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Alain Nu

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Alain Nu
Headshot of Alain Nu
Headshot of Alain Nu
Born (1965-08-21) 21 August 1965 (age 59)
San Francisco, California
OccupationMentalist, illusionist, magician
Website
www.themanwhoknows.tv

Alain Nu (born 21 August 1965) is an American mentalist,[1] illusionist, television personality, author, and speaker. He is known for demonstrations of ESP, mind reading, telekinesis, metal bending,[2][3] and illusions. [4] Nu's career as an entertainer has spanned more than three decades, with performances and appearances in many countries. [5] Nu's trademarked brand is "The Man Who Knows." [6]

Early life

Nu was born on 21 August 1965 in San Francisco, California. His mother and father were from China and Vietnam respectively. Nu is the son of Hoa Nguyen, a retired librarian of the Library of Congress, and Janet C. Nguyen (née Yeh), a retired librarian of the National Library of Medicine.

At the age of 5, Nu's family moved to Ithaca, New York, and at the age of 8, Nu's family moved to Bethesda, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, DC. Nu has lived in the Washington, DC, area ever since. It is stated in the book State of Mind, "As a youth, his interest in the unknown manifested in anything he could research and/or get away with -- basement seances, UFO clubs, and playfully testing he and his friends' psychic ability with playing cards. He asked his father, who worked at the Library of Congress, to bring home hard-to-find books on magic, strange phenomena, and parapsychology, so he could learn as much as possible about these topics." [7]

Nu, at an early age of 6 or 7 discovered that he wanted be an excellent magician. He was always identified different due to his ethnicity so he started to identify those things that welcomed his distinction.[8]

At the age of 13, Nu became a member of DeMolay International, a fraternal organization (associated with Freemasonry) for young men, later achieving the elected position of master councilor (highest-ranking member) of the Samuel Gompers and Potomac Chevy Chase DeMolay chapters. [9]

Performing career

At the age of 19, Nu was hired as the stage/road manager for a theatrical illusion show entitled the Denny & Lee show, which performed at clubs, resorts, corporate events, and universities across the U.S. Nu set up the equipment and ran the sound and lights for the show. [10] From 2000 to 2004, Nu performed annually in a show titled The Mysterious World of Alain Nu at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. [11] [12] In 2005, Nu was the subject of a series of four television specials on TLC entitled The Mysterious World of Alain Nu. [13] [14] [15]

A Alain Nu with Al and Sarah Gore at vice president residence in 1995

Nu performed for inaugural balls for both of President Barack Obama's inaugurations[citation needed] and helped organize entertainment for the friends and families of the many surviving Medal of Honor recipients for The American Legion's Presidential Inaugural Ball. [16] He also performed at the second of George W. Bush's inaugural events. [17] Nu also performed three times at the vice president's residence during Al Gore's tenure. [18]

In 2006, Nu performed a show called Circus of the Mind at the National Theatre in Washington, DC. [19] From 2008 to 2012, Nu toured with a one-man show entitled Invisible Connections. In 2010, Nu performed the show for six weeks in Las Vegas. He also performed the show at universities and colleges, high school "Project Graduation" events, corporate and private events, and organizations' fundraisers. [20]

Since 2011, Nu has performed an annual show entitled The ESP in Espionage at the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. The show was inspired by the Stargate Project, the trickery of spies, and other top secret projects. [21] [22] From January to May 2014, Nu was a headliner performing as the premier mind-reader at the "Illusionarium" aboard Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Getaway.[23] The "Illusionarium" is an entertainment venue devoted to magic and illusion performances.

Since 2016, Nu has been a producer and performer for a comedy open mic and magic show Monday nights [24] at Madam's Organ Blues Bar in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, DC. Nu has had a long history, off and on, at Madam's Organ since 1995. In 2000, Eric Brace of The Washington Post called Nu, "a magician of the highest order".[25]

A Alain Nu at Kingbird restaurant inside The Watergate Hotel

In 2017, Nu became The Watergate Hotel's "Resident Man of Mystery," [26] performing at the rooftop restaurant [27] In February 2018, Nu was featured in a video[28] on The Washington Post's website, in which he bent a spoon and performed effects. The video accompanied a feature article on Nu for The Washington Post Magazine's "Just Asking" column.[29]

