|
|
Twilight New user UK 24 Posts |
Is it possible to have a performance personae that is completely different to your natural one?
I'm not quite sure how to explain what I mean by this so please try to bear with me... I'm told by magicians that know me that I should build on my 'natural' character for performances and that, because of this, I would do best with a 'mild' performance style. But I have tried doing this, both for other magicians and lay people, and it just doesn't feel right to me. I feel much more comfortable performing in a more 'energetic' and expressive way and, a little while ago, I decided to try performing that way for some people I know, and it got the best reaction from them that I've had so far (they literally freaked out) and it just felt so natural and easy for me to perform magic like that. Then, a few days later, I tried performing the same way again but in front of magicians (the same ones who gave me the 'be yourself' advice) and they told me that it was the best performance that they had seen from me so far.....but they still gave me the same advice about how I should work on trying to get my performance to match my natural character. So my problem is that what other people see as being out of character for me doesn't feel that way to me while I'm performing, it isn't forced and there's no conscious 'switching' between roles, I almost 'slip' into it and it just feels very natural and comfortable for me to do that. It also seems to help a lot with another problem that I've been trying to deal with for a while now, because I'm not as nervous performing this way as I am when I'm performing as 'myself'. I get so nervous sometimes that I have trouble just managing to get through a trick at all, and I shake so much that I can barely hold a deck of cards much less do anything with them (I still get nervous regardless of how I perform, but it seems a lot more manageable, and nowhere near as bad, when I perform this way) I haven't had the chance to perform for my magician friends again since then, but in just over a weeks time I'll have the opportunity to show them something else and I'm not sure whether to carry on trying to follow their advice and 'be myself' or to perform 'out of character' instead. What do you think? |
JackScratch Inner circle 2151 Posts |
1. Never judge your performance based on the reactions of those who know you, outside of magic.
2. Never judge you performance based on the reactions of magicians. If everyone did, then no one would ever perform. 3.Yourself is easier. Rather than portraying someone else, meke who you are a little different. Acting in a manner that is consistant with your everyday life will always be smoother for you, but that doesn't mean you can't change your persona. Small changes at a time will certainly be the most practical ones. Script, rehearse, edit, and repeat. By the time you are in front of a real audience, there should be no question what each and every one of your actions will be (yes I understand this isn't for a stage performance and no, it doesn't matter) |
airship Inner circle In my day, I have driven 1594 Posts |
Many top actors will tell you they are very nervous when they have to speak in public or appear on a talk show, but that all goes away when they are acting, because they are playing a character. The audience isn't judging them, but the character they play. I think you're experiencing the same thing. Besides, audiences expect you to be 'larger than life' and how can you do that when you're just being a normal Joe?
'The central secret of conjuring is a manipulation of interest.' - Henry Hay
|
Twilight New user UK 24 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-06-18 13:46, JackScratch wrote: The problem isn't that I'm portraying someone else while I'm performing, it's that the personae I take on during that performance feels so much more like 'me' (in a sad, strange way it's almost like the person I am when I'm not performing is the character). |
Jaz Inner circle NJ, U.S. 6111 Posts |
It's absolutely possible to "to have a performance personae that is completely different to your natural one".
Some may feel more comfortable with a character that is very different than their real self. Others keep the personae close to their real self. IMO Okito, Rudy Colby, Sylvester the Jester and Tom Mullica use somewhat extreme characters. John Carney plays it both ways depending on the venue. Others do this as well. Lance Burton, Al Schneider, David Roth and many performers seem to prefer to keep close to their real personnaes. I think that you've pretty much answered your own question and are finding a part of yourself that you feel more comfortable with when performing. In time you will find what works for you. |
Troels Loyal user Denmark 205 Posts |
I have tried both. Sometimes I do tricks as my self, as if I really was able to do miracles. But I (and my audience) find it much more funny when I am acting a different personality.
I think the answer to your question is, that you can not act as a different person if you don't have some of the aspects of this strange person inside your caracter. Most people use only very few aspects of their personality in their everyday life. A very anxious and silent person can carry a very dynamic and forceful aspect inside. And opposite: A dominating behaviour can cover an anxious and unsecure core. The funny thing with acting is that you are allowed to show aspects of yourself, that you seldom uses, perhaps aspects you wasn't aware of yourself? This can be a great experience. Every time you do magic you are acting (if you are unable to do really magic). Some magicians have by nature a very open and charming behaviour. They can act as themselves, just add the magic. The rest of us can benefit from choosing a personality that is more powerfull/confused/bizarre/secure/charming than we use to be. But it must be a part of our own caracter - perhaps a well hidden aspect. |
Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
Consider Johnny Thompson, Chung Ling Soo and on and on. Of course it is possible to have a performing persona that is NOTHING like who you are in real life. Consider Johnny Carson. By all accounts he was nothing like the person we saw on TV.
