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Juan D Elite user 482 Posts |
Guys, I need a little advise here:
I used to do a clock-stopping effect were the hands of a borrowed watch will stop upon command in the spectator hands. Hours ago, I was at a party where someone who I haven't seen for quite some time remembered such effect and told all her friends about it. They just asked me to reproduce the feat but unfortunately I wasn't carrying the "special something" and I didn't know what to say! I mean, I packed several of my newest effects, I did a lot of mind reading but after this girl started to spread the rumor of the watch stoping effect which I used to perform, everyone was just waiting for it! What to say on a situation like that where you are casually performing (yes casually!) and then someone asks you to perform something he/she saw time ago performed by you and you currently cannot do? I just tried to reproduce the feat without being able to carry it on, and then saying that it was too complex due to the lack of concentration for the place where we were, but I have to say that I didn't feel totally comfortable with my answer :hmm: What would have you said on a situation like this? |
Greg Arce Inner circle 6732 Posts |
Every situation is different, but in this case I might have said, "l'll try, but it's something I haven't been doing for awhile and it takes some energy."
I would try it several times and keep having everyone check their own watches to see if anything has happened. If for some reason someone notices something weird I would take the credit... if not I would say, "let's try it this way." and I would put the watch face down on someone's hand... of course, just before doing it I would do a PK time move on the watch. Now when they turn it around someone should notice that the time changed. Greg
One of my favorite quotes: "A critic is a legless man who teaches running."
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matthu Regular user UK 170 Posts |
You could always say that you haven't done that effect for a while ... you had a bad experience when somebody discovered they weren't able to restart their watch!
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Hypnotic Winter Special user Ireland 720 Posts |
Juan D, I think your answer was a good one. And well done.
Bravo. H.W
When your only reality is an illusion, then illusion is reality.
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Ken Dyne Inner circle UK 2268 Posts |
I think I would probably say something like "i used to do that, but nowerdays I do the really impressive stuff, watch this..." and stop my pule and then someone else's pulse. they usually rave about this for the next couple of years.
I perform everyyear for a few "corporates" and they still refer to me as "the weird guy with the white hair who stops people's pulses" which is nice, I think? Kind thoughts, Kennedy
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DangerMouse Special user LONDON CITY 509 Posts |
That's kinda funny, they say a similar thing about a guy called Luke Jermay, it's just that he doesn't have white hair.
Curt.
Cheese is nothing but thick milk.
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Juan D Elite user 482 Posts |
Thanks a lot Guys,
Yes, my answer was along the lines expressed by Mr Arce and Mathu , without the group experience as suggested by Greg, which now I see how much it can enhance the overall effect. What Kennedy suggests looks like a great out!, not only for this but I think that it can suit most similar situations. Thank you All! :bg: |
Dr_Stephen_Midnight Inner circle SW Ohio, USA 1555 Posts |
I would just try in good faith, fail, and comment that psychic experiments are a spurious thing, not always succeeding.
I would follow with "let's try another type of experiment," and then do something that works. Steve
Dr. Lao: "Do you know what wisdom is?"
Mike: "No." Dr. Lao: "Wise answer." |
Jonathan Inner circle Oklahoma 1223 Posts |
Greg Arce is right on!
When I'm in situations where I can't do it and Greg Arce's advice doesn't work (and it will most of the time) I say that as a performer I don't do things if people have already seen it or heard about it. The surprise and shock is gone and you should never do an effect, IMO, if it can't be any better than what they are expecting. It's always just a disappointment. So I explain that and they usually understand. However, that's somewhat unique to me and my personality. I'm sure that won't work for most people. When I was a freshman in college they school held an intervention for me because they thought I had demonic powers. As you can imagine, that is gold as far as I'm concerned! That's something I can use for the rest of my life. Often I will explain that to show how dangerous what I do can be and why I'm reluctant some times to perform for people. The key is to do it in such a way that you get their sympathy and then they will respect your caution and not push it. The best thing to do is what Greg Arce suggested though. Try and see if anything happens you can take credit for and then make them think you are doing what they're asking but then surprise them by actually doing something else! If they still push after that, I do one of the above. Jonathan Grant |
darkseance Loyal user UK 241 Posts |
I have to agree with Greg Arce, the advice is spot on. Once I was doing a watch routine similiar to Richard Osterlind's. I made an error and used PK time as my out. The spectators didn't know I had made a mistake as I didn't skip a beat and kept calm. Calmness is also a key here.
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mindgames Veteran user 389 Posts |
If you think of it, isn't it funny?
if you are a singer, they wont ask you to sing at anytime... if you are a boxer..... if you are a porn actor? but if you are a magician...... show me somthing!
I READ MINDS.... YOURS TOO.
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shrink Inner circle 2609 Posts |
I don't know....I might ask a porn actress to show me something
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johne Special user 960 Posts |
NO means NO...Just because alcohol is involved doesn't mean it's ok.
Speaking of adult actresses, Shrink. I always wondered about that. They've seen lots of action, and lots of sponge ball routines I'm sure. I think I would be inclined to tell them no, I don't want to assist them in any tricks. |
Osiris Special user 610 Posts |
A rule of thumb I developed many years ago was to always have an alternative way of making things happen. This leaves us room for situations in which guests ask us to "do that again" (in most instances, they're looking for how we do it the second time around so we change the M.O. and move on.)
The other ways "out" from this kind of messy situation have been covered and PK Time is an excellent side-step to such. But on the other hand, I'm certain you were prepared with some kind of IT arrangement; elastics on the wrist? ITR in the coat? With either you can deliver a far more impressive PK demonstration at the drop of a hat. Then too, you could be like all the other clones and simply bend a spoon or fork in someone's hand and walk away as their jaws drop to the floor. My mentor used to challenge me on a regular basis so as to force my mind to work on instant outs... it's a great excercise you may want to put yourself through... moving through the tricks you perform and finding alternate means of replicating them either with a convenient device you can keep at hand or using what's available. In my experience, it's this kind of throught process that allows us to become real "Magicians" vs. some guy or gal that simply does tricks. Best of luck! |
SpAgHeTtI Regular user 166 Posts |
Say that the last time you did it the clock was damaged and so you don't do it again untill you are better....
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