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Beezer109 Regular user 123 Posts |
Thanks a lot man that makes me feel much better and I think I'll do what you said!
Dannydoyle message me man! Nick. |
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BrianMillerMagic Inner circle CT 2050 Posts |
I have to agree with Dannydoyle, he never claimed to be better and never used himself as a basis for comparison. He simply stated his opinion which was, in fact, asked for at the beginning of the thread. While Danny can come off very strong (Nick - I recently had a little dispute with Danny myself but it turns out he's not such a bad guy ), his advice is almost always sound and it does one good to listen. This has in fact become an amusing thread.
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Hideo Kato Inner circle Tokyo 5649 Posts |
Please read Henning Nelms. My advice is to place the table nearer to audience (about in center) and not show your back to the audience.
It is great to make promotional video to sell you as magician's purpose is to be hired. As you wrote "I'm sort of looking for the older more professional magicians to shed some advice", I posted my sincere advice. I am not a professional performer, but I am a kind of professional in Magic business as I sometimes give advices to top professional magicians. Please read Henning Nelms. Hideo Kato |
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Hart Keene Inner circle Eugene, OR 1486 Posts |
Danny Doyle, always in the middle of some type of argument on here. What would we do without him? We would be bored...
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Christopher Williams Inner circle Portsmouth, UK 4464 Posts |
A few things I would change...
The clip of the streamers on stage during the actual promo, too long in my opinion. The balloons, actually show you making one of the animals, perhaps speeding the video up to take up less time, but by just putting pictures, how do they know someone else didn't make them or you got the picture from somewhere else? Same with the face paints, show some photos of someone actually getting their face painted, people want to see the quality of the paintings. Show some more quick snappy effects, not just small clips of sleight of hand, to most lay people, they don't care if you can perform all the sleight of hand, they want to see a professional, and enterainer. Perhaps some pictures from performances included in a small slide show and even audience reactions are needed. Someone is more likely to hire you if they can see you can entertain people and amaze. As for the stage show... The effect with the silks as the start (Name is eluding my tired brain at the moment!), perform it on a table so everyone can see, as the camera had to move up, it shows other people would have had to as well, and it would have been hard for some to see. Put it on a small table, show off the effect! The CD productions, looked like you were struggling really with those, though I could be wrong. Maybe a bit of a routine or more manipulation with them could help or give a reason as to why you have produced them. don't take this as bas points, but constructive criticism to help you move on! Carry on and take all what we say as good things in one way or another! |
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Beezer109 Regular user 123 Posts |
Thank you SO MUCH you guys! This helped me a lot!
Nick Stucko. PS whats henning helms? |
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Dave Scribner Assistant Manager Lake Hopatcong, NJ 4849 Posts |
Beezer, everyone has to start somewhere but I think you've jumped the gun just a bit. You made the demo and have already sent it out for duplication. Now you're asking for opinions.
Like most of the other posters in this topic, I have many years of experience behind me and have seen too many cases where the responses are "good job" or "that was great" or "you really did that well". Very few times is a negative presented and that isn't fair to the performer. Magicians are the best critics and when they offer advice or opinions, you really should consider what they are saying. It will only improve your act. DannyDoyle is one of those people who doesn't pull any punches and tells it just the way it is and everything he, and the others have said here, are dead on. Now, as for the demo itself, you state you do children's shows and corporate events but the only kids demo on the vid was a poster or picture of a face painting kit. There were no corporate demo's at all. If you're using the demo vid to showcase your talent as a magician, you need quick, WOW effects that are going to get someones attention. Sorry, but producing a mile of streamers from a newspaper might be good for a show but not as an attention getter. You obviously have an enthusiasm for doing magic and while performing, you have pretty good stage presents and gestures. If I might point out a few things about your actual show which has nothing to do with the demo, as Hideo mentioned, your table is too far back on the stage. You need to move it forward so your props or equipment are within easy reach. Taking 6 steps backwards with your back to the audience just isn't professional. If your table was moved closer to you, putting the container for 20th century silks on the floor wouldn't be necessary. You looked awkward bending over to to put the silks in it and people in the back of the auditorium probabaly couldn't see it. Being a dove worker myself, when you began the CD productions, the steals were very obvious and the cd's themselves were difficult to see. This may be as you mentioned the need to compress the video but if you are going to do larger auditorium shows, you need props that can be seen. You need to make each of your effects lead into the next rather than just do one effect after another. For instance, your 20th century silks had nothing to do with the cd production and streamers from the newspaper didn't relate to either of them. You mentioned that your clothes were what worked for you and you weren't going to change. That's fine as long as the rest of the stage is lit so there is contrast. You're off to a good start and you've got the basics, now you need to work on all the suggestions that were given here. When it's fine tuned, then I would consider having 1000 copies made up. I hope you don't take this as a negative response but as an attempt to help out with your career.
