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Emjeyem New user 8 Posts |
Hi guys,
Could somebody help me with a dilemma I am having? I would just like to know, what do I need to do and learn to perform at parties? A lot of the time, I shy out of doing an event only because I was worried I didn't have enough stuff to do at the event. So my question is, how much do I need to know, how many tricks do I need, what are the best techniques.... Just general advice on how to start performing at events really. It would be much appreciated. Thanks,
Mitchell John Melody
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Ed_Millis Inner circle Yuma, AZ 2292 Posts |
First, you have to **know** that you ~CAN~ perform magic. That you absolutely CAN show up, function through the routines, engage the audience in the performance, live with any mistakes you make, and do a great job. If you do not POSITIVELY KNOW _that_, then keep practicing until you get there - and don't take any bookings until then!
Second, you have to know the general principles of entertaining with magic: -- What can you do now? -- Who is you audience? -- What is your character and how do you present that? -- How do you plan to engage the audience in the presentation? So .... in order for us to give you any kind of meaningful advice, we need to know where you're starting from and where you want to go. So tell us some things about you: -- How old are you and how long have you been doing magic? -- What kinds of stuff do you do now? -- Who do you perform for now and how often? -- What kind of performing history do you have? -- What books are you reading to help you on your journey? -- When you say "perform at parties", what are you thinking of? Describe the event, what's happening, who is there, and what you're doing. Oh - and use the Search function to read the hundreds of posts where this has been asked before. And even then, those answers fit that person, and they may not fit you. If you don't know where you're starting from, where you want to end up at, and have a sober evaluation of what it will take to get there, no one can help *you* get "there". Ed PS - Also read everything in New to Magic posted by Dick Oslund. And maybe get his book and DVD. More gold than you can spend in 20 years! |
Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Thanks Ed!
IMO, you have said the "right things" very well! Too many in the Café would have suggested a number of the "latest & greatest" tricks, and, then encouraged Emjayem to "have fun!' This sort of "advice", as you are well aware, is USELESS! Your comments encourage me! I keep busy in retirement, mentoring (mostly by "long distance"!) I was most fortunate, when I was a teen ("eons" ago!)to meet and be mentored by several old pro's. Without their guidance, I would never have been able to make a living as a full timer for fifty years! EMJAYEM! I liked your comments and questions, when you introduced yourself, and, also today, above. Welcome to our "motley crew"! In the past two days, I've written two long pieces in the "New To Magic" forum, that you may find helpful. On August 26, I responded to Soumyagit. The 'title' was "Magic Products from the UK". On August 28, I responded to The Duster. The title was "Suggestions For Simple Tricks". I covered some fundamentals. Perhaps my thoughts will motivate questions from YOU! I'm busier now, in retirement, than I was for the fifty years that I was on the road! I try to respond ASAP, but, occasionally it takes me a day or three! Dick PS: You speak very good English for a "foreigner"! (hee hee)
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Emjeyem New user 8 Posts |
Hi guys,
I have been into magic for about five years, yet my process of learning it has slowed down dramatically over the last few months. I am 18 years old now, coming on 19 in October. I want to know a bit of everything. I want to be able to do coin magic, card magic, props, no props, mentalism... just an all around kinda thing. I know a few card moves and very little on coin magic. I really struggle with the coin back finger palm which I really want to learn. The only events I have really done is a few parties at venues. Everyone is either dancing, drinking at the bar or at a table having a chat. To put it into perspective, I know very little for how long I have been doing magic and want to know how I can make that transition to a full time professional. PS, Of course I speak good English, I was born and raised in England hehehe
Mitchell John Melody
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Hello Mitchell!
