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Jaxon
Inner circle
Kalamazoo, Mi.
2459 Posts
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Posted: Jun 12, 2005 11:37pm
Like all the advice I try to share here on the Café. I do so in hopes that all of you who are new to magic will consider these things as you strive to be an entertainer. I know I had some magician friends who let me in on things they've learned from there experiences. Sometimes I listened to them. Other times I disagreed and later found out they where right the hard way. When I first started the "Internet" was a word hardly anyone knew about. It would seem a waist to not use it to pass on the advice I've learned (The easy and hard way) when it can reach so many people at once. I'm not preaching here..  I'm only hoping that other more experienced magicians here on the Café can use this tool to pass on some of things they've learned as well.
Anyway, back to the real topic of this post. This isn't something you need to learn. It's something you need to realize. Here it is.
If you truly entertain someone they will remember you forever!
Do you think that is going a little overboard? It might seem that way but I believe it's the absolute truth. I'm not saying that people will think of you ever day, but they will remember you if you managed to effected them in some way.
I think understanding this is very important as an entertainer. The fact that what you do lasts a lot longer then the time period of your performance. Your show may have lasted for 20 minutes but the audience members will remember you for 50 years if you do a good job. Not only will the memory of you hold in time. It can also be shared with others.
See if you can image the following happening. You performed a good show. Let's say it's close up magic and you performed the coin in bottle. Could you imagine one of your spectators telling someone else about what you did with that coin and that bottle 50 years from now if the topic of "A magician" came up? Let me tell you that it most definitely can happen if you truly amazed and entertained them. They'll say, "I once saw a magicians ___________!".
All this came to mind today because last night I was out with some friends and the waitress (Who knew me) told me that there where some people there from Germany and wondered if I'd show them a few things. I did so and it was a blast. When things like this happen it makes you realize that now there are going to be some people in Germany talking about me. They had pictures of me to prove to their friends back home what they saw me do and they got my card to visit my website.
Now, there are a lot of other reasons this is so important to realize. Because you should consider what you want to be remembered for. Understanding that what you do now will effect a memory or story about you later is a very important thing and it forces you to think about it ahead of time. As a result you'll be more likely to polish everything you perform.
So think about what will give people a memory of you and what that memory will be like. This alone can be a good guide and goal in your magic.
Ron Jaxon
"The map is not the Territory"
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mouliu
Regular user
Hongkong/Taiwan
169 Posts
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Posted: Jun 13, 2005 12:30am
Thanks Ron, another must-read post.
Then we, as novice, need a killer trick? I play bill in lemon and T/R card (produced on window or behind a door). From my audience feedback's, they like these 2 tricks very much BUT they said they watched it in TV before. I'm wondering whether I should learn some tricks which are exceptional, in order to let them remember me showing them sth really special, rather than "I once met a magician performing a trick I saw in TV".
A novice't reflection: I like watching my audience's jaws drop, but sadly in reality I'm just too busy to enjoy it.
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John Cavanough
New user
Tasmania Australia
3 Posts
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Posted: Jun 13, 2005 4:47am
Having a thought like that in mind I think will greatly improve the way I view my magic.
Thanks Ron.
I find that often for me, magic can be rather selfish. I sometimes forget my main goal of entertaining an audience let alone entertaining them so well they will remember me.
Reading this thread makes you realise that you do remember things like that. I can still remember many pieces of magic and other things I have seen performed. They just pop up when ever a relating topic comes up.
Knowing that people will remember a worth wild performance should be in the back of your mind all the time. I think it is something valuble that will improve a performance. Your act isn't just here and now. It can last, like you said, for 50 years.
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Dr_Stephen_Midnight
Inner circle
SW Ohio, USA
1555 Posts
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Posted: Jun 13, 2005 6:36am
Want to be remembered BY NAME?
Become a magical author.
Steve
Dr. Lao: "Do you know what wisdom is?"
Mike: "No."
Dr. Lao: "Wise answer."
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The Magician
Loyal user
Liverpool
266 Posts
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Posted: Jun 13, 2005 8:51am
Another excellent post Mr Jaxon
The Magician
Expect the Unexpected
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evolve629
Inner circle
A stack of
3833 Posts
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Posted: Jun 13, 2005 9:54am
One of many thoughtful posts by Mr Jaxon! My goal is also to leave a positive impact on people that watched the magic that I performed. I try to make them entertaining, as magicical as I can show them and with enthusiasm and zeal. Practice and practice so that I'm confident with doing the effects before I go out and perform so that the impact will be completed and meaningful.
One hundred percent of the shots you don't take don't go in - Wayne Gretzky
My favorite part is putting the gaffs in the spectators hands...it gives you that warm fuzzy feeling inside! - Bob Kohler
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pedrothegreat
New user
Southampton - UK
50 Posts
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Posted: Jun 13, 2005 3:38pm
Hey Jaxon, Great post!!
Being new to the Café I have only read a few of your posts but they have all been some of the most thought provoking and inspiring posts. They have already made me think about magic in new ways. Keep up the good work and I look forward to reading and learning more from you.
pedrothegreat
Never underestimate the stupidity of the general public
don't have a magic website but i have a cool car styling website at www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk
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clamon86
Elite user
488 Posts
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Posted: Jun 14, 2005 6:34pm
3 very imporant things when performing magic anywhere and anytime.
What you do
What the audience sees
What the audience remembers.
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rumburak
New user
81 Posts
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Posted: Jun 15, 2005 7:26am
That was a great post! You certainly have the right focus.
