SLEIGHT OF (NO) HANDS – MAGICIAN MAHDI GILBERT ON OVERCOMING HIS PHYSICAL “REALITY”
“Don’t just dedicate a few hours to it…have time where you do more intense focus, but I think immersing yourself into something and having things surrounding you, that has to do with that…you need to reprogram your mind that way.”—Mahdi Gilbert
Fooling Penn & Teller with masterful magic is no small deed. But once you hear this story you might NOT be surprised that Mahdi Gilbert accomplished it.
From very early in life, Mahdi was impressed by the “impossible” and immersed himself into the world of magic. With a combination of watching the “masters,” figuring things out on his own, and tricking himself into practice, he’s become a top professional in his field.
SHOW NOTES
(4:15) Born without hands or feet…
(9:39) Learning to tie his shoes at 18…
(11:02) “I’m a very tactile learner and things are very intuitive to me that have to do with dexterity. I have very sensitive touch and I just know how things move.”
(16:49) What separates amateurs and professionals?
(19:33) The universal principle of immersion…
(22:14) Applying the concept of immersion to all skill-building…
(24:38) “I hate to practice old stuff, so I trick myself. I love to practice new magic, so I practice all my old material first. And then as a reward, I get to practice the new…” Tricks and the driving force…
(28:33) Not wanting to be someone who just gave up when it got hard…
(31:20) Learning to operate within limitations…
(36:15) “I think the limitations that we have or that we think we have are based in our limited understanding and our physical reality.”
(41:10) The theory of self-efficacy…
(43:40) Developing the art of performing…
(48:19) Sleight of hand in front of someone’s face…
(51:13) Connecting and engaging…
(54:08) Fooling Penn and Teller…
(58:52) What does Go Be More mean to you?
If you liked this episode, check out our interviews with performer/podcaster Audra Bryant and effects artist Will Huff.
Recorded November 18, 2020.
References:
Mahdi the Magician – website
Mahdi on Penn & Teller’s Fool Us – YouTube
Guests:
Mahdi Gilbert – Instagram
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