Many things change when you decide to get in front of an audience. Many of them are physiological and many are psychological. Imagine how freaky it would be if Robin Williams was 'like' his performance persona ALL the time! Sorry, but I think that would be hard to take. Much of the process is seeing what works in front of real audiences. DOES IT WORK? DO YOU FEEL RIGHT IN THE PART? And, a big one: Can you maintain the character? Consider Cardini. Does anyone out there really think he WAS a drunk Englishman who just happened to have the best stage card chops of his time? Go with what seems to have worked and by repetition and small changes see what evolves? Eventually you will HAVE a character that you can maintain, that works for you, etc. Good luck,
Brad Burt
|
Astrid New user Seattle, WA 63 Posts |
I can definitely understand the perspective of your magician friends and their advice to base your character persona off of your own personality, however I feel that you should do whatever personae comes most natural for the situation. Some performance situations you will feel more comfortable being mellow, and some situations you'll feel better being a little more demonstrative and outgoing. The advice that I would give you is to go with the flow---don't be too anxious to define your character persona. Let it be whatever it is and the definition and the boundries that come with it will come naturally.
Best of luck! Astrid |
abc Inner circle South African in Taiwan 1081 Posts |
The reason people say be Yourself is because not everyone can adapt another persona and pull it off successfully.
If you can then absolutely do it. Besides do people really think a clown wakes up every morning, puts on his make up and then just syas to himself when he looks in the mirror "be yourself" |
CasualSoul Special user Edmonton, Canada 542 Posts |
It sounds to me like the "other" persona you've adapted--which is getting the better responses--is already part of the natural you; just a more repressed part. We all have many dimensions to our personalities, it's just that some are more dominant than others in our regular day-to-day lives. Embrace this new "performing" personality as an an exploration of self and have fun with it.
"Open their mind by performing the impossible"
|
Jaxon Inner circle Kalamazoo, Mi. 2537 Posts |
Some good advice and thoughts shared here already. I'll just add a few thoughts based on my own experiences and from experiencing other magicians. I've never seen you perform and I don't know your "real personality" as compared to your "performing persona" that you talked about. So I have no idea if these thoughts will be accurate for you. But I'll share my thoughts so you can consider them.
What really brings what I'm about to talk about to mind is this paragraph: Quote:
It also seems to help a lot with another problem that I've been trying to deal with for a while now, because I'm not as nervous performing this way as I am when I'm performing as 'myself'. I get so nervous sometimes that I have trouble just managing to get through a trick at all, and I shake so much that I can barely hold a deck of cards much less do anything with them (I still get nervous regardless of how I perform, but it seems a lot more manageable, and nowhere near as bad, when I perform this way) For some people acting energetic and talking fast and loud is a way to cover nervousness. I know I've done it and I've seen many other performers do this. A good example is a magician I've seen perform a number of times at the Abbotts magic get together. Forgive me for not knowing his full name but his first name is Jamal. The first time I saw him perform on stage he won the stage contest. I enjoyed his act very much but you could tell he was a little nervous (who wouldn't be?). He quickly moved from one trick to the next and talked very fast. Basically what I'm saying is he was a little overly energetic and it made him seem nervous. Yes he won and he should have because he's very unique and a good perform. But I saw him perform a few times after that and each time he seemed a little less nervous. He wasn't all about "move, move, move". He was more laid back and put energy into moments that needed it and relaxed the moments that needed to be relaxed. Basically, his very good act became great and I felt it was easier to enjoy it. Again, I'm not saying this is your situation but it is possible based on what you've shared. So please consider it. I'd also like to commend you for even thinking about this. There are a lot out there who don't even think about these things and perform exactly like other magicians they see on TV. Your energetic persona just might fit you. I don't know but think about why it feels so right for you. This kind of thing is something we should all think about, but not dwell on too much because we tend to evolve into the performer we can be through experience. What works will stay with you and what doesn't will hopefully fade away. All the best. Ron Jaxon |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » New to magic? » » Performance style help and advice needed! (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.03 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |