‘Lean into the unknown’: A mentalist on how he ‘reads’ minds

Each week, Benjamin Law asks public figures to discuss the subjects we’re told to keep private by getting them to roll a die. The numbers they land on are the topics they’re given. This week he talks to Scott Silven. The Scottish mentalist, illusionist and performer, 36, studied hypnosis in Milan, Italy, as a teenager before going on to sell out three world tours. His latest show is called The Lost Things.

Scott Silven: “There’s no way to prove that God doesn’t exist: the best you can be is agnostic.”

RELIGION

You grew up in the windswept lowlands of Scotland. Was there religion – and church? Well, when you hear “the windswept lowlands of Scotland”, you know it’s going to be the fire-and-brimstone type of religion! In those small communities, the church is a big part of life. I remember being dragged to church every Sunday and having strong faith as a kid. Later, when I leaned into the skills that I use today – hypnosis and manipulation – I realised there were parallels between what I was hearing the preacher say and the things I would end up doing in my shows.

Oh, what were those parallels? [Preachers] use stories and evocative language to make you think of certain things, so you feel that you’re having a genuine emotional response. Weirdly, I began studying [those techniques] to try to bolster my faith. But in researching them, I sort of talked myself out of it. By the time I was 13 years old, I was an atheist.

Sometimes, people wrongly assume atheists mustn’t believe in anything … You’re right to bring this up because I now believe that there’s no such thing as “atheism”. There’s no way to prove that God doesn’t exist: the best you can be is agnostic. That’s sort of my mantra for my life: not to discredit other beliefs, or something that you don’t understand or think to be true. Explore it a bit. Lean into the unknown.

BODIES

When we see your illusions, it looks like mind-reading. What are you actually tapping into? Part of it is building rapport, cognitive behavioural processing, and tapping into those parts of our minds that we don’t realise are there. My job is to crack those open. None of the techniques that I’m using is secret or hidden in some vintage tome somewhere. They’re a variety of psychological and hypnotic techniques, and some traditional magic techniques, too.

Do you have any gnarly scars? I’ve got a scar on my left knee, which most people also have, actually. This is one of the things that “psychics” use: most of us have a scar on our knee or elbow.

When do you feel most comfortable in your own skin? When I’m on stage and connecting with an audience in a really deep way. I’m also big on yoga and I try to do it morning and evening.

When do you feel least comfortable in your own skin? Before I step on stage, when I’m nervous about how the show’s going to go. Even now, I still get super-nervous before every single one. It’s not a sense of fear of whether something’s going to work or not. It’s deeper than that. More a sense of whether I’m doing the right thing with my life …

Love a good ol’ existential spiral. [Laughs] An existential spiral before a show? Perfect thing to happen! Really helps with the energy. But in recent years, I’ve used this old trick where you stand behind the curtain beforehand, you imagine the audience out front, you close your eyes and you say quietly, “I love you, I love you, I love you.” And you’re thanking the audience. It really helps centre me and makes me feel comfortable when I’m on stage.

You might have the most coveted hair in showbusiness. What’s the secret? [Laughs] Most people think it’s a wig. It’s so disappointing, but it really isn’t! [Tugs at hair to demonstrate] I’m just one of those annoying people who doesn’t do too much.

SEX

Have you used your on-stage techniques to pick up? Not overtly; I think that’d be a little creepy. I’m sure that I’ve used those things without realising it, but when I meet people, I really try not to. Hopefully, my personality is enough.

What do you do in your stage work that we can bring into our romantic lives? The most successful thing in building a relationship is not coming in defined as who you are and being immovable. It’s what I spoke about before: this idea of leaning into the unknown. In a relationship, another person can have so much to teach you, [and can] change your thinking and beliefs. The most successful relationships I’ve had are with people I didn’t think I’d get along with.

What turns you off? Monologues. Narcissism. A big part of being in this industry is selling yourself [laughs]. I realise the ridiculousness of me saying this while I’m being interviewed right now.

Hey, this is part of the job. I find it to be the most unattractive thing; I’m someone who genuinely doesn’t like to talk about myself.

What turns you on? Spontaneity and curiosity. People who are open to new experiences. For all the sense of control I have on stage and in my day-to-day life, I love a sense of adventure.

What’s sexy about the work that you do? When you’re travelling and going to exciting places and connecting with people in a really amazing way.

What’s unsexy about it? Being constantly jet-lagged. As a kid, I dreamed of a life of touring, playing theatres and doing TV, and thought that must be amazing. Now, most of the time, I’m in this state of intense focus just getting the show done.

What are the ingredients for good sex? Eye contact. Spontaneity. Time.

Scott Silven will be performing The Lost Things at the Sydney Opera House until June 29.

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