|
|
Tony James Inner circle Cheshire UK 1398 Posts |
On the 28th of June kesemd1 posted an interesting question:
"Magician learning acting - recommended ?" which attracted a number of excellent replies. It's already descending the page so catch it quickly before it slips off into the 165 page archive. Whilst you're at it, take a look at the replies and viewing numbers. As I write there have been 15 replies and 164 viewings. Is this because people here don't rate performing skills very highly? Or is it because many believe they already possess sufficient? At the same time take a glance at another thread, rather closer to the top: "Axtell's Remote Control Animatronic Characters" 618 replies and 17,913 viewings. Is this some kind of record? Please forgive me if I have misunderstood but I get the impression that many believe that because they have no need to sweat learning ventriloquism they can easily achieve being able to give the impression of having done so simply by using one of these figures. Nothing could be further from the truth. If Axtell's history is anything to go by what you receive will be well made and functioning. But working any prop of this sort with pre-scripted recorded dialogue is one of the more difficult performing skills to acquire and achieve. There are no short cuts to success in this business and those who have acquired a theatrical background will have a flying start if they choose to work with one of these figures. It just might be worthwhile looking at that theatrical post again.
Tony James
Still A Child At Heart |
MagicSanta Inner circle Northern Nevada 5841 Posts |
The answer is simple Tony, if that is indeed my name. Many, if not most, who post here want to know about what cool thing might go into a kids show rather than to learn what it takes to be a good performer. I suggest that anyone going into magic learn mime, dance or movement, and acting at minimum. My background is in all of those (instruction at least in the case of movement) and includes puppets. It doesn't matter to be honest because most folks here will never perform for other than a friend or relative and they enjoy magic at that level and that is fine. If they want to go further that is when the art comes into play and the business aspect of show business.
I'm proud to say I've never looked at that super mega thread you mentioned. The reason? If it attracted that must interest it likely wouldn't interest me. I do want to add that there are some top guns in kids show performing here, few and far between, but there are some excellent ones. They do not, clearly, fall into the catagory of 'casual' performer and if any of them think they do I say stop sniveling, it isn't you. |
SpellbinderEntertainment Inner circle West Coast 3519 Posts |
Hi Tony,
I just added my suggestions to that Acting post, so it's moved back up a bit, but it will not stay there I fear, as Santa is known to be right! Magically, Walt |
Tony James Inner circle Cheshire UK 1398 Posts |
So I noticed! And I replied to Homus so we shall see shall we not?
Tony James
Still A Child At Heart |
chris mcbrien Inner circle Chicago 1235 Posts |
Well, to each their own. If you can use the remote puppet, then more power to you. I can't use a remote control puppet. I personally love the art and "magic" behind all the skills I"ve honed to do puppets correctly. There's something to it I can't put a name on, but it can't be named with words.
Also, personally speaking, I hold acting in much higher regard than magic. Magic is nothing but a stage prop, and although it should be respected it should always be regarded as such. Thanks Walt for posting some great reads on there. I feel grateful I was set straight first by my high-school acting teachers about what I said above, and it carried on through college and beyond. "Is this because people here don't rate performing skills very highly?" I don't even know if that is the case. It may boil down to many being here who got into magic and never even thought about why they fell in love with it in the first place. Some may have seen a great actor playing the role of magician and fallen for the charm of the acting but misplaced it into a deck of cards. Kind of like the old Sufi saying: "Why look at the reflection of the moon in the still waters of a fountain when all one has to do is lift one's head to experience it's beauty directly" Perhaps the ultimate in self "misdirection" may be at work? |
ElectricBlue New user 90 Posts |
I would suggest that one of the main reasons that performing skills don't get posted about as much compared to technical skills is that it is a lot harder to describe and teach performing skills in text compared to technical skills.
