in how we perform and what we do. Um but I would say I'm I love social media and it's it's another part. I know that if I wouldn't be doing what I do, I would still do social media. And I found that for me, a connection with live people is the the like most fascinating thing and fun thing that I could do to myself. Of course, course publicity and you grow and whatever, but I I really found that at some point I start performing and you find yourself performing on stages every other night or whatever and you just you don't have the same interactions you used to have in the beginning where it's just it's it's as as pure as it gets. And at some point I spoke to my team one of them said, "Why don't you just do the street stuff again and whatever?" I said, "Sure, I would love to. Let's let's do it." And we made it happen. And since then I've been like really like I I love doing it because of the connection you can really connect to people on the street. You go out, you do it. "Do you believe I could read your mind?" My my favorite line. People will come up to me on the street. "Do you believe I could read your mind?" And I'm like, "Yes." I I I made sure that it stuck. And uh And and and the connection you really connect with so many different people. If you go on my on my Instagram, you just scroll. Every single video could be like Jewish, non-Jewish, white, black, uh uh um from every culture. It's absolutely amazing to experience as a person. >> I'm really happy for you. This is a great life to live connecting with people every day. I mean, if you you mentioned a minute ago you love social media. So I'm assuming that would mean that if you weren't doing this, you'd be doing something in marketing. >> Um I used to do real estate. >> Oh. >> Before I even done mentalism full-time, I used to do it. Basically, I do mentalism since I'm a kid, but I used to do real estate in Israel. And I went to study business specializing in real estate and construction. So basically, that was my path. That was what I'm I was doing. I dealt with construction. Um and then at some point basically COVID time, that was a a blessing for me. And everyone was stuck at home, started posting things on social media randomly. Then things started exploding. Had many many requests for like Zoom shows and things like that. And I was like, "You know what? Let's give it a try." And things or are different since then. >> Let's go down that road of your past because, you know, now that we know how old you are I see you have a ring on your finger, so you're married? >> I am. >> Beautiful. How What's your relationship like? How do you live with someone who pretty much knows what you're thinking? How do you, like, you know, keep secrets? How do you How do you navigate that? That's got >> does she keep secrets? >> How does she keep secrets? Exactly. That's what I meant. Sorry. I just like what's the what's It's got to be annoying that someone always has all the answers and, you know, always knows everything. >> this before, by the way, people who marry like therapists. Like, "Oh, don't don't over-therapy me, you know?" This must be 10 times crazier, like >> not your patient, you know? I'm your wife. >> what you're thinking. >> Yeah. >> So, first of all, it's the best for her. I just sit on the couch. She's like, "Wash the dishes." And I'm like, "I run No, I don't." It would be great. No, but she's she's First of all, my wife, she's amazing. She she does so much with me and and for me. We travel a lot together. And I don't think she expected to do this journey with me. We did have a kid 8 months ago. >> Oh, that's awesome. >> Many, many things shifted. Now, I'm based here in the US. I live in the city. >> I was like, I want to do a little mentalist on you right now. >> Go for it. >> I'm going to guess if it was a boy or a girl cuz you didn't mention it. You didn't say anything, but I'm going to do based on what you said and like in your body language, you had a girl. >> I did not. It was a 50/50. It was a 50/50. >> You're a day job. Oh, my god. Please. >> You know why I said that? You know why I said it was a girl? That was my guess because most time people have a boy, they say, "Oh, I recently had a boy." And when they have a girl, they say, "I recently had a kid." It's just it's strange. It happens a lot that way. People say they had a kid and it's typically a girl. >> So, one of the things you need to be aware of that is First of all, I I'm originally from Israel, so my first language language is I did speak English at home as a first language, but I grew up in in an Israeli culture. And mentalism in general, you need to remember it's it it's a lot I I don't know what you think, but I learn how you think. So, how do you how you'll respond to certain things, how you'll do certain things. Um and the funny thing about it is that different cultures have different uh gestures for different things. For example, this means thumbs up, yes, okay, right? You'll go Iran, this is bad, it's no go, right? Or uh I don't know, for example, uh personal space, right? Personal space in uh here people have lots of space when they talk to each other. Different cultures are much closer. Then you'll have other things. Let's say uh smiling. Smiling is a good thing. Russia, it's not a good thing. It's it means much more intimate, right? Or handshakes. So much to do with handshakes. How uh uh what does it mean? Or let's say in in like people really really judge how strong you give a firm handshake. Do you both hands? Do you put your hand on the elbow? How do people react? So, Americans, they properly they give a proper handshake, right? In Arab cultures, uh many times it means like I want to be in more like power or stuff like that. So, you need to be very careful not to go for your like very firm handshake. And to be aware that body language also changes with different cultures. So, in one culture uh let's say uh staring at someone, it like we feel many times it's like I'm honest and I speak the truth because I'm staring at you and whatever. But then you go to Asian countries and staring at someone means rude or uh disrespectful to certain things. So, many things that change in different cultures. You got to perform in a different country, things could be totally different and you have to be aware of it if you don't want to >> So, you have to study all this. You have to learn all the different things. >> to say I'd love to learn more. Give me some more of that. I mean, these are great examples. I mean, >> For sure. >> It's good to know. I'm saying like, you know, >> know. You want to apply to become a mentalist uh soon? >> No, I just want to know I just want to know if I can visit Russia. >> But it definitely definitely helps in business. I think helping in business with like learning a lot about mirroring and things how people react or how to behave when to make the sale or what to do. I had a few companies that when I was brought in to perform, they said, "We want you to perform, but would you be able to help us with like the marketing team or or explain to the marketing more things about like how to answer, what to say, how not to say, how to behave." >> Can you tell us something? I'd love to hear what you like. >> So, I find one thing that I I love and it's very it's much easier to understand as an example. So, for example, we all say, "Oh, so if someone's doing this, it means they're closed and whatever." So, it it is true many times. You need to be aware also of the weather. >> arms are folded if their arms are folded, yeah. >> They're closed or they like they cover themselves or whatever. Um but let's say you sit in a meeting or or like in an interview and then the person across is closed. But as the conversation goes along, they do open themselves like to the conversation and then you realize that they're still closed like they're they're because they're not going to like suddenly move, right? They're they're shy or