If you check out Derrens sites you will notice that he himself says he uses NLP and control...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/goingout/2002/08/18/derren.shtml
quote:
Finally he hit on a formula he was happy with. Mixing skills learnt in hypnotism with those he'd built up through magic, he created a unique show."It's about controlling a situation and playing games with people," he explained.
"It's much more fun to do because you never know how people are going to respond."
It has certainly proved a popular format, what with television spots, corporate events and now live theatre performances.
http://www.derrenbrown.co.uk/home/intro/index.html quote:
Call it what you like. Derren Brown reads minds but claims no psychic power.
"I began my career as a magician but slowly left behind the props and sleight-of-hand to work with the psychological techniques that are the real stuff of magic. I have to learn people's patterns, step inside their heads. Then I can play."The result is a powerful, provocative and thrilling new form of entertainment.
http://www.derrenbrownfans.bravepages.com/index.htm
quote:
Derren Brown reads minds, but surprisingly claims that he has no psychic powers. Instead he uses his intellect and magical knowledge to get inside people's heads. "I began my career as a magician but slowly left behind the props and sleight-of-hand to work with the psychological techniques that are the real stuff of magic. I have to learn people's patterns, step inside their heads. Then I can play."
http://www.derrenbrownfans.bravepages.com/pure_effect.htm
quote:
Derren Brown, the most radical and original new thinker in the world of mentalism, will take you from excellent close-up magic to the most powerful mind-reading you have ever seen. With flamboyant wit, Derren explains the secrets and techniques that he uses to amaze the experts, drawing from hypnotic skills and breathtaking psychological artistry. This is brand new mind reading without compromise; no use of billets, envelopes or nail writers will be found within these pages. This is a book for the serious thinker who would normally disregard 99% of a magic book's contents.
Alex
