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Edith Regular user Germany 131 Posts |
Take all the acting away, and you could have a machine doing "magic"
tricks. |
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Hmm interesting questions here and I thank you all for posting them. Chris you bring up some great points and I am glad you are. I do not think you are ipening Pandora's box at all. I do think you are asking great questions and opening them up for some deep discussion.
I would first say that my anologee is certainly not the best one (as stated above). What I mean is that any magic act still has to appear as magical in nature. It is not wrong to be a play that has magic in it, as long as the audience knows that before they come to see your show. However a play about magic is much more different then a magic act that is themed around acting and defined characters. For me, I use acting and pantomime and character development to engage my audience and to give them something more with the magic I am presenting to them. They work as a whole or together to create a more magical experience. Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
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Owen Anderson Loyal user A sturdy fence needs at least 231 Posts |
Instead of pizza how about a sushi metaphor...
The sticky rice being the fundamentals of theatre, the fish being the magic and comedy layer on top, And somewhere in-between wasabi supplies the 'wow' factor. But you gotta work hard for your wasabi!
Owen Anderson
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esther_scheffer Veteran user the netherlands 316 Posts |
I think also acting is the base, the fundament.
Magic (and for me also juggling) are the toppings But I have one show with more theatre, and magic and juggling as ingredients(toppings). This one has a storyline and there is parts of like 10 minutes without any trick happening. I also have a show with has the magic and the juggling tricks more in the centre. And playing my role and the build up of the show (structure) and the timing and the way I "wrap" the tricks up are acting. Each show fits better in different circumstances (like the second is better on the streets with people passing by), the first is better in a teather setting with the kids seated on chairs. I do believe you have to be extremly good in your techniques to entertain any adience without any acting. Except maybe if you perform for people who do practice/perform the same tricks themselves. I do think some basic lessons (or from a book) about acting / theater (or dance) are very helpful even if you are a "natural" actor. You can learn a lot by doing (and also by falling and getting up again) but if you know something about structure and timing and choreography etc. you can delibratly plan it. |
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
Chris
You are right to ask this question, because without presentation magic is just a bunch of unreleated tricks. I did standup comedy for ten years, and juggling for 20 years which are not really acting, but taught me how to use everything I had to be entertaining. My question is how about jokes per minute, costume, professional props, or pride in one's apearance? These all are the differance between a $100 a show magician, and a guy who can ask for the big bucks. HAVE FUN Al Angello
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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The Great Smartini Inner circle 2280 Posts |
Chris,
I think that you make an excellent point that appears to be lost on many....without theatre, without an ability to play the role of a magician, without any acting ability what you're left is a magician who is unable to bring the skills, qualities and attitude necessary to maximizing the acting role of a magician...don't forgot that none of us have any actual magical talents...which means that we have many bad actors?! Smartini |
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Dr. Solar Special user Citrus Heights, Ca. 526 Posts |
Then there was the Great Senor Wences, the great ventriloquist/juggler, who wove suspense and drama with his juggling over Pedro in the box. The "head in the box" that kept proclaiming, "S'al right!" Wences allowing the spinning plates on the end of his uprighted sticks to slow and wobble as though about to fall any minute on the head in the box. Saved in the nick of time by Wences as he sped up their spin and appeased Pedro. What an act. He acted on Ed Sullivan Show more than any other performer.
As well, I am so thankful to have seen Red Skelton in person a few years before his passing. He was pure joy to watch, that's for sure. peace, NOW... Dr. Solar
"look for me in all things forgotten"
www.drsolar.com |
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harris Inner circle Harris Deutsch 8812 Posts |
Next week, I am thinking about auditioning for a part in 2 plays.
After doing a one person(and many puppets(show) it is uncomfortable just thinking about getting a part. One of my mentors/teachers told me that I grow more when I get out of my comfort role. The kicker is one is a musical. In the 80's I did a few years with a singing telegram company. Some customers quipped, "Great show and funny, but where was the singing." Actually my puppets can carry a tune better than I can.(go "figure"?) Next week I am back in the quarterly workshop on comedy for a middle school drama class. The comment about a machine doing magic was very interesting. Reminded me about my days as a Nearly Normal Mime in a show called "Mime over Matter". I am guessing that was not what Edith had in mind. Cue the lights ..no more rehearsing or nursing our parts... we know..... Harris Deutsch
Harris Deutsch aka dr laugh
drlaugh4u@gmail.com music, magic and marvelous toys http://magician.org/member/drlaugh4u |
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Robert Fitch New user Leonia, NJ 38 Posts |
Just a quickie to add...The Acting buzz is not about playing the part of an actor playing...etc...Theatrical techniques are all about communication...about: (1) telling your story in an interesting way (entertainment). People love story: so any techniqes that helps you tell that, i.e. scripting, telling the truth, caring about what you are saying, careful structure, using your words and actions to support each other and not get in each other's way; a story that represents your point of view, i.e. not copying someone else's patter, mime, music...all will help make you and your story (magic) more interesting. (2)All people know is what they see and hear...So developing an interesting delivery, your voice and speech, your clarity, talking to people and not at them will help make you stand out. People are deadly afraid of standing up and speaking. When they see someone do it well, they appreciate and respect that. It is very attractive. (3) An awareness of how you are perceived. Your intentions are not necessarily what people see. Do you fidget? Do you look at the floor? Shift your feet? Mumble, lots of ahs, ers, run on sentences? Can you be heard? Do have a reason to tell the story, besides doing the trick? If you know how you are perceived, then you can better control what you want them to see. That's good huh?
Well all of these things can be learned and realized and inculcated into your work if you are able to take some acting classes or mime or story writing or improv or clowning or speech (toastmasters) classes or storytelling. Any of it will improve your work and awareness and your comfort level. Definitely worth it. "Making Magicians Magical" Bob Fitch
Cheers...Imagination can make magicians of us all.
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magicalaurie Inner circle Ontario, Canada 2962 Posts |
Very true, Bob.
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Edith Regular user Germany 131 Posts |
My magic formula:
Emotion + Good delivery(=acting+story) + fine magic(=theoretical skill(secret and technical skill)+misdirection) = amazing and thrilling magic That's just for one effect, in a show there is more to consider. I think that was behind my comment with the machine, Harris. Edith |
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wizardofsorts Special user Chicago, IL 935 Posts |
I think you are all thinking too much about this. Go read "True and False" by David Mamet. Half of it is genuis and half of it is pure bull flop. You deciede which half is for you.
Now go out there and do something. Edd
Edd Fairman, Wizard of Sorts is a corporate magician available for your next trade show, hospitality suite, client luncheon, or company event. http://www.wizardofsorts.com
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