whatever. Um and the the way you'll react with your body makes a difference on how you'll receive things or respond, right? So, let's say they say before walking up on stage many times just stay in stand in a uh what do you call a Superman position gives it makes you naturally it convinces your brain to think that you're like you you how do you call it? You uh you have lots of space in the room, you're much more confident and then helps with the the uh with your presentation. So, you want to do that in business as well. So, for example, let's say you're if you do that, right? If you close close yourself for a second and then I have, let's say, a a conversation with you about like personal or in order for you to open and want to share something personal. Uh um and there's crazy statistics about it. Let's say uh a a waiter that would come to a table and would present himself with his own name, right? His his name, or give a a personal piece of information, he'll uh he'll get tipped like 80% more like 80% of the times he'll get tipped more than the uh than someone that just comes over and takes your order or does that. When you volunteer information, right? So, it's really important. So, well, I I'll tell someone uh I don't know. So, "Hey, my name is Michael." Yes. Oh, I I'm actually from there or voluntarily, right? And then I'll uh I'll crack some jokes or whatever. We'll have fun in the conversation, but I still see they're they're like naturally their bodies closed. I say, "Uh do you mind do you mind just uh passing me that pen for a second?" And then I'll I'll stay in a in a open position. And then when they come back, they'll usually they'll mirror me. So, that's like mirroring is really really important. Um so, there's many tricks like that that you could use in business and do I don't really do that so much in in like in in going and teach businesses that, but it's uh definitely something I think every person should definitely learn more about uh body language and how to uh have human interactions. There's very simple things that you could do that would change your entire life and interactions. >> Michael. I feel very similar talk. Remember that guy that was here? And he's, you know, very uh astute and very aware of people's body language, um and trying to maneuver a situation to stabilize it, you know? Uh he's reading people's temperature and he's reading, you know, and he's trying to see what how to approach it next. Mhm. And I understand that mentalism has got nothing to do with magic, right? This is all real, right? None of this is uh an illusion. None of this is a slight of hand. It's really an art form where you're developing the skill over time and how the human brain typically works and you're applying a lot of that logic to come up with the with the answers, right? And ultimately the the the craft of doing of doing mentalism is something that people can learn over time, right? It's something that you can you can teach someone else to do. They may not be very good at it and there's going to be different levels, but this is really just like, you know, a trade that you can you can teach. Almost like a detective. Like a detective. Like no one wakes up one morning and they become a very good detective. Over time you have experiences and you learn different things to look out for, right? Is that Am I Am I right? >> Yeah, so there there is like a bit of a difference. There's there is the natural part where you feel naturally, oh, I feel like a certain urge that something many times when you walk into a room or whatever and you see someone and they're sad or happy, um, you'll naturally be able to say, oh, they're happy or they're sad, right? And you won't necessarily know to explain what you're seeing, but you just know, right? Um, and I feel that I know to explain it. Like I know what are the tells that I'm looking for and whatever, so it's it's a lot about So, first of all, I do combine magic in what I do once in a while and I do and I do that because in the end of the story I am a I chose the the route of performing. So, it's not like, um, I could have gone to, I don't know, sit in meetings watching people and I had that many times offered to to just like, why don't you come and sit with me in the meeting, watch the other side, have like any any, uh, any like insight about the meeting, would they go lower, higher by with their price? And I would say that I never wanted to go to that direction cuz things could go really dark and weird and I always try being on the positive things. So, I would always I I always say I'm I'm on the positive things positive side of things. And um So, it's like making people happy and and laughing and performing. So, as a performer I would combine anything and everything I could in order to make my performance the best. So, I would combine magic if I need to or if I need to get out of a situation by the way. What we spoke about if I do mess up or something, many times I'll do a trick where I could switch something to make it look natural, but I'll actually use a trick. Um And is it something that everyone could actually learn and become? I think everyone could improve an ability to read people more like more of their body language, more of their expression, more of stuff like that. But, I would say that it it it took me like years and years and years to like perfect what I do. >> Yeah, I I don't mean to diminish you. >> Yeah, yeah, yeah, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, other people could probably do it also. >> like it's diminishing. I I just said the process. >> go-to move for a mentalist? I know like they can try to guess the name that you're thinking, they could try to guess the number that you're thinking. Uh they may even, you know, they'll get you to say something, you know, and then like what's the versatility of this? Like is it the same five six things that you can do over and over and that's your show? Or can you keep adding new creative things of >> So, first of all, my my show has maybe once or twice that I guess names. I don't usually Like I do guess names throughout and I just do it randomly, but my show is completely different than what you see on social media because I realized that when I start performing more and more posting more and more on social media, I realized that other people take your take your routines, take your content. And I see even famous people do that. And I realized that what do I care? I'll stick to my few things that I do post. And then when it comes to my show, my show is completely different and it's a few levels up, but it stays mine. And that's the experience you get that isn't the social media experience. It's the experience you get in my show. Um and to you asked something just before that. >> Do you keep adding new things? Like how do you come up with new material? >> So so like I said, I I specifically I I because I personalize my show for clients and things like that, I'm always thinking about how do I do something? Oh, there's a cup. What could I do with a cup? What could I do with that? What could I do with this? There's always like a constant thing. Let's say for guessing names and things like that. So if I tell you go back in time, go to your childhood, maybe first grade, second grade, third grade, and think of a person, right? So when I say that to an audience, so some people already have it, right? Some people are thinking about it that second or you could think of someone as well. But now just that it's fair, did did you tell them the name you're thinking of? >> I didn't tell anybody. >> Okay. Is there is there a way I could possibly know the name until you tell me the name? >> No, just to be clear for everybody that's watching this, you asked me before we started the podcast. >> you I told you cuz you're going to sit there. I want I want you to think of any any person. Now you thought of a name. >> Yes. >> Um could you think let's say of the amount of letters in the name, but don't say it out loud. Just think of the name. Don't don't do it with your fingers, otherwise it's not I got it. Behind your back. You got it? >> Yeah. >> Um Okay, I'm going to go like this. