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Q-TIP New user Cleveland, Oh 61 Posts |
I'm posting this here simply because I didn't feel that it fit in any other category. I have been practicing the art of close up magic now for about 5 months. Not to toot my own horn, but I have a gift for speaking and seem to do well with presenting the close-up effects that I perform. Problem is, when I perform for friends, family, or even perfect strangers it seems as though after the trick they remember it as being a lot better than it actually was simply by leaving out key events. Example: I performed Paul Harris' "Deep Astonishment" for a college buddy last weekend and he swears that I never at any time asked him what his magic word was, that instead he just thought of it and poof it was written on the cards. I mean don't get me wrong this is a killer effect and I love the extra "panache" that people seem to give my tricks when asked about my skill but I'm afraid that I'm going to be hyped up too much and start to disappoint people. Has anyone encounterd the same sort of fear?? I mean, I don't know whether to downplay it and correct the spectator or just leave it be and let the listener judge for themselves... HELP!!
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0pus Inner circle New Jersey 1739 Posts |
A magic trick or effect has many, many "lives," each of which may be a significantly different trick. We have all experienced the dealer advertisment description of the latest miracle (usually hyped well out of proportion). Then there is the trick the performer learns (not so amazing as the performer would like). Then there is the trick you perform. Then there is the trick that the spectator volunteer sees. Then there is the trick that the onlooker sees. And then there are the tricks that the volunteer and the spectators remember.
I am absolutely DELIGHTED that the spectators remember effects that are absolutely IMPOSSIBLE to have been performed even by the most accomplished conjuror. I believe that when we perform, we are not only creating the immediate entertainment, but we are also creating a memory. And the more amazing the memory is, the stromger it will be. If I were you, I wouldn't worry about the spectators remembering much stronger effects than you actually perform. That is an aspect of the performance. What you need to avoid is repetition of the effect, because it will weaken the strength of the memory. You need to consider variations on the effect or different, related effects to perform when asked. (When they say "Show us the one where my card is in your wallet," tell them that it might be a problem because one card has been acting up, go into Ambitious Card and end with Card on Ceiling.) If you are interested in pursuing this, you should read some of the essays of Michael Ammar, Michael Close and Juan Tamariz. |
Burt Yaroch Inner circle Dallas,TX 1097 Posts |
Dude! You don't look a gift horse in the mouth and you certainly don't punch him in the teeth!
The way people remember your effects is the magic; the things they take away from your peformance and share with their friends and family is how you transcend a single moment of astonishment. What you have achieved, apparently without much conscious effort, is something most magicians strive to do in every performance. "You freely selected a card. You signed your name on the face. I never touched the card. There is no way I could possibly know your selection and you, yourself, put it in your pocket." True or not? Either way your audience will be nodding their heads in agreement, affirming any deceptions you have placed therein. If you haven't been achieving your results linguistically then what you are observing can be explained simply as a function of how we remember things and our tendency to embellish in recalling these memories for others. Things will be omitted, overlooked, and exaggerated. If this is to the betterment of your effect (it usually is) that's a good thing, unless that's the only effect you ever do.
Yakworld.
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Paul Menzel Special user Boise, Idaho 530 Posts |
If you are performing Deep Astonishment, you should also read some of Paul Harris' essays on the topic of Astonishment (which can be found in the Art of astonishment series). This effect is precisely what he aims to create.
The last thing you should do is try to talk them down from what they believe they witnessed! If you are going to do that, you might as well expose the method to every effect you perform. And if you do that, you are violating a cardinal rule of magic. As has been said, enjoy what you've got...and do not repeat the tricks no matter how much they beg. Don't rob them of the ashtonishment they've experienced. |
Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts |
Most audiences (from one person to one thousand) are on your side, since they have invested time (for sure) and money (possibly) in watching what you do.
Therefore they don't want you to fail. And, when you succeed, they want you to be even better than you are -- so they make you so in their minds. Don't argue with that! And certainly don't "correct" them; after all, they won't thank you for that because they really thought something else happened (and they should be allowed to continue thinking that!). |
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