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Chase New user Arkansas 98 Posts |
Hey Guys. I would love some input into a situation.
I have in my repetoire an effect involving a torn and restorn sheet of music. This was an effect and routine developed by me, with help and input only from a non-magical director. The routine originated as something else completely. Originally it was a sort of "Post Modern Magic Trick" performed in a drama class in 1992. An assistant would aim a video camera at the stage from the rear of house. The image was projected onto a large screen onstage. The image clearly showed me and the heads of the audience members in the first two or three rows. Behind me were performers from earlier in the show in their costumes and in character. I then held up a copy of the script for our show (the fact that it was our script had been established by a one-act play earlier in the evening). I proceded to tear the script up. As I did, the characters in the background began removing pieces of costume and slowly changing "out of character". The lights on these characters began to dim. As I tore further the video image of the stage began to distort and break up. When the script was finally torn to shreds the only light was a follow spot on me and from the completely static video image. Suddenly the script was restored, the video image righted itself, and the performers in the rear were illuminated and seen to be completely back in costume. Not just the script, but the entire show had been destroyed and restored. I looked for a way to make this really interesting idea portable. I toyed with the video image and performed it a few times in 1993-1994. In 1994 I worked with the director of the original show brainstorming new ideas for the effect. It went through several incarnations over the next couple of weeks. We eventually decided that the easiest version was to tear the paper and have it affect the SOUND of the show. We put together a version where my assistant would deliver a monolog while I tore the script. She would slowly develop a speech impediment and, eventually, lose the ability to speak until the script was restored. I love this version. It is extremely powerful. Audiences found in alternately hilarious or horrifying. Unfortunately it was not very commercial because it was powerful and audiences found it hilarious or horrifying. Back to the drawing board. The director suggested that the tearing affect my soundtrack. I immediately thought of using written music instead of the script. As I tore the music my soundtrack would skip, scratch, and stop until the paper was restored. I used this effect throughout 1995-1996. My method was based on an old newspaper tear. I stopped in 1997, and the effect went into the file cabinet. I recently pulled it out and dusted it off, thinking of adding it back into some corporate shows. I showed it to some magician friends. Someone said it looked very similar to Christopher Hart's routine. I have never seen Christopher Hart. I have never read anything about his act, especially during the time I was developing this routine. From what I have gathered now, the routine is very similar to Mr Hart's. The beats are very different. The music is very different. I believe the method is very different. I understand that Mr Hart has established his routine as "His". I do not wish to steal his routine. I wish to perform the effect that I developed independantly. Is it right for me to do so, even though they are very similar? I do not perform for magicians often (or ever, really), only laymen, so I doubt many people will ever be able to compare the two. What do you guys think? |
entity Inner circle Canada 5060 Posts |
I think that if you can prove independant creation of your routine, and you feel good about performing a routine that some others might associate with Chris Hart, then go ahead and do it.
- entity
email: tomebaxter@icloud.com
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rplanet New user 79 Posts |
When my boy was potty training I had a great idea! Print a target on toilet paper and let it float for him to aim at. It was a beautiful idea, I could call them TeeTee Targets. I found out that someone else had already done it...even called it TT Targets. I'm guessing hundreds if not thousands of fathers (and mothers) have come up with that idea independently. It doesn't mean it's not a great idea, and I won't feel guilty about making my own targets if I want to. I think if you came up with an original idea, it's yours, as long as it doesn't infringe on someone's copywritten material.
It sure does suck to find out someone else had the same idea, especially if they do better with it financially.
Thinking is the best way to travel!
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