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Big Daddy Cool Inner circle 1604 Posts |
I've been researching color changing knife routines. I used to do Michael Skinner's long ago, but breaking them back out I am not as enthusiastic about that routine as I once was - too much of the audience watching and not participating. Bill Malone and Pop Haydn both has very commercial routines that I like so I am thinking about borrowing elements of both of theirs to create an interactive routine that ends in the vanish of both knives, one from the spectator's hand. I want this to be a routine that really makes the spectator the magic hero... Anyone seen a similar routine? Thoughts?
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Dapperdan Regular user Detroit Area Magicians & Mentalists (DAMM) 136 Posts |
I agree that Bill Malone and Pop Haydn both have great routines, although their unique personal styles really make the performances. (Most anyone else trying Hadyn's bulging eyes during a routine would probably look downright foolish. )
I too am working to build a routine that takes aspect of both Malone's and Hadyn's, but just in the early stages. As for the double vanish, doesn't Haydn's instructional video give an idea for that right at the very end? (I've only watched it once so far, but I believe it does.) If you've only seen his routine on YouTube, I suggest dropping the $15 for his video and pdf download... it's one of the best deals in magic I've seen.
Tada!...
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Pop Haydn Inner circle Los Angeles 3691 Posts |
What reasons do you have for wanting to change a routine? I always think that magicians should perform a routine at least a few times in front of an audience before changing it. Vernon said that "Magic is the only artform in which beginners are encouraged to paint over masterpieces." I spent twenty years working on my knife routine. I would like people to know what is in it, and what problems they have with it, before they begin to change things. What is it that you want to accomplish that is different from the original routine?
Originality comes from solving problems. What problems do you want to solve? I also have to say that I really dislike the patronizing, transparent and meaningless ploy of making the spectator the "hero" of the magic--as if their passing the shadow or clicking their fingers did the trick. They know that is not the case. They feel like you are making a fool of them even worse. I think people find that more annoying than being fooled by an amazing trick. Their job is not to "pretend" that they do magic, but to witness the magic and verify that the proofs were sufficient to make the experience "remarkable." When you confuse the roles of the demonstrator and the witnesses. Would a strong man at the circus want people to check the solidity of the bar they are going to bend around their neck, or to pretend that they are giving him, the strong man, his strength by "concentrating" and sending him their "help"? I have never understood this presentational approach. Pop's "bulging eyes" are not any part of the routine. They have to do with my persona and character. The routine has nothing to do with that. It is a routine that any character or personality can present without changing a word--a routine I did as Whit Haydn without the Pop character for many years. |
Dapperdan Regular user Detroit Area Magicians & Mentalists (DAMM) 136 Posts |
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On Aug 17, 2018, Pop Haydn wrote: Pop... you're absolutely right! I apologize if my post conflated routine and style (although I DO say that your "unique personal style really makes the performance"!). I guess what I meant by that is for those of us that DO attempt to learn solid, commercial routines (like your color changing knives or - another favorite of mine - Daryl's rope routine), it could actually take some effort to NOT try to take on the persona... at least it does for me. Anyway... I had responded to this post back in June, before I got the chance to meet and hang out with you in Grand Rapids. This would have made for some interesting conversation at the bar over the loud, lousy karaoke!
Tada!...
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Big Daddy Cool Inner circle 1604 Posts |
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On Aug 17, 2018, Pop Haydn wrote: Good food for thought. Since originally posting this I have created a routine that is very unique and I really like a lot, and as far as I can tell is original with me. I hadn't done close-up for years but working at the new House of Cards in Nashville had me brushing off a lot of material that I hadn't done in 20+ years, when I was hopping tables in college. Back then I did Skinner's routine. But today, as I was looking at my repertoire I was noticing that 99% of what I did happened in MY hands and was not interactive. So I wanted the knives to be more interactive , inspired by you Pop, and Bill Malone. So, I researched and in the end came up with a routine completely different from anything you or Bill do; or anyone else for that matter (at least as far as I know). And at the end of the day, I abandoned the original premise of the post, to have the spectator vanish the knife from their hand. It was an idea. One that didn't work, probably for the reasons you mentioned. Now I have a routine that elicits jaw dropping reactions. |
Pop Haydn Inner circle Los Angeles 3691 Posts |
I look forward to seeing it sometime! Cheers!
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Big Daddy Cool Inner circle 1604 Posts |
I'd love you to see it someday...
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Pop Haydn Inner circle Los Angeles 3691 Posts |
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VernonOnCoins Inner circle NYC 1978 Posts |
I always get busted. Or at least met with “let me see the other side of that knife”. Unfortunate cause I do love the effect but gonna finally give up on it
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Pop Haydn Inner circle Los Angeles 3691 Posts |
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On Nov 1, 2019, VernonOnCoins wrote: You get caught because the routine you are using isn't any good. A good routine will keep the audience from "wanting to see" the knife. Every step of a routine and every line is important. It should build and direct the spectator's thinking. If you are not intentionally controlling the spectator's thinking, this is not a good trick. The problem with tricks like the Linking Rings and Color-Changing Knives, is that the obvious reaction of the spectator will be to want to examine the rings or the knife as soon as the effect is demonstrated. It is only natural and understandable. The routine and presentation have to be set up in such a way that the spectator is kept off-balance until the end, when it is too late. Every line is important. Without a routine carefully structured to keep the spectator's thinking on track, tricks like this one are difficult--nearly impossible--to pull off. |
VernonOnCoins Inner circle NYC 1978 Posts |
Thanks for the response. I’ve been using Mike Skinner’s routine which is fairly straight forward. He seemed to make it work. Then again he was Mike Skinner. I’ll keep playing with it and take what you said under advisement.
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Pop Haydn Inner circle Los Angeles 3691 Posts |
Make sure you have a memorized patter. That is like a juggernaut that mows down the spectator's thought process and doesn't allow them to think anything other than what you are leading them to think. If you have to think about what you are going to say next, the mind of the audience is going to wander. Use questions and humor to keep them off balance.
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Pop Haydn Inner circle Los Angeles 3691 Posts |
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On Aug 17, 2018, Dapperdan wrote: When I do lines by Eddie Fechter, I have to be careful not to say them with a New York accent. I hear Eddie's voice in my head. Same with Slydini, Billy McComb and a few others. It always makes me smile to have them say "hello" like that. |
VernonOnCoins Inner circle NYC 1978 Posts |
Thanks Pop. “Questions and humor to keep them off balance”.. that’s great advice!
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