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the AuditOrr Regular user 175 Posts |
I recently read Maximum Entertainment - a book all about the preparation and performance of magicians and mentalists and not on tricks.
One of the recommendations in the books is to read a book and write down ideas and things in the book. I read this and decided that I probably should. So I was reading Scams and Fantasies and every thought that really comes to mind is pretty obvious to the book... what exactly is it that people are writing down? This may seem like a bad question however, I just don't know. Thanks, Fraser
I want to go far...
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onezero1 Regular user 178 Posts |
Example: You are reading chapter nine of Strong Magic "Conveying The Character"
Ortiz talks indepth about what your character wears, how they speak, what they do. In my notebook these ideas are condensed into this format, "conveying character: clothes? patter? mannerisms/body language?" I've read the chapter so these notes provide a reminder of the points he makes without having to reread or memorise the entire thing. Basically man, you are taking notes just like you did in school and for the same reasons. Pick up a study guide for students if you are unsure (like many) about HOW you actually study a subject.
'though it stands to reason that a samurai should be mindful of the Way...it would seem that we are all negligent.
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Banester Special user 669 Posts |
The highlights. One-liners rather than paragraphs. Something that you will recall by just reading the simple note. I like to take a highlighter and mark the "important" areas. Won't do much good for resale hahah, but I don't' get rid of my books anyways.
The art of a magician is to create wonder.
If we live with a sense of wonder, our lives become filled with joy -Doug Henning- |
Andy the cardician Inner circle A street named after my dad 3362 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-03-21 12:58, Banester wrote: That is how I also work with books (except collectibles) - I mark them, highlight sections, add my own comments to it. They become personalized friends . . . Andy
Cards never lie
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gaddy Inner circle Agent of Chaos 3526 Posts |
Write down everything! Keep a journal or notebook that is completely "UNEDITED"- anything that comes to mind, every idea, every bit of "business" you come up with, no matter how stupid it seems is recorded. No one is ever going to see these notebooks anyhow, so let your mind go nuts and give it free reign!
Then later, you go back and cull the good creative stuff, the stuff you can actually use, and turn it into solid gold somewhere else. The other stuff still remains, unedited, waiting for your brain to catch up with your mind (if you get my meaning) and perhaps it will be used at some future date as well. I got this idea from David Parr's wonderful book "Brain Food" which I highly recommend, but it's a common enough idea about channeling one's creative side. Good Luck!
*due to the editorial policies here, words on this site attributed to me cannot necessarily be held to be my own.*
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Mark Wilden Veteran user San Francisco 375 Posts |
I tend to regard highlighting as a promise to myself to really understand the material later. It's the act of designating something as important, rather than actually taking it on board and changing something about myself or my act as a result.
Notes are a little better, since it takes more effort to understand the material to be able to synopsize it. I find the the best way to study is to read a paragraph or a chapter, then ask myself what I actually learned. But that's just me - each to his own! ///ark |
abc Inner circle South African in Taiwan 1081 Posts |
I try to write notes about each effect I learn or sleight I learn on a seperate page or half page. Then when you use the sleight or effect you can make notes about it later. You will be surprised how many times something impromptu happens that you can lead into if you do theeffect again later. Sometimes very funny. If you don't know what to write then at least write down the name of the sleight and who invented it and commit it to memory if you feel it worthwhile. That way if you want to track down a routine or sleight it is a lot easier.
The best way to learn is too teach. I don't mean you have to teach everything you learn but if you are able to write it down like you are going to "teach" it then you completely understand it. That goes for any subject. |
Destiny Inner circle 1429 Posts |
We remember better what we write down as opposed to what we read.
I agree with Gaddy about keeping a magic journal - some of what you write will be absolute rubbish - but there will be gold in amongst it - and if you don't write it down - you will forget it. I have written outlines of my current and future shows and when I read - I make notes beside it of any ideas I get from what I'm reading. Destiny |
DomKabala Inner circle I've grown old after diggin' holes for 2827 Posts |
Quote: I am like Banester...I never get rid of any magic literature. I jot down notes/ideas and references in the book's margins and highlite areas of importance. Or like many books, (Card College for instance) there are several or more blank pages at the back of the book specifically for notes. I also keep ideas/variations that I come up with & ideas/references that I collect from the internet in binder notebooks (I have about 1/2 dozen so far). Keeping a written and dated history of all your endeavors in magic is a "no brainer" and should become part of all your dealings in this art. Don't let it become a "lost art", document everything!
On 2007-03-21 12:58, Banester wrote: Cardamagically, <<<KRaZy4KaRdZ>>>
We don't stop playing when we grow old...we grow old when we stop playing.
God is enough, let go, let God. Gal 2:20 "Anything of value is not easily attained and those things which are easily attained are not of lasting value." |
JackScratch Inner circle 2151 Posts |
Whenever I'm working on a themed performance, I take a notepad and my collection of works containing effects and look through the headlines and basic descriptions of effects. If any ideas jump into my mind as to how an effect would fit into the theme of the performance I am planning, I jot down the book chapter and Page number, and a few notes about how the effect could be applied to the particular theme in question.
Generaly, I like to come up with my theme, then effects that apply to that theme, and finaly, my script. I find that to be the order that flows the most smoothly. |
Mark Wilden Veteran user San Francisco 375 Posts |
I also script effects, with patter, "outside reality" and sleights in different columns. And I keep a magic journal.
///ark |
the AuditOrr Regular user 175 Posts |
I've gone note/highlighting crazy within the last couple days here.
I want to go far...
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