Former psychic Mark Edward reveals how he conned clients in new book

Questioninggeller · 9th September 2012, 10:28 AM

Former psychic Mark Edward has been doing interviews about his recent book "Psychic Blues: Confessions of a Conflicted Medium" (foreword by James Randi).

Quote:

Pro Medium Repents for Life of Cons
The New York Times
By MARK OPPENHEIMER
August 31, 2012

Don’t mistake Mark Edward for John Edward. The two men, who are not related, are both professional mediums, men who charge money for their supposed skill at transmitting messages from the dead. But whereas John Edward had a nationally syndicated television show and still plays to large crowds in Las Vegas and across the country, Mark Edward’s biggest gigs were a baby shower at Eddie Murphy’s house and Buddy Hackett’s 70th birthday party.

But what Mark Edward Wilson (he doesn’t use his last name) lacks in professional success, he is trying to make up for in intellectual respectability. In his messy yet fascinating new book, “Psychic Blues: Confessions of a Conflicted Medium” (Feral House), Mr. Edward, 61, comes clean about the tricks that he has used to dupe people since he began working the Los Angeles magic scene in the 1970s. His book is a strange mishmash of self-pity, self-justification and genuine repentance — and a compelling look at the disputed territory where entertainment meets religion, where some practitioners actually think they can practice both at the same time.
...
In an interview this week, Mr. Edward said that after years of sympathizing with the skeptics but making money from people’s gullibility, he felt he had to choose sides.

“My conscience — I could no longer do it,” Mr. Edward said. “I’d been walking both sides of the line. My magician friends” — many of them skeptics — “thought I was selling out to the psychics, and the psychics thought I was selling out to the skeptics.”
...

Full: The New York Times

Quote:

Secrets of mediums unmasked: One repents for life of cons and reveals how he duped people into believing he can talk to the DEAD
Daily Mail
By Snejana Farberov
3 September 2012

He has spent the past 40 years transmitting messages from the dead and reading people’s fortunes, but now professional ‘psychic’ Mark Edward Wilson says it’s time to draw back the curtain on his act.

In a new tell-all book called 'Psychic Blues: Confessions of a Conflicted Medium', the 61-year-old medium, who goes by the name Mark Edward, reveals the tricks of the trade that he has been using since the 1970s to make people believe in his ‘supernatural’ powers.

While Edward’s memoir does not reveal any shocking secrets of the profession, it effectively drives home the point of how easily people can be duped, according to the New York Times.
...
However, the bread-and-butter of Edward’s craft is his ability to make vague, general statements about problems that are common to almost everyone, and which are most likely to hit the mark.

‘I sense that you have relationship issues,’ he told one caller to the Psychic Friends Network where he had worked in the 1990s, ‘which sometimes leave you fearful of the outcome.’
...

Full: Daily Mail

Allecher · 9th September 2012, 10:59 AM

Here is Mark's take on those two articles: http://www.skepticblog.org/2012/09/0...nd/#more-18765

Ian · 9th September 2012, 12:12 PM

This is worse that simply lazy work by journalists. Articles like this both imply that there is such a thing as a psychic while at the same time misunderstanding why ethical deliberate frauds do their work without cheating people out of their money and way of life. Randi did it. Bob Steiner did it, and explained that he felt sorry that a woman who was covering his fakery was falling in love with Steiner's character (that's a hazard, in case any readers consider doing the same sort of work as Edwards, Steiner, and Randi). Honest people are trying to show the rest of us that it's all fakery by being fakes with the ultimate goal of calling themselves out as fakes while not stealing. It seems like a thankless job, but I admire them for their commitment.

Paul C. Anagnostopoulos · 9th September 2012, 05:15 PM

I read the book about a week ago. It was entertaining and educational.

~~ Paul

Orphia Nay · 11th September 2012, 12:15 AM

Originally Posted by Allecher

Here is Mark's take on those two articles: http://www.skepticblog.org/2012/09/0...nd/#more-18765

Great! Thanks for that.

IceSage · 17th September 2012, 07:12 AM

This guy has a lot more guts than John Edward ever will.

I salute you for coming clean, Mark Edward!

9th September 2012, 10:28 AM	#1
Questioninggeller Illuminator Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 3,048	Former psychic Mark Edward reveals how he conned clients in new book Former psychic Mark Edward has been doing interviews about his recent book "Psychic Blues: Confessions of a Conflicted Medium" (foreword by James Randi). Quote: Pro Medium Repents for Life of Cons The New York Times By MARK OPPENHEIMER August 31, 2012 Don’t mistake Mark Edward for John Edward. The two men, who are not related, are both professional mediums, men who charge money for their supposed skill at transmitting messages from the dead. But whereas John Edward had a nationally syndicated television show and still plays to large crowds in Las Vegas and across the country, Mark Edward’s biggest gigs were a baby shower at Eddie Murphy’s house and Buddy Hackett’s 70th birthday party. But what Mark Edward Wilson (he doesn’t use his last name) lacks in professional success, he is trying to make up for in intellectual respectability. In his messy yet fascinating new book, “Psychic Blues: Confessions of a Conflicted Medium” (Feral House), Mr. Edward, 61, comes clean about the tricks that he has used to dupe people since he began working the Los Angeles magic scene in the 1970s. His book is a strange mishmash of self-pity, self-justification and genuine repentance — and a compelling look at the disputed territory where entertainment meets religion, where some practitioners actually think they can practice both at the same time. ... In an interview this week, Mr. Edward said that after years of sympathizing with the skeptics but making money from people’s gullibility, he felt he had to choose sides. “My conscience — I could no longer do it,” Mr. Edward said. “I’d been walking both sides of the line. My magician friends” — many of them skeptics — “thought I was selling out to the psychics, and the psychics thought I was selling out to the skeptics.” ... Full: The New York Times Quote: Secrets of mediums unmasked: One repents for life of cons and reveals how he duped people into believing he can talk to the DEAD Daily Mail By Snejana Farberov 3 September 2012 He has spent the past 40 years transmitting messages from the dead and reading people’s fortunes, but now professional ‘psychic’ Mark Edward Wilson says it’s time to draw back the curtain on his act. In a new tell-all book called 'Psychic Blues: Confessions of a Conflicted Medium', the 61-year-old medium, who goes by the name Mark Edward, reveals the tricks of the trade that he has been using since the 1970s to make people believe in his ‘supernatural’ powers. While Edward’s memoir does not reveal any shocking secrets of the profession, it effectively drives home the point of how easily people can be duped, according to the New York Times. ... However, the bread-and-butter of Edward’s craft is his ability to make vague, general statements about problems that are common to almost everyone, and which are most likely to hit the mark. ‘I sense that you have relationship issues,’ he told one caller to the Psychic Friends Network where he had worked in the 1990s, ‘which sometimes leave you fearful of the outcome.’ ... Full: Daily Mail
	Last edited by Questioninggeller; 9th September 2012 at 10:45 AM.

9th September 2012, 10:59 AM	#2
Allecher Critical Thinker Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 445	Here is Mark's take on those two articles: http://www.skepticblog.org/2012/09/0...nd/#more-18765
Allecher Critical Thinker Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 445	__________________ "When I do good, I feel good; when I do bad, I feel bad. That's my religion." -Abraham Lincoln, 16th president of the U.S. (1809-1865)

9th September 2012, 12:12 PM	#3
Ian Thinker Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 241	This is worse that simply lazy work by journalists. Articles like this both imply that there is such a thing as a psychic while at the same time misunderstanding why ethical deliberate frauds do their work without cheating people out of their money and way of life. Randi did it. Bob Steiner did it, and explained that he felt sorry that a woman who was covering his fakery was falling in love with Steiner's character (that's a hazard, in case any readers consider doing the same sort of work as Edwards, Steiner, and Randi). Honest people are trying to show the rest of us that it's all fakery by being fakes with the ultimate goal of calling themselves out as fakes while not stealing. It seems like a thankless job, but I admire them for their commitment.
Ian Thinker Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 241

9th September 2012, 05:15 PM	#4
Paul C. Anagnostopoulos Nap, interrupted. Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 19,143	I read the book about a week ago. It was entertaining and educational. ~~ Paul
	__________________ Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon. ---Susan Ertz RIP Mr. Skinny, Tim

11th September 2012, 12:15 AM	#5
Orphia Nay Penguilicious Spodmaster. Tagger Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ponylandistan Presidential Palace (above the Spods' stables). Posts: 36,167	Originally Posted by Allecher Here is Mark's take on those two articles: http://www.skepticblog.org/2012/09/0...nd/#more-18765 Great! Thanks for that.
	__________________ Challenge your thoughts. Don't believe everything you think.

17th September 2012, 07:12 AM	#6
IceSage Scholar Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 62	This guy has a lot more guts than John Edward ever will. I salute you for coming clean, Mark Edward!
IceSage Scholar Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 62