Of course! That language bit was just to lighten up the conversation! (Remember! We here in the colonies, speak "American" English!!! --Some of us speak it better than others!) RE: My comments in "Our New Arrivals", I also wrote a long post to a Welshman, Aledkazam on 8/27. You didn't mention that you had read the other two posts that I mentioned above. I didn't write them to "fill space". (I don't have time for THAT! I am, as of this writing, 84. I started in 1938. I was about 8. I became a part time professional at age 13 on October 24, 1945, when I performed for the local Junior High School. I made $26.00 for a 40 minute show. Many grown men were working all week for THAT, in 1945! I turned full time pro. when I was in my mid 30s. I retired a few years ago, after about 50 years, touring coast to coast and border to border. I grew up when TV,the internet, and, definitely the Magic Café didn't EXIST. I lived in a small town in "the outback", as my Aussie friends call it. My only sources for learning about magic, were a few library books written for kids. In 1946, I met one of my first mentors, a full time pro. That led to other pro's who also helped. I haven't forgotten those days! I have, over the years, mentored many young fellows. Many turned pro, and are working in various branches of the business. There, that's enough about ME. If you are serious, about what you wrote,above, and, you are willing to WORK at it, there are a few of us, here, who enjoy sharing the "real stuff". Sophocles said it, a few thousand years ago: "One learns by DOING the thing." Write THAT, on your shaving mirror, and read it every morning! I learned the DOWNS palm when I was 15. The "back" palm is virtually useless! (I saw Geoffrey Buckingham back palm about a dozen "sovereigns" (?) back in 1950. The magicians were thrilled. The public audience, YAWNED.) Wasting time on "outdated" sleights, is a fool's errand. At the venues that you describe, a backpalm would have no use whatsoever. I think that you misunderstand the term "prop". Props are not limited to boxes, tubes, cans, and pans! Any physical "thing" that you use to perform a trick, IS A PROP. A piece of rope, is a prop. A silk is a prop. A coin is a prop...... The late S. H. Sharpe, one of your countrymen, was far from a great PERFORMER, but, he did understand what magic was "about". He once wrote: "Those who think that magic consists of doing tricks, are strangers to magic. Tricks are only the crude residue from which the lifeblood of magic has been drained."
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Ed_Millis Inner circle Yuma, AZ 2292 Posts |
Quote:
"Those who think that magic consists of doing tricks, are strangers to magic. Tricks are only the crude residue from which the lifeblood of magic has been drained." This!!!!!! I began my magic journey with books from the library and a journey to a real magic store. Depending on where you live, a store may not be available - and I fear the library may go that way too! At some point, you're going to have to grab two or three things - no more than that - and work them until you are comfortable and confident. It's easiest for most to start out with some "self-working" stuff so you can focus on the entertainment aspect. It's not what you are doing - it's the *YOU* that's doing it. Focus on sleights and working "magic boxes", and neglect the audience engagement factor, and you lose the magic, even if the trick went off perfect. TO learn a sleight just to know it is almost useless - learn it because you need it to make the magic happen. You will learn something and remember it when it has great meaning to you - like it's the action that made you audience laugh, gasp, scream, etc. There are things I learned only because a certain trick had grabbed me and I had to learn whatever to make it work. Stay away from the "trick of the month" disease!! Instead, grab a good book, find something that grabs you, and work through it. Don't neglect some of the older books - "The Amateur Magician" by Henry Hay is still available and has good stuff. As you work through whatever is required, don't get so excited about learning to do a "knuckle busting move" that you forget the aim is to entertain the audience. I've dropped jaws with routines so simple and sleight free that I'd almost be ashamed - except they did exactly what I needed: they entertained. If your magic bug survived your early teens and is still going strong, then I think you may be completely infected with no hope of recovery! Welcome to the club!!! :8>) Ed |
Al70 New user 8 Posts |
How do you handle the audience member who continually shouts, " I know how you do that." Or, "that's so easy, I can figure that out." Or, He has two cards " etc.
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Quote:
On Sep 1, 2016, Al70 wrote: First, WELCOME TO OUR MOTLEY CREW! It's rather apparent that you are new to the Café, and most likely to "magic" also. --Nothing intrinsically wrong with either of those 'situations'! There are a number of "fora" or "tables" in the Café. If you will scroll down to TABLE HOPPERS & PARTY STROLLERS, and open that forum, you can then scroll down to "I KNOW THAT ONE". That problem has been discussed for a week or two, by various experienced magicians, and, a few 'not too experienced".
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Hi Ed!
Henry Hay's "AMATEUR MAGICIANS HANDBOOK", although, SOME of Henry's "thinking" is a trifle dated, is an EXCELLENT book! (I "usta" call it the "Poor Man's TARBELL!). Mitchell has not returned. Maybe I scared him off...
