Every elegant, effortless moment of impossibility you witness on stage is the result of countless hours of unseen work. It is the tip of a very large iceberg. The creation of a new piece of psychological entertainment is not a mystical act of inspiration; it is a rigorous, disciplined process of research and development, much like that of an inventor, a scientist, or a software developer.

It is a process of asking questions, studying the past, experimenting with the present, and endlessly refining for the future. This is a rare, behind-the-scenes look at that process—a glimpse into the R&D that goes into the art of the impossible.

The Spark: It Starts with “Why?”

New performance pieces do not come from a dusty “book of secrets.” They almost always begin not with a method, but with a question, a theme, or a desired emotional outcome. The spark of a new idea is a “why,” not a “how.”

An idea might start with a question like, “What would it feel like for an entire audience to have a shared, secret thought?” It might be inspired by a theme, like exploring the concept of cybersecurity through the lens of psychological illusion. Or it might be driven by a desired feeling, such as wanting to create an experience that leaves a guest of honor feeling truly seen and celebrated. The method is always subservient to the meaning. This ensures that the work is not just about fooling people, but about creating a genuine, resonant experience.

Deconstruction and Reconstruction

Once the “why” is established, the “how” can begin. This process involves studying the vast history of the art form, deconstructing existing principles, and reconstructing them in new, innovative ways. I will dive into my personal library, studying the annotated works of past masters like Theodore Annemann or the modern philosophies of performers like Dan Harlan.

The goal is never to simply copy their “tricks.” The goal is to understand their thinking. How did they structure a moment? How did they use language to create a sense of fairness? What psychological principles were they exploiting? This foundational knowledge is then integrated with modern psychology, contemporary storytelling, and the organizational power of my custom software, Codex, to build something new. It is an act of standing on the shoulders of giants to see a little further.

The Gauntlet of Rehearsal

An idea is not a performance piece. A method is not a miracle. The bridge between the two is the gauntlet of rehearsal. This is the most time-consuming and critical phase of the R&D process.

First comes the scripting. Every word is chosen with care, written and rewritten to sound natural, conversational, and effortless. Then comes the physical rehearsal, practicing every action, every glance, every pause until it is second nature. Finally, the piece is tested in front of small, trusted audiences. Their feedback is invaluable. Did the moment land? Was the theme clear? Was there any confusion? Based on these test performances, the piece is refined, tweaked, and polished again and again.

The hard work, the awkwardness, and the failure all happen in private. The commitment to this rigorous rehearsal process is the ultimate source of the “elegant, uncanny” style that you see on stage. The more work you do offstage, the less it looks like work onstage.

Internal Links: What is Codex? A Glimpse into the Digital Brain, Continuous Learning: The Pursuit of Mastery

External Link: A great interview with Adam Savage on his creative process and the importance of the workshop