Paranormal – The Mindreading Magic Show at Horseshoe Las Vegas

Expect your assumptions to wobble. Paranormal at Horseshoe Las Vegas is a fast-moving mind-reading and magic show led by Frederic Da Silva, an award-winning mentalist, magician, and hypnotist. In about 1 hour and 25 minutes, he makes predictions, reads thoughts, uses hypnosis, and pulls audience members into the action.

I like the intimate theater, where you are close enough to watch Da Silva work rather than view him as a tiny figure in a huge production. I also like the reasonable $37.50 starting price, especially when compared with many large Las Vegas shows. The main drawback is that the experience is non-refundable, so you need to be sure about your plans before booking.

I would choose this for a curious couple, a small group of friends, or anyone who wants a compact show before dinner. You get four seating categories, a bar for drinks, and a 4 p.m. performance that fits neatly around an evening in Las Vegas. Just remember that audience participation is a major part of the format, so shy spectators may feel a little exposed.

Key points to know before you book

• Frederic Da Silva leads the full show: He combines mentalism, magic, hypnosis, comedy, and personal storytelling.
• The venue is relatively small: With roughly 300 seats, the room gives you a closer view than a giant casino theater.
• Expect active audience participation: Da Silva may ask people to join him onstage or take part from their seats.
• The 4 p.m. start is useful: It gives you time to see the show before dinner, another attraction, or an evening flight.
• Four seating choices are available: You can pick a lower-cost option or pay more for a higher seating category.
• Book ahead when possible: The theater can sell out, and the ticket cannot be changed or refunded after purchase.

What Paranormal is really like

Paranormal is built around a simple question: is Frederic Da Silva using extraordinary psychological skill, clever magic, suggestion, or something that feels genuinely paranormal?

You will see him ask audience members to think of names, numbers, words, and personal details. He may predict something hidden in a pocket, identify a word chosen from a random novel, stop a watch at a secretly imagined time, or name the person someone has in mind.

The fun comes from not being given a clean explanation. This is not a museum-style presentation of magic tricks. It is a live puzzle, and Da Silva keeps the pace moving so you have little time to settle on one theory before the next mystery begins.

I like that the show does not depend only on large props or theatrical effects. Much of the interest comes from faces, reactions, choices, and conversation. A person says they have selected a number or thought of someone, and Da Silva appears to know more than he should.

That style works best if you enjoy uncertainty. If you need every trick explained, you may leave frustrated. If you can enjoy the question without solving it, the show gives you plenty to think about on the walk back through the casino.

Frederic Da Silva’s style onstage

Da Silva is not presented as a silent, serious magician standing behind a table. His act mixes mentalism with humor, storytelling, and direct contact with the audience.

The comic moments help keep the mood light. One especially unusual routine involved someone seeing English as Portuguese, which created a funny reaction and showed how the show can shift from puzzling to silly in seconds.

The performance also carries a personal message. Several parts of the show connect to ideas of love, connection, and human emotion. That gives Paranormal a warmer tone than a string of unrelated tricks.

I would not expect a formal lecture about the science of suggestion or a traditional stage illusion program. Instead, you get a personable performer who uses the audience as part of the material. His charm matters here because the show depends on trust. You have to be willing to answer questions, follow instructions, and let the act unfold.

The audience response is also part of the entertainment. Gasps, laughter, hesitation, and disbelief give the room its energy. Even if you are not selected, you can watch someone else wrestle with a prediction that seems impossible.

The intimate Horseshoe theater

The show takes place inside Horseshoe Las Vegas, not in an enormous arena. The theater is described as holding around 300 people, which is small by Las Vegas standards.

That size is a real advantage. You can see the performer more clearly, and audience interaction feels more immediate. When someone is brought onstage, the moment is not swallowed by a giant room.

A smaller theater can also mean limited availability. If you are set on a particular day, booking in advance is sensible. A sold-out performance can leave you trying to find a last-minute ticket, and resale options may not work out.

There is an in-house bar where you can buy drinks. Beverages are not included in the ticket price, so budget for them separately if you want something during the performance.

You will need to make your own way to Horseshoe Las Vegas. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, and parking or valet fees are also separate. The venue is near public transportation, which helps if you do not want to drive into the center of the Strip.

A closer look at the show’s main routines

The exact order of the routines can vary, but the advertised material gives you a good sense of the evening.

Predictions and hidden objects

Da Silva may predict what you are carrying in a pocket or what another person has selected. These routines are effective because they use ordinary objects and personal choices rather than only prepared stage equipment.

For you, the appeal is the apparent lack of control. A pocket item feels private. A thought seems invisible. When the answer appears onstage, the moment feels more personal than a standard card trick.

Numbers and written predictions

Numbers are a classic mentalism tool, but they remain powerful when the presentation is clean. One audience member described being asked to think of a number between 1 and 100, followed by a correct prediction. Another number, 53, had reportedly been written down in advance.

I cannot tell you how these effects are achieved, and that is the point of the show. You are invited to question the method without receiving a tidy answer.

Words from books

A word selected from a random novel sounds simple. In practice, it gives the audience a clear test: a book, a page, a word, and a performer who should not know the choice.

This type of routine works well for people who are skeptical because the premise feels easy to understand. You do not need to know anything about magic to follow what is happening.

Time and watches

Da Silva may stop a watch at a time that someone secretly imagined. The effect combines a physical object with a private thought, making it one of the more striking examples of the show’s mind-reading theme.

