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enigmaticmagic Veteran user Seattle 313 Posts |
On top of mentalism. My other joy is film. Im a huge movie critic, some more recent favorites of mine include cult classic Brazil, and Dark City. But that's beside the point. What I'm trying to get across here is that when I am watching these movies. I can see a sort of power to them, both are sort of Film Noir genreish. And applying this power to mentalism would be spectacular. Think about this, it happens it magic all the time. Look at the hot performers that everyone knows. David Coperfeild. David Blaine. Criss Angel. Pen and Teller. Wether you like them or not is beside the fact. You ask a layperson to name a mentalist they will probably say "A what?". A small percent might say "Alain Something or other"
What does this imply? Well I think its because the Davids, Criss, Pen and Teller, bring something else to there show. Its like watching a movie, except your the lead actor, every time. Its amusing to watch these people act as if a real miracle was just performed. The smoke, the stage perfectly set, the assistants, its all coreographed so perfectly. And its so mmodern and risky almost that it will apeal to there TA. Whatever your target audience is catering to them is equally important. Try video taping your show and then watching it. Think "Could this be a movie? Is this over the top and risky? Or is everyone still sitting in there plastic seats waiting for something to happen?" I am sort of modeling my stage show afer a rock concert. No more plastic chairs for me. But this is just my vision, DO what you feel is appropriate. I cater to a younger audience. I probably always will. Its like the Greatful Dead at concert. I mean they were pretty old at the end of there career. And still 20 year old hippies showed up at there shows. Just think about this for a second and let me know what you think. |
Dr. Zenitram Regular user New York 156 Posts |
I tend to draw influence from B-movies, the Marx Bro's and Monty Python. I think it's a mistake to only looka t other mentalists/magicians for inspiration. Yep I use comedy as the main influence for mentalism.
Will you, won't you, ESP with me?
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Slim King Eternal Order Orlando 18012 Posts |
I see what you mean...Lots of the videos of mentalism here on the Café have the Mentalist almost begging..."Now give her a big round of applause.". it shouldn't be this way. Peoples jaws should drop and they should just get crazy! For Darn sakes...YOU JUST READ SOMEONES MIND!
THE MAN THE SKEPTICS REFUSE TO TEST FOR ONE MILLION DOLLARS.. The Worlds Foremost Authority on Houdini's Life after Death.....
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The One Veteran user 325 Posts |
Yes its called showmanship...
It's something I'm constantly working on... something that is missing in most "magicians"
I didn't come here to tell you how this is going to end...
I came here... To tell you how this is going to begin. |
enigmaticmagic Veteran user Seattle 313 Posts |
I posted those magicians names on purpose. Because no matter what you think of them, there masters of showmanship. And that's something that everyone needs to work on. Myself included, as slim king said, you shouldnt have to ask for a "spontaneous applause" You should have to ask them to settle down.
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The One Veteran user 325 Posts |
Agreed
I didn't come here to tell you how this is going to end...
I came here... To tell you how this is going to begin. |
entity Inner circle Canada 5060 Posts |
Everyone has their own artistic sensabilities. You are influenced by films... good for you. Use that because it says something personal to you. People will feel that and hopefully react to it.
For someone else, it might be music; or psychology; or comedy... whatever. That's what art is all about. Make your own personal statement, follow your own artistic vision. What the people you mentioned have in common is professional and artistic excellence. - entity
email: tomebaxter@icloud.com
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r1z08 Inner circle 1158 Posts |
The problem with a lot of the Mentalism that I am seeing performed is that the routines are just too lengthy and complicated for most audiences. A lot of close-up magic routines tend to get more of a response from the audience for a reason and that reason is that it is visual, direct and short. Think about this. Have you seen David Blaine or Criss Angel in the streets going into a routine where they have a long elaborate story that prefaces their effect and then the effect is kind of hard to follow? Of course not.
Entertainment is a matter of keeping people's attention willingly and showing them something unreal. A lot of Mentalism routines seem to be rather drawn out and more directed towards fooling other magicians rather than focussing on the people that matter most.....the laymen! No one cares how much time you put into writing your patter and how deep it is, they just want to be amazed with what you can do. Another thing that I see with Mentalists is that they make what they do look too easy. If you ask someone to think of a word, number, etc. and you immediately name it, yes, there will be a moment of amazement, but where's the entertainment in that? I have even seen some performer's get really cocky with what they do and show this "I can do something you can't" type attitude and it really loses the audience's attention because nobody wants to see someone just showing off and proving that they are better then everyone else. And why do performer's feel that they have to rush through their set like the stage was on fire? They do not even give the audience enough time to give them credit for what they have just accomplished. Again, look at Blaine and Angel, they get a reaction and they focus in on it. People react to other people, so get that person that "freaks out" front and center and use them often to assist you. In Derren Brown's book "Pure Effect" he even goes as far as to use anchoring to keep bringing a person back to that amazed reaction. I think....no, I know that if Mentalists would just sit and really pour the blood, sweat and tears needed into their routines and think about what they are really trying to accomplish then we will see more of the reactions that are deserved for this craft. |
MrHyde Special user 810 Posts |
If nothing else, the study of film structure
will help many performers construct better shows. Timothy |
Jim-Callahan V.I.P. 5018 Posts |
I use film in my shows.
In fact my new work is an interactive film noir presentation. (An edited part of it has been posted on the Café'). Jim
“I can make Satan’s devils dance like fine gentlemen across the stage of reality”.
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Slim King Eternal Order Orlando 18012 Posts |
I wanted to mention Jims work as a fantastic marriage of Film and Magical Fantasy. LOL....I do like it. Spooky too!
Dave
THE MAN THE SKEPTICS REFUSE TO TEST FOR ONE MILLION DOLLARS.. The Worlds Foremost Authority on Houdini's Life after Death.....
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entity Inner circle Canada 5060 Posts |
Can you provide a link?
- entity
email: tomebaxter@icloud.com
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The One Veteran user 325 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-03-25 16:25, r1z08 wrote: Actually I think one of the problems with not just mentalism but magic as a whole is that showmanship skills are lacking.... And that magicians have to show one thing after another simply because they themselves can't keep an audience entertained.
I didn't come here to tell you how this is going to end...
I came here... To tell you how this is going to begin. |
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