In the Head of a Mentalist

LIOR SUCHARD IS A WORLD RENOWNED SUPERNATURAL ENTERTAINER WHOHAS THE ABILITY TO READ MINDS. NITISH SHAH SPEAKS TO HIM ABOUT HOW HE DEVELOPED HIS UNIQUE SKILLS AND WHAT HE HAS TO SAY TO SCEPTICS

When did you first realise you had supernatural abilities?
When I was six years old I started developing a rare intuition. I discovered that when people think, they transmit. But not many people are receivers. So I had to find a way to receive that information. I read a lot from books on psychology, body language, non-verbal communication and underground psychology. Eventually I developed my talents through formal and non-formal education techniques.

You mentioned you have ADD. How does the disorder play a role in your work as a supernatural entertainer?
My show is not just me standing on stage and doing mind tricks. If it was, then people would say, “Okay, so you do mind tricks, what else?” But I love to perform and interact with people and part of the show is the interaction. If somebody screams something, I answer them immediately. The ADD allows me to divert from the show and entertain the audience every now and then.

Have you attempted putting audience members into a trance?
No, I’m not a hypnotist. I don’t use hypnotics. I use energy and the power of the mind for mind reading and influencing. But I don’t do hypnotics at all. I only do things for positive outcomes.

Has there ever been an instance of an audience member freaking out during your routine?
Yes, yes, definitely. Every show is different and once in a while someone in the audience freaks out and goes, “OH MY GOD!” It’s so funny for everyone and I like to take advantage of it because I’m also a comedian, I’m not just mentalist. I have seen every reaction that you can think of; people have cried, people have screamed and much more.

Can you predict an important world event right now?
No, no, I can’t predict. I don’t believe in fortune-telling because I believe you control your own destiny. I don’t believe there is anyone who can accurately tell you what is going to happen in the future. Some of the stuff that I do can come across as a prediction but it is just about intuition.

Films and shows have depicted a mentalist curing a person’s fear of flying using telepathy. Do you utilise any such influencing techniques?
With my abilities, I work as a freelancer with companies and develop unique shows based on infotainment; a combination of information and entertainment. For example, you may be wearing a watch which you have had for two years, but if I ask you whether the watch has Arabic or Roman numerals, you wouldn’t be able to answer without looking at it. But if I ask you, what you were doing when you heard about the terror attack on the twin towers in New York over 11 years ago, you will remember. This is because it is connected to something big, an emotional impact. I design my shows around a company’s products. I take the key messages and create metaphors in my acts which create an emotional impact for the audience to remember the brand.

Which celebrity have you enjoyed performing for the most?
My good friend Gerard Butler. We became very good friends because I love his reactions. When he saw my act, he screamed, “I Gerard Butler (left) with Lior Suchard cannot believe this!”

Which is the most challenging of all your techniques?
Everything is challenging, nothing is easy. I do multiple shows and it takes a lot of energy. Utilising my mind power is very tiring too. I have to practice a lot and do tests and experiments. I try things, sometimes I fail and sometimes I succeed. But I never give up.

How do your abilities in telepathy help you in everyday life?
It definitely helps. I can understand if someone is lying to me or being honest in a simple conversation. But I can also shut off my abilities when I don’t want to use them.

Are you religious?
I believe in God; I’m Jewish. But I’m not religious. I’m just a regular person like anybody else. I just know how to use my brain in a different way and I’m a good stage person.

Can one train to become a mentalist or is it a talent you have to be born with?
I always say that anyone can learn to play the piano but not everyone can be Beethoven. So you can learn some elements but it doesn’t mean you can directly step on stage and perform.

Any message for the youth?
Always think happy thoughts because you never know who is reading your
mind.

LIOR’S PASSING THOUGHTS