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Dr_J_Ayala
Inner circle
In search of Vlad Dracul and his
2062 Posts
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Posted: May 8, 2012 11:50pm
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On 2012-05-08 14:56, Pete Biro wrote:
Idiots who don't know what's of any value throwing things away should be shot. I had 20 years of photographic files of mine at a client's office. I called to see about retrieving some of the photos for a book project. When they answered they said, "Tom doesn't work here anymore." So I asked, "Who took his place?" They answered, "Nobody, the cutbacks eliminated that job." So then I asked about the photo archives. They said, "Nobody needed them so they were thrown out."
I got sick over the loss.
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I know what you mean - I have been there too.
The other thing that really sickened me was when I was moving to the states in 2003, we shipped our belongings via sea container. Long story short, the ship that was transporting our belongings ran into a nasty storm and lost quite a few containers. One of them had most of my magic collection in it. We did get the benefit of having insurance on all of it, but no money could replace some of the priceless books, props and heirlooms that were lost to the depths of the Atlantic.
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Pete Biro
V.I.P.
17743 Posts
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Posted: May 10, 2012 10:14pm
Reminds me... Fedex has had ONE PLANE CRASH... yep, I had a package on that flight.
Luckily, I had a duplicate of the material.
STAY TOONED... @ www.petebiro.com
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JNeal
Special user
784 Posts
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Posted: May 16, 2012 9:55am
William!
I’ll engage you in discussion of presentation if you wish…
I agree that some aspects of magic are in relatively sorry state… and not only because so many presentations are derivative. I’m sure I’ll incur the wrath of some readers by blaming a bit of the presentational problems of today’s younger performers on too many repeated viewings of David Blaine, Criss Angel, et al; whose mumbling and laid back styles are the antithesis of Ade Duval’s enthusiastic persona.
Because too few young magicians have seen a really engaging personality driven magic performance… they derive their inspiration from Youtube magicians whose relatively patterless commentary is limited to phrases like: ‘Check it out…”
And Bill, you are right when you wrote: “Ade DuVal's somewhat jovial manner… is a refreshing twist over the magician in trouble, and the magic happening to the magician surprise, or the out of control magic props.”
It was Fred Kaps who popularized the aforementioned ‘perverse magic’ style (suggested originally by Charles Waller) wherein everything ‘happened’ to the magician, and he (Kaps) was so successful at it…that it became a favored (if not dominant) method/ style to present manipulation… but as Mr. Duval shows us…it is NOT the only way.
Another presentational problem is that many magicians have difficulty coming up with fresh things to say, so they fill time by describing the actions that they are taking (as Mr. Ayala mentions above). Dai Vernon used to call this: ‘recitations of the obvious’. It is often tedious.
What is the solution? Certainly seeing video clips of great…really great performers will open our eyes and ears to the possibility that a fresh personality can bring. But I think ultimately what matters most is that each performer needs to examine carefully how he or she can use the trick or routine to amplify or express their personality. Only by custom fitting the actions and remarks to our individual gifts can we bring magic to it’s maximum value.
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Dr_J_Ayala
Inner circle
In search of Vlad Dracul and his
2062 Posts
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Posted: May 16, 2012 11:23am
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On 2012-05-16 09:55, JNeal wrote:
...What is the solution?
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Stop watching DVDs and videos on YouTube and read books.
Other than that, well said JNeal!
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Bill Hegbli
Eternal Order
Bill and Bill in Fort Wayne Indiana
12881 Posts
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Posted: May 16, 2012 5:20pm
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On 2012-05-16 09:55, JNeal wrote:
William!
... Certainly seeing video clips of great…really great performers will open our eyes and ears to the possibility that a fresh personality can bring. But I think ultimately what matters most is that each performer needs to examine carefully how he or she can use the trick or routine to amplify or express their personality. Only by custom fitting the actions and remarks to our individual gifts can we bring magic to it’s maximum value.
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I guess what I realized in posting this notice of a performer, is that it sometimes takes the obvious to be said out loud. That helps to bring it to the attention of the masses, and brings a realization to one's mind.
The book market is full of self-help books, usually only stating the obvious, because as you read these books, one is thinking, well of course that is obvious, I already know that.
So in this little video clip, I guess that is what I have seen. A different way of presenting a magic trick that I have never seen before. Of course it is obvious now that my attempt to point it out is posted in this forum, but going to a lot of magician conventions and watching many a magic evening shows at them, I have never seen this type of presentation in an appearing act.
So, naturally, it hit me as totally different an unique, the idea of expressing fun and enjoyment while performing a trick, how unheard of in the magic seen that I have been exposed to all my life. Now, I have to express, I know the children entertainers use this kind of personality, but I am speaking more on an adult level of enjoyment and fun. One where your voice does not go to a point where you are almost lowering your brain level to that of, what you think is a childrens way to communite with them. If you know what I am trying to say.
I know, I could have written a book about my discovery and become rich and famous, but I just wanted to bring this awareness to the Café members. Who needs to be rich and famous, Oh! I do, anyway.
Books are great, but Dr. J. Ayala, I have not written the book yet, nor have I read any book on presentation that brings this kind of presentation to the forefront. And I have bought and read my share of Showmanship and Presentation magic books.
JNeal, says to look to oneself, but as you know JNeal we are all actors and different people in front of an audience. Anyway, I am, so to look at oneself, is not as easy as it sounds. As that self is only there while on stage. I guess you could say, that is where the magician is an actor reference comes from, most likely.
Nice comments gentlemen! Thanks for your insight!
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JNeal
Special user
784 Posts
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Posted: May 16, 2012 7:28pm
Our 'self' onstage is often a heightened version of our real self: more likable, more funny, perhaps more dramatic and commanding.
For many performers, I counsel them to imagine themselves on a first date...and present that idealized version of oneself to the audience.
I think it was Aristotle who said that in a dramatic production even a villain...must not be too villainous!
Regards-
JNeal
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Dr_J_Ayala
Inner circle
In search of Vlad Dracul and his
2062 Posts
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Posted: May 17, 2012 1:22pm
My comment about reading books was meant as a solution to stop the copy cat (read: cloned) performances, to guide you to, as you put it, "look to oneself". This is along the lines of a comments that Bill made in another thread about instructions for a product he had that only gave you the basic working of the apparatus. My response (and Bill agreed) was that I loved it when magic products came with instructions like that because it forced you to be creative, unique and original. You were not given a path to follow, but rather you had to find your own.
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