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mfeld Elite user San Francisco 457 Posts |
Here's a routine I taped quickly for your consideration/comment.
I was yelled at recently on the forum for not posing any of my own material for consideration, so here it is: http://youtube.com/watch?v=1YG-le3D2Y4 This is a work in progress. I am trying to make a Fingertip Gadabout-style effect with a more interesting arc than just doing "1 in the pocket and it jumps back" over and over again. To increase the finger-tippy-ness, any suggestions for how to edit out closing my fist in the last few phases would be most appreciated. Also, the presentation/patter-line I taped is temporary. I don't like effects where the spectator is "wrong," so ideas for how to present this without ever asking "how many coins are here" or even "how many coins should be here" are most welcome. Enjoy. I should add (now that it has been brought to my attention) that the first version of Gadabout that had 2 coins going to the pocket was Michael Rubinstein's. So this routine also owes a debt to Dr. Rubinstein.
Michael Feldman
www.michaelfeldman.com Or follow me on Twitter - @magicianmike And Instagram - @magicianmichaelfeldman Check out my newest book with Ryan Plunkett: A New Angle https://www.ryancplunkett.com/project/anewangle |
iceblade Loyal user 254 Posts |
I liked it
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Gary Yin Elite user Sabah, Malaysia 449 Posts |
Last closed fist fits perfectly imo, because it's a mystery after seeing a lot of fingertip action, it's time for the change. I like the click pass.
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magicians Inner circle Teacher and Legend 2898 Posts |
I have been working on coin productions recently, so your presentation intrigued me. After watching your material, and seeing "gadabout" for the first time, I find the effect quite confusing. I believe the problem to be a focal point more than technique.
There is not enough misdirection or clarity as to where you want me to look. The patter may also have something to do with it. Perhaps try it without patter, but merely count, 1,2,3 and as you take one away just say one away, then say there are still three. Almost as if you are someone speaking in broken English. Part of the problem with coin routines and patter is that it is like singing and playing a guitar. Some people attempt to do both while they are learning both so you force the viewer into a time warp of your thought. The hesitation of patter and movement confuses the viewer. I believe the moves are fine, except for the natural position of certain fingers. Your finger positions vary and therefore tip off the viewer that you are or are not holding coins. (the angle of the camera might require that you shoot from above rather than dead on). Next: your removal of coins to the pocket is at the right tempo, but when you transfer coins from left to right hand, you speed it up. My contention is that the movement of allcoins whether it is to the pocket or between hands should be at the same speed. Lastly, your background is too busy to see the silver coins easily. Wear black, or get the camera in closer. Leave the vanity of showing your face, out of the frame and tighten up the video to allow just the coins and your movements to be shown. Perhaps from just above the knee to your shoulders. Hope I helped. You have helped me, as I took this type of routine for granted. I have looked on youtube for others performing this and also found the performances to be hesitant and with inconsisitant movement. -Ian
Illusionist, Illusionist consulting, product development, stage consultant, seasoned performer for over 35 years. Specializing in original effects. Highly opinionated, usually correct, and not afraid of jealous critics. I've been a puppet, a pirate, a pawn and a King. Free lance gynecologist.
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Gary Yin Elite user Sabah, Malaysia 449 Posts |
Nah, I feel it's just the camera effect of non-live. If you see it in front of you, he can joke around and talk to you a bit, smile, etc.
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Eric Jones V.I.P. Director of Product Development 2101 Posts |
I really enjoyed your handling Michael. I agree with Gary Yin that this is one of those routines that would play much better live than on video. I think some of Magic Ian's gripes would be fewer had he seen you work for him in person. With that being said, I still agree with Ian on the point that there isn't enough direction of attention. But I disagree on sure why. I'm not the patter has as much to do with it as your blocking. When you go to your pocket, the hand at chest level is "doing something". Magic begins with your feet. Taking a step back with your right foot as you look at yourself placing a coin or coins in your pocket should do two things:
a) your body turns slightly to give the hand at chest level more cover to do the dirty work for the production. b) and it generates enough interest to allow your spectators to focus their attention on the coin(s) going to the pocket. I've never really played with the Gadabout routine other than Ron Bauers and the one from Bobo...but I guess I'm stuck trying it now. I'm really intrigued how you can pull off the last sequence at the fingertips with such limited cover without closing the hand around the coins????? Thanks Michael for ruining what was going to be my first magic free week in 8 years.
“We're two tigers away from an act in Vegas.” Greg House M.D.
<BR> <BR>http://www.ericjonesmagic.com |
magicians Inner circle Teacher and Legend 2898 Posts |
I'll concede.
Illusionist, Illusionist consulting, product development, stage consultant, seasoned performer for over 35 years. Specializing in original effects. Highly opinionated, usually correct, and not afraid of jealous critics. I've been a puppet, a pirate, a pawn and a King. Free lance gynecologist.
