Post by Mr. Jon Donnis on Jun 29, 2012 14:34:26 GMT
Here we go again. I have read about Stephen Holbrook on his web site and also seen his adverts in the local papers. From his web site it is clear that he has a very busy schedule of demonstration with over 60 dates till end of March 2006. He charges from £10-£15 per ticket depending on the venue.
On Sunday 20th November 2005 I went along to the Hilton Hotel in St. Helens. It was a nice venue and the demonstration was held in one of the Conference Suites. At the entrance sat two people selling tickets, one of which was Stephen Holbrook. The suite had about 200 seats and I estimate that there were about 180 people present. The room was extremely warm/hot as the air conditioning was not on.
Stephen Holbrook took to the front and introduced himself and gave us some background about himself and his first experience with spirit. He told us that he works 26 nights a month for 9 months. If you do the maths with an average audience of 150 then this will equate to some £380K+ per annum! He also told us that he had been offered several TV contracts including a contract for £137K for 8 weeks work. He told us he turned them all down because he does not want to do TV work. He mentioned his books which were available for sale.
He then explained how he works which is that he is clairaudient and hears spirit speaking to him. When spirit speak to him he would relay that information to us and if we thought it was for us then we should immediately put our hand up. If we did not put our hand up in the first 10 seconds then the “energy” would fade and be lost and we would not get our message and how bad would we feel then etc. We were told not to worry if several people raised their hands as he would quickly work out who the message was for.
Now this 10 second condition is a great psychological pressure on the audience and will ensure that there are no long pauses when he throws out general information. This gives the impression, when somebody claims it “immediately,” that he must be “spot on” with the information. I find this way of working very poor mediumship because any relative/friend etc in the spirit world knows exactly where I am in the audience. If the medium has a good link with spirit then spirit can direct the medium to me. Mediums who work in this way can be accused of using cold reading techniques, fishing etc as they “feed off” the audience. This is not clairvoyance!
In addition the more timid in the audience are unlikely to put their hands up quickly while the extrovert/believer will. Some, I am sure, will put their hand up regardless of what is thrown out, as they can be of the view that they have paid their £10-15, so they will do all they can to get a message.
Also there was no roving mike for the audience which meant that the person receiving the message had to speak loudly to be heard. Again this can be very intimidating as many people are not used to being in the public eye.
He did ask questions of the audience many times like “your mothers in spirit, is she?” “you have a boy in spirit, do you?”etc etc. As opposed to saying “I have your mother here” or “I have your son with me”. Although during the demonstration Stephen Holbrook did get “Yes’s” they were often very hesitantly delivered as if they really were not too sure about the information but did not want to contradict this well know medium who “obviously” knew what he was doing.
His delivery can be quiet entertaining and amusing and he did get the crowd laughing. He reminded me more of a cabaret comic/entertainer than someone who was proving life beyond death.
However when you take away all the froth and bubble of the message again you are left with little substance and it leaves me with more questions about his true abilities. As far as I am concerned Stephen Holbrook is a business which just wants to increase its turnover and profits. If in the process it happens to bring comfort to people then that’s all well and good.
Having said that I think the majority of the people there thought he was very good. I still cannot believe how gullible people are. If they were only more discerning and actually listened to what was being said then it would become obvious that it is not quiet what it seems. I just guess for some people when you produce the facts they still will not listen and happily spend their money feathering the medium’s nest.
By Lester<BR>
Transcript of a message.
Stephen Holbrook = SH
Recipient = R
My comments in Bold
SH. Who lost their dad to the spirit it world, not that long, probably 18 months ago, September is significant. Where are you? (he asks the audience) His passing, your birthday, anniversary. I don’t know. September. Hello (SH notices a hand up) well done. Are you knew? September! Hello! I need your hands up quickly. Hello. Wait a minute. (he focuses on a young lady who look in her early 30s) Is your dad in the spirit world?
R. Yes.
SH. It’s you after all. Hang on wait a minute. Please don’t be scared. Has been gone in the last 18 months?
R. Yes.
SH. September. Why?
R. Saddest day.
SH. That what he said. (easy to say that now when he has just have just been told by the recipient) Thank you, sorry everybody (to all the others that had put their hands up), it was you I was after. So this is a bald man. That means a cap up ………for goodness sake. Please ladies and gentleman don’t spoil it, don’t have me going round during important people. I can only hold the energy till I loose it (in other words he now puts all the pressure on the recipient for the success of the message and not him where it should rightly be) can I have a voice yes or no.
R. Yes
SH. Your dad’s here and he’s chuffed to say, I don’t believe that you are at one of these evenings. OK!
R. Yes
SH. And do you know that he wouldn’t have just laughed at you, he would have told you it’s a total waste of time and money.