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. Thinking of a longer name, about six letters I would say. >> Should I answer? >> Yes, just to see that I'm even >> Tell you how many letters? >> If I'm right >> It's close. >> Okay. Uh Okay, I would go a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z. Um is there a u in the name? >> There is. >> There is, okay. Now you uh before thinking of that person you said maybe I'll go I'll think of someone else. I did. And and then you change your mind you then you you locked in on that person, right? That's why many times I'll tell people think of someone cuz it takes a really long time to think of someone. Yeah. So, you have someone. I'm going to go look at this A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z. Uh you're thinking of a male, is that right? Yes. Right? Now, uh >> He's in love with a male. >> No, no, it's not his first love. I don't think of someone from his from his a friend a friend from childhood. Let's say uh I'm I'm So, you did think of someone beforehand, right? >> Yes, I thought of someone for like a few seconds and then I changed it to someone else. >> I don't know. >> Well, cuz you said you shouldn't think of something so common. >> wasn't sure if the other person was really third grade first so that's why I I I decided >> know. It might It might be totally off, but I'm just I'm just trying my best. What's the name you're thinking of? >> Which one? The first one or the second one? >> No, the first you actually decided to go with. >> The one I decided to go with? >> Yes, Molly. Really? >> Ah, you son of a gun. >> Now, by the way, you were wrong because is this how you spell it? >> Yes. >> Because it's six letters. >> Oh, it is six? >> It is six. Now, now that's that's the that's that's why that's why that's why that's why that's the the risk I'm taking. So, for example, when you said no, I'm like no, but but I'm seeing I'm seeing six letters. Should I go for the six letters or should I try again and go for a different name? You see, I'm like live so I can Yes, and it's a and it's a risk. >> know the name of the first person that I was thinking of? >> Uh no, that's for the next podcast. >> That's exactly for the next podcast. Walk me through this. Like how does this happen? Like how is this possible? >> So, >> Because there's obviously hundreds and hundreds of names and there's uh many many names that have six letters. And what did I do? What did I say? Like how did you pick up on the cues to come up with this result? How how is this even possible? >> I'm fishing for information similar to when I tell it to think to count the count the numbers of letters or things like that. I see oh, you just had a pause. You just thought it is is it five or is it six? But I do know it is in the range of like five or six. >> How did you know that? >> It's in the range of five or six because the time it takes to someone that thinks of three letters. For example, if I have objects on the table, let's say I have three and two, right? Your brain could let's say five objects, my brain could combine three and two. It's like oh, three and two five. Or two and two four or I just see three. But once you go over five, there is let's say five or six. Now you start thinking. Let's say I have six, it's like wait. Oh, it's three and three or it's just the whole thing. It depends also different people would think differently. But let's say with something like that, that's like I see how long it takes to let's say you said if you would have said yes, I would say okay, you're thinking of a four three letter name. I know it's a short one. That's where I'm going for next. >> But that would narrow it >> Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure and there's like so many names like Michael. I'm seven letters, right? And then there is like certain letters that I'm able to see I I could sense a certain letter when I say the alphabet and things like that. >> out is there a letter U in there? What led you to ask me that? >> certain things you'll you'll gesture with certain names that I'll be able to do, right? To like certain letters would bounce out much more than other letters and things like that that I'll be able to work with. And then for example, I I also I do a lot of things with memory. You know, let's I I didn't plan on doing this. Let's let's do it for fun. I'm just out of challenge. Do you have your phone on you? >> I do. >> So, do you use ChatGPT a lot? >> Of course. >> We all use ChatGPT. We ask it questions, right? You asked me some questions in the beginning. >> Yes. >> Just for fun I'll I'll I I'll give an example to things I work and and try meaning the things I practice and I and I try learning more and more in order to be able to perfect my skill. So, for example, um I don't know, ask ChatGPT. Now, it's your chat ChatGPT, it's not mine. We can't possibly know what's the what it is it's going to answer, right? >> Right. >> Could you ask ChatGPT to give you, let's say, uh I don't know, 15 random objects? >> Okay. Give me 15 random objects. All right. >> Does it give you the 15 random objects? >> A rubber duck with trust issues. A slightly bent paperclip. >> Okay, so it gives you a it gives you the like a um uh like a an object and a and a little bit more about it. >> Exactly. >> So, let's narrow it down. Ask him to not give you like the just the object. >> It's using my uh you know, exactly how I how I behave. Exactly. I always ask it to give me more uh just the object, please. Sure. Okay, so 15 objects, just the object. We have paperclip, notebook, flashlight, bottle >> Okay, so before before you even say, so just just that it's fair, could you see anything in my ear I have don't have an ear piece, I don't have anything, no one's telling me anything, there's no like meta glasses or anything. I'm not >> Let's check under >> Yeah, definitely. By the way, I'M NOT BALD. I'M NOT BALD. I HAVE LIKE HAIR. >> THAT WEAR HATS YOU typically are hiding something. >> I know, but I'm not. I'm just uh >> Good for you. >> But by the way, my hat says uh what's on your mind. You can see there. >> Huh? >> Love it. >> And I didn't ask them to put this in. It was I bought it like this. >> Oh. >> And a few months in, I was like >> Oh, that's cool. >> What's on your mind? That's really really cool. So, I guess on my mind there is a hat. >> literally, you know? Yeah. >> So, now what we're going to do is just a little practice so people at home could do it as well. Um let's say uh they're going to say objects one at a time. I'm going to say okay, you're going to say the next one, you're going to say the next one. And then, I'm going to try just saying them back to you in the same order, for example. All right, so >> list? >> This list, why not? Random list. >> Have you done this before? Not of this list. >> I'll tell I'll tell you more about it in a second. No, any list again. >> Sure. So, what do you want to do? >> You're going to say them one by one, and I'm going to say next, you're going to say the next one, right? >> Okay, paper clip. >> Um okay. >> Notebook. >> Okay. >> Flashlight. >> Yes. >> Bottle cap. >> Okay. >> Key. >> One second, one second. We had a Okay, we had a bottle cap, and then we had a key, right? Okay, we had a key. >> Tennis ball. >> Okay. >> Pen. >> Yes. >> Coffee mug. >> Okay. >> Sunglasses. >> Mhm. >> Envelope. >> Okay. >> Charger. >> Yes. >> Wallet. >> Okay. >> Candle. >> Okay. >> Pocket knife. >> Um Okay. >> Stapler. >> Okay. Is that 15? >> Yep. >> There's no way. Okay. Now, this is pure as pure as it gets, just memory. I'm going to try. I might get stuck, and I only do it sometimes. I'm not as Okay. So, we started with a uh a paper clip. We had a book. We