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bg Veteran user Indy 313 Posts |
I'm having trouble coming up with a good story or patter to go with the tricks I'm learning. I don't want to rip the patter from my videos(mostly because it's usually lame). Is there a method you use to add a story line to your tricks? Is it necessary to have patter?
Thanks for everyones help,I really appreciate the Café! Brian |
BroDavid Inner circle America’s North Coast, Ohio 3176 Posts |
Some people are born story tellers. Others develop the skill with reading and other life experiences. Patter is just a story you tell.
Think in pictures. Adapt experiences. And modify what you see from others. If you don't like it; what about it don't you like? Be specific, and think in opposite terms. If I don’t like this? What would I like? The easiest thing in the world, is to know what we don’t like or want. One of the hardest things, is to know specifically what we do want. Some people just move through life, have experiences happen all around them. And never even wonder what happened. Others are able to insert themselves in to the experience of Life extracting the essence of understanding. And since they were paying attention they have a base of understanding from which to draw knowledge and think independently. I don't mean to imply that you personally, don't know how to think. But many don't. Our education systems is so focused on teaching the right answers, they miss out on teaching how to get the right answers; the thinking process is largely omitted. But even so, sometimes, people really know how to think, but they simply don't know how to apply the process to a particular situation. That seems to be your position. This is one of the single most difficult and commonly frustrating issue for a lot of magicians. New ones, and experienced ones. Both experience this fdifficulty. You must be able to think through a process. And you must have an imagination and/or experience reservoir form which to draw. Imagination and adaptability are key. 1. Take an effect. 2. Know the mechanics of it well. 3. Look around. What looks like it? What does the process remind you off. (Hmmm. You have something, it disappears, you have it again - what about boy gets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl - a classic love story plot, put into patter would work!) 4. Start writing it down and fitting it. 5. Practice it 6. Perform it. 7. Tweak it. 8. And you got it. BroDavid
If you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything.
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cmwalden Regular user Cedar Park, TX 150 Posts |
I'll toss in that I dislike the magic jargon "patter." I like to think of it as dialogue.
The term patter is taken from the fast-talking huxter. Dialogue is lines written for a character. BroDavid covered excellent points above, so I will try not repeat. However I will point out some different types of dialogue which you might consider: 1. Process - you will verbally lead someone through what is happening. Not much story here, but it's appropriate for many effects where the magic stands on it's own. 2. Demonstration - Along the lines of process in that you are leading the audience through what you do, but there is some deeper purpose. "Did you know that you can read tell if someone's lying? It's true. Let me show you how. ..." 3. Metaphor - You are telling a story or describing a concept using the magic as a communication aid. Cloning with sponge balls, saving money with coins accross, etc. 4. Storytelling - The story is the main thing, the magic is a sort of special effect. This is the primary method behind bizarre magic. An elaborate story is told and the magic acts as a sort of a punch line. Sometimes if you're in a creative slump a category can help. Also I'll refer you back to your old literature classes where you learned about the classic literary conflicts (Man vs. Nature, Man vs. Himself, etc.) Sometimes selecting one of these can help you work out a story path.
"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."
- William Shakespeare |
amazingboz New user 67 Posts |
Great advice and wisdom above! I have found to first draw a bulleye( the type of audience and focus of performance)then shoot the arrows ( make the words and music) become a roadmap from which you lead the audience.The golden rule,the spectators never know the outcome untill you/we reveal it.
AmazingBoz |
Skulldini New user N. California 80 Posts |
Patter? Isn't that something that little feet do? How about the word " script". After all are we not actors putting on a show ( a small play so to speak ). A begining, middle, and finale. Just a thought.
Skulldini |
abracaDEBRA New user 3 Posts |
Hi Guys
long time listener, first time caller Patter is tough, I'll be the first to admit and I'm a diarrhea mouth. As in i never shut up. I find my best patter comes impromptu, but if you don't work well under pressure, try writing your ideas down before bed, check back in the morning and you'll be amazed at how you interpret things a second time. I find fake names are always a crowd pleaser! thanks much: Deb |
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