Nu performed a show at the Theatre of Dreams in Castle Rock, Colorado, on May 4, 2018.[30] Nu performed for the District of Columbia Mayor's Office Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration on May 7, 2018, at the Lincoln Theatre in Washington, DC.[31] In October 2018, Nu began weekly appearances at The Lexington Hotel NYC in New York City.[32][33][34] On Oct. 31, 2018, Nu was one of several magicians gathered at Harry Houdini's first home in New York City to perform during a séance held annually on the anniversary of Houdini's death,[35] later doing a special Halloween performance at The Lexington Hotel.[36]

Nu was the opening act for Poe's Magic Theatre at the Lord Baltimore Hotel in Baltimore on June 1, 2019.[37] "Alain Nu amazed with phenomenal psychic predictions, impossible metal bending and even something a little bizarre with the works of Edgar Allan Poe," stated Vince Wilson, founder of the theatre.[38]

In January 2020, Nu began a residency, performing as "The Man Who Knows," in Las Vegas at the Attic Showroom at OYO Hotel & Casino.[39]

Lecture circuit

In 2014, Nu was a presenter, along with Stephen Macknik, Susana Martinez-Conde and Richard Restak, for an event in Washington, DC, entitled "Now You See it, Now You Don't. Is Anything Really as it Seems? The Science of Illusion." The event was part of the "Neuroscience and Society" series, a partnership between the Dana Foundation and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.[40][41] In 2015, Nu was a panelist, along with Marc Sebrechts and Richard Restak, for an event in Washington, DC, entitled "Raising Ghosts: A paranormal discussion and demonstration," hosted by the Molotov Theatre Group.[42] Nu has lectured for John Petersen's The Arlington Institute Transition Talks series in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia.[43] Nu was also interviewed on camera by John Petersen as part of The Arlington Institute's video series called Postscript. Nu was a speaker at the Institute of Noetic Sciences International Conference in July 2017 in Oakland, California. [44]

PSI-Posium

In 2015, Nu held a unique three-day conference in Las Vegas called PSI-Posium, in which the position of magic from both the perspective of illusion and reality was discussed and contemplated at length. John B. Alexander, Ph.D., wrote of the conference, "The common theme for the weekend was that real magic is not only possible, it occurs regularly and it is up to the individual to recognize it when it happens. ... Adroit and superbly skilled in their craft, organizers and participants alike both demonstrated established ingenuity and contemplated taking their performances to a higher level. There were a few card tricks shown that entailed either forces or considerable digital dexterity that require a high degree of proficiency. But true to the premise of the seminar it was also indicated that there are times in which neither are required because the operator does get a mental signal. Psychokinesis is one of the more contentious topics in the world of magic. Most stage magicians and scientists claim that mind over matter is simply impossible. They generally discounted offhand demonstrations of 'spoon bending' or psychokinesis metal bending (PKMB). Based on the accomplishments of Uri Geller, aerospace engineer, Jack Houck, developed a process by which regular people could engage in such an experience and called it a PK Party. Rather than watching a performance groups could try it themselves. Displayed at PSI Posium were items that bent totally devoid of physical force by naive subject (non-magicians). A critical point is creating a belief that these things can happen - then they often do. Yes, there are numerous tricks and they can look very authentic. But sometimes, and only on occasion, do macro-psychokinetic event happen that defy explanation." [45]

Bibliography

Books by Nu, sold as nonfiction

  • State of Mind: The Man Who Knows Reveals The Secrets of Mind Over Matter! CFBP Bestsellers, 2015. ISBN 978-0984208562
  • Picture Your ESP!: Reveal Your Hidden Powers With "The Nu ESP Test." CFBP Bestsellers, 2010. ISBN 978-0984208524

Magic Routine

  • Nu-Sense mentalism routine, 2008

References

  1. ^ Heim, Joe (28 February 2018). "This magician and mentalist explains how anything you think can become a reality". The Washington Post. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  2. ^ Jewell, Hannah; Jorgenson, Dave (28 February 2018). "Illusionist Alain Nu visits The Washington Post office". The Washington Post. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  3. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLinVf5KlaA
  4. ^ Tracey, Patrick (27 October 2000). "Alain Nu and the Spoon of Steel". Washington City Paper. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  5. ^ Nu, Alain (2015). State of Mind: The Man Who Knows Reveals the Secrets of Mind over Matter!. CFBP Bestsellers. p. 119. ISBN 978-0984208562.
  6. ^ "Alain Nu: The Man Who Knows". themanwhoknows.tv. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  7. ^ Nu, Alain (2015). State of Mind: The Man Who Knows Reveals the Secrets of Mind over Matter!. CFBP Bestsellers. pp. 319–20. ISBN 978-0984208562.
  8. ^ Heim, Joe (2018-02-28). "This magician and mentalist explains how anything you think can become a reality". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
  9. ^ Nu, Alain (2015). State of Mind: The Man Who Knows Reveals the Secrets of Mind over Matter!. CFBP Bestsellers. pp. 96–7. ISBN 978-0984208562.
  10. ^ Nu, Alain (2015). State of Mind: The Man Who Knows Reveals the Secrets of Mind over Matter!. CFBP Bestsellers. pp. 104–5. ISBN 978-0984208562.
  11. ^ Tracey, Patrick (27 October 2000). "Alain Nu and the Spoon of Steel". Washington City Paper. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  12. ^ "Alain Nu, The Man Who Knows: Biography". themanwhoknows.tv. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  13. ^ Discovery Program Sales. "The Mysterious World of Alain Nu Ep. 1". Discovery Channel. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  14. ^ "The Mysterious World of Alain Nu Series of Specials". Mike Mathis Productions. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  15. ^ "The Week in Sloth". Weekly Alibi. 9–15 June 2005. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  16. ^ Nu, Alain (2015). State of Mind: The Man Who Knows Reveals the Secrets of Mind over Matter!. CFBP Bestsellers. pp. 118–119. ISBN 978-0984208562.
  17. ^ "Alain Nu, The Man Who Knows: Biography". themanwhoknows.tv. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  18. ^ "Mentalists Attempts To Predict Academy Awards, Vegas Vault Holds Oscar Secrets". news.vegasreportnewswire.com. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  19. ^ Fields, Curt (21 July 2006). "Alain Nu's Mind Games". The Washington Post. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  20. ^ Nu, Alain (2015). State of Mind: The Man Who Knows Reveals the Secrets of Mind over Matter!. CFBP Bestsellers. pp. 52, 321. ISBN 978-0984208562.
  21. ^ "The ESP in Espionage: An Evening with Alain Nu, The Man Who Knows". www.spymuseum.org. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  22. ^ "'The Man Who Knows' in Sparta". New Jersey Herald. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  23. ^ "Mentalist coming to Sparta Avenue Stage". The Sparta Independent. 15 May 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  24. ^ "Upcoming Shows". www.madamsorgan.com. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  25. ^ Brace, Eric (21 June 2000). "This Week in Nightlife: Sunday, June 25". The Washington Post. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  26. ^ "Magic Moments". www.thewatergatehotel.com. Retrieved 16 September 2017.[permanent dead link‍]
  27. ^ "The Watergate Hotel: Live". www.thewatergatehotel.com. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  28. ^ Jewell, Hannah; Jorgenson, Dave (28 February 2018). "Illusionist Alain Nu visits The Washington Post office". The Washington Post. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  29. ^ Heim, Joe (28 February 2018). "This magician and mentalist explains how anything you think can become a reality". The Washington Post. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  30. ^ Givan, Carol. "Psychic Entertainer Alain Nu back at Theatre of Dreams!". AmazingShows.com. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  31. ^ "MOAPIA: DC Mayor Bowser's AAPI Heritage Month Celebration!". asian fortune. asian fortune. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  32. ^ https://gotham-magazine.com/must-see-magic-shows
  33. ^ https://www.amny.com/things-to-do/free-nyc-events-festivals-and-activities-1.10882939
  34. ^ https://www.lexingtonhotelnyc.com/amenities/alain-nu
  35. ^ https://www.amny.com/news/halloween-houdini-nyc-1.22695660
  36. ^ https://www.metro.us/things-to-do/new-york/best-things-to-do-in-nyc-halloween-2018
  37. ^ Kaltenbach, Chris. "Baltimore's new magic theater to host its first show this weekend". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  38. ^ Wilson, Vince (2019-06-02). "Amazing Grand Opening at Poe's Magic Theatre". Poe's Magic. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  39. ^ ShoWare. "Tickets | Alain Nu - The Man Who Knows". TicketKite. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
  40. ^ https://www.aaas.org/event/neuroscience-and-society-series-illusion
  41. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xh0BB8dmtfE
  42. ^ https://wtop.com/dc/2015/04/panel-tackles-question-existence-ghosts/
  43. ^ "Transition Talks: Past Speakers". transitiontalks.org. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  44. ^ "The Science of What Connects Us: Alain Nu". www.noetic.org. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  45. ^ Alexander, John (28 August 2015). "Magic: What If It Was Real?". HuffPost. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
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