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Philemon Vanderbeck Inner circle Seattle, WA 4694 Posts |
Simply by placing one of those re-usable chemical icepacks in your coat pocket, you can make a great impression on unsuspecting individuals upon greeting them and shaking their hand.
Since you've previously placed your right hand in your pocket for a few minutes, it will be extremely cold. Of course, don't make any comment on it, just smile and act like nothing is wrong. And needless to say, this effect plays stronger in the middle of summer.
Professor Philemon Vanderbeck
That Creepy Magician "I use my sixth sense to create the illusion of possessing the other five." |
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Mr Secret-ary Regular user Bath, England 106 Posts |
There's some ingenious stuff here, but, but... Is it just me, or do other Cafe members also want their audiences to, well - LIKE them? Because I do think there's a place for being slightly scary or spooky, but too much of it rapidly turns into a power trip, surely? And while that mahy be impressive on one level, it undermines rapport. I have no desire to make audiences think I'm in touch with Dark Forces, rather that I can lead them into some mysteries we can share together. (Predominantly pleasant ones!)...
...Oh all right then, if you must - there's also a truly astounding 'seance' concept(both in the effect and the effort required to pull it off!), in TA Waters' Mind Myth & Magick. |
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Michael Peterson Inner circle is where I'm trapped, because of my 4071 Posts |
I do have many people who I have frightened with differen't effects, they still THINK I'm a nice guy though
I think it's because I can present some spooky effects with haunted objects or do some card or coin stuff. I seperate the two, I think that is why they seem to think the darker stuff is an extention of my magic. Generally people just think I'm a freak |
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Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts |
Audiences can still like you even when you are apparently dabbling with the dark forces.
A "for instance"? Well, how about Gene Burger? He can bring an avuncular air to bizarre. You can do anything you want, if you are able to. No reason a bizarrist can't be liked. Check out my Bizarre Bazaar column in the e-zine Vision (www.online-visions.com) and you'll see that you can even combine comedy with bizarre in some cases. cheers, Peter Marucci |
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Philemon Vanderbeck Inner circle Seattle, WA 4694 Posts |
Quote:
On 2002-03-12 19:40, Mr Secret-ary wrote: For many people, the appearance of evil is inherently fascinating. If you play your part well, you can create an atmosphere of awe and respect just by stepping onto the stage and not saying a word. Of course, that means you'll never be able to get away with performing a sponge bunny routine. On the other hand, you should see the routine I do with black sponge balls as a metaphor for spreading the Black Death.
Professor Philemon Vanderbeck
That Creepy Magician "I use my sixth sense to create the illusion of possessing the other five." |
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Mr Secret-ary Regular user Bath, England 106 Posts |
Peter, you are absolutely right: EB does indeed positively DEFINE avuncular disturbingness. And not only am I already a regular reader of your column, but also an admirer: I have felt seriously unimaginative more than once, after reading the creative changes you had wrought on over-familiar routines. However, it's not really that type of effect I'm referring to, but a more 'straight' apparent embracing of evil as ones performance mode. I suspect this is closer to your territory Philemon(?), and while I take your points, I see it differently. Yes, you can indeed create impact without saying anything and I've seen it done - it's dramatically thrilling and powerful - but in no way connected with anything really Occult, surely? Given the choice, I'd rather bring a little light into people's lives, rather than more darkness. Nor am I sure than anyone has yet addressed my point about wanting to LEAD the spectators into a shared experience, rather than cow them into submission while I perform marvels. (And you are clearly not familiar with Eugene Burger's "Satan and the SPonge Bunnies" routine...)
ilish: |
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Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts |
First of all, thanks for the very kind words, Mr. Secretary.
Perhaps this is closer to what you are looking for: Working in a theatrical sense (which is what we should be doing anyway!), you can start off low-key and quite literally lead the audience into a dark-side experience. Remember: Nothing is quite as terrifying as the normal, the average, the everyday -- gone wrong! cheers, Peter Marucci |
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Paul Inner circle A good lecturer at your service! 4409 Posts |
But going back ALMOST to the original plot...
Mike Arazi had a good routine, "The Cards of Edward Gray" in which a deal with the devil is done so that he will have good fortune with cards. The cards become ashes at the conclusion. This can be found in "In The Mind's Eye",(1994) The Minnesota Mind Psi Collection that was produced by Mary Tomich of Thaumysta Magic Company. My favourite Thaumysta trick releases were: The Portrait of Lydia Marsh The Lips of Ann Bodenham. Just a pity the stone lips of the latter were so small, great story/effect. Paul Hallas. |
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RangeCowboy Regular user Long Beach 198 Posts |
The current Cursed Mummy movies with their camera effects of creepy-crawlies and scuttle-quickly-crawlies obviously fill a need by the general public to be scared, though since its a movie they do have the knowledge its on-screen.
Ichazod and JaquaiGul need a new kind of online store. Maybe I need to open Blood Guts 'N Beyond .com for the serious image builder. Animatronics is quite feasible now and together with the gizmo that makes street-criuser car suspensions jump around one could make tables chairs and indeed a whole floor animate on command. Would need to be portable and cost less than Disney animators effects. How about a large rubber bag under the carpet with a low-tech air supply as used by fire rescue teams. You want walls that weep no problem. Ectoplasm-in-a can does require some definition first. Does it glow in the dark, or take a shape of its own. I think I can project the right kind of hologram onto stage smoke to create the impression that the ectoplasm has that shape. What do you think guys? |
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thelastdoctor New user Dayton Ohio/USA 70 Posts |
Quote:
On 2002-03-15 05:30, Peter Marucci wrote: In my story telling I try to keep in mind the cartoons of Charles Addams...what a family. For me a goal is that my audience believes in the Irish SÃ, that includes those disgruntled cobblers the Leprechauns and that one of them could be 5'9" , have a beard and balding. For the Irish, the saddest lament has a note of happiness somewhere. The Last Doctor ?who? :stout:
The Last Doctor
?who?:stout: I’m always looking for the perfect pint or sugar free Jelly Babies... |
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Michael Peterson Inner circle is where I'm trapped, because of my 4071 Posts |
Philemon, the black spongeball routine sounds brilliant. I found a place that sells black spongeballs sometime ago, but I could not think of an appropriate routine. Perhaps I someday will.