R. Yes.
SH. He’s here, but anyway he’s here. Do you know he has just said that I went quicker than I thought I was going to. (probably what we would all say is it not)
R. Yes
SH. And do you know something my love, you never said goodbye properly.(does anyone)
R. No
SH. And you know something, you spoke to him this morning.
R. Yes
SH. And he has just said you told me you love me.
R. Yes
SH. And I’m going to tell you something, he said you did, and he said you were in the bathroom when you told him.
R. Yes.
SH. Yes, and I was watching ya. No he wasn’t, he’s winding you up, but I’m going to tell you something my love, you didn’t want to put your hand up because you were nervous. You’re not going to be nervous now. Can I tell you something my love, its people like a lead weight………..when you think about it you get upset. Understand?
R. Yes.
SH. Well your not going to be upset to night love, he’s going to make you smile, he’s just going to tell you something else as well. Happy birthday. Why?
R. Ours birthday
SH. Well done, and do you know something, you wanted your dad to come back before Xmas.
R. Yes.
SH. And he has just said, you’ve been thinking about it today. Do you understand!
R. Yes.
SH. And he has just said listen, you think I tried to let you know I’m OK.
R. Yes
SH. Damn right I am and do you know what, he has just said, I move things in your house. And do you put things down and you know you put them there.
R. Yes.
SH. And you think well I know, but its gone. Do you understand?
R. Yes
SH. That’s him, he got a bag full of it here. And I am going to tell you something my love he was a character.(we are all characters)
R. Yes.
SH. And I’m going to tell you something my love. Thursday, thank you. Why was Thursday significant? Was it the funeral?
R. Yes.
SH. Do you know, can I have your voice. Is your mum still living? (another question, why? If mum is in spirit he should know) R. Yes
SH. She’s not here is she? (another question)
R. No
SH. No. Can I tell you this.
R. Yeah
SH. Your mother’s changed. She has needed a lot of support. OK! (having lost her husband fairly recently that would be natural)
R. Yes
SH. I’m going to tell you something. You love your mum but you don’t always understand.
R. Don’t I?
SH. Understand
R. Yes
SH. Do you know I’m going to tell you something else as well, please don’t deny to me
The tape now becomes almost inaudible and I do not want to guess at the word spoken. However this was virtually the end of the message
You should look at the above message and truly ask yourself is this proof of survival?
By Lester
A bad ass who will beat you like he's using the fists of god.
Post by Mr. Jon Donnis on Dec 20, 2012 21:58:34 GMT
Stephen Holbrook - ‘An Evening of Clairvoyance’
This is a summary of a performance by ‘one of Britain’s most gifted clairvoyants’ at North Tyneside on 30th May 2012.
It should be said that we planned to see his performance at Morpeth a few days earlier, but strangely he came on stage and spoke to the tiny handful of people there to tell them that ‘the energy wasn’t right’ and he didn’t think the spirits would come through. He gave everyone a refund. Strangely, we had let it slip that there were skeptics in the audience. Did that have anything to do with it? Did we create the ‘wrong’ energy? Who knows!
At North Tyneside, the first 17 minutes of the show were taken up by Holbrook proclaiming his expertise and talent in communicating to the dead. He told the audience that it started when he was 15 and he was in a supermarket. On reaching into a freezer his hand touched another ladies by accident and he immediately heard a voice telling him to speak to the lady about a birthday. He did so and they both burst into tears. He went on to say that his doctor told him there was nothing he could do about these constant voices in his head and he decided to share his gift with the world. For a price, of course. He also enlightened the audience as to how this gift worked. He would get a message and if anyone could relate to it they had 10 seconds to put their hand up. He didn’t explain why the spirit couldn’t just say ‘I am Bert Smith and I want to speak to my wife, Hilda and tell her where the copy of the will is hidden’. It was up to the audience to decide if some vague message fitted in with someone who had passed ‘into spirit’.
He touched on his spirit guide, Archie May, a hairdressing soldier in WW1 who had received a wound to his left arm. He then gave an excruciatingly embarrassing performance about how his hand was cold and blue and so on. It’s one of the oldest stage magicians tricks ever invented. I really wanted to ask him to take his jacket off, but managed to resist the temptation. The whole preamble was incredibly banal, not to mention distasteful and arrogant. The only bit that made sense was when he told everyone that the ‘big names’ were rubbish. That I agreed with. But never mind, the show started with an incredibly amateurish display of 5th rate cold reading. Or rather, started after he acknowledged several people who he recognised from previous performances and introduced Sally, who was going to draw pictures of the spirits. OK, here we go then.
H = Holbrook AM = Audience member M = My comments
His opening line was toecurlingly cringeworthy, but set the standard for what was to come.
