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Vincent V. Loyal user 204 Posts |
I currently only mainly perform two effects and have done so for the past few years...I keep reading and learning tons about the mystery arts and my effects don't change, they have just evolved into my own masterpieces... with their subtle beautiful details that make them perfect to read minds directly. When I try a new effect I don't feel good and lots of times mess it up in fact... weird stuff. I am afraid I will never perform any other pieces. Any others is similar situations?
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IAIN Eternal Order england 18807 Posts |
Out of interest, how much time do you devote to learning, rehearsing and scripting the new stuff? in comparison to the two masterpieces...do you remember when those two masterpieces were new?
I've asked to be banned
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Vincent V. Loyal user 204 Posts |
I devote a week or two to learn and rehearse new effects and I perform them individually... usually with bad results.
My act consists in my two masterpieces and that's all. They think I am real. This pieces have been developed slowly for the past 4 years. They fulfill an enormous personal criteria that for me makes them the closest possible demonstrations of direct mind reading. The first times I performed those two masterpieces they've got me pretty *** good reactions... |
IAIN Eternal Order england 18807 Posts |
Can you remember when those two masterpieces were new to you? how they first started? how much time did you dedicate to them? and what made you decide to keep them and develop them?
I've asked to be banned
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IAIN Eternal Order england 18807 Posts |
Quote:
On Apr 27, 2014, Vincent V. wrote: if you are getting bad results, is it necessarily the effects problem, or that you only devote a week or two to learn and reheare it? if it happens consistently, maybe its the rehearsal time that is the problem, and not the effect... a sure sign of madness is to do the same thing over and over again, and expect different results...
I've asked to be banned
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Vincent V. Loyal user 204 Posts |
Yes maybe you are right...
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Gordon the discombobulator Loyal user 246 Posts |
I carry quite a few effects but in reality I only perform 2 or 3 effects for different groups each night.
What I do is wait for that one group where I get good responses and also they are asking for 'just one more.' If I feel comfortable with that group I will try that little something I have been practising. If it goes well it becomes part of my new standard 2 or 3 effects and I will retire something. Not so well and I will keep it in reserve and analyse different variants or a different way to present it or possibly drop it altogether. |
David Thiel Inner circle Western Canada...where all that oil is 4005 Posts |
I think you are posing a great question, Vincent. My answer at first may sound a little cheeky...but that's not my intent. How many of the effects that I perform feel close to my heart? All of them.
There are dozens of ideas and effects. While I am always interested in learning new things, the ratio of the number of effects/routines that I own versus the ones I actually perform is huge. Why? Look over the process: 1) I see an effect that I like. 2) I ask myself if it's going to be a good match for my act -- and remind me (because I am notoriously prone to purchase something I think is cool, even though it may have nothing to do with the concept and flow of my show) that if it's not, I have shelves full of crap that I wasted money on. Essentially, it has to have the potential to be BETTER than something I'm already doing...or to offer a wonderful new dimension to my performance. 3) I order the prop/eBook/routine and when it comes I look very hard at it. I examine it minutely because I know this is the ONLY time I will see it from a genuinely true audience perspective. Then I start thinking about how I could present it. (I try not to read the routine.) 4) Then I work with the mechanics/memory aspects of the effect. As I work with it, I start scripting how I might present it. Essentially I talk out loud as I present it to...well...no one. Then I'll try it with my family/friends...and then strangers or people I don't know that well. 5) If, after ALL this, I STILL like the prop/routine/idea -- I get serious about scripting and designing the presentation. 6) If it has all panned out favorably to this point, I will start working it into my walkabout segment...and it will stay there until I'm satisfied it's gone as far as it can go and I am reasonably sure I know everything that can go wrong. 7) If I STILL like the routine, it goes into the middle of my show, sandwiched between two very strong effects. If it doesn't work the way I want it to, I don't want the audience to notice. I'll be watching the audience, seeing the dynamics of how it plays on-stage. This is where the REAL development happens. If after ALL of this I STILL love it, it gets put into the stage show in the proper spot...which means that I have to take something OUT of the show...some time tested and beloved routine because the new one is more exciting/stronger/better. This is the tough part...because I truly do love every single routine in my show. If performers don't love their effects, it's sometimes because they haven't taken the time to really get to learn them and work with them. It has to be an idea you really like to begin with...and it has to be a concept you're committed to enough that you'll pour your time and energy into refining. After all of this work...how can you NOT love what winds up on stage? David
Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Except bears. Bears will kill you.
My books are here: www.magicpendulums.com www.MidnightMagicAndMentalism.com |
merlin5150 II Elite user Aurora, IL 414 Posts |
All of my effects......
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robwar0100 Inner circle Buy me some newspapers.Purchase for me 1 Gazette and 1747 Posts |
I have performed more than 100 effects in shows over the years, probably closer to 200. How many close to my heart? Probably less than two dozen.
Bobby
"My definition of chance is my hands on the wheel," Greg Long.
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KiKi Inner circle GERMANY/ Hannover 1143 Posts |
My problem is, I always improve the effects I have, cause there is always a process going on how to develop the effects and make them feel confortable for me.
I even create my own booktests. This is quiet stressful! Effects I don´t change at most 5. kiki |
robwar0100 Inner circle Buy me some newspapers.Purchase for me 1 Gazette and 1747 Posts |
David,
I am going to go a little off track here, but there have been items I tried in a show and kept in a show because the audience loved the effect. A couple of examples from a magic show and a Christmas, a stage version of Six Card Repeat always got a great response, so I kept it in. I still have not come up with a presentation I love, but the audience truly likes it. Also, in my Christmas show, the Santa Hat Tear always gets a great response, so I always do it. Having said all of that, I really love the process you follow. I study magic and mentalism every day, I practice something most days, but I still have not developed what I consider to be a definitive mentalism show for me. I think it might be because I do not "love" every piece. I am going to follow your process and try to complete my show. Thanks, Bobby
"My definition of chance is my hands on the wheel," Greg Long.
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Gordon the discombobulator Loyal user 246 Posts |
What if you are asked back 2 months later. Same venue, same people.
Do you have a reserve set ? |
David Thiel Inner circle Western Canada...where all that oil is 4005 Posts |
Thanks, Bobby. I'm delighted that you found the post useful, friend.
Gordon: the thing with mentalism is that the same effect/demonstration can be presented to the same group and they DO enjoy it. The presentation is vastly different because an entirely different person is used. Sometimes repeat clients ask to see a specific routine again...and it's not because they are trying to figure it out...but because they enjoyed it the first time. That said, I think most of us have several different sets that can be performed depending on the size of the audience, how recently they've seen the show, where the show is being presented, etc. I have a list of effects that are "stage ready" that I can draw on. But to be honest, the CORE of my show usually stays the same. David
Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Except bears. Bears will kill you.
My books are here: www.magicpendulums.com www.MidnightMagicAndMentalism.com |
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