had a flashlight. We had a cap, right? We had a a key. We had a tennis ball. We had a a pen. We had a coffee coffee mug. Uh we had sunglasses. We had an envelope, we had a charger, we had a wallet. Um Is there any more? Yes, we had a um pocketknife >> Skipped one. >> What What was the one beforehand? >> candle >> A candle. Okay, had a pocketknife. We had a stapler maybe. >> That's it. >> That's it. All right. >> Wow, 14 for 15, that's pretty damn good. >> And technically I could do the opposite. So, we have a stapler, we have a pocketknife, we have a candle, we have a wallet, we have an envelope, we have a a charger, we have an envelope, um we'll have a uh Second, we had an envelope. Remind me there. >> sunglasses >> Sunglasses, we had a coffee mug coffee mug, we had a pen, we had a tennis ball, we had a um tennis ball, we had a key, we had a cap, we had a flashlight, we had a book, we had a paperclip. >> Wow. That's crazy. >> So, that's a skill that you've worked on your whole life to learn how to We have a game at home we like to call Mayor Schneider, where you go around the room and everybody picks a character and one person has to remember all the people and it's always fun for the one person to go around and remember all the names of people said could you come over and play Mayor Schneider with us cuz that would be fun. >> Definitely. >> I mean that that is very very cool. The fact that >> Is that something that you learned how to do or do you have photographic memory? >> So, I grew up By the way, this is something and and and I really want every kid in the world to know if I could help someone with that, I would love to. >> Uh, we have a couple in our audience today, so they're listening. >> In general, so So, I'll tell you I I as a kid I was I wasn't great at studying because I didn't know how to study. Wasn't I I every kid and anyone anyone and every kid uh could learn how to study. And if you study how to study, it would really, really help you. And I think in school we don't learn how to study. And there's also nowadays there is so many distractions, right? Our brain is not used to memorizing. You scroll on social media. Through video three videos down, you don't remember the the one the the the first one you watched, right? You're like, "What did I just watch?" And you you realize that your your brain learns how not to remember things. I could promise you as kids, you tell me if it's true. You grow up as kids, you probably knew, let's say, 10 or 15 phone numbers. Your parents, your siblings, maybe some friends you used to go to their moms or random things. It's natural training. Nowadays, you don't remember any of them. You you It's it's something that we we don't remember. And I met a friend that he told me, "Listen, you just need to start saying, 'I do remember.'" And it matters. Meaning, if you say, "I remember," and start thinking about like if once you say, "I don't remember anything. I just I can't That's That used to be me. I Oh, I just don't remember things." Um and you naturally give your brain the okay not to remember things. Then I started when he told me, he said, "Start saying uh uh I have a great memory. You don't have to go public about it, but you say, 'I have a great memory. Yes, of course I'll remember this. Of course.'" And you train your brain to actually remember things. Um I could probably do a list like that. I could probably say 100 objects as well. It's just learning how to remember things. There is like many, many books and many, many things about uh uh memory, memory games and things like that. And it's very different, let's say, numbers to uh to names or or phone numbers or things like that. Um so me with this ability of like memory and things like that, I could naturally Well, I'm bringing it back to Schmooley, it's like I have certain things I could naturally uh uh like I remember, oh, that means this, that means that. Like many many different gestures that help me with working a crowd and working different types of people. Let's say uh when I work with crowds, there is I would say 70% is about who I pick to what thing, right? So, I love before walk starting my show, many times you'll see me come to the room, many times I'll take my hat off just that no one knows I'm even there, just stand in the room and I watch the crowd. I watch the people come in, I watch the people sit. How do they sit? Who How do they interact? Would it be a person that goes like uh uh crazy or is a person that's I'm going to say Schmooley and he's going to be like, oh, wow, right? You need You need a crowd you because it's happening in their brain, you want to see who's going to work with you and what type of uh uh uh response you'll get. >> Yeah. >> So, suddenly when you start performing, you realize that a lot of it is about who you pick and how you do things rather than what you do. >> Yeah, that makes sense. >> You guys can tell me if I'm going to uh uh >> So, your message for kids, I'm just repeating this again, is when you're studying, mhm, you're saying to repeat to yourself, I have good memory, I will remember everything I'm studying. >> Yes, just just to believe you really you really remember like I have great memory memory and I'll be able to remember. Um >> It's a great tip if it works. I mean, it sounds like a good idea. My seventh grade teacher, Mr. Ostrov, used to tell us, use the same pen. And studies show if you use the same pen, it'll help you mem- memorize what you're doing. >> Interesting. >> uh yeah, but because he said it, I made sure not to use the same >> But you still remember his name. >> him, Michael. It's not so much like the tip of uh telling yourself and that's like a a way to remember, it's more about giving yourself confidence. >> Yeah, confidence, but I think >> talking yourself and and and willing yourself that you're able to overcome and that'll will you to actually be able to get it done versus being your own cynic and being and telling your brain that ah, you're not going to get it together anyway, and that's just how it reacts, and that's what it knows, that's what you're training it to do. >> So so and I think it translates to many many different areas. I used to do uh martial arts for about 12 years. I used to do martial arts for like for a really long time, and one thing that also one of my teachers taught me, he said, "When you watch your opponent, you want to watch their face more than you watch their hands and legs, right? Once you see their leg, it's too late too late. Um if you'll watch their face, you could see much more like what they're about to do according to how they'll react. And it's something also just training certain memory like muscle muscles, and and knowing how to you not you you they call it uh how do you call it um muscle memory, where you just naturally know what to do. It's like it's it's too fast to think, you just know naturally what to do. >> So what belt did you get up to, by the way? >> I was black. >> You were black? >> Black. It's it's it translates to black in the in Israel. No, in the normal martial arts uh uh things. >> I was going to say, in Israel it's yellow, here it's black. >> It's a new cup wear. It's a Brazilian martial arts, but it's not an official martial art that goes into uh into uh into the Olympics, for example, cuz there's too many like groups, they never managed to create one group of of that martial arts in order to have like >> Wow. >> a proper like uh whatever. Um So what I wanted to say is that I I used to train kids. I used to train kids and and adults, and one of the things I really really believe in is that a kid needs to like the confidence he just has by knowing he could do something mhm um makes them able to do it. I used to have kids, I used to tell them, "Okay, do this, do that." They're like, "Oh, I can't I I can't I can't." And then they just they they shut it down, and like they actually can't because they say I can't. But when you train your brain into like Okay, I break it into little many many steps, and you and you many times by teaching I could teach something without even telling you what's the end goal, right? So it's like, just do this. Amazing. Could you do that? Yes, now do this and then do that. And then do this and do that and then do that. Meaning, they slowly slowly build something and they're like, oh, I just did that. >> They surprise themselves. They don't even realize >> But it's it's just like learning how to break the process for for them. Whatever. But we we went into a totally different like area, but any Meaning, those are things that I also that helped me a lot with what I do and how I do. >> Yeah. >> Let's uh Let me ask you something. Do you have like an off button? Like for me and Michael, we come to the office and we work 9:00 to 5:00, right? 