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Nat Special user 566 Posts |
I will be performing for a gentleman's 80 birthday party -- looking for appropriate "patter" with Professor's Nightmare -- your ideas would be welcome -- and any other effects for the 80 year celebration.
THANKS! |
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cbguy Veteran user 350 Posts |
Cody Fisher 3 ropes and 1000 laughs
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
Nat, what do you mean by appropriate, as it really sounds like you are asking for inappropriate patter. The Professor Nightmare, usually is performed with descriptive patter. Just because some on is old, does not mean it is okay to make fun of them, or their physical condition. There is a time and an place for everything, and I believe you are going in the wrong direction with this idea.
You better re-think this, and if the client is asking you insult the person publicly, then I would refuse to do so. You may have be asked to do a show again, as your reputation will be spoiled for good. |
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Nat!
I'm certain that you aren't looking for "inappropriate patter", as has been inferred above. You might check out the very simple "descriptive patter" that I've used since about 1971 for the Nightmare. I've used it, successfully, in elementary schools, high schools, colleges and senior citizen assisted living, and, nursing homes. It's on page 290.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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BeThePlunk Special user West of Boston, East of Eden 887 Posts |
Hi, Nat -- I think that your use of the word "appropriate" is being misunderstood. I take it that you want to present PN in a way that is relevant to a birthday and maybe (but not necessarily) the birthday of an older man -- to say something general about life's progress or to say something that honors the man himself.
Can you first describe how you want to perform PN? Will you end with the three ropes back to their original lengths or will you end with the three ropes joined into a single long rope? Or maybe there's another end you like. |
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HeronsHorse Loyal user Scotland 207 Posts |
Watch performances.
It's all there. Most use descriptive patter as suggested by Bill and Dick. I'm just learning this and I'm going to go with that. You can make it funny, if you're a funny guy. I love making folk laugh so I'm sure there'll be a few laughs in there. Watching performance answers questions like this though
Quote of the Month
Those who think that magic consists of doing tricks are strangers to magic. Tricks are only the crude residue from which the lifeblood of magic has been drained." - S.H. Sharpe |
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Kaliix Inner circle Connecticut 1984 Posts |
I found this...
In the hardware store, a clerk asked, "Can I help you find anything"? "How about my misspent youth", joked my husband. The clerk shot back, "We keep that in the back, between world peace and winning lottery tickets". Leslie McRobie, Lee, New Hampshire
The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge.
~Daniel J. Boorstin |
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
HA! Great line!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Dougini Inner circle The Beautiful State Of Maine 7130 Posts |
Darn. Bill jumped on the word "appropriate", and it all went pear-shaped. I was hoping Nat would tell us how it went. Myself, I like Daryl's mechanics, but the patter has always eluded me. "I got these scrap pieces of rope at the hardware store the other day..." There are better stories. I find it frustrating I cannot seem to be creative, as Walt Anthony tries to teach in his book. Thinking along the lines of a STORY. A REASON the ropes change length!
Walt is the consummate PERFORMER! His whole THINKING is artistic and enthusiastic ENCHANTMENT! I have tried. I get a dull "thunk". Sometimes I need a prod in the right direction. Still, I'd like to know what Nat did. Doug |
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murf Loyal user San Antonio, TX 264 Posts |
I present Professor's Nightmare as a lecture on optical illusions; you can find details here
<http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=106316&forum=9&35>. Murf |
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funsway Inner circle old things in new ways - new things in old ways 9982 Posts |
My "Necklacy" routine would work as it can start with all of the items a "senior" might need during the day strung on a tied rope loop -
think "Soap on a rope" on steroids. The rope is C&R several times ending with three equal lengths (cut "on the fly" for PN) At the end the entire rope is restored to a single length and retied into a silly necklace. At Assisted Living Centers a favorite item was a toilet paper tube on the rope used to trumpet call for supplies. For a simpler approach, borrow a bathrobe tie to use instead of a rope. There are several techniques for secretly cutting the tie into the proper lengths In both cases the story can be varied to the setting, also "on the fly."
