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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday July 6, 2007 - 27 Artscene Oakville Beaver · FRIDAY, JULY 6, 2007 What's on your mind ? Non-psychic Thomas Baxter knows By Krissie Rutherford OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Thomas Baxter says he can read minds. He says he can even control them. But he rejects being called a psychic. In fact, Baxter doesn't believe in psychics ­ he finds them "dishonest." "I call myself an honest deceiver," he said, just before heading to Toronto to perform on the opening night of the week-long Fringe Festival, which kicked off on Wednesday. "What I do is based on perception and manipulating your perception," Baxter said. "You're still deceived, and you enjoy it." The brand of magic the Oakville resident practices is called mentalism. His exact title: psychological illusionist. Baxter's career in magic began at age 18. He's since toured 31 countries and held jobs including everything from creating illusions for the Nutcracker to training actor Colin Farrell on the "art of illusion" for his role in the Hollywood movie Daredevil. The past five years, Baxter has been touring his show ThoughtControl, which he's performing at the 19th annual Fringe ­ a theatre Festival in Toronto featuring more than 140 acts ­ until July 15. "It looks very much like I'm reading people's thoughts, and they're reading each other's thoughts," he explained. But, in fact, Baxter is analyzing the gestures, body language, mannerisms and other characteristics of his audience members to tell them what they're thinking, and at times, even control what they're thinking. "I kind of understand how the human mind works, and I'm kind of a student of human nature, I watch people all the time," Psychological illusionist Thomas Baxter "I was always much more interested in the psychology and the thinking that's behind the illusions, than in the slight of hand or the painted boxes." Thomas Baxter he said. "I can understand the decisions people will make, and I can at times direct or even control their behaviour. "Because I do this in a very subtle way, it appears that these amazing and mystical things are happening." ThoughtControl is based on a series of experiments Baxter developed over the years "that are based on the psychology of illusion." It's psychology that piqued the Toronto native's interest in magic and illusions while he attended York University. After graduating with a degree in film studies and psychology, he began hitting the stage and putting on a magic show full-time. Inspired early on in his career by Canadian magician, illusionist and escape artist, Doug Henning, Baxter began performing with the usual magician's bag of tricks. "Doug Henning was a huge influence, and so at that time, I wanted to do all the stage illusions too," Baxter said. "As I got older, I realized that wasn't my main interest. "I was always much more interested in the psychology and the thinking that's behind the illusions, than in the slight of hand or the painted boxes." On top of his background in psychology, Baxter has studied the psychology of illusion, neuro-linguistic programming, body See Illusionist page 28 LUCK One summer I made a new friend. It was the best summer. Ever. We don't know what role luck played in the joy of finding a new friend, but we do know we need more than luck to give some deserving kids the same opportunity. Let's turn these memories into a reality for children at risk in our community. Here is your chance to make a difference in a child's life today by supporting The Hamilton Spectator Summer Camp Fund. Donations go directly to the Fund, which pays the camp fees of children whose families are unable to shoulder the cost of even a few days at camp. With your help, we can do it. For donations to the Summer Camp Fund, please call the Hamilton Community Foundation at 905-523-5600 or go online at www.thespec.com/scf or mail to the Summer Camp Fund, c/o The Hamilton Spectator, 44 Frid Street, Hamilton ON L8N 3G. 00000695