Colin Cloud Review: “Mastermind” Show in Las Vegas

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Hey there! Welcome to my review of Colin Cloud’s new show in Las Vegas.

I first became a fan of Colin’s when I saw him perform with Shin Lim at the Mirage. (Don’t tell Lim, but I thought he stole the show!)

So, when I heard he was opening his own production at Harrah’s, I had to be one of the first to see it. 🙂

Today, I’ll be sharing my “Mastermind” experience with you. I’ll also rate all aspects of the performance, from his mentalist skills to the theater, cost, and more.

Are you ready to find out if it’s worth seeing? Let’s do it!

About Colin Cloud

Colin Cloud is a magician and mentalist known for being the “closest thing to a real-life Sherlock Holmes.”

As a boy, Colin was inspired by Holmes’ ability to predict human behavior and wanted to be just like him when he grew up.

So, he studied forensic science and became a criminal profiler. But after some time, he gave it up to pursue his love of magic.

Colin reached the semi-finals of AGT Season 12 and was on a Champions show. He also appeared in Shin Lim’s “Limitless” at the Mirage.

He became so popular with Shin that he now headlines his own production. In his new show, he’ll read your mind just by looking into your eyes!

Venue: Harrah’s Cabaret

• Stage View: 4.75/5
• Seat Comfort: 4.5/5
• Location: Harrah’s Las Vegas

I love the theater that Colin performs in for his Mastermind show.

Not only is it easy to get to because Harrah’s is in the middle of The Strip, but it’s small, providing a more personal experience.

So everyone will get to sit close-ish to the stage, with no one more than seven rows back.

However, chairs in the corners are harder to see from because of how they’re positioned. And some seats have more padding and legroom than others.

I sat in a front-row chair, and was a little squished! So, you may want to check out my Colin Cloud seating guide for the locations I recommend.

Participation Opportunities

• Audience Involvement: 5/5

Colin’s show offers numerous opportunities for participation! And even if you don’t get on stage, you can still be involved from your seat.

For instance, you may contact your friends to get a number or participate in a focus test. There are also times when you can lend an item or write down a secret.

From The Seats

I counted over 30 people who got to stand at their chairs and help with a mind-reading illusion or magic trick. Others got to test the props or choose words from a book.

On Stage Helpers

At the show I attended, 14 people went up to the stage. They mainly were adults (12 in total, six women and six men). But Colin also chose two kids from the audience to go up.

Selection Process

To choose volunteers, Colin often uses a hat toss. Other times, he selects people as he walks around the room or picks the person whose hand goes up the fastest.

Magic Tricks & Mind Reading

• Mentalism: 5/5
• Traditional Magic Acts: 4/5
• Comedy: 4.5/5

At Mastermind, Cloud discerns details about you that nobody would ever know, like your most embarrassing moment or what you ate for a snack.

So, a lot of his tricks are simply “reading” someone. But he also includes more traditional magic tricks to mix it up.

Below is a quick preview of some of the illusions you may see in his Las Vegas production. As always, I’ll try not to give too much away here.

Hypnotize Me

This act starts with everyone in the audience getting hypnotized (if you want to be). And then, two people are selected based on the result.

So, in this illusion, you’ll watch as one person is brought up on stage and instantly hypnotized.

Then, another guest attempts to communicate with the hypnotized person by only sending messages to her through her thoughts.

Will the hypnotized guest “hear” her? And what happens if everyone in the room tries to send a different message all at the same time?

Hooked on Colin

The “hooked” trick involves inserting a sharp object somewhere on Cloud’s body.

As he walks amongst the crowd, Colin attempts to use the “skills of a psychopath” to manipulate people into performing the action he wants.

But here’s the intriguing part: he has to do it without saying a word.

If any of the guests fail, his career will surely be over, and he’ll be in excruciating pain, too!

Who’s Lying Now

Colin’s next trick is a hilarious interrogation game. During this act, he also teaches you the signs to look for when determining deception.

So, in “Who’s Lying Now,” four audience members are brought up on stage, and their task is to hide an expensive object.

Cloud then attempts to figure out where it is by asking questions and instructing the guests to lie to him.

Will he be able to find the object, or will the person hiding it get to keep it? This act takes a dramatic turn, reminiscent of a Sherlock Holmes mystery!

