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el toro Veteran user Across the atlantic 325 Posts |
I often see amateurs ( like myself) write things like: "My wife is my hardest spectator", or: "I can't fool my wife". And actually I think family and kids are the toughest spectators. So my question is: Is this really because other people, that don't know you so well, is more polite and don't want to bust you? I mean if I watch a magician, even when I was a layman, I would never bust him, even if I understood the method or saw the sleights. If this is the case it is difficult to get the feedback you need to improve. I think it is almost impossible to watch yourself in the mirror or on camera and tell how good you are. You need to be audience tested. Thoughts anyone ?
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Paul Sherman Inner circle Arlington, VA 1511 Posts |
Eh...you pretty much nailed it. Plenty of us are blessed with polite audiences. And let's not forget magic clubs, where apparently constructive criticism was forbidden sometime back in the 30s. Best thing you can do is ask people to be brutally honest with you. Also not a bad idea to ask for advice from someone whose stuff really fools you.
Paul
"The finished card expert considers nothing too trivial that in any way contributes to his success..." Erdnase
some youtube videos |
Daegs Inner circle USA 4291 Posts |
"A prophet is respected and has honor, except in his own town."
I'll admit I butchered that quote, but that is the gist of it. People who know you *are* going to be your toughest critics, here are a couple reasons: 1. They know all your little quirks, and can easily tell when your unnatural or when your thinking about something(like a double lift, ect) that most other people would not. 2. They know how long you have been in magic, or when you just bought XXX trick or started working on XXX sleight, as such they are going to be less impressed because they can say "Well you just got that in the mail last week..." 3. They have seen other effects and might understand some basic principles of magic. 4. They've seen a lot of magic and aren't as impressed. 5. They don't want to feel inferior, so they go out of their way to bust you or figure things out. I do agree that my mom, mother-in-law and sig. other (in that order) are by far my 3 worst critics, which is why you should always hide the magic when the folks, in-laws visit, and wait to perform stuff for the spouse until its been audience tested.... |
blade Loyal user Philippines 208 Posts |
Right.
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Dan LeFay Inner circle Holland 1371 Posts |
I think the conversational relationship we have with wives, mothers and other family is a lot more intense than the relationship we have with our real-live audience. If for instance we spend time after a show, or between sessions, at the bar we would hear a lot more from them than we normally do. It is there that you can decide if you are really a seasoned performer.
"That was cool...can I put my hand in your right jacketpocket? Haha!" Not so good... "That was cool, where do you keep the extra ball?" Slightly better... "That was cool, but can you do it without your jacket?" A little better... "That was cool, I didn't see a thing, but you are fast!" Pretty good... "That was cool, I feel like a little kid." Well done... "That was cool, do you do corporate parties?" Right on!
"Things need not have happened to be true.
Tales and dreams are the shadow-truths, that will endure when mere facts are dust and ashes, and forgot." Neil Gaiman |
k Loyal user Marseille 283 Posts |
Dan and Daegs,
you coudn't be more right than you are... My guess is, as you point, you can impress more easily on an audience that doesn't know your background! If I were to do con games going like "hello, I'm a hustler would you play with me?" iwouldn't play much... Magic is a matter of surprise... and in order to amaza/surprise, I think you have to get them unaware/unprepared. that is why you have bustout moves, fake move etc. to mislead your audience. Funny enough, it gets harder and harder everytime you try on the same person as they begin to know you! Cheers
I'm just a blind Con that lost his I...
remember, Magic's everywhere... ("Your are the magic !" - Albert Goshman) "Voici mon secret. Il est très simple. On ne voit bien qu'avec le coeur. L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux" St-Exupéry |
caubeck Elite user 412 Posts |
As a matter of curiosity, to what extent are you willing to share your secrets with your loved ones?
I tend to divide my props into two categories: open and closed. The open ones are those I don't mind my girlfriend seeing lying about the house in various states of metamorphosis, the closed ones are secrets I strictly keep to myself. In general, the existence of many utility devices (special coins, decks, magnets, etc) remain undisclosed at home, while "novelty items" are often on show unless we have visitors. Thus right now there's a "pen thru" in the kitchen holding a note to remind us we have to buy detergent this week. Slightly off topic, I know. |
Mike Wild Inner circle NY, PA, TX, MA, FL, NC 1290 Posts |
I need to move to the land of polite audiences! Do I click my heels together three times to get there?
I see all performance scenarios as having their individual challenges. I absolutely kill my family on the holidays... the same family who got tired of watching my tricks when I was 14. But add a family get-together on a holiday, and those same tricks really entertain now-a-days. And I've had new audiences shoot me down when I thought I was giving them the best stuff they'd ever seen. It's tough all over... sometimes, and sometimes it's gravy. Mike |
Chris "linkster" Watson Special user England 564 Posts |
Don't know about you guy's but I almost perform in an appologetic way for close friends/ family....do you mind having a look at this for me?
When I am performing I tend to turn it on a bit, this means the misdirection is better, patter is better and things fly a lot easier. They reckon Malini didn't have the greatest chops....he did have one of the greatest commands of misdirection though, and that's what makes things fly....and other days I just get plain caught...which is why magic is still a hobby |
Patrick Differ Inner circle 1540 Posts |
http://www.businessballs.com/mehrabiancommunications.htm
Jonathan Townsend posted this link earlier on this thread: http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......6&46 I found it VERY helpfull, especially facial expressions part. It was the first thing I thought of when reading this topic. I hope it's appropriate.
Will you walk into my parlour? said the Spider to the Fly,
Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy; The way into my parlour is up a winding stair, And I've a many curious things to show when you are there. Oh no, no, said the little Fly, to ask me is in vain, For who goes up your winding stair -can ne'er come down again. |
Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
I remember after a "talk show" segment at the Music City Conclave (Maven, Close, someone else and myself were the panel) and just after I was on the seat in the "gents" and heard a couple of guys talking about our presentation and one guy said, "Boy, were they BRUTAL."
Heheheheh... what did they want? Praise for lousy magic?
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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Magicmaven Inner circle 1235 Posts |
I am a kid, and no one ever busts me, even when I know I messed up. I try to practice on my toughest spectator, more often then usual, it is the kids at school: They never like to get "fooled," and they are always saying, "hey, is there a coin in your hand... did you really put the coin in your pocket... can I check that deck out... can I shuffle it?" even when everything IS normal, and I don't have the coin palmed, or I don't have a gaffed deck, they are always suspicious. From all this I have learned to be extremely natural, and as clean as I can be. I may not be natural or clean, but I sure have improved. LOL.
For practicing, your toughest audience, is your best audience...I think Rmax
rmaxgoodwin.com
https://rmaxgoodwin.com/ |
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