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kris attard Elite user Malta 437 Posts |
Hi Ichazod
Though I don't do it, the atmosphere conjured up by bizarre magic can be a great thing. Personally speaking, I feel it is too much to allure to actually being the devil yourself. Remember, if you really were, you would be able to do all kinds of things, including appear and vanish at will (in a puff of black smoke, nothing less)and even fly through the air in a way that would shame Copperfield, and not make black sponge balls change places. My sense is that it's too strong a claim and I doubt whether any trick you may have would be 'enough' to sustain it. Also today, there are some strong religious sentiments against magic and witchcraft. Though I do not subscribe to them, I still would not seek to alienate that segment of a possible audience, but then maybe that is not an issue where you are? Does this make sense, Ichazod? |
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lyndonwebb Loyal user 264 Posts |
I have routines that use almost every thing you have metioned or if not I have ideas that could use them, but how about less is more?
Also black sponge balls about a routine where the End of mankind and the collision of worlds collide. Just a thought. |
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Philemon Vanderbeck Inner circle Seattle, WA 4694 Posts |
Quote:
On 2002-05-27 02:33, kris attard wrote: According to Bob Cassidy, Anton LaVey (founder of the Church of Satan) would occasionally dress-up in full stereotypicial devil costume... all in red, complete with plastic horns and a pitchfork. Remember, in many people's minds, evil is supposed to be deceptive... what better way than to 'hide' in plain sight? Anyone remember the episode of "Night Court" (with Harry Anderson) that had the character of Dan Fielding sell his soul to what he thought was a nutcase in a phony devil costume, only to discover that the 'nutcase' knew more about him than he should have? The concept of the 'real' magician hiding out as a stage illusionist was explored in Clive Barker's "Lord of Illusion." I could imagine the Devil corrupting small children by pulling a rabbit out of a hat at a kid's birthday party. :evilgrin:
Professor Philemon Vanderbeck
That Creepy Magician "I use my sixth sense to create the illusion of possessing the other five." |
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Michael Peterson Inner circle is where I'm trapped, because of my 4071 Posts |
Quote:
On 2001-09-19 16:41, Ichazod wrote: I had almost forgotten the original question. Although I'm still in my infancy as a bizarrist, I have learned that routines such as the one I asked about can only be done for certain people. These people are the ones who want to believe there is something more to what I'm doing. I know people who believe I have legitimate powers, I can show them the bizarre routines & they they take them as fact. Even when something in a routine doesn't work out perfectly for one reason or another. It doesn't seem to matter to them, they are enjoying what I'm doing & not asking why. I'm learning to let people come to their own conclusions about what I do or what I am, I don't agree or disagree. I want to thank you all for the help & input. |
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WR Special user Utah 945 Posts |
Kind of a carter beats the Devil Effect?? Sure Why not.
Most magically yours, WR The last feat Carter did was the card hand aginst the devil in the Carter beats the Devil routine...
"Tell Em WR sent Ya."
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Michael Peterson Inner circle is where I'm trapped, because of my 4071 Posts |
The effect is that a man bets his soul against a million dollars in a poker game with the devil, and loses.
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Philemon Vanderbeck Inner circle Seattle, WA 4694 Posts |
You might wish to consider letting the man win in your story.
I think you'll have a much better emotional hook that way. Your spectators will naturally identify with the role of the man in the story, and the fun of the "deal with the devil" stories nowadays is seeing the man end up tricking the devil at his own game. :evilgrin:
Professor Philemon Vanderbeck
That Creepy Magician "I use my sixth sense to create the illusion of possessing the other five." |
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Michael Peterson Inner circle is where I'm trapped, because of my 4071 Posts |
Thanks for the suggestion, it sounds like a good idea for another effect.
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Darmoe Special user Ohio 741 Posts |
Certainly one of my more favored topics...
I've never stated directly I was "The Man" but... I do dress in a very nice "classy" Goth style... I do have some very cool horns that I've been known to wear here and there (that most people really do think are real)... if you look close, you'll see the impression of a tail running from the base of my spine long a pant leg... I've even been known to have smoldering hoof prints left behind in the carpet from time to time, when leaving the room (after doing a bit) One of my favorite routine is Ed Solomon's "Cross & Pentacle" and too, I'm notorious around Live Action "Masquerade" games (Vampire). In fact Vlad Duetch and I jokingly refer to ourselves as being "grandpa Goths" at times. Taking on the image of the "Dark Prince" is not as easy as it sounds. You DON'T dress up in red, etc. It must be exceptionally subtle and when I do this character (Professor Louis Cypher BS/PHD) I allow the "non-statement" of what I'm doing, to carry the load; never making reference to it in any way, during the show... LESS IS MORE! THE FANTASY... in that I do work the Ren. Fair market a great deal, is to have the implants put in (horns) along with the tail of a stage, the pointed ears and legs of a goat and just simply do my thing as Pan... the Lord of the Wood whose image was *****ized by early church PR men... but, that's another story all together...
"I firmly believe that of all the Arts and Crafts of Mentalism, there is nothing more satisfying than one who is a first-class Reader. It is the ultimate in Mentalism..." - Tony Corinda * 13 Steps To Mentalism
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