Value for the Money

• Talent: 5/5
• Show Length: 5/5
• Cost: $$

This production offers a lot of value for the money, especially considering how much audience involvement there is!

At the performance I attended, I saw 18 different acts. Seven were more traditional magic tricks, and 11 were mentalist or hypnosis acts.

Additionally, with the mentalist tricks, he did more than just read someone’s mind for a second. He’d often go super in-depth, revealing tons of information about a person.

How Long is Colin Cloud’s Show?

The performance I attended started promptly at 6:00 p.m. and ended at about 7:25 p.m., so it was around 85 minutes long.

Cost

Mastermind tickets typically cost between $40 and $60, depending on the section. There are also some fees with all ticket sales that will increase the cost slightly.

For this show, I think it’s worth sitting in sections P1 or P2, as these tables will provide a better experience overall.

Menu

Beverage prices start at $23 for cocktails and $16 for beer and wine. There are also Pepsi products for $9 and candy or popcorn for $10.

My Review & Show Rating

Overall, I’d rate Mastermind 4.8/5.0. I’ve always been fascinated by mentalism shows, and Cloud is one of the best (if not the best) I’ve ever seen.

So, I absolutely recommend going to this show, especially if you like mind-reading!

What I Enjoyed the Most

Here are some aspects of the production that I really enjoyed.

Mind Reading Skills

While I’m sure there is a ‘trick’ to some of his acts, it’s clear to me that he really can read minds.

And he won’t just tell you a number you’re thinking of (although that’s impressive, too). But the details he can deduce are downright scary!

For instance, how does he know the name of the person you first kissed? And how can he “hear” the answers other people are thinking all around the room?

That’s not something he can influence. It’s a personal fact that hardly anyone would know, especially a stranger.

The whole thing is just so unreal and mind-boggling!

Humor & Energy

Like my experience at Mat Franco’s show, I was caught off guard by how funny Colin is.

His comedy skills are even more impressive when you consider that he improvises with guests to create hilarious moments on the spot.

Cloud’s energy was also off the charts, which made the entire experience so much fun.

What Could Be Improved

Besides being cramped where I sat, I had a hard time coming up with many negatives. So, the following comment is minor.

It Was A Little Fast (At Times)

I think it’s great that Cloud puts so much into his production. But occasionally, the pace felt a little fast for me, making some of the tricks harder to follow.

I found that especially true when he’d have two tricks going at once. For instance, he would often rotate between the audience and a group on stage.

By the time one group finished their part, I’d forgotten where we had left off with the other.

But he does recap every illusion before each reveal, so if you miss anything, he gets you up to speed fast!

Who Will Enjoy Mastermind

I think “Mastermind is a good choice for you,” if you:

• enjoy magic and hypnosis acts
• like to be actively involved in a show
• appreciate comedy mixed in with illusions
• don’t mind being potentially embarrassed
• prefer small venues
• want to watch a performance that will make you think

Is Colin Cloud’s Show Appropriate for Kids?

Cloud makes a few drug references (as jokes) and says the s-word once or twice. Other than that, I don’t remember anything else being inappropriate for kids.

I thought he did a fantastic job of including children and making them feel welcome. At the show I went to, two kids got on stage, and two others helped with a trick from their seats.

Other Reviews

The production opened last July, and it’s already getting the highest scores possible! Here are some ratings from other platforms:

• Tripadvisor: 5.0/5.0, 193 reviews*
• Vegas.com: 4.9/5.0, 235 reviews*

*Ratings and review counts are as of the date of this article.

My Final Thoughts

Cloud says there are absolutely no plants in the audience. And by that, he means he hasn’t prearranged anything with any guests.

I 100% believe him.

He uses so many people in the audience for his tricks – if they were all plants, he wouldn’t make any money!

But he also insists that there’s nothing psychic about what he does. This leaves me with serious questions. How does he do it, then?

I’ve considered some wild theories – everything from hypnotizing the entire audience to black magic to the idea that he’s not even human (ha!).

Or maybe he has a team that researches everyone in the audience before his performance. But that still wouldn’t explain how he knows certain things.

I’ll probably never know the answer, and I’m okay with that. But I do know that if you’re doubting his abilities, you won’t be after seeing this show!