Where the magic begins
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Beezer109 Regular user 123 Posts |
Thank you SO MUCH Dave for your advice...this is what sincerely helps me improve on my magic and other endeavors. I will definately work on what you said! Thanks!
Nick Stucko. |
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Hideo Kato Inner circle Tokyo 5649 Posts |
If you search by Google with 'Henning Nelms Magic', you will get enough information about Henning Nelms, not henning helms.
For example, You can see what is the book at : http://www.elmwoodmagic.com/full/Magic-Showmanship__647.htm The book is recommended at : http://www.magictalk.com/beginners.htm Sincerely, Hideo Kato |
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Danny Diamond Inner circle Connecticut 1400 Posts |
Here are my thoughts on the video...
The beginning was slow - too many consecutive scenes of text only. That gets boring real quick. If you want to have that many scenes of text, consider placing a short clip of yourself performing for real people, in between each of the text scenes. You have 38 seconds of text screens before we see any people or magic. Like some have alluded to - you will not be hired because of a flashy graphic in your demo and you will not be hired because you can do an Erdnase color change or a retention vanish. You will be hired because you can entertain spectators. And I saw not one spectator in your demo. Showing a face painting kit and some balloon animals adds nothing to the demo. A shot of you twisting a balloon for a child, would be so much more impactful to a potential client. Next you have 30 seconds of a coil pouring out of a paper. Again, WAY too long. 5-6 seconds of that clip would be plenty. Here are some thoughts on the actual stage show in your clip... As DDoyle has pointed out, the black on black is not good. You said that you were set on the black suit, which is fine. But to ignore the fact that your wardrobe doesn't work with the backdrop, just because you have settled on a suit, is amateur. And you want your demo to be as professional as possible, right? They sell portable backdrops - they are expensive, but if you are doing stage shows for 800 people, I imagine that the cost of a backdrop could be covered with one or two good shows. If you get yourself a portable backdrop in a red or light blue, for example, then you would never run the risk of the black-on-black situation that appears in your demo. Silk effect: Again, as some have said, don't place the container on the ground. Bring the table forward and use that. Being on the ground is bad enough, but the view of the container on the groud is further obscured by something that looks like a power cord. Also, it appeared that you vanished a 9 inch red silk, and an 18 incher appeared tied between the blue silks. CD Productions: Steals very obvious in this one. Coils: This seemed confusing. You appear to pick up a paper, never show the back at all, read it for a second, fidget with something on the backside of the paper, stick your head into the paper a bit, and then crush it up and dump out a coil for 30 seconds. It also appeared that you were stalling before dumping out the coils, trying to wait for that hard-hitting point in the music. Showing the paper empty on both sides, and then stealing the coil somehow, would have been more magical, imo. And to end, you toss everything into the air and it lands on your head - it doesn't look professional. Snowstorm: This was actually the only effect that was somehow related to another effect. That is good. Even if it is as small as taking the paper piece from the coil - at least it is something. The silks and cds had nothing to do with anything else. Overall: Maybe you are saying to yourself "dude, pointing out that the two red silks were slightly different in size, is really being nit-picky." But it is those little things, the attention to detail, the routining, taking the time to tie a meaning into your effects, to choose effects that flow nicely from one to another, to make perfect cd steals, to think about your audiences view, their perspective and whether or not they can see everything clearly, to think about your wardrobe and the backdrop - THESE are all the signs of a PRO. I commend you for putting this video out there for evaluation, and I hope you listen to the advice of everyone who has taken the time to give it.