5:00 we go home and we do whatever we're doing. That's it, right? You're like working all the time because your whole persona is you. Like this is your your core being. You're a performer. Like if you go on the streets, you'll pull somebody over and you'll perform. Like when are you like How do you balance that of being you as a private person, as an individual person, versus you the performer? >> I think also I want to add to that what you're asking just to clarify cuz we're not 9:00 to 5:00 people. >> Yeah, but you get my my my >> Yeah, no, and I want to clarify that because a celebrity walks down the street and gets stopped. Like, can I take a picture with you? You're not only a celebrity, which people know you a lot, but you're also a performer. So they ask you on the street, okay, take a selfie exactly. Oh, can you also do something for me? No one's asking me to >> Show me a trick. Show me a trick. >> No one's asking us to analyze >> Guess my age. I don't know. Something like that. >> asking us to analyze their expenses at 12:00 at night, you know, at a wedding. But by him, it's like, oh, do a trick. Do a thing. >> It's great question. >> I happen to think I explained it fine, my question. I'm not too sure what he added there. >> You diminished yourself. You said 9:00 to 5:00 is when you think of work. >> No, but I think I made understood what I meant by that. And I don't want to take literally 9:00 to 5:00. >> he cared about the 9:00 to 5:00 thing. We don't work 9:00 to 5:00. >> Yeah, yeah, exactly. Exactly. Nine yourselves. Exactly. Exactly. Thank you for picking up on the nuances. You should be our therapist, by the way. You should come more often. >> Well, it feels nice. >> Is that a third thing you do? You're a mentalist, do karate, martial arts, real estate. What about therapy? >> I do I do >> things. I I As a kid I grew up with no screens. And it made And my parents really really really cared for my hobbies. Like I learned piano, I play the drums, I play saxophone. >> Like I play I There's like many many areas and I find that with no screen you're just Okay, so what do I do? Find yourself playing with kids, you play with things, you you you do things. It's it's uh Think I would never have read uh never have read that many books like I did if I would have a screen or watch movies or TVs or TV. Um and I think that I don't know. It's just it's like just like lots of of of time that you learn how to If If we don't have a I find myself nowadays I sit on a flight and I'm like, "Oh, I don't have my phone." It's like "Oh, wow. What do I do now?" And you know you have 12 hours and it's not Shabbos. It's like just a random day of the week and it's like "Oh my god, what do I do?" You try reading on the flight and it's like I can't read as much as I used to. I'm like I can't focus on reading that much, right? Or I can't It's like We're We're used to not being We We train ourselves not to be able to do that and I think that learning how to disconnect, which I'm most of very bad at. Like it's not that I come and I'm like, "Oh, yeah, sure. Just turn your phone off. Do that." I believe that every Every time I do need to think about like my next show or the next thing I do or or practice, I'm like "Okay, I have to put my phone aside. Otherwise, I could never get this done." Just like put it aside and I'm like and I'll write. I'll use pen and paper in order to put my ideas out there and things like that. Um and that really really helps. To answer your question um basically there is there I would say I'm much more private than it seems online. Like many I don't do lifestyle, so it's very different. Lifestyle influencers, they're like they'll talk about everything. They'll talk about their kids. They'll talk about their clothing. They'll talk about everything. Um I I use social media in order to to help me with what I do and because I love I social media technically for me is like, "Okay, how would people see a certain video? How would they they'll Meaning has to be short, has to be long. This one you want them to Meaning there's psychology behind that as well." So I'm like fascinated by the way people watch because that's where everyone is. Um So I'm not as public about everything in my life and sometimes I'm like, "Technically, people don't really know me. They know what I do. They know It's It's a funny line." And it's always weird when people come up to you on the street and like, "Hey Michael, how are you doing?" And I'm like, "Wait. Who is this person? I have to play along." Yes, I met them there, but I Yes, or if I don't know them, I'm like, "Okay, wait a second. I I I don't know where I know them from, but but then they they came up to me as if they know me and I know them. I'm like, "Okay, how do I manage this this situation without being like stupid cuz I saw them last night in an event, right?" It's like, "How do you How do you deal with it?" So first of all, just being very nice. Like you're just always nice and you're just hopefully polite. But I think that for me it's not hard when people come up to me and they're like, "We know you. Would you do something?" I'm very I learned to be very straightforward. If it doesn't If it If it's not right for me, I'll say no. Like, "Okay, sure. I'll take a selfie. Whatever." But I'm not I'm not going to just stop and do. >> I'm not a lap dog. >> Not even Many times Many times I would. Meaning I would do it. But I'll I'll really pay attention to my surroundings because I learned that the the like as much as I enjoy basically it's I put lots of work into being where I am today and now it's a reward when people come and say hi. But then at the same time I'm like wait, my wife is here, my kid is here. My just siblings whatever and now I I made everyone stop and wait. >> Right. It's uncomfortable. >> For me and it's not right. So slowly slowly I learned when to stop and when to say yes, sure, let's take a picture and keep going or things like that, but I'm not like I I I find it very like I love it. Like I love when people I I always say on my Instagram it's like if you see me come say hi. I love it. I really appreciate it and I think it's it's a like I feel like a pat on my shoulder saying yes, someone recognized me and they and they they know me. >> this. You enjoy this. This is This is fun for you. It's a sport for you. This is not just a job. It's not just a persona that you're putting out there. >> 100%. >> this is what you are. This is what you want to be known for. Um you know, I'm a big huge fan >> Mhm. >> of like these uh variety shows like America's Got Talent for example. I've watched I don't know almost every single episode at some point. I've watched a highlight of all the different acts and you have all kinds of acts that come on there. You have singers, you have dancers and you have uh people you know acrobatics and all crazy things and it's really shocking to see how many talented people there are out there. It's really fascinating. There's a so many cool things that people can do. Um and I'm like always like a lame duck. I'm like I can't do any of this stuff. It's