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Nick Alexander New user Australia 60 Posts |
I have but one piece of advice for beginners to magic. People will always try to tell you how to improve yourself, but the most important thing is that magic continues to be fun for you. When it's no longer fun, that's when you should throw in the towel.
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saturnin Special user Montreal, Canada 964 Posts |
I second that!
Besides, when you have fun, it is usually contagious to your audience (unless your fun is at their expense!) Life is too short. HAVE FUN (while you can!) Carpe Diem Ronnie Lemieux Montreal Canada
There is no road to happiness,
happiness is the road! |
funnybusiness New user UK 66 Posts |
I don't know if you have come across it, but it seems my audience weren't having fun!!! A while back ago I was performing card tricks to my friends and they were of course fascinated. They were then bugging me all night on how this and that was done, and asked me to do the trick over and over again trying to find out how I did it!! Of course they could never find out and I never reveal the secret!! When the next day I asked them if they want to see another trick, they refused and said they don't want to see another trick unless I tell them the secret!!! They said the more tricks I play the more fool they feel. What are these people like!!!
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Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts |
Funnybusiness,
The real trick is to do the routine WITHOUT making your audience feel like fools or that they've been fooled. I truly hate the line "It's Fun To Be Fooled" that so many magicians have on their business cards (as I did, when I was MUCH younger.) It's not fun to be fooled; it's downright nasty! Make your audience part of the routine, let them take the glory, and -- most important -- don't do everything for them at one sitting. From the tone of your post, funnybusiness, it sounds as if you might be doing too many tricks for them. Remember the old show-business adage: Always leave 'em wanting more! (Do one trick, two at the most, then stop -- and I mean STOP -- for that night.) And go back to the first post on this thread: If you're having fun, the audience will have fun. If you're not having fun, why bother to do this? |
funnybusiness New user UK 66 Posts |
Peter I think you are right. I guess I've done too many tricks for them!!! The thing is I'm a beginner of magic and I need them to practice my routine and patter!!! May be I was a bit over done and they got annoyed!!! But you know what, I did enjoy it by seeing them trying to figure out how my trick was done all night!!! So strictly speaking, I did have fun.
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Bill Hallahan Inner circle New Hampshire 3222 Posts |
Funnybusiness,
When Peter Marucci makes a statement about magic, I take it very seriously! He’s a working professional with years of experience. I work with engineers. It’s hard to get them out of the mindset of solving puzzles. Solving problems is their default thought process. One of my coworkers frequently asks me to show them new tricks that I’ve learned. I make it a point not to be confrontational, i.e., not to point out that they were fooled, or that I know something they don’t. My presentation in that situation is more like someone putting an arm around them and saying “Isn’t that cool!” Also, not everyone likes magic, just as not everyone likes sports, or board games, or anything else. Most people like good theater, but you’ll encounter those who don’t, or can’t, appreciate it. But you do have the right idea to have fun. Magic IS fun when it’s an exciting shared experience.
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" |
funnybusiness New user UK 66 Posts |
I’m trying to work on my presentation as well and that's why I've got to grab my friends occasionally to watch me doing magic. But how can I improve on my presentation and patter? How did you learn yours? Any suggestion is welcome!
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Bill Hallahan Inner circle New Hampshire 3222 Posts |
Quote:
But how can I improve on my presentation and patter? I can’t tell you how to form your own personal presentation and patter, but it is worth studying the classic routines, the linking rings, the cups and balls, etc., and studying the presentation and patter that the masters used. Also, there are a lot of great ideas for presentation and patter in various forums here in the Café. I also recommend three additional things for anyone who wants to improve at the art of magic. First, join a magic club. The Society of American Magicians (SAM) is a great magic organization, and they run a youth club, called the Society of Young Magicians (SYM). There is also another great organization called the International Brotherhood of Magicians (IBM). In all of these organizations, the members will help you improve your sleights and routines, and they will also critique your act if you ask them too. Find out where the SAM and IBM meet in your area and attend a meeting. (I think the SAM even has groups in the U.K., but I am not sure.) Second, perform whenever you get the chance. The organizations I mentioned above often perform for free at hospitals, nursing homes, and schools. There is less pressure than if you were paid (and it’s fairer to the audience who should get a polished act if they’re paying.) It is also less pressure because you’ll probably perform with a group, so you’ll only do from a 3 to 10 minute act as opposed to having to do a 30 to 60 minute (or more) act yourself. And third, study magic. Read books. Learn from videos. (Many magicians say that books are better than videos, and in general I agree, but that is not true in every case.) And of course practice. Finally, attend magic conferences. Even the professionals learn new things from each other, so magic can clearly be a lifelong learning experience.
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" |
funnybusiness New user UK 66 Posts |
Thanks, you've provided a great reference. I agreed to your idea about studying classing routine and attend to conferences. However, as I'm new to magic I have absolute no idea where to find the sources for that kind of thing. I’m living in the UK and I know there's a association called The Magic Circle and I don't think I'm qualify to become a member!! So are there any recommendations where I can experience the world of magic, preferably within the UK?
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Traylen New user 36 Posts |
I think the reason they have the mentality that they did is because, you probably came of as trying to trick them. So in their heads you're trying to trick them. That might not be the case, but that would be my guess. You need to present it in a way that it is fun to watch and that they don't fill "tricked" but rather entertained.
I've enrolled in drama classes to help my magic. It helps me "lie" better. No, but really, it helps me react to what I'm doing, I'm also doing Comedy Sports Club, which helps me with impromptu kind of things. That's what I did to help me with my presentation. I also like to watch magicians and how they perform. I'm not saying I steal their presentation or anything, but rather look (and I guess study) what made them so popular and good. Even how they transition from trick to another to smoothly. Here is a quote, I'm not sure if I made it up or not. Well I mean, I'm sure if someone has said it before me, which probably is the case. Magic isn't magic, until YOU make it magic. Ok, about the rings, try this website out, it should have listing of your local rings. International Brotherhood of Magicians http://www.magician.org/index.htm Just my 2 cents.
What the eye sees, the ear hears, the mind believes.
-Harry Houdini |
Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
Magic isn't about fooling the audience. It's an art of entertainment that mystifies the audience.
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