|
|
JasonLinett Loyal user Alexandria, VA 202 Posts |
A question posed...
Close-up magician Doug Conn said in best in his book, "Tricks of my Trade." Doug's Theory Section: Be Nice. Be Interesting. Be Amazing. But do you feel there are moments when a mentalist can assume full control to the point of correcting or bullying his audience? I never mean this to be yelling or downright rudeness. An example... You're in a book test and ask a participant to think of a word (use your favorite method). The word she ends up on happens to be a compound word. In other words, "houseboat" rather than "house" or "boat." You stop your presentation to remind her you asked her to think of one word. She swears she's only thinking of one. You begin to repeat the procedure with her again. This hopefully leads to a moment in which you admit she is right, her word is really two words, and you'll try it anyway... So the magician loses a card and triumphantly (pun intended) finds it. Can the mentalist cull all his acting ability and fail his process, and give it a try anyway? |
ALEXANDRE Inner circle 3024 Posts |
Correcting and directing, yes, bullying, no.
You won't make any friends that way and will be asking for all kinds of performance trouble. It's hard enough as it is. In my experience you just move on to something else, but it ultimately depends on how you present yourself. For me it's ok to miss on occasion, though I don't like it because I'm afraid I will miss on the next routine too and that would be somewhat ugly, it's pressure I don't like to deal with during a performance, so I miss intentionally when I miss, but on occasion ... what can you do.... Never bully though. As a mentalist you're just making a hard job harder.
HERE'S A SECRET ...
http://www.lybrary.com/mystic-alexandre-m-354.html |
JasonLinett Loyal user Alexandria, VA 202 Posts |
Right - if you do find yourself in a bind, find a quiet and easy way out of it. If you discover that you really did set their writing on fire, and you've still got the dummy palmed, make a guess, get it wrong, and move on.
I'm talking about a planned moment where you can get something wrong, and insist you're right. Or a planned moment when you appear to be thrown off because of the participant and succeed. |
Dr Spektor Eternal Order Carcanis 10781 Posts |
If the spectator does something wrong, always consider it was the performer who set it up with a flaw... reflect, revise and try again the next time.
Also, consider jazz style. Never bully... defeats the purpose of interactive entertainment (unless you are in a sadomasochist venue, I suppose).
"They are lean and athirst!!!!"
|
JasonLinett Loyal user Alexandria, VA 202 Posts |
I'm speaking of creating moments where you are wrong, but without failing. You insist upon being right, and deep down in some way you are. Your process ends with everybody winning - you admit they were right, too, and reveal the information.
I'm not saying blame spectators when they are wrong. I'm saying CREATE the moment where YOU are wrong, but insist you're correct. |
Hoff Man Loyal user Ohio 258 Posts |
Jason,
If you are thinking about scripting an intentional miss, (which really isn’t), you might be interested in Greg Arce’s theory of Six Degrees of Separation, published in Psychological Subtleties 2. I use this idea often. It's great!! At times a Six Degree miss is even stonger than a direct hit. No need to insist though. As the title of the book suggests, these are subtle things. Thanks to Greg Arce. Steve |
mesmer Inner circle 1186 Posts |
It depends on your perfroming Character....if your perfroming character is Sarcastic type, then by all mean bully them a little....
|
bobser Inner circle 4178 Posts |
Whats it got to do with you, fishface?!
Bob Burns is the creator of The Swan.
|
JonWhite Loyal user London 284 Posts |
I haven't got it handy to check, but in The Devil's Picturebook doesn't Derren Brown "threaten" to give a spec a slap if they forget the card they've chosen? All done (and taken) humourously though so he of course gets away with it.
|
Mark Rough Inner circle Ivy, Virginia 2110 Posts |
Hmmm, and I was thinking of Gazzo (to look at another branch of things). Maybe if you're English you can get away with it. I'm not so sure you can here. I think finding the quietest, nicest escape is prefered to bullying a participant. It really doesn't matter whether the error is a result of your own screw up or the participant's. It's really always your error.
What would Wavy do?
|
Sealegs Inner circle The UK, Portsmouth 2596 Posts |
'Bully' and 'bullying' are emotive choices of words to describe what it is you are getting at. Those words carry with them an unavoidable nastiness.
If we substitute them with; 'being strongly and forthrightly insistant with a specky' then I think the point you are making can be discussed without the emotive language hijacking it. Using the example you give....If it turns out that the specky has, during a booktest, chosen a compound word I use the same principle you mention not to create the tension that might be generated from 'bullying' the specky, but to create laughter from an apparent misunderstanding or mistake. I subtly make it obvious that I believe that they have in fact chosen 2 words and not 1 as was expected from them. As my routine makes it clear that my prediction is just 1 word the conclusion that the audience draws is that this is going to end badly for me....with my performng style that creates laughter. A different application and end result of the same fundamental process. For me this kind of pre-planned/prepared for mistake is a great bonus for a routine when it crops up. But then I'm a great believer in planning for and scripting in ones 'mistakes'. Neal.
Neal Austin
"The golden rule is that there are no golden rules." G.B. Shaw |
tboehnlein Inner circle ohio 1787 Posts |
I very much dislike the statement of "psychological bullying" that has became popular recently. When I first heard the remark it was to the performers audience & my first thought was "he should have more respect for his audience".
|
ChuckHickok Loyal user 245 Posts |
Mentalism depends upon ... and requires ... clear verbal instructions.
Yet, verbal instruction WILL BE MISUNDERSTOOD sooner or later. My performing style is to be amazing, interesting and likeable. (I accept that this may not be every mentalist's style.) When **** happens, I always quickly take the blame for the any misunderstanding ... and move through the routine as best I can without making the person feel bad. If you are serious about the art of mentalism and want to learn more about the VERBAL ASPECTS of MENTALISM, e-mail me at ChuckHickok@aol.com and I will send you a 1000 word essay on this topic from Mentalism, Incorporated: Volume Two. Chuck Hickok |
Tone Elite user 423 Posts |
Hey Chuck-
Your "Mentalism Incorporated" is great stuff. I like your use of Dunninger as a unifying theme (not in the way many are thinking!). Chapter 11's "disclaimer" has some very nice verbal subtleties. Is Volume Two complete and available? |
ChuckHickok Loyal user 245 Posts |
Tone
Volume Two is now available from: http://www.chuckhickok.com./tools.htm I will pay the postage on any order from anyone who mentions this e-mail posting on the Magic Café before Nov 1st. Just mention --- Free postage offer --- in your e-mail The free postage is for the complete order - not just this book. Chuck |
ChuckHickok Loyal user 245 Posts |
Opps ... the website is:
http://www.chuckhickok.com./tools.html (I forget the "l" at the end.) Chuck |
JasonLinett Loyal user Alexandria, VA 202 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-10-07 12:32, neal austin wrote: You hit the nail on the head, Neal. Perhaps "strongly insistent" would be the better title of this thread. |
rowdymagi5 Inner circle Virginia 3616 Posts |
Chuck,
Got the essay, read it, like it. Now I think I will go out and purchase the entire book. great stuff. Many Thanks! |
Sealegs Inner circle The UK, Portsmouth 2596 Posts |
Chuck,
Thanks for the essay. An easy read and containing solid, easy to understand advice. Thanks again, Neal
Neal Austin
"The golden rule is that there are no golden rules." G.B. Shaw |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Penny for your thoughts » » To Bully, or Not to Bully... (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.02 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |