North End Mind Reader Knows What You're Thinking

Jason Gardner put on a pair of handcuffs and – not even two seconds after having his picture taken – whipped them off without the photographer noticing what had happened.

How did he do it?

That’s a secret.

Jason is an escape artist and performs such actions for a living.

Through his company “Jason Escape Productions,” the North End resident executes derring-do movements at Faneuil Hall on weekends (and daily during the summer) as well as for private functions and in bars, resorts and clubs all over the country.

The Jason Escape Show features this artist pulling loose from a straight jacket and 75 feet of rope while hanging from his feet from a 20-foot tripod.
“I’ve never fallen but have been stuck upside down a few times,” Jason said. “People call me the modern-day Houdini.”

It’s something he has been practicing for a long time.

As a child, Jason loved performing magic and little escapes.

Now, he’s thrilled to be doing it for a living.

“I practiced in an indoor rock gym for two years before doing the show,” Jason said.

Now he stays in shape by practicing yoga, walking and playing with his active baby.

The power of emotions

In addition to the escaping, Jason is also a mind reader.

In small groups or by appointment, he helps people create long-lasting memories.

“The heart of it is to educate, uplift, energize and empower,” Jason said. “There are no tricks involved.”

For this part of his professional life, Jason works on skills he’s always had.

“I have some natural knowing when it comes to intuition and understanding the mind,” he said. “I’ve honed the natural gift I had for my career and for centering myself in my own life.”

Jason said the tools he displays and shows to his audience are ones he uses every day of his life.

He has a  pendulum that he uses several times a day to tap into his soul.

“It’s a conduit to the world to help me look into my natural knowledge,” Jason said. “If I know the answer, it will let me know. The pendulum has four directions and tells me: Yes, I know the answer; No, I don’t know it; I’m not ready for receiving that information.”

Using intuition carefully

“Helping and healing is part of my job,” Jason said. “When I go into someone’s mind, I have to be prepared for what might come out.”

That’s not magic, Jason firmly stated.

“It’s about knowing when to reach out for other resources to provide people the help they may need,” he said.

Often, Jason explained, intense emotions arise when he is performing mind reading.

“Before doing anything with others, they have to know who I am in order to trust me,” he said. “Sometimes this involves brainteasers but also there are times when I go deeper with people.”

The word “afraid” often comes up with people whose mind Jason is reading.

“Some grab my card and call me later because they want to talk about powerful emotions that came out with me.”

Jason always explains while doing mind reading that he’s not about to predict the future or deliver bad news.

“Rather, I am there to help people make empowered choices and learn the changes they need to make in their lives,” he said.

How he came to this career

Originally from Queens and then Long Island, Jason moved to Boston in 1990 to attend Berklee College of Music where he studied drumming.

Soon after, he was playing and touring with bands all over the world.

“I enjoyed playing all kinds of music – funk, reggae, jazz and Latin,” Jason said. “It was truly enjoyable for me to put on so many masks.”

Then he decided to have his profession involve the things he has loved ever since he can remember.

“I’ve always been a people person,” Jason said. “It’s life blood for me.”

Jason said he is constantly searching for people he can help and has his eyes open all the time in every place and situation.

“That’s why it’s so cool that I can do this for a living,” he said.

Now that he and his wife have a baby to care for, Jason has to search for time during the day just for himself.

“Even if it’s just three minutes, I need them to de-stress by breathing and visualizing,” he said.

Exciting times are ahead for Jason’s career.

He’s slated for a television show.

Through Twitter, Los Angeles producer Brad Wyman contacted Jason and asked him to write a ‘Jason Escape’ show series.

“The episodes for the first season are written, the budget has been approved and we’re now just waiting for the filming schedule,” Jason said.

“We’re slated to start filming in the fall and then the show will be on youstream.com/wytv.”

Stay tuned!