A mentalist will attempt to use mental tricks to read your mind. They will ask you to think of a number and write it down, and the really good ones may employ others to help them read your mind without props. ... They already know the number the person is guessing and has written down.

How do mentalists know what you're thinking?

A mentalist uses technical skill, misdirection, psychological subtleties, hypnosis (suggestion), cold reading, and showmanship to demonstrate what appears to be extraordinary-mind reading, foresight, clairvoyance, and telekinesis.

Can magicians really read minds?

Let's be honest, no one can really read minds. There is no such thing as a genuine mind reading magician. ... However, with the use of some old school (and new school) conjuring methods and a bit of word play, Alan can genuinely make it look like he is reading minds.