However, following your advice does appear so simple yet is so difficult. When people like me whine about "weak" effects it is not our effect that was bad, but our presentation. Now this is the difficult part - how can we turn any of our material into a powerful, captivating performance that people WILL remember?
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sjdavison
Inner circle
Sussex, England
1156 Posts
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Posted: Jun 15, 2005 7:33am
Couldn't agree more Ron.
This reminds me somewhat of Mr. Braue's essay in the Book of Haunted Magick, where he talks of how a laymen recounts a story of a trick he saw a magician do, to which he replies ,'that's amazing - tell me, what was his name?'. They never remember.
A lesson to us all. It's you that maters, not your tricks - they area toll to be used.
Simon
Simon, 25, UK
www.sidavisonmagic.com
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ruaturtle
Regular user
Gastonia, NC
112 Posts
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Posted: Jun 18, 2005 10:04pm
Ron, Absolutely beautiful! I would like to add that, for me at least, a single smile from the audience makes all the practice worthwhile!
I have found that I do not suffer from insanity... instead I rather enjoy it! : )
Poodle... the other white meat.
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The Dragon
New user
The Dark Shadows.
90 Posts
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Posted: Jun 19, 2005 2:32am
Not only that, I managed to inspire a lot into magic as well. Haha.
Yup Jaxon, you're right. Be rememebered. That's what magic is for. The audience. The applause.
D.
Don't think too much.
Just hit it.
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Jerrine
Special user
Busking is work.
629 Posts
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Posted: Jun 19, 2005 12:27pm
Rumburak writes: "Now this is the difficult part - how can we turn any of our material into a powerful, captivating performance that people WILL remember?"
I hate to compare the two, but Magic and the practice of Law have one thing very much in common. It's not so much what in Law the facts are, or in Magic the technical performance,(I'm not saying not important) but rather the "spin" put on either by the Lawyer or the Magician. "Yes he killed his wife, but she deserved to die for her thus and such actions." a favorite tactic of Richard "Racehorse" Haynes. The same way a Magician's words set up, deliver, and close an effect. My favorite magician is Ricky Jay, not so much for the skill level which I consider very high, but for the words he chooses to use and the dellivery given them. Words written or spoken have great power, choose them wisely and they will work for you, as Mr. Jaxon's have for us.
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Jaxon
Inner circle
Kalamazoo, Mi.
2459 Posts
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Posted: Jun 19, 2005 2:02pm
I agree. It's not as important to do "Killer tricks" as it is to be a "Killer performer."
What I'm about to say is toward those of you who are fairly new to magic. That's why I posted this in the "new to magic" section of the Café.
How can you make something more memorable? I believe the answer is originality and showmanship. This is where the confusion might come in because most of our spectators won't know an original trick if it hit them in the face. What we magicians see as basics are new things to people outside our little world. Most of them have never seen a magician change a one dollar bill into a hundred in person. Most of them have never seen a silk vanish in your fist (T-tip) and most of them have never seen one object magically turn into another.
But all this isn't the kind of originality I'm talking about. The originality is on the performer. Do you want them to remember what you did or would you rather them remember that you where the one who did it?
Personally I'd want that person who talks about what they saw me do to mention my name when they tell others about me. I'd want them to say something like, "I once saw a magician names Ron Jaxon who ______." This is something I kind of don't like about the modern era of street magic. Most of it relies on the tricks and not much of the performer. Sure, they'll remember the tricks you do just like they remember what Blaine did. But if you do them will they remember it was you who did it? Would they remember your name?
So the question isn't what amazing tricks can I do to give them a memorable experience. It's actually how can I encourage them to remember that I did it. When you first start out this is kind of hard to grasp because you're still learning. Not only learning all the basic principles and tricks but you're also learning how to present yourself. Unless you're the kind of person who can entertain a group with no magic or props then this is something you'll have to learn to do regardless of whether you do magic tricks or not.
The best way to do this is to go out and learn it. You are an original person. Everyone you'll ever meet is an original. So if you can go out and perform as the person you are then you'll already be an original. You might not even be all that good yet but you wil be original. After a while you'll evolve and develop your performing personality and you'll become a better and original performer. In my opinion that's what will be worth remembering.
Ron Jaxon
"The map is not the Territory"
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magicalaurie
Inner circle
1697 Posts
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Posted: Jul 7, 2005 7:42pm
Interesting thread. I like the way you think, Ron. I think if we sincerely love what we do, enjoy our performance and connect honestly with the audience we will create some magical and memorable moments for the audience and for OURSELVES.
"Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate." Captain Jack Sparrow
http://www.magicalaurie.viviti.com
http://www.magicalaurie.wordpress.com
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Jaxon
Inner circle
Kalamazoo, Mi.
2459 Posts
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Posted: Jul 8, 2005 4:59pm
Don Alan talked about one of his experiences on the late show with Johnny Carson. After he produced the huge nut from his hat he purposefully dropped it on the desk so it would leave a mark. He wanted to do this so that every time Johnny would see the spot he would think of him.
It didn't work the way he planned though because the next day Johnny had a new desk.
Just thought I'd share that story. I don't suggest anyone destroying anyone else's property to be remembered though.
Ron Jaxon
"The map is not the Territory"
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Lee Darrow
V.I.P.
Chicago, IL USA
3594 Posts
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Posted: Jul 8, 2005 5:47pm
To be remembered:
Do something memorable for your audience.
Do something memorable for a single person.
Write something memorable and publish it.
Teach someone something that they will use and cherish.
Above all, entertain.
Lee Darrow, C.H.
http://www.leedarrow.com
"Because NICE Matters!"
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