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Mystery (seduction guru)
Encyclopedia
Mystery is the stage name
of Canadian
dating coach
Erik von Markovik (born Erik James Horvat-Markovic on September 24, 1971). He was the co-founder of dating companies Mystery Method Corporation (2004) and Venusian Arts (2006). He was featured in the 2007 VH1
reality television series The Pick-up Artist
.
In 2004, Mystery went into a partnership with fellow dating coach Nick Savoy
to form Mystery Method Corporation. Mystery left to form Venusian Arts in December 2006.
A reality series titled The Pick-up Artist
debuted on August 6, 2007 on VH1
. In the series, Mystery and his wingmen
trained eight "lonely, socially inept" men in an eight week bootcamp in Austin, Texas
to compete for the title of "Master Pick-Up Artist". A second season
debuted on October 12, 2008.
Mystery is credited with popularizing a few terms that he often uses, including "peacocking", i.e., dressing to stand out, or having an item of clothing or an accessory that looks interesting, allowing the girl to comment on it if she is interested in starting a conversation; "cat-string theory," i.e. keeping a woman engaged just enough to hold her attention; and the "neg", a backhanded compliment.
In a Psychology Today
article titled How to Spot a Narcissist, Mystery is described as a classic narcissist
, who "may be satisfied just knowing a person finds him or her attractive."
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
of Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
dating coach
Dating coach
Dating coaches offer products and services to improve their clients' love lives.Through discussion, role-playing, behavior modeling, and other forms of direction, a dating coach trains clients to meet and attract romantic partners. As dating coaches are unlicensed, their methods vary widely...
Erik von Markovik (born Erik James Horvat-Markovic on September 24, 1971). He was the co-founder of dating companies Mystery Method Corporation (2004) and Venusian Arts (2006). He was featured in the 2007 VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
reality television series The Pick-up Artist
The Pick-up Artist (TV series)
The Pickup Artist is an American reality show on VH1 which focuses on a group of eight or nine male contestants who have historically been unsuccessful in love and relationships learning the art of the "pickup" as taught by seduction artist Mystery and his wings...
.
Biography
He is the co-author of The Mystery Method: How to Get Beautiful Women Into Bed, published by St. Martin's Press and of The Pickup Artist: The New and Improved Art of Seduction was published by Villard in 2010. Before Mystery became known as a pickup artist, he was a professional magician.In 2004, Mystery went into a partnership with fellow dating coach Nick Savoy
Nick Savoy
Nick Savoy is a Canadian businessman, author, and dating coach. He is the President and Program Leader of Love Systems and author of Magic Bullets.-Biography:...
to form Mystery Method Corporation. Mystery left to form Venusian Arts in December 2006.
A reality series titled The Pick-up Artist
The Pick-up Artist (TV series)
The Pickup Artist is an American reality show on VH1 which focuses on a group of eight or nine male contestants who have historically been unsuccessful in love and relationships learning the art of the "pickup" as taught by seduction artist Mystery and his wings...
debuted on August 6, 2007 on VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
. In the series, Mystery and his wingmen
Wingman (social)
Wingman is a role that a person may take when a friend needs support with approaching potential partners. A wingman is someone who is on the "inside" and is used to help someone with relationships...
trained eight "lonely, socially inept" men in an eight week bootcamp in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
to compete for the title of "Master Pick-Up Artist". A second season
The Pick-up Artist (TV series)
The Pickup Artist is an American reality show on VH1 which focuses on a group of eight or nine male contestants who have historically been unsuccessful in love and relationships learning the art of the "pickup" as taught by seduction artist Mystery and his wings...
debuted on October 12, 2008.
Mystery is credited with popularizing a few terms that he often uses, including "peacocking", i.e., dressing to stand out, or having an item of clothing or an accessory that looks interesting, allowing the girl to comment on it if she is interested in starting a conversation; "cat-string theory," i.e. keeping a woman engaged just enough to hold her attention; and the "neg", a backhanded compliment.
In a Psychology Today
Psychology Today
Psychology Today is a bi-monthly magazine published in the United States. It is a psychology-based magazine about relationships, health, and related topics written for a mass audience of non-psychologists. Psychology Today was founded in 1967 and features articles on such topics as love,...
article titled How to Spot a Narcissist, Mystery is described as a classic narcissist
Narcissism
Narcissism is a term with a wide range of meanings, depending on whether it is used to describe a central concept of psychoanalytic theory, a mental illness, a social or cultural problem, or simply a personality trait...
, who "may be satisfied just knowing a person finds him or her attractive."
See also
- Dating coachDating coachDating coaches offer products and services to improve their clients' love lives.Through discussion, role-playing, behavior modeling, and other forms of direction, a dating coach trains clients to meet and attract romantic partners. As dating coaches are unlicensed, their methods vary widely...
- Seduction communitySeduction communityThe seduction community is a subculture of men, primarily communicating on the Internet, who strive for better sexual success/access with women. Members of the community often call themselves pickup artists . It exists mostly through Internet newsletters, marketing The seduction community is a...
- The Pick-up ArtistThe Pickup Artist (TV series)The Pickup Artist is an American reality show on VH1 which focuses on a group of eight or nine male contestants who have historically been unsuccessful in love and relationships learning the art of the "pickup" as taught by seduction artist Mystery and his wings...
- 6th Street (Austin)
External links
- Venusianarts.com - Mystery's official website