Meet Hermes the Mentalist, Magician

As a child, Hermes the Mentalist and his family traveled a great deal, giving Hermes a variety of unique cultural experiences and the ability to forge connections with new people. As an adult, Hermes has lived in many places, including Venezuela, Argentina, Russia, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.

Hermes is a lifelong learner who is very engaged with his surroundings and believes that, "in today’s world, where everyone can be connected, it is important to accept and esteem what we can learn from others."

Keep up with Hermes on Facebook, and check out videos of him performing on YouTube. Below is a sample of Hermes the Mentalist in action.

1. I love the connection to the Greek god, Hermes: how and why did you choose Hermes as your stage name?

Hermes was my nickname from childhood (given by my mother). Hermes in mythology was a mischievous god. Always getting in and out of trouble, Hermes was a prankster (that explains my childhood), but he also was the god of magic.

2. When we think of magic, a variety of performers come to mind, some doing close-up magic, some doing elaborate large-scale illusions, etc. How would you describe the magic you do?

I play with the minds... of the viewers. I love close-up: it is a "no mirrors/ no smoke" approach that people find fascinating. But when not performing on TV, most of my shows are on stage, with no props / no illusions. I use all my senses in harmony to create the effect of a sixth sense.

3. Where do you give performances--how can people see you perform and/or hire you for an event?

Like I mentioned before, I do a lot of TV work, mostly in Latin America. Being a polyglot gives me more range in public performance. I also do lot of corporate engagements and tours in some private venues. Last year I was in Barcelona / Marseille / Monaco / Rome.

4. For someone who is interested in learning more about magic, what do you suggest?

First, let's not confuse tricks with magic. For example: learning a few songs in the piano doesn't make you a musician, so likewise, learning a few tricks doesn't make you a magician.

It takes a lot of learning, practice, stage movement, public speaking, etc... In many cases is a lost art, and a magician is not judged by his tricks but by his performance and viewers' engagement.

With that in mind, I suggest that you work to become an actor first then learn some "tricks." Put both in the same piece and you get magic.

5. Why do you think audiences enjoy your performances so much?

I stimulate the mind to learn and question. TV performance is one thing, but when in a corporate environment, you can go full force with the "books," just because is a more educated crowd. Talking about Carl Jung's Analytical Psychology is not for everyone to understand or even grasp the concept. I tell and show them that real magic happens in the mind, and what I do, they can do, too. A true teacher is the one who creates doubt in order for the student to create questions and follow up with research to find the answers. That is what I do with magic.

Thanks, Hermes!