pretty pretty wild. But from time to time you see mentalists that come on there and you see illusionists and you see like magicians. Um and sometimes the magicians by the way like their performances it's more than just the magic. The way they incorporate it into like dance as well and um they also like they they synchronize it with like the music and the lighting and it's just like there's a lot of flare to it. It becomes very dramatic. But the mentalist specifically always stand out because it's more talking and they're engaging the judges, they're engaging the crowd. And I've seen some of these like wild things and sometimes I I there's got to be more to it because got to be a trick. This can't be real. It doesn't make sense like they're psychic. It's like they have a crystal ball. Like, you know, there there's nobody in the world that's like that. Who in your mind is like just amazing, the best, like you're in awe of them because you would appreciate them more than anyone else cuz you know the art forms that you could recognize the good from the amazing from the extraordinary. So, in your mind, like who's a must-see? Like who's a generational talent in the mentalist game that's This is it. This is your idol, so to speak. Um I think I take a lot of uh uh how do you call it? Like inspiration from many, many other uh uh artists and performers. Meaning, let's say when I see let's say there's a Bruno Mars. I love Bruno Mars because Bruno Mars he has his music. Some people love his music, some people don't, but I think that let's say Who doesn't like his music? >> Yeah, some people don't, you know. >> Get him out. How do you not like Bruno Mars's music? >> Everybody loves Bruno Mars. >> What does that mean? >> But I find I find let's say Bruno Mars, he's an amazing, amazing, amazing performer. Lighting-wise, dancing-wise, like everything every single thing is thought out. >> Full package. >> And I and I've heard him speak in the past saying he he doesn't give anyone the control to do the things that he really, really cares about. Now, in general, that's not my way of thinking. I think the more if if you're the smartest person in your business, your business is not it it it's it's not the best business that could be out there cuz there's other people that are better than you in other areas that would be much better and helpful to do what you can't do. Um but I think there is some some So, Bruno Mars, for example, he does his choreography, like his dancing moves, the lightings, the sound. He really, really cares for every single piece in what he does. And um I think he's he's an inspire like he I'm inspired by him with many of those elements. >> Really? >> And I think also that it happen it's funny cuz when I go to watch a show, when I go watch let's say a Broadway show or just I watch whatever, I'm always thinking about everything else except for the performance. Like I watch the performance, but I'm like, "Oh, the lights just turned on now. And this happened here, and that happened there." And you suddenly when you perform, you realize more and more it's it's like, "Oh, what's the feeling now?" Boom, the lights are this color. Now it means more like serious, then it's like bright and nice, and the music is exactly the right thing where makes you feel a certain things certain thing. If I want to make you let's say feel something before I even get into the that part of my act, I have this thing where I don't do it that often where I I'll use let's say um a Russian roulette type of thing, but so many people do it with like breaking someone's object or things like that. I used to love doing it with like danger. So, like staple guns, stapling like to my head or someone's hand or things like that. I don't do that anymore, but if you have the right music before you start that piece, it's very dramatic. It's very like the certain lights and and it just makes the the feeling of the effect so much bigger than just "Okay, so let's do this cool thing, and this is like let's take a step" you know, it's you could be like that, but I care for the experience much more than the the effect. It's like it needs to be combined. Um So, yeah, I think I think many different artists from many different areas, and I do love love love old style musicians and specific areas like like jazz and things like that because I think they had let's say Elvis Presley, right? Elvis Presley for example his music is great but there's there's also so much more except for the the the the like singing like the dancing and the moving and the doing, right? And you realize a pattern even if there there's something you wouldn't do but tell me how to take from that and from them in order to do stuff like that. >> Yeah, you're taking bits and pieces from from others and you're formulating it into your own style and to your own creative way. That's that's fantastic. >> Actually, can I get interrupted one second? Have you Did you ever try or think about trying out for America's Got Talent? >> Um I've tried in the past and I was also told to do it many many times and I hit a point that is at some point where I was like I don't know if it's right to do it. I would do it maybe maybe I would but I I don't know that it's something like I'm I'm >> You nervous? Is that too big of a crowd? Is that too big of a stage? >> I could do I could do any any any sort of crowd. It's just like >> What's the hesitancy? >> I think it's more it's more like I'm at a point where suddenly when you go to Britain's Got Talent or America's Got Talent, you're competing with other people which is totally fine to compete and I'm not a competitive type of person like naturally but I'm uh it's like, "Okay, they're going to perform then I'm going to perform. Some of us are going to move forward, some of us are going to move backward. For the exposure, maybe I'll do it but >> It's all about the exposure. >> it's like Would I I don't know. I I just it's like a feeling. Should I do it? Should I not do it? Is it fake? Is it not fake? Because there is a lot of like fake happening there as well, right? So like they make the crowd many times clap their hands. They make the I don't know. Like it it's tricky where I might in the future maybe >> ever been on a smaller talent show? Have you ever done any of those? >> Um I've done a talent show in the past, but not like any anything that anyone would know. >> I'm curious. It's a another question we got from one of our listeners is if you had nothing with you, right? Like no objects, no phones, no markers, what would be that thing that you would do? What what would you >> What trick would he do? >> Yeah, what what trick would you do? What What would that show be like? >> So, it depends what do you mean no objects? Meaning Just words. Could I tell someone to do Probably I could do stuff and I could do stuff. It's just that the way you train yourself to do things with, for example, if I'll ask someone to uh stare at something or do stuff like that, it helps me with the way of reading them. So, if they do nothing, where we're just >> Well, I could stare, but no objects. I could stare at anything in the room, but it's nothing that >> Right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, so those things are things I could do. Meaning no objects, no nothing. >> Right. >> And I do it a lot. I do it a lot actually where >> You do it on >> I just tell people uh trying to think something that would be It Those things specifically would be much more tricky with like, "Okay, I need you >> How would you ask an artist to paint without his paintbrush? Why can't he have his tools? >> if the art >> No, no, no, no, no, no, I'll I'll tell you why and I'll and I'll go into depth why because I think many people they say, "Okay, if you if he uses things in general, it means it's not it's not real." And that's a a thing that I totally understand, totally agree. Uh um it's just a different way and process in order to get