“Applied psychology, showmanship and moxie. These are the three ingredients to becoming a mentalist,” Jonny Zavant said. He performed Thursday, Jan. 29 in the KAV. Being a mentalist himself, Zavant wanted to leave the audience in wonder and question about the world he created on stage.
“I don’t really know what to expect,” junior Cody Meyers said before the event. “This is my first time seeing a mind reader.” Meyers was in the same boat as many other students. The show began upbeat and continued that way throughout the entire performance. Zavant’s use of witty banter and humor created an energized atmosphere that kept students engaged — a skill that he claims did not come naturally.
“Growing up I was very shy,” Zavant said. “I wanted friends but I did not want to have to put myself out there.” In Zavant’s case, he started growing as a performer with juggling fire at age 13. This quickly led to what he calls his “skill sponge” days. This was when he learned a variety of unusual talents, including sleeping on a bed of nails and fire breathing. “It was easier to interact with people from then on because I didn’t have to approach a stranger. People would come to me because they were interested in what I was doing.”
The crowd of students in the KAV also came to see Zavant’s talents. The final act showcased one of his skills. At the beginning of the show, three volunteers were asked to each write a word on a card. These cards were then sealed and revisited at the end of the night, when Zavant guessed all three correctly. A combination of shock, entertainment and uncomfortable giggling filled the room. A faint “how did he do that” was heard in many rows.
The shock factor Zavant brought to the table was shaped by years of dealing with scam artists while being trained by the famous magician James “The Amazing” Randi. The James Educational Foundation proposed a one million dollar paranormal challenge stating that they would give one million dollars to anyone who could demonstrate a supernatural or paranormal ability under agreed upon scientific testing criteria. Zavant was in charge of investigating the applicants. “This is where I got a lot of inspiration,” he said. From seeing what others tried he was able to learn what works, and how to use that in his performances.
But the shows are just another avenue, like juggling fire, to grab people’s attention. Zavant is a passionate communicator with a goal to help others understand the importance of speaking and taking control of life. “My performances are not that much different than what everyone goes through on a daily basis. Take for instance when you buy something at a store and interact with the employee. That’s a form of public speaking,” Zavant explained. As a corporate communications professional, Zavant said that the principles of applied psychology used to interact with audiences during shows can also be applied to everyday life.
Although the science behind it is not proven, mentalists are very good at making something impossible look all too real. Zavant said that creating a so-called “sixth sense” is what makes all the difference. As an audience, people feel connected when they go through a similar experience together.
One of the students called on stage was junior Keli Krause. “It was a really fun experience. I came here with my friends and having them here to yell at me when I got called on stage was awesome,” Krause said. The show was a way for students to engage with each other in untraditional ways and promote the kind of communication Zavant wanted.
Zavant is in the process of creating a broader platform for his work. He is currently working on a website called alifewelldesigned.com, which he described as a “life designer” school for eager students. He also has videos on his personal website as well as on sensationalspeaker.com for additional materials. These online “workshops” are designed to sharpen communication skills and help everyone reach their full potential.