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Aledkazam New user Wales (United Kingdom) 8 Posts |
Lots of the magicians on here will recommend Tarbell to you. After reading the first 20 pages or so you will realise why. It really is great and will certainly help on your magical journey. If almost every magician you speak to speaks highly of something its probably worth a look.
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Blaine G New user 87 Posts |
Simple answer, do what you know well, and do nothing else.
It does not really matter what book you use, while there are some excellent recommendations here. Nothing is worse than poorly performed magic. It is not entertaining. |
Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Blaine! I'm sure that you mean well, BUT! Have you read my two posts to Mitchell, AND Aledkazam????? I don't think you have, because I answered in a general way, most of his questions. I could not be more specific because I don't KNOW him.
"Do what you know well, and, do nothing else." IMO, He needs to grow! I suggested TARBELL, which will help that happen. (See Aled's comments regarding Tarbell.) See my response to Soumyagit and, The Duster in New Arrivals. "It does not really matter what book you use." WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! IT MATTERS A LOT! You are offering advice, when you obviously aren't qualified to offer it! ("NEMO DAT QUOD NON HABET!" --That's Latin! It means: "NO ONE CAN GIVE WHAT HE DOES NOT HAVE!') By your reasoning, he could pick up a copy of "Slydini Encores" or Ganson's "Routined Manipulation" series. He's not ready for those yet! It's necessary to learn basic arithmetic, before you study algebra! "Nothing is worse than poorly performed magic. It is not entertaining." I SAID THAT, "MAGIC IS NOT INHERENTLY ENTERTAINING", when I replied to Aled, I believe. Or maybe it was in my response to Soumyagit or The Duster. I even explained the "system" for adding a trick to one's show. (I AM NOT A 'FIRST 'O' MAY' IN THIS BUSINESS!) Sorry to be so abrupt, but, you should listen and learn, before you speak! BTW! Have YOU read TARBELL? --or Fitzkee, or Maskelynne & Devant, or Ken Weber???
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Blaine G New user 87 Posts |
Mr. Oslund,
I take it as a compliment that you have read my comment and responded. Your experience is truly valued. My brief comments were not intended to denigrate any other contributor's comments. They are merely additional to others, and I believe, are on point <He needs to grow! I suggested TARBELL> You are absolutely correct, but meanwhile if he were to perform at a party (of which we do not know the size or extent - it could be a party of a group of his friends) it would make no sense to pick a random trick from any source and attempt to perform it. Stick with what he knows well. Recall that we do not know what he knows. <"It does not really matter what book you use." WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! IT MATTERS A LOT!> The rest of my sentence is "while there are some excellent recommendations here." My reference is to your comment recommending Henry Hay's "AMATEUR MAGICIANS HANDBOOK" and your other comments referencing TARBELL. We could also add a few other recommendations in such as "Classic Secrets of Magic" or "Mark Wilsons Complete Course." I assumed the poster has the common sense not to pick up Fulves Best of Slydini or Kaufman's Coin Magic to start out with. The poster appears to be intelligent enough to seek advice, thus likely has the smarts not to jump in over his head. Perhaps I should have been more specific? <I SAID THAT, "MAGIC IS NOT INHERENTLY ENTERTAINING"> Great minds think alike... <Sorry to be so abrupt, but, you should listen and learn, before you speak!> Thank you for the advice, I do appreciate it. While I did not pursue magic as a lifetime profession, I was a demonstrator/salesman for many years, and paid my way through the University performing (some good, some poor) Today I practice law. I have seen fine magic, rookies being sold a gold plated bridge, and everything in between. While my opinion may not be deemed as much weight as yours, it is still valid. Yes Mr. Oslund, I have read Tarbell. I received volume one as a Christmas present 45 years ago when I wanted to learn magic at age seven. I was a bit precocious. I am still pleased that my local magic dealer made a fine recommendation to my father rather than selling him a bunch of junk. I devoured the Fitzkee Trilogy at age eleven, still refer to Our Magic, but oddly I have yet to obtain Weber for some odd reason. I also enjoy Nelms among many others in my personal collection, and enjoy access to one of the best magic libraries available. Again, thank you for the pleasure and honor of your response to my post. Sincerely, Blaine |
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