to information when you do it. Meaning, when I ask you, let's say, to just think of a name, right? Or just think of a something, for example, when I tell someone to think of a shape or something like that, um then I'm actually I'm tracking a certain way, a certain like it's a reverse psychology of like how they think and what they think to make them not bounce off of like I have one thing and now I'm bouncing off of like different pieces of information or things like that. Um So let's say if I ask them to write something out immediately I could tell you okay, boom. I could get something really really fast. If I don't, I could do it much of a it's going to be much longer process. >> Process, right. Right. >> How long is your show typically? >> If you do a show for someone. >> My show is an hour. Usually my show is an hour long. Uh specific events I'll do like an hour 15, an hour and a >> That's a long time. You can carry a show for an hour? >> Yeah. An hour 20, that's like where I would find that you do a bit longer that's it. >> Yeah, you start losing people. >> let's say I I when I have shows where people come specially for the show, like people would buy tickets or things like that then it's actually okay. They'll come only for an hour or they come only for like what's the Usually a proper concert or a proper thing would be like an hour and a half I think or an hour 40 or whatever. Um I would recommend doing like an hour show or even less sometimes. But not because of the material as much as the audience just loses patience no matter how interesting the show is especially when it's not in a setting of like Broadway show or something like that because um when you're in a Broadway show everything is like like everything's dark. You only see the stage, right? But >> Yeah. >> if you >> Let me ask you something a little personal if I may. >> Go for it. >> And I'm like a little bit of a shallower person in general so that's probably where my mind's going here. Okay, so you know, it's very nice to be talented and it's really cool and not everybody you know can have the claim that you do of you know you're in the streets and you're meeting people and you're making people happy like this this is great but let's let's let's talk real for a moment, you know, we we got to make some money out of this. We've got we've got to monetize. And uh >> I want to I want to cut that part out. >> be a business at the end of the day. Um is that does that motivate you and like what if I told you um you know, Michael, what you're doing is amazing. It's fantastic. You're going to travel all over the world and you're going to perform for people. But you're never really going to make uh a big living out of this. You're never going to make a whole lot, you know, and you're going to have a regular play Are you still in it? Are you still like is that what Is this how far into this are you? That you're willing to just make it all about this and and never, you know, want more or is there a is there a goal here that if you don't reach, you're going to stop at a certain point and shift careers, so to speak? >> of all, there's there's two things. There is Okay, I need to make a living, right? And then there is a totally different goal of just I love what I do. So like I I I'm so passionate about what what I do that first of all, I would never stop. Even if I wouldn't get paid, I wouldn't I'm sure I would keep doing it even if I would have done anything else. Which doesn't seem like I would anytime soon. But like I love what I do. And I do so much of what I do without getting paid where I just the street stuff, for example, right? There is exposure and there is stuff, but the amount the amount of times I just I just went out with like some friends on uh Thursday Thursday night, went to like this bar and I was just doing things. No cameras, no nothing. And I just see people. I love it. I do it. There's no like end result of like >> It's authentic. It's authentic. >> I I absolutely love it and I'm and I'm sure I would keep doing it probably forever, you know, if I if I'm able to, God willing. God willing. >> What's the biggest uh paycheck you got? >> I can't tell you. >> Uh Michael. >> Right there. Mind your own business. >> Exactly. And you only get to use that once, by the way. What So the next time we ask you something like that, you know, you're going to have to share. >> Uh we're going to have to wrap up soon. So, uh first of all, do you have any questions for us? >> Yes, I want you to think of a shape. >> Okay. >> Oh, my he went right there. >> you I told you think of a shape, right? Like any questions any questions for us, right? >> Usually it's a little different than think of a shape. >> like there's there's many shapes I told you let's say think of a shape. So, many people would go like they'll they'll think let's say I have a a deck of shapes, right? So, you'll go through the deck of shapes and you're like, "Okay, I'm going to go with something that for sure I won't forget and I won't and I won't be able to to to remember, right?" Um So, naturally when I say think of a shape you immediately think of a shape, right? So, you have a shape in mind. Is there any way I could possibly know what you're thinking of? >> No, but you're probably going to have it narrowed down to three or four shapes that most people will come up with when they quick answer like that you say either a circle, you'll say a square, a triangle. That's pretty much it, right? It's one of those three. >> it away. >> What? >> I'm kidding. >> No, I'm just I'm just uh >> Is it one of those? >> It's one of those, yeah. >> Okay. >> I'm just uh >> This has nothing to do with what we did earlier in terms of picking a card. >> Michael, isn't that 90% of the time? >> you can do those for example and then >> Because before we started you had a deck of cards with different shapes. You asked me to pick one and I have one >> You have you have one on you. I told you to have one and not to show me not even to give it to me. >> Right, that's not that's not what you're asking me now though, are you? >> No, no, no, just a random a random shape. >> No, right now I'm thinking of what >> Out of the blue. >> Yeah. >> That's going to lead us learning that, right? >> Okay, yeah. >> So, for example, what did you what did you think of? Did you think of like a triangle? >> Square square square. >> Yeah, okay. Um would you say you're a naturally uh um like a numbers person or more like an artist? >> An artist. >> An artist, okay. Um Now, when I told you to actually pick a a pick a a drawing did you see other things that made you think, "Okay, I want to think of of that drawing" or you immediately okay. Um Now, when I told you to actually pick a a pick a a drawing the >> Yeah, something else took out but then I ended up going with something else. >> Okay, so now I do I do so there is like uh uh um an option of getting it wrong. >> Yeah. >> Um now I told you to stare and make sure you remember everything about it, details or everything. >> Yes. >> Would you be able to draw that drawing again? >> Yes. Unlike Joe Sutton, I can draw. >> Okay. >> Remember you drew the guitar and I got something else. >> Um So I'll do this. So I'll Could you take your hand, your right hand for example? >> Mhm. >> And could you draw a circle in the air? Okay, if you had to draw a triangle, could you go with a triangle? And last one, could you go with a square? Okay. Let's let's try this. I'm going to give you the pad. Like that. But before I'll uh I'll do something here. Let's say I'll I'll do that. Um now I really want to stick to I want you to stick to whatever it is you're thinking of. And um interesting. I'm going to do that. Now just the to uh to confuse you a little bit. And I'll give you the marker like that. >> Okay. >> I want to get the table turn it. I'll hand you >> the biggest Sharpie I've >> Yeah, Sharpie in my life. >> Where did you get that? >> Okay. >> Now