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simchamagic Regular user 190 Posts |
(A for audience)
Hi there, A while back, in another thread, Al Schneider wrote: ...Here is how you enter. Walk onto the stage without looking at the audience. Walk to the center and address the michrophone or just stand there Wait a moment and then look at the audience. Then smile and say, "Hello." Then tell them what you are going to do and do it. The first time you do this it won't be great, but it will go well. Doing it more often you will get better and see that it is the right thing of do and you will add to it. What is going on here. First and foremost the audience came to see a person do magic. Note that ther word person appears before magic. So, do not open with magic. You must open with you. So, when you enter the stage give the audience a chance to get to know you. If you look at them they feel they are being studied. Let them study you first. Your walk across stage can be slow and take some time. They will let you do this. Once they know who you are you can look at them. (This is part of the secret of talking to people on an elevator.) This business of not looking for the first few moments is the heart of what I have to say. Now, there are other ways to go about this task. But this one is surefire and can be done by incompetants like me. As I write this I have an image in my mind of Karrell Fox walking on stage. getting to the mike, bending over a bit to adjust it (I will guarentee a stage hand had it already adjusted) and then in a very endearing voice saying, "Hi, my name is Karrell Fox, we are going to..." Well that is my 2 cents. Al Schneider *** Frank Tougas added: ...When I walk onto stage I head for my mark, adjust the mike, look up smile and say hello. I don't consider that I am on stage until I've hit that mark. It would be interesting to read how others make their approach in a forml stage setting. Like many of my peers I start off with a joke to break the ice. Not a formal type joke but a well practiced casual one... *** I was wondering what you think about this topic, when one enters the stage, should he let a few seconds of the audience seeing him before he acknowledges them, or should he enter looking at the crowd right at the beginning? Thanks, Simcha |
tommy Eternal Order Devil's Island 16544 Posts |
Well I don’t know I am just an amateur card guy but I think it’s a good idea. It can make it feel intimate, if that is the proper word. I have noticed some singers use it to good effect. Some will tell you the meaning of the song they about to sing, which is a little different but conveys a similar feeling I think. It is sometimes necessary and helpful to explain what the thing or you are about. For example Miriam Makeba - Khawuleza springs to my mind. I mean I would not have a clue what she was singing about if she had not explained it but once she has done so it makes you feel as if you know her and what its about. An introduction can have a powerful effect I think.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=V74f9eIi9c0
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.
Tommy |
Big Daddy Cool Inner circle 1604 Posts |
Here is what I teach in my workshops - You enter the stage 5 - 10 steps from behind the curtain. You move with intential purpose to your mark. Assume your character pose, and scan the audience from LEFT to RIGHT and then speak or visually acknowledge them in some way.
This tells them that you are important and that they are important. |
magicalaurie Inner circle Ontario, Canada 2962 Posts |
Here's the original thread, I believe.
http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......forum=41 Related: http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......forum=27 |
simchamagic Regular user 190 Posts |
Hi again,
Thanks for the replies. Again, what I'm asking is: Should one enter looking at the audience, or enter without having eye-contact with the audience, and make that eye contact only after a few seconds? |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
This is far too broad a question. It has to be narrowed down by charector.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
Bill Hallahan Inner circle New Hampshire 3222 Posts |
In his book, Win The Crowd, Steve Cohen recommends looking at the audience while entering the stage. There's more to it than just that, but you'll have to get the book for the details. It's a great book.
After reading that book, and after the very next show I performed in, another magician told me that I had 'stage presence.' I am charisma-challenged, so I know the ideas that Steve Cohen teaches do work. (And again, thank you to Big Daddy Cool for letting me know about that book in a post). I know much less than either Steve Cohen, or Al Schneider. I expect either approach works in different settings. Some of the ideas Steve Cohen teaches are taken from theater, and I think this is one of them. The approach relates to the psychology of achieving rapport rapidly, i.e. acknowledging the audience immediately. Update: I just noticed that Big Daddy Cool filled in some of the details in his post above. I missed that before.
Humans make life so interesting. Do you know that in a universe so full of wonders, they have managed to create boredom. Quite astonishing.
- The character of ‘Death’ in the movie "Hogswatch" |
Whit Haydn V.I.P. 5449 Posts |
This would be a good study. Why not check out videos of Cardini, Channing Pollack, Billy McComb, and all the other greats and see how they did it?
