Meet Mark Gibson

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mark Gibson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mark below.

Mark , so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.

Creativity is a beautiful thing. When we are in the warm embrace of a creative moment, there are few things which can compare. I have learned over the years that creativity is not like lightning, hoping to strike randomly and unpredictably. Creativity is a muscle; an ability we all have which we can strengthen. How do we strengthen our own creative thinking and expression? Here are a few that have helped me.
1. Ask questions.
Curiosity is the engine which drives all human innovation. If you wish to create something new, we must allow our curiosity to drive us into unknown territories. Look at all things around you and ask yourself how, why, when, and where. Say you see a beautiful field of flowers. Ask yourself, “Who planted these flowers? Who is taking care of them? How do they take care of them? How often? How are these flowers different from other flowers? What do they taste like? Can I eat them?” The list is endless. From this curious mindset you free your mind to see the world in a fresh and new way.
2. Get out of your industry.
By this I mean, look further than the scope of your expertise. If you are a painter, and know so much about the world and craft of painting, and yet your creative juices just aren’t flowing.: the solution is not to learn and read more about painting. How are you going to paint something new, exciting, and different if you ONLY ever think about painting and other painters. Go outside, have hobbies which have NOTHING to do with your art, talk to new people, read books about anything at all. Then take the sum of all of these experiences, and filter them through your brilliant painter mind. Take the world around you, and bring it back to your art. In other words, inspiration.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

Where to begin!? I suppose the very beginning…I’m a Mentalist. A Mentalist is a performer who specializes in telepathy, intuition, magic, and influence to read the thoughts of their audiences. My shows are very interactive, engaging, and of course fun! I perform across the globe for corporations, colleges, cruise ships, and private events.

Mentalism is such a unique and engaging form of immersive theatre wherein the audience begins the show as strangers, and ends as old friends. Using my intuition and skills, I read the thoughts, memories, and ambitions of the members of the audience with a deep resonance and entertainment that is infectious. It is truly the greatest job in the world. I travel the globe to connect and resonate with countless individuals from all walks of life, and for a brief time, walk alongside them as we trip down memory lane in acts of telepathy and connection.

I am so excited for the coming year as I will be performing across the US in theaters, on the high seas aboard cruise ships, and everywhere in between. I am thrilled to say I’ll even be taking my show to Antartica performing onboard a specialized expedition voyage! If you would like to see when I’ll be performing in your town, follow me on instagram at @MarkGibsonMagic for updates.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

If I could only pick 3 qualities that have deeply impacted my craft, they would be the following: Improvisation, Empathy, and Humility.

Improvisation began as a delightful hobby in high school, joining the improv team and performing sketch shows throughout the semester. In college, my improv career continued as I joined the schools improv team there, and later a 10 year run as an improv teacher. I didn’t realize at the time, but I was learning some of the most important skills for my career and life. Improv is built upon the foundation of supporting your fellow team mates, trusting they will support you, listening, imagination, and stagecraft. As a Mentalist, every single show I perform is different, because every audience is comprised of different people with different thoughts and experiences. I am experiencing the show in real time with the audience, so having the ability to improvise onstage is CRITICAL. Even if your passion doesn’t require you being onstage, I would encourage you to take an improv class. Not only are they remarkably fun, but you learn so much about empathy, creativity, timing, listening, and collaboration to build something amazing with a team.

Secondly, empathy. My work deals with real people, living real lives and with real emotions. Unlike a traditional magic show, not much of attention need be paid to the playing card which was selected. However, in my show, a great deal of care and compassion should be paid to the women thinking about her kidney transplant last year. Or to the man who is remembering his last fishing trip with his father before he passed. I respect my audiences and their willingness to allow me to connect with their intuitions and memories. I want my audiences to know immediately from the start of the show that they can trust me, and I will respect them and their memories. If you yourself aren’t reading thoughts, nonetheless being empathic to everyone is crucial. Treat everyone with absolute unconditional positive regard. I believe that underneath all of the work and money and noise of life, we are all just walking each other home. Look to the people around you, expect nothing from them, and extend kindness and joy. In a world filled with hate and anger, what a gentle rebellion relentless compassion is.

Lastly, humility. To be humble is to acknowledge your own power and strengths, while keeping yourself in check. True strength is knowing your own power and having it under control. Having the wisdom to know when to use it, and to use it in a way that benefits the world around you. In my work this is paramount. The WORST thing I could do would be to walk around showing off and reading thoughts from people who would rather I don’t. My father always told me, “let your actions speak for themselves. If you have to tell everyone how amazing you are, you aren’t.” He’s right. Let your kindness, strength, and ability speak for themselves. Trust me the world will listen. I’m reminded of a lovely quote by Tom Waits, “A gentleman knows how to play the accordion, but doesn’t.” To me this is what humility truly is. Having the ability to do something, but the wisdom to know when and where to do so.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

Absolutely! The first thing I do is accept the feeling fully. Acknowledge how I am feeling with complete honesty. I then give myself permission to take time and sit with it. I will not lie, this is uncomfortable, but an emotion ignored doesn’t disappear, it only hides and builds strength for later. Deep breathing and a quiet space also helps. Lastly, and this may be the hardest part, but try not to think. I have been guilty of what psychologists would call “intellectualizing.” This is the act of trying to think your way out of your feelings. To use logic and reason to justify every emotion and thus suppress. This was a BIG mistake. When I am overwhelmed, I accept the feeling, give myself space to feel it, and allow it to pass. This allows for my head and heart to return to alignment. The feeling of panic when overwhelmed isn’t trying to hurt you or harm you, it’s trying to protect you. All I do is give the feeling time to acknowledge the state of my wellbeing, give it time to adjust, and it will always slowly disappear. Trust yourself and your feelings, and listen to them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.MarkGibsonMagic.com
• Instagram: @MarkGibsonMagic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarkGibsonMagic

Image Credits

Vanessa Todd Photographer