uh Have a drawing in mind. Could you draw it now? Interesting. Okay. You could literally go with anything, right? >> Yeah. >> Could you show us all what's the drawing? >> It's a heart. >> Really? >> Woah. >> Pull it down. Pull it down I don't see your face when you're like, "Wow." >> Well, I'll show you the best part is from the deck of cards that you made me pick in the beginning. >> There you go. You would go you have a heart. >> Wow. What's crazy is I saw the Star of David in that deck and I almost picked it. And you're like, "You keep going. You want to keep going?" I'm like, "Yeah." And then I picked the heart without you saying >> 100%. >> That's pretty amazing. >> And you kept it by you. You didn't give me back or anything that way I could hold the break or something. >> been by me the whole time. Yeah. >> You can you can keep it. You can >> Wow. Thank you. Can you Can you sign Can you sign it for me? >> I also keep this gigantic sharpie. Where did you buy this? Because I learned that when I do find if I use like a small sharpie, there's like a reflection on it. >> Oh, smart. >> one. It does It does a little bit more of a an impression. >> Michael, this has been very eye-opening for us. And it was a pleasure getting to know you. And I'm you know, I'm looking forward to the big things that you're going to be doing. And And to you know, I think the way we look at it is the big stage for you is the quality of what the work that you're doing. That's the big stage. >> Appreciate it. >> And um you know, there's one thing we have to ask you before we let you go. And uh if you follow our podcast, you'll know we don't let you leave until we ask you to pick a guest that you think would be a good guest to fill your seat on the None of Your Business podcast. If you could think of anybody, who would that be and why? >> How many seconds do I have? No. >> You have as many seconds as you wish. But um Fair enough. You could try. You could try. >> Stuff I like, "Okay, write down you know what? Write down who you're who you're uh you're going to pick and we'll guess." >> Trying to think, who would I uh who would I uh go with? >> Someone that you know, someone that you met, someone uh you know, I I I actually peeked at your Instagram page uh earlier and I saw you met a lot of interesting people throughout your days. Um but I see Gary V in there. >> You see Gary V? >> Oh my gosh. >> Who's that? want >> get him for us? >> Gary Vaynerchuk. >> Can you get him? >> I don't know that I could get him. It was It was very >> spontaneous. >> Yeah, spontaneous. >> It wasn't spontaneous. We were called to his office, but it was in the way it worked. We walked up to his office and it was like, "Okay, you have this and this time to do this and this thing and try that." And I spoke to the people in the in the waiting room. Like, not the waiting room, the the people working for him. Had like a probably 304 400 people working for him on that floor. And his personal assistant, she said, "By the way, you should know, if Gary goes to the bathroom for a bit too long, he's behind his schedule the whole day." >> Wow. >> Like, he his time is like like that. So, we were It was me and my friend David Carmy. He's the the guy that does "What Makes You Confident?" on the street. He does like, "What makes you confident?" right? He's over 1.3 million followers or something like that. So, we were both called as like street people that do a lot of things on the street. And we were asked if we would do something with him and we did. And it was amazing, but according to how his day was, I don't think I would I would be able to help with bringing him here. >> Oh, I see. And there wasn't much time for chitchat, I imagined. You basically came in and did a performance? >> You can't even believe It was like >> And it was just him in the room that you did the performance for? >> Yeah, it was me and him. >> I'm laughing. You're lucky he didn't have oats for breakfast. >> Who is this person? Who is this person? >> Gary V. >> Who's Gary V? >> He's one of the >> I see. Everyone listening here knows who he is. He's >> Gary V? >> Gary V, yes. >> What does he do? >> He's an influencer. He's a leader. He's a sales You know, mentor. He's amazing. So, who is the other influence? >> Someone I would >> I'm just curious who else you met besides him that's high up there. Is Gary V the top? >> I just did this week. I I met with Whatever. I don't know if it's relevant. It's not relevant. She is a big model in Australia, for example. >> Very relevant. >> 20 million followers on Instagram. Wow. >> Uh, she's in Australia. >> I met I met Adam Sandler. >> Oh, really? >> Can we start the podcast over, please? Can we go back to the beginning? >> We need to We need to have another podcast eventually. >> What's going on over here? >> So, did you actually get to know Adam Sandler, or you just met him again, also really? >> So, I met him a few times. >> A few times? >> A few times. And it took a while until he actually cared about Meaning not cuz he didn't care, but he he meets so many people a day where it's just like >> So, can you get Adam? >> I wish I could. >> Okay. Do you happen to have his number? >> Yeah, sure, anyone. No, but I'm trying to think. Let me think. >> But what about the David guy that you mentioned? He seems like an interesting guy. >> I could definitely try. Could definitely ask him if it'll be >> Is that someone relevant that you think would be good on a >> I'm trying to think if he'll be interested. >> Woah, woah, woah, woah, woah. >> I'm sure he will. >> What's hot? >> But I think I think he's he's a Like he picks and chooses very, very carefully what he does and what he doesn't do. >> Has he been on a let's say a podcast similar to ours? >> I don't know He's done podcasts in the past. He's done TV. He's done other things. Maybe. Let's give it a go. >> Okay. >> Let's Let's Let's do it right now. Let's do like this. Ready? >> Yes, that's the way to do it. You call him. That's >> No, I'm not going to call him. I'm not going to call him cuz I'm not going to put him on the spot, but I'll send him a message. >> No, that's literally the whole point. >> one second. Before you do Before you do this Before you do this. You know how we spoke about earlier about how to mirror things and how to accomplish things and take it from experience. If you message him, the chances are 50%. If you call him, the chances are 51%. >> Well, I know, but I'm willing to take the risk. >> You are willing, or you're not willing? >> Yes, no, cuz I I actually I literally chat with him. >> So, you're willing to call him and take the risk, or you're willing to message him? >> I wouldn't. I wouldn't because First of all, I don't have his uh >> You can do a video message then, maybe, and we can say hello to him. >> You want to do a Why not? video? All right. Yes. What's up, David? We're here in the podcast. And these guys really want to have you on the podcast. So, we're going to hopefully we'll talk it out and you'll actually come here to this podcast. It was really great. I was like I could see into the future and I can tell that you're going to be here one day. Definitely. So, let's go. Hopefully you'll you'll be here one day. And Michael, this was great. We really appreciate you coming down here on such short notice. It was amazing meeting you in Israel. I loved watching you live doing your thing, being in your energy space, and uh just being here together was just really like eye-opening for us learning about this entire world of magic and mentalism. And I can tell you enjoyed it. I love it. And you gained a follower here. I'm going to join your Instagram. I will subscribe. So, it'll be 200,001. Uh thank you to all our listeners, our subscribers, and uh thank you again to the PrimeSource production team. We appreciate all the feedback. That's a wrap. That's a wrap. Thank you. Michael, that was awesome. Awesome, Michael. Thank you so much.