You don't drown by falling in the water;
you drown by staying there. - Edwin Louis Cole |
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mc_magi Special user Vancouver, BC 949 Posts |
I'm sorry, I know you asked for VIDEO inputs but I just can't help buy saying.
You need to streamline your stage show a lot better. It just seems like you are picking up one thing after another from a magic box and showing it off. Try to make it that one leads to another. |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-12-14 19:53, Hart Keene wrote: Maybe I was the first critic, but it seems as if I am not on an island. Funny Hart you take the time to be critical of ME here, why not try and help the kid? Or is that too much to ask?
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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Hart Keene Inner circle Eugene, OR 1486 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-12-15 02:27, Dannydoyle wrote: I let you do the helping on here Danny. You are the big "pro"... |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Well the kid needs help, why not help him. Dave seems to agree, Danny seems to agree. Give the kid your insight. No need to simply bash me. We are ALL helping the kid. He wants help and input.
Don't make this about a fight, make it about helping him.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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Beezer109 Regular user 123 Posts |
Thanks Danny...thanks alot, and to all those who have been helping!
Nick Stucko |
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pablovaldes Loyal user Mexico 206 Posts |
My comments,
About the mini CD´s, I know they are cheaper and that you allready decided. I have a powerbook, the latest one, and many friends with imacs, your cd is not compatible in these computers. About your outfit, I think is a little big, maybe you borrowed it from your Dad, but the fact that it is bigger makes you look even younger. If you don´t have a well taped material don´t include the bad one. Leave only the demo, or first part. Reminds me De´vo editing style. And try to include reactions. Wish you the best. Sincerly, Pablo
Wonderful things do happen
Magic is so relative, that we all think we know what it is @pablovaldes |
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clamon86 Special user 508 Posts |
Just a few comments, as I may find myself also creating a promo video even though I'm already doing shows, its just something good to have.
1. The magic is good bit just alittle slow moving, FOR A promo. 2. I wouldn't put so much text, let the magic speak more for itself. 3. The beginning sounds and fire and smoke is cool, but alittle corny for me, 4. The first section of close-up should be for an audience of a few people as it look like you're performing for you're self. I do think you should make it just alittle shorter. Leave them wanting more just my two cents |
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Beezer109 Regular user 123 Posts |
Thanks a lot guys!
Nick. |
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davidpaul$ Inner circle Georgetown, South Carolina 3086 Posts |
Hi Nick,
I just started to read this thread and yes, you DO have a future in magic. You definately have what it takes. Let me add just a couple of thoughts as I was watching your promo video: The promo should be about you. Nice sleight of hand and card work, but it could have been anybody doing it. Facial shots of a likeable guy or whatever character you want to portray would have been a real plus. Your potential clients want to know more about YOU. ( as I was watching the video I was thinking, this doesn't tell me anything about "NICK") The stage act was good but you turned your back to the audience too much and looked like you had to walk too far back stage to pick up your props. There is a great booklet by Samuel Patrick Smith entitled "On Stage" Bringing Out the Better Performer in You that is excellent. Anyways just a couple of points, but as I said you do have what it takes and I wish you the best. David Paul
Guilt will betray you before technique betrays you!
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mr__magic New user canada 5 Posts |
First off, If you actually know how to make balloons show actual original photos of your balloon creations don't go on google, and pick very first picture that pops
http://images.google.ca/images?hl=en&......p;tab=wi Give original photos of your creations and do not steal others media.
Konrad Misiewicz
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