It also shows why live performance matters. You are not watching a recorded clip that could be edited. You are watching an event unfold in real time, surrounded by other people trying to work out the same mystery.

Hypnosis and suggestion

Hypnosis is part of the advertised mix. The show presents it alongside mentalism and magic, so you should expect suggestion and audience behavior to play a role in the program.

If hypnosis makes you nervous, keep in mind that participation is part of the format, but you do not have to assume you will be placed at the center of every routine. The production is designed for a general audience, and most travelers can participate in the experience.

Audience participation: fun or uncomfortable?

This is the biggest personal factor to consider.

Da Silva uses audience members in many of the strongest routines. You might watch someone join him onstage, answer questions, make a choice, or react to a prediction. That creates the most memorable moments, but it can also make you wonder if you will be called on.

I like this approach because it makes the performance feel less distant. You are not simply watching a polished sequence from your seat. The people around you become part of the story.

If you are hoping to avoid attention, sit back and enjoy the reactions around you. If you would love to test the performer, this is the kind of show where volunteering could become the highlight of your Las Vegas visit.

Audience participation also means every performance has its own character. The same broad routines may appear, but the people involved change. A skeptical participant can create a different mood from an eager volunteer, and Da Silva’s quick responses help shape the evening.

Timing the 4 p.m. performance

The show begins at 4 p.m. and lasts about 1 hour and 25 minutes, with the main performance described as roughly 1 hour and 15 minutes followed by a short additional period connected with the casino venue.

This is a practical time slot. You can see the show before a 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. dinner, use it as an afternoon break from the Strip, or attend before an evening flight. One person specifically found the 4 p.m. show useful before a late-night departure.

I would allow extra time to reach Horseshoe Las Vegas, find the theater, and get seated. The ticket does not include transportation, parking, or valet service.

A post-show meet and greet may be available, with opportunities for an autograph and a brief one-on-one mind-reading moment. This is a nice bonus, but treat it as an added possibility rather than the main reason to buy a ticket.

Is $37.50 good value?

At $37.50 per person, Paranormal sits in the affordable part of the Las Vegas entertainment range. The price includes the show ticket in your selected category plus taxes, fees, and handling charges.

That last point matters. You can compare the total price more easily when the listed amount already accounts for those charges. Drinks, parking, valet fees, and transportation still cost extra.

I see strong value here for three reasons. First, the show is long enough to fill a proper part of your afternoon without taking over the entire evening. Second, the intimate setting gives you a closer experience than many large productions. Third, the act has enough variety to appeal beyond dedicated magic fans.

The four seating options let you control your spending. If you mainly want to see Da Silva’s performance, a general admission ticket may be the sensible choice. If being closer to the action matters to you, a higher category may be worth considering.

The best value comes when you treat Paranormal as a complete entertainment stop, not just a collection of tricks. You are paying for the performance, the comedy, the audience reactions, the mystery, and the chance that someone near you will become part of the act.

Who will enjoy Paranormal most?

I would recommend this show to:

• Couples looking for an unusual afternoon activity
• Friends who enjoy debating how a trick was done
• Families with older children who can follow the mentalism
• Solo visitors who like interactive entertainment
• Las Vegas regulars who have already seen the biggest productions
• Skeptics who enjoy being challenged

It may not suit you if you dislike audience participation, hypnosis, or the idea of leaving without knowing the method behind every effect.

The show also has a strong emotional and humorous side. If you want only grand visual spectacle, you may prefer a large-scale production. If you like personality and direct contact, Paranormal is a better match.

Booking, cancellation, and practical details

Confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. Since the show can sell out, I would not wait until the same day if your schedule is fixed.

The ticket is mobile, so you can keep it on your phone. Your selected seating category is included with the booking, but beverages are purchased separately.

The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. That makes advance planning useful, but it also means you should check your Las Vegas schedule carefully before paying.

The experience requires good weather. If the show is canceled because of poor weather, you will be offered another date or a full refund.

Most people can participate, and the venue is near public transportation. Those details make it fairly easy to fit into a wider Las Vegas plan, even if you are not staying inside Horseshoe.

My final take: should you book it?

I would book Paranormal if you want a reasonably priced, intimate Las Vegas show with plenty of audience interaction and a performer who mixes mystery with humor.

The strongest reasons to go are Frederic Da Silva’s personality, the close theater setting, the steady pace, and the range of routines involving numbers, words, watches, hidden objects, and personal thoughts. The show also earns points for fitting neatly into an afternoon schedule.

I would skip it only if you want a huge production with elaborate scenery, or if you strongly dislike being asked to participate. For everyone else, it is a smart choice for one of your free afternoon slots. Book ahead, choose your seating level, and arrive ready to enjoy the puzzle rather than solve it.

FAQ

Where is Paranormal performed?

The show is performed at Horseshoe Las Vegas in Las Vegas, USA.

What time does the show start?

The listed start time is 4 p.m.

How long does Paranormal last?

The experience lasts approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes. The main show is described as about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Who performs Paranormal?

Frederic Da Silva, an award-winning magician, mentalist, and hypnotist, leads the performance.

How much does admission cost?

The listed price is $37.50 per person. The selected show ticket, taxes, fees, and handling charges are included.

Are drinks included?

No. Drinks are available for purchase at the in-house bar, but they are not included in the ticket price.

Is parking included?

No. Parking and valet fees are not included. Hotel pickup and drop-off are also not provided.

Can I cancel or change my booking?

No. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If poor weather causes the show to be canceled, you will be offered another date or a full refund.