"the more one pretends at magic, the more awe and wonder will be found in real life." Arnold Furst
eBooks at https://www.lybrary.com/ken-muller-m-579928.html questions at ken@eversway.com |
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countrymaven Inner circle 1426 Posts |
Just remember. An eighty year old often pretends to understand, but often they do not understand or hear what you are saying. so be sure you are visual along with your story. wish you the best.
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Quote:
On Jan 10, 2019, murf wrote: I do an illusion routine in the "second spot", with the old boomerangs, and the spot card. Later, when I use the big needle and balloon, and nightmare, the line after the applause is: "That must have been an illusion!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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FrankFindley Inner circle 1028 Posts |
Good exercise in theming. Here is a rough analogy based patter:
[Showing ropes different lengths] "As we go through life, events turn into memories, Some seem small; the lullaby sung by our mother or the hot dog when the family went to the ball game. Some stand out as large, like a wedding day or the birth of a child. And others are in the middle like our first job or our first kiss." [stretching them equal] But no matter how large or small the event, each is equally precious. [Pause then count showing each separately as same length] "Each deserves to be thought about. Because each had an impact on who we have become. Each is an important thread in the fabric of our life." [Returning them to different lengths] "So I ask you, please take the time to remember and share memories of these moments with loved ones. Regardless if they were big, small, or in the middle; they are all a part of the magic of your life." |
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Sealegs Inner circle The UK, Portsmouth 2596 Posts |
Several people on this thread recommended to the OP that they should perform with a script that is just descriptive. I can’t understand why anyone would give this advice. It is the laziest and dullest way to present magic effects and excising this as a way of doing your magic would create an instant improvement to any magic routine. I know that the OP has moved on but others will still read this and so I feel it relevant to state my point of view, explain it and hopefully make some magicians better performers.
If what you say is simply a description of what people can already see you are doing, you are literally wasting words, Unless you are working for the blind or performing on radio don’t do it. A descriptive script is at best redundant, at worst puerile but either way it wastes the chance to give some meaning, context or a framing to both the effect and the actions needed to bring it about by using other words.
Neal Austin
"The golden rule is that there are no golden rules." G.B. Shaw |
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thomasR Inner circle 1189 Posts |
Quote:
On Nov 14, 2019, Sealegs wrote: Do you feel like Pop Haydn and Mac King’s Rope routines are just descriptive? Other than a basic intro story they seem to mostly be descriptive to me. |
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Pop Haydn Inner circle Los Angeles 3691 Posts |
Quote:
On Nov 15, 2019, thomasR wrote: I don't believe there is a single purely descriptive line in my routine. |
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Al Schneider V.I.P. A corn field in WI surrounded by 1080 Posts |
I can understand the desire to use patter appropriate to some event.
I cannot understand one magician telling another magician a particular style to use or not to use. Some patter themes will render the magic unimportant. Maybe descriptive patter will emphasize the magic. Maybe for some doing it silent would be powerful. A mime might think so. Or do it to music from the 60's. I can easily see a guy in a tux standing in front of an orchestra doing the nightmare. Hmmmmmm.
Magic Al. Say it fast and it is magical.
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Al Schneider V.I.P. A corn field in WI surrounded by 1080 Posts |
I suspect most magicians feel they must communicate with their voice.
One can communicate with magic.
Magic Al. Say it fast and it is magical.
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thomasR Inner circle 1189 Posts |
Pop, I love all of your routines! Maybe you can explain the difference between your routine and one that is “purely descriptive” - I have bought your rope routine and know how well thought out it is, so I certainly wasn’t saying anything bad about it (and Mac King of course has amazing rope routines as well!). But it seems much of your routine is describing what is happening. But maybe I misunderstood what sealegs was calling a script that is mostly descriptive.
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