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tommy Eternal Order Devil's Island 16544 Posts |
As I say I am only an amateur but I do not think this eye contact thing when making an entrance yes or no makes any difference to be honest. I think its like Danny says, it depends. I mean I have seen fellows make spectacular grand entrances and seen others pretend they were blinded by light. Some guys I have seen: stand at the rear of the stage. The curtain opens. The audience applaud. The performer bows his head, as if to say thank you for inviting me to perform and granting me an audience. Then walks forward to the place he is to perform. Up until that point I do not think they have made a point of making eye contact. I have seen guys enter from behind the audience and run down the aisle and so on.
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.
Tommy |
Bill Hallahan Inner circle New Hampshire 3222 Posts |
Tommy, did all of those performers get standing ovations, or at least get really good reactions?
I don't know what's best in every situation either, but I do believe details can affect audience reaction. I might buy the idea that one shouldn't look in one circumstance, and should in another, but I doubt very much it doesn't matter at all. Everything matters. Of course, some things do matter more than others, and I don't know the relative importance of this. My guess is it is important, because Steve Cohen wrote it matters. Whit Haydn wrote: Quote:
This would be a good study. Why not check out videos of Cardini, Channing Pollack, Billy McComb, and all the other greats and see how they did it? Good idea! I'll check out what you do too.
Humans make life so interesting. Do you know that in a universe so full of wonders, they have managed to create boredom. Quite astonishing.
- The character of ‘Death’ in the movie "Hogswatch" |
tommy Eternal Order Devil's Island 16544 Posts |
Well some got a standing ovation for, well for what ever one gets a standing ovation for. Some well loved respected stars will of course get a standing ovation from their fans as soon as the fans see their them. When I said it does not matter, I was thinking it does not matter what we say is right it could be wrong. Like Danny said the question is too broad. I like to be introduced by someone if have to make an entrance. That is not onto a proper stage, more like parlour work, if I am not mistaken about the term. I think I look at people after I have been introduced but I think its because I feel nervous while waiting.
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.
Tommy |
bitterman Inner circle 1189 Posts |
There is no right or wrong answer for this question. If you want a ridged, formal presentation, that smacks of ‘staginess’, by all means count your steps and march on to the stage. If your approach is a more organic one, eye contact with the front row would be very important.
Simchamagic, think about what you want the audience to experience the moment you hit the stage and then think about how your entrance will enhance that experience for them. Once you know exactly how you want to come across on stage, here’s a little trick that might help. Unless you are a total psycho you don’t believe that your powers are real, so you must create a character to live inside while you perform. This can be a very complex character or simply saying to yourself ‘I’m magic man!’. This character has to have come from somewhere before he hit’s the stage, so create the moment just before he walks on stage. Use that to color his entrance. Again, that goes back to what you want your audience to experience. Some magicians, mostly British I find, are very aggressive with the audience and hit the stage and start insulting them right off the bat. Others, I’m thinking Doug Henning here, make you feel like they are sharing something wonderful with you and you are both taking a trip together. Of course, there are many shades in between. The Insult Magician and The Warm and Fuzzy Magician would hot the stage in two very different ways, and their ‘life’ off the stage would reflect that. So think about your character next time you are about to hit the stage and reflect on where it is he is coming from. Sorry to get all Uta Haggen on you, but far too few Magicians consider ultimately what they are doing is acting. Hope that helps.
If you are not cheating, you are only cheating yourself.
Dutchco is about to put out some new Ebook: DUTCHCO. Get 'em while you can. |
landmark Inner circle within a triangle 5194 Posts |
Internal monologue: "I'm so glad to be here, thanks for welcoming me to your living room, you seem really friendly, I have something really nice for you, let's have some fun now together . . ." all before you hit the mike. Take your time.
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All proceeds to Open Heart Magic charity. |
Big Daddy Cool Inner circle 1604 Posts |
Of course, I must point out that I break the rules of what I teach. But, you have to understand fundamental rules before you can break them!
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Bill Hallahan Inner circle New Hampshire 3222 Posts |
I like what Max Maven said about Victor Borge entering the stage in this video.
Humans make life so interesting. Do you know that in a universe so full of wonders, they have managed to create boredom. Quite astonishing.
- The character of ‘Death’ in the movie "Hogswatch" |
kregg Inner circle 1950 Posts |
By not making immediate eye contact they can judge you without threat.
POOF!
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