What does a magician do when a spectator wants to read their mind instead of having their own mind read? In a delightful twist shared by Welsh mentalist Rich Relish, he decided to play along, and was shocked when the spectator correctly divined his drawing of a house, leaping into the air with excitement while the wedding photographer captured the perfect moment.

This natural, unexpected moment of wonder perfectly encapsulates Rich's approach to magic: creating genuine connections through psychological presentations and organic props. Throughout our conversation, Rich reveals his thoughtfully crafted Desert Island Tricks selections, emphasising how he builds increasing impossibility into each performance. Beginning with Max Maven's B-Wave as his opener, he progresses through routines like Chris Congreave's Cloak (with its surprise reveal of Monopoly and Cluedo cards) and Steve Cook's The Gamble (cleverly adapted to use Lego pieces instead of poker chips).

What stands out in Rich's selections is his focus on personalisation. His adaptation of Brian Caswell's Pinnacle to reveal a wedding couple's date through seemingly random card selections often brings tears of joy. As he explains, "I like to pride myself on people seeing something which they've never seen before."

The conversation delves into colour psychology, the value of drawing duplications, and why coin envelopes might be the most versatile non-magic item a mentalist can carry. Rich also shares a refreshing perspective on competition among magicians, suggesting that wedding fairs should welcome multiple performers with different styles, just as they do with photographers and other vendors.

Explore this fascinating journey through psychological mentalism, creative adaptations, and the art of building wonder through increasing impossibility. Whether you're a performer seeking inspiration or simply curious about the inner workings of close-up magic, Rich's insights offer a blueprint for creating memorable moments of astonishment.

Rich’s Desert Island Tricks: 

1. B’Wave
2. Cloak 
3. The Gamble
4. Inside Out 
5. Pinnacle 
6. Drawing Duplication 
7. Easy Tones 
8. TBA

Banishment. Competition 

Book. High Caliber 

Item. Coin Envelopes 

Find out more about the creators of this Podcast at www.alakazam.co.uk