H Somebody lost their mum last year to the spirit world. Who lost their mum. Please be quick. A woman put her hand up
H Your mum liked the spirits. And you know what, sweetheart; she’s been back to your house to visit you. She knew there was something afterwards and if she knew it was so good she would have gone months before. She’s sending love to four of you.
H She had a swollen leg or a lump on her left leg.
AM It was her right
H But she’s alright now, she’s like Linford Christie
M He then went on to his standard routine about having a ring and in fact she says there are two and she wants them back. He comes out with this one every show. The reading continued:
H Have you got a locket, a loveheart necklace?
AM No
H (turning to the ‘artist’) who does this picture look like
AM Not like me mam
H (rather brusquely) remember what I said. Now who does it look like? Remember what I said.
AM (after 10 second pause) Could look like my aunty
H Keep looking at it, it’s someone who belongs to you. September, why is September significant to you
AM It’s my birthday in September
H That’s what the person on the screen is saying. They are here to say happy birthday.
H Have you got a son
AM Yes
H How old is he
AM 2
H You don’t know who Margaret is, do you? Who is Margaret?
AM I’ve got a friend called Margaret
H No, she’s passed away
AM No
AM Could be an aunt or grandmother (referring to the picture)
H You don’t know this person here
AM No
H You don’t know who Jean is do you?
AM Me mam had a friend called Jean
H Did she
AM I can’t remember what she looked like, quite short
H Jean was your mum’s friend who she was close to. It’s funny; we’ve got M and J here. Come down and collect. August. Is August significant?
AM Yes, she died in August
H Do me a favour. Did you ever have a Jack Russell terrier
AM Yes
H He’s here (gasps from audience)
M. Lots more questions followed, not a single statement was given. Absolutely typical 5th rate cold reading. He’s on to a winner, though. His audience don’t need convincing, they are already convinced. It matters not that he isn’t giving any information out, they are here to witness him passing messages of staggering banality from beyond the grave and it simply does not occur to them that he is just making it up. No one questions the obvious – if the spirit can tell him they are called Joan, why can’t the spirit add one more word and say Joan Smith? After all, they can talk about jewellery and lockets, but can’t say their second name? The suspension of disbelief is spectacular. Anyway, on to another victim.
H Hello, can I speak to you
AM Yes
H All the time I’ve been speaking to Jean and everyone else, your mum has been waiting. She’s just sat here patiently waiting. She wanted to get in first, said she’s been here since two o’clock. Do you know what, she’s just sat there, wheezing. Let me tell you something, are you new to this
AM No
H You’ve been here before
AM Yes
H Tell her she likes her tattoo
AM Oh, that must be K****, my granddaughter, she’s just got one done.
M. Standard shotgun line. Everyone knows someone with a tattoo!
H Aww, bless her. Tell her she loves her tattoo
M. And so it went on. Absolutely dreadful stuff. Holbrook is a brusque and loud. His attempts at humour are childish and, although he got a few laughs and gasps, they were few and far between. His audience were willing to accept anything he said and there were several people obviously upset and tearful. No one asks the obvious questions, which seem to me to be what most people would instinctively want to know.
Why are the messages totally inconsequential? I don’t want to know that someone had a Jack Russell Terrier; I want to know something more important than that. Why can’t I ask them a question? Why are you asking me things when, if it really is my mother’s spirit, she KNOWS my birthday is in September (or whenever). Are you saying she is now so doddery and confused that she doesn’t know that September is my birthday, just that something happens in that month? That’s not my mum, she loved me, and she never forgot my birthday. I wanted to remember her the way she was, not as some confused and senile person. Why do you get so many things wrong? I don’t know about any locket. Why would my mum mention something like that? Why doesn’t she tell me something important? Why, Mr Holbrook?
Most importantly, why do none of these audiences ask him ‘Why are you taking money off people under false pretences. Mr Holbrook?’
I struggle to think of anything more despicable, revolting and hideous than someone taking money from bereaved and vulnerable people. Forget the addicts and the groupies, I don’t care about them. They are welcome to it. Anyone stupid enough to believe this rubbish to the extent that they are followers and fans, so be it – it’s your money, throw it away however you want. It’s the people who go, having been taken in by his ridiculous advert, his sickly website or the credulous testimony of credulous people that I worry about. The ones who really think that they are going to be put in touch with their loved ones, who are distressed, vulnerable and grieving. Nothing in this world is so despicable than the utter scum who take money off them for false hope.
A bad ass who will beat you like he's using the fists of god.
Yes he is a cabaret act. I went to see him last year and he is quite a performer. No ability to speak to dead people of course, but still quite funny. A good cold reader too because he had some people in tears. I felt like knocking him out big-time but thought better of it.