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Welcome to my review for the Paranormal Mind Reading show in Las Vegas! I saw the production a few weeks ago and got to go up on stage.
And let me tell you – that gave me an entirely different perspective of Frederic’s talent.
So today, I’ll be rating the show based on four criteria. Plus, I’ll share what happened to me during an illusion. You don’t want to miss this because it was super WEIRD.
Let’s get started!
About Frederic Da Silva’s Show
Paranormal isn’t your typical Las Vegas magic show. So you won’t find expensive props or showgirls here. Instead, Frederic Da Silva’s psychic abilities are the star.
You’ll get to see mind reading, hypnosis, close-up magic, and even some comedy in his one-man production at the Horseshoe Hotel.
But what makes this performance really stand out is that it’s incredibly personal. So you’ll get to know Frederic, and he’ll get to know you, too.
If all that sounds like something you’d like to see, keep reading!
Participation
- Audience involvement: 5/5
- On-stage helpers: 5/5
Mind Reading Magic has the most guest involvement of any show I’ve seen in Las Vegas. On the day I went, I counted 13 people who got to go up on stage.
Participation is all done by chance, too. For instance, Mr. Da Silva may toss inflatable balls into the crowd. Or have audience members throw a frisbee with their eyes closed.
But even if you don’t make it on stage to help with a trick, there are many ways to partake in the show.
For example, you might get to examine books to verify their authenticity. Or you may lend Frederic Da Silva your scarf or another clothing item for an illusion.
He also invites anyone to come up and check his ears for listening devices or to inspect the props. Of course, there are plenty of opportunities to make some noise, too!
Value for the Money
- Overall value: 5/5
You’ll see roughly 22 acts for a total run time of about 80 minutes. (The performance I attended started at 4:00 pm and lasted until 5:20 pm.)
Ticket prices for Paranormal Las Vegas are very reasonable as well. The average price range is between $30 and $60, plus applicable fees, depending on where you sit.
Compared to many productions, this is a great deal because you’re getting to watch a lot of acts for the money.
Plus, at Mindreading Magic, you’ll get even more value after the show.
For instance, Frederic often holds a meet and greet where he willingly proves his telepathy abilities to anyone who asks.
You can also get a free poster and autograph and have your picture taken with him.
Theater Size & Comfort
- Imagine showroom: 4.5/5
- Seat comfort: 5/5
Frederic’s show takes place in the Imagine Showroom at the Horseshoe Hotel.
It’s a smaller theater that feels intimate and personal. So, as long as you don’t sit in the rear or on the far right side, you should feel like you’re an active participant in the show.
As far as the seats go, I tested quite a few of them and found them to be comfortable.
The spacing between the rows isn’t too tight, either. So you’ll have a decent amount of room to put your belongings and plenty of space to stretch out.
Paranormal Magic Acts
- Psychic abilities: 5/5
- Magic tricks: 5/5
Below, I’ll give you an idea of the acts you’ll see. Like all my show reviews, I’ll try not to give too much away here, just enough so you can see if it’s a good fit for you.
The most important thing to know about Frederic’s illusions is that nothing is prearranged. So there aren’t any plants in the audience or anyone approaching a guest before it starts.
I can attest to that because I got to go up on stage. Nobody talked to me before the performance started, and I had never met Frederic before that day.
Mind Reading
The show starts with Frederic proving his mental capabilities to the audience. So, if you’re a skeptic, you won’t be for long. I promise you that!
For instance, he may have a guest select a word from a book or tell someone the number they have in their head.
Or Mr. Da Silva might predict who an audience member is thinking of. He’ll even say – “Do NOT make it easy,” i.e., don’t think about someone you came to the show with.
Distant Touch
For this trick, Frederic attempts to make a guest feel a touch or tap on different parts of their body. But here’s the strange part – he does it without making contact.
Then, he takes the act further and shows the power of connection between two people. Will one guest be able to “send” what they feel to another guest? And, if so, how is that even possible?
On Stage Experience
One of the tricks I helped with at the show freaked me out! And that’s because it made me believe in Frederic’s superpowers. (I was a skeptic at first.)
So this mind reading act involved a guest envisioning a time on a clock while I turned a watch’s crown to move its hands.
Now, again, I don’t want to give too many details away, so I’ll just tell you the weird part:
I knew the exact moment when the other guest was going to say a specific action word.
And my hand executed the action about a second before the other guest said it. It’s like my hand had a mind of its own, and I wasn’t in control of it.
This whole experience has me rattled. Was I somehow “connected” to the other person? Or was Frederic in my mind controlling my thoughts and actions?
At the time, I thought for sure I had screwed up the trick and would have to apologize to the audience. But, thankfully, that didn’t happen!
So, if you get the opportunity to assist with an illusion, don’t hesitate to go on stage. I think you’ll be even more impressed with Mr. Da Silva’s mentalism.
My Rating
- Overall rating: 4.94/5
I’ve seen a lot of Las Vegas shows, and this is the first time I’ve ever rated a production this high. Paranormal is one of my favorites in town, and I highly recommend going!
What I Enjoyed The Most
My favorite part of the show is that it’s just so mind-boggling. It really makes you consider some far-out theories. Some I’m embarrassed to admit!
I think it says a lot, too, that I’m still wondering how he did the tricks a few weeks after seeing Mindreading Magic.
(I can’t wrap my head around how he knows what number you’re thinking of without asking a single question.)
I also enjoyed the simplicity of the performance. As I touched on earlier, Frederic doesn’t need props or anything fancy.
Instead, it’s all about his talent and connection to the audience. So the entire show feels very personal and like you’re spending an afternoon with a good friend.
What Could Be Improved
My only criticism of the production has to do with the theater.
Although I enjoyed the smaller venue, I wish some rows were elevated – particularly after row 4. That way, there would be more of a clear view for guests sitting in the general admission seats.
So, if your budget allows, I think it’s worth getting upgraded tickets to be closer to the stage.
Other Show Reviews
Paranormal is the #1 rated show on the Las Vegas Strip. Over 10,000 people have reviewed it, with an average score of 4.9/5.0.
Here are some of the rankings from the most popular sites. Please note that scores and counts are as of the date of this article.
- Tripadvisor: 5.0/5.0 (3,115 reviews)
- Vegas.com: 4.9/5.0 (1,402 reviews)
- Google: 4.9/5.0 (1,420 reviews)
Who Paranormal Las Vegas Is Best For
After seeing the production, I think Paranormal is a good choice for you – if you:
- want a high probability of going up on stage
- enjoy productions that make you question reality
- like hypnotist and mentalist-type acts
- prefer an intimate setting
- appreciate clean, family-friendly fun
- want to watch a true talent
Reserve your seat for Paranormal
Get Your Tickets Now
Thanks for checking out my guide! If you’d like to help support my site, you can check for discount tickets to this production by clicking the button below. Buying through my link is at no extra cost to you, so thank you very much if you do! ♡ Jenna
My Final Thoughts
In a recent interview with Frederic, he said:
“There is an explanation [for how the tricks are done], but people don’t have a clue what the explanation is.”
That’s such a mysterious answer, isn’t it? It just makes you want to know more. What is this secret that nobody can guess? And how did he acquire the knowledge?
All I know after seeing his show is that I’m 100% convinced Frederic Da Silva can read minds. I’ll likely never know whether he does that through some psychic ability or if “something else” is giving him the answers.
Told you, my theories were out there. 😉
No matter the real explanation, though, debating how he does it is what makes this magic show so much fun!