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RevJohn Inner circle Oregon City Oregon, Oregon 2473 Posts |
Nice. I have been using Bauer's presentation, and I like the idea of taking it up to eye level. Got me thinking as well!
RevJohn |
Dan Watkins Inner circle PA 3028 Posts |
I think an important part of what makes Gadabout Coins work is the spectator conditioning during the jump back phases.
One coin taken away, it jumps back. One coin taken away, it jumps back. One coin taken away... people expect it to jump back. The spectator conditioning is what creates the impact when the coins vanish. Personally, I think adding two coins go away, two come back, take one away, only one is left, but then two, then three, etc. etc. confuses the routine and also eliminates the "jump back conditioning" of the spectator. After all the extra phases, no longer knows what to expect, and imho the impact of the complete vanish is lessened. In Coinvanish Volume 2 I published my version of Fingertip Gadabout Coins as "Fingertip Sticky Coins". On my Coin Man Walking DVD, I called it "Fingertip Coins to Pocket" and I used a new way to vanish all the coins at the end. Structure wise, I perfer the simplicty of two jump backs to condition the spectators, and then hit them immediatly with the final vanish. |
Pete McEwen Special user Durham, N.C. 576 Posts |
True Dan. I like the conditioning as well. Although the version I perform is Kainoa's from Shell Shocked. I think it takes the conditing, then adds a magical moment that I love and It works for me at the restaraunt. Have you read through Kainoa's version?
Pete
The magician formerly known as SPEEDcuber
"no one will believe the things we do if we don't believe them ourselves." - Slydini PeteMcEwen@mac.com |
Dan Watkins Inner circle PA 3028 Posts |
Pete, I haven't had the pleasure to read through Kainoa's.
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Eric Jones V.I.P. Director of Product Development 2101 Posts |
I just re-read it...and I have to say it has some friggin' nice moments in it....
“We're two tigers away from an act in Vegas.” Greg House M.D.
<BR> <BR>http://www.ericjonesmagic.com |
Zhang Special user 515 Posts |
I must say that I found it somewhat confusing,even though you are taking the auidence through it,i do not think they will understand what is going on, I personally did not understand.
I suggest you work on your technique,there is too much fingers movement when executing the slights included the tranfers. Kainoa's version is great, it is the one I use. WZ. |
magicblademan Special user uk 523 Posts |
I also just watched this and found it to be a little confusing.I could see the coins clear enough so that was not the problem for me ,it just seemed hard to keep a focus on what you were doing with out getting lost .Maybe with the patter reworked it would be a little easier ,even though I knew what you were trying to do I could not help feeling confused at the end so this did not have that magic moment for me.This is just my opinion after watching it for the first time.
Best Blade.
If you put the time in....you will achieve ...
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John T Cox Veteran user 385 Posts |
Hi Michael
The routine has some great parts. The timing on the coins put away and return is very good. The first transfer has "guilty" stamped on the right hand. Perhaps because I know it but I think that a spectator would ask, what is going on with that hand? Overall, the routine wanders. Asking "what is the story you are trying to tell?", always helps me in presentations. I think if you took the 5 best moments in the routine and just did those you would have a much tighter routine. Regards! John
The real magic is family!
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mfeld Elite user San Francisco 457 Posts |
Thanks to all.
Eric - Thanks so much for the tip about direction! Hopefully fixing that will go a long way towards fixing the confusion that Wu and Blade talked about. I agree that there needs to be a tighter focus throughout the routine. Dan - Thanks for the note about strengthening the last vanish. Unfortunately I very much like the weird flurry-like part in the middle of the routine, but I will try to find a way to bring back the conditioning for the final vanish. Maybe with patter Wu - Yes. My fingers stutter a lot in this presentation. There is a lot of readjusting the fan of coins which clutters the routine a bit. As it says on the YouTube Comments, it was about 2am when I shot this and just did it in one tired take, which explains some of it, but streamlining the movement should help a lot. I hate confusion in a routine as much as the next guy, so I'm definitely trying to get rid of that (and I know it's there right now) If anyone has suggestions for how to avoid closing the fist at the end or asking how many coins there should be... I am still very much open to suggestions on that (or anything else really).
Michael Feldman
www.michaelfeldman.com Or follow me on Twitter - @magicianmike And Instagram - @magicianmichaelfeldman Check out my newest book with Ryan Plunkett: A New Angle https://www.ryancplunkett.com/project/anewangle |
Dan Watkins Inner circle PA 3028 Posts |
Michael, do you have my DVD? I like the ending I used. I use a gag to put one coin in the hand, and then take the 2nd from the fan and drop it on the one in my hand, and then take the remaining coin from my fingertips to my pocket. This is a quick sequence where the coins remain at the fingertips until taken.
Obviously, you can't hold "nothing" at your fingertips on the final vanish, but you can work directly out of your Fingertips to end it like I did. Dan |
Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27297 Posts |
Have you considered the EG version of the Alan Shaw production sleight in this context? There's no "sin" in starting with a few held out.
...to all the coins I've dropped here
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