Illusions and Mentalism with Vegas' Kent Axell | 338

On this episode, BigHead sits down with Kent Axell, the mastermind, magician, and storyteller behind Ghost Stories, an immersive experience hidden inside the 1923 Prohibition Bar at Mandalay Bay. Kent takes us behind the curtain to discuss what it really takes to craft an intimate, spooky vibe on the Vegas Strip. From his early days learning sleight-of-hand as a kid to performing theater in New York, his insights offer a fascinating look into the mind of a modern entertainer. We also chat about the shifting landscape of live entertainment in Vegas, the growing demand for smaller, interactive venues, and even share a few laughs over local horror movie recommendations and classic gaming culture. In this episode, we discuss: -The origin story of Ghost Stories at Mandalay Bay's 1923 Prohibition Bar -Key differences between magic, psychological manipulation, and mentalism -Why magic magnifies personality traits -Handling disruptive audience members in an intimate 40-seat room -Ethical boundaries in magic -KJ Kajillion & performing for kids vs adults -Dark internet theory, AI, and the rising demand for real-life human experiences -The rise of indie horror films like Obsession -His experience coaching up-and-coming magicians -Creative side pursuits including a cappella and gaming --- Hey BigHead appreciates your support! Stay connected: More Hey BigHead: https://heybighead.com/ Instagram:   / heybigheadshow   TikTok:   / heybighead   Kent Axell:   / kentaxell   Ghost Stories:   / ghoststorieslv   The Hey BigHead Show is proud to be a Vegas Local podcast. Timestamps 00:00 - Intro 01:56 - Ghost Stories with Kent Axell 13:13 - Kent's First Magic Trick 16:37 - Magic Magnifies Your Personality 23:24 - Interested = Interesting 27:23 - Magic for Kids 33:03 - Control 35:20 - Mentalism vs Magic 45:37 - Ethics in Magic 56:48 - Hypnosis 1:00:40 - Handling Disruptive Guests 1:07:32 - Teaching & Consulting Other Magicians 1:09:15 - AI & Dark Web Theory 1:12:50 - Magic & The Digital World 1:16:00 - Big Shifts in Magic 1:24:00 - Andrew Does Magic? 1:29:32 - Repeat Guests 1:38:22 - Disney 1:40:45 - When To See Ghost Stories 1:42:19 - What Is Going On 1:43:58 - Authenticity 1:52:53 - Obsession & Movies 1:57:40 - A Cappella 2:05:54 - Gaming 2:08:18 - Importance of Gig Salad 2:09:57 - Workshop with Banachek 2:12:00 - Connect with Kent 2:14:17 - Outro