Improv, Lego Bricks, and Looking Beyond Methods - May at My Mind Rocks

One of the things I've always enjoyed about My Mind Rocks is that it gives us the opportunity to explore areas of performance that many mentalists might never actively seek out on their own.

May was a perfect example of that.

Our special guest was Eric Dittelman, who joined us for a fascinating session on improvisation and comedy within mentalism. I'll be honest, improv isn't an area I've ever spent much time studying myself, so I wasn't fully prepared for just how deep the subject goes.

Eric explained how improv is taught throughout the United States, from dedicated schools and training programmes through to formal qualifications. It quickly became clear that this wasn't simply a collection of comedy exercises. It was an entire discipline built around communication, listening, reacting, and working with other people in the moment.

What made the session particularly enjoyable was that Eric didn't just talk about improv. He got us involved.

Members took part in introductory exercises designed to encourage spontaneity and help us step outside our comfort zones. There was plenty of laughter along the way, but underneath the fun was a real appreciation for just how much thought and structure sits behind successful improvisation.

I was particularly impressed by Eric's understanding of comedy on a technical level. It wasn't simply a discussion about being funny. It was about understanding why things are funny, how humour can be used effectively, and how those skills can strengthen a mentalism performance.

It was a genuinely unique session and covered an area we had never explored before inside MMR.

Earlier in the month we also welcomed back Stuart Nolan.

Many members will remember Stuart's previous workshop on empathy training, which turned out to be one of those sessions that sounds unusual on paper but becomes completely fascinating once you start exploring it.

This time he returned to discuss a book he wrote back in 2013 on giving readings using Lego bricks.

Again, it sounds quirky.

And it is.

But beneath the playful premise sits a surprisingly deep and meaningful approach to readings.

Rather than telling people who they are, Stuart demonstrated ways in which participants can effectively provide their own answers and insights through the choices they make. The Lego bricks become tools for conversation, reflection, and discovery.

It was one of those sessions that encourages you to think differently about readings and audience interaction. Not because it provides a new method, but because it offers a fresh perspective.

As always, the conversations continued long after the formal sessions ended. The Tuesday Jam Sessions remain one of the most valuable parts of My Mind Rocks, giving members a place to discuss ideas, share experiences, and help each other develop as performers.

Looking back, May was a reminder that some of the most interesting ideas often live just outside our usual areas of focus.

Whether it was exploring improv with Eric Dittelman or discovering the surprising depth behind Lego Brick Readings with Stuart Nolan, members were encouraged to step outside familiar territory and look at performance from a different angle.

And that's often where the best ideas are found.

If you'd like access to sessions like these, along with our growing archive of workshops, lectures, jam sessions, and special guests, we'd love to welcome you into the community.

Join My Mind Rocks today.