The reason for this is the same reason that make sombody a good performer, it is not something you can learn straight from a book or text it is some thing that takes practice and experiance. |
Futureal Inner circle 1695 Posts |
Same thing can be said for the new effects and DVD message areas compared to the scripting and presentation area. That's got cobwebs all over it.
|
Potty the Pirate Inner circle 4632 Posts |
Personally, I find this forum most useful for giving me new ideas about props, new releases, and routines. Although I agree that acting is probably the MOST important factor in being a magician, I also believe that some folks have an innate ability to perform, and others don't. I read the thread about acting, but didn't have very much to add. Yes, it's a neccessary skill, yes go out and join your local amateur dramatic society....but frankly, if you don't do so because you have the DESIRE to act, and a certain amount of "raw talent", you probably won't learn a whole heap anyway. I performed in about 100 or so operas, musicals and plays while in my 20s, and I saw a staggering number of amateur and "professional" actors (at least folks who'd gone through drama school), who after years of treading the boards, still could not engage an audience.
Magicians have quite a demanding set of abilities to learn, in fact: and that's why it remains one of the smallest areas of the entertainment industry. As for the remote puppets, well, I plan to get one, but also I am a ventriloquist. I will be using at least one other puppet in my show before the remote one comes out, and will still be using the remote puppet in vent mode at some times. But these puppets do open up a whole new set of possibilities for the creative performer. However, your observation is an interesting one Tony. I'd say a LOT of magicians could do with learning to act - even if they learn to do so badly! These days my stage persona is hammed to the hilt - but I hope I do it with panache! Potty |
toomuchmagic Special user 534 Posts |
Actually 150+ views in only 2 days should not be looked on as a bad thing vs. an 8-9 month old post about a brilliant innovation on an already popular prop.
Plus with a topic like this...i am sure there are many more who are looking for advice, rather than have advice to give. potty...your first few sentences say it all. |
Tony James Inner circle Cheshire UK 1398 Posts |
I agree with a great deal of what you folks are saying. I'm old enough to remember variety theatres - vaudeville - which came in all shapes and sizes and standards and were ranked in general groupings - the No. 1 circuits through to the No. 4s and were they rough flea-pits! But the No 4s and 3s were important to performers because it was there as you progressed through the ranks where you learned how to perform best of all.
Potty is right when he says that some people have an innate ability to perform and others don't. But there are many if not most who can improve upon what they are born with. It is true that some are born to perform and for them what they do is less important than the performing. That's a key point about magicians. They are wedded to magic whereas performers are wedded to whatever is the conduit to performing. Magicians tend to work on their own these days, especially children's entertainers. When I was coming up I rubbed shoulders with so many different types of act and so you learn from observation, from asking questions and from the generosity of others who, especially when you are young and showing promise, will take you to one side and show you how to improve some aspect of your performance and presentation. That opportunity isn't there any longer for most people and hasn't been for a long time. Nor the ability to work your routines day in and day out, week in and week out, honing them to a state of perfection. . In the UK during the late 50s and through the next twenty years the holiday camps helped to take over from the closing theatre circuits but they too have almost faded away as people go abroad for their holidays. But coming back to magicians, the techniques and stagecraft of the individual performer are certainly different but are still closely related to those of the actor. You have to adapt to suit your act but a high quality amateur dramatic society as we know them in the UK is just about the only practical way for your average, employed, hobby magician (I'm avoiding the expression 'semi-professional') to gain stage experience and to rub shoulders with others. Most parts of the UK have at least one such high quality society (there are countless thousands of more modest societies) and they attract some very capable directors who are paid to direct. Theatrical training schools are fine for some, particularly young people, but on a practical basis for someone who works days and does magic at weekends, the evening dramatic society rehearsals are one of the ways of gaining the sort of experience no longer easily available as it once was. There is of course a world of difference between people and their attitudes to what they do. Ask me what I am and I wouldn't reply 'magician' nor 'Punch and Judy man' nor for that matter any of the other disciplines I can turn my hand to. I might say 'Showman' because that's what I really am. No, I'd probably say I was a businessman first and foremost because that's what I am, running my business just as other businesspeople run their's. My business is entertainment and my market sector Family and Children's Entertainment, And within that sector I'm a Magician or Punch & Judy man. But you see where I position magic and Punch. Quite a long way down the line from where a hobby magician might be inclined to position magic in his response. I'm afraid that's the performer and showman in me.
Tony James
Still A Child At Heart |
harris Inner circle Harris Deutsch 8812 Posts |
As one who started in theatre (note the "re") prior to magic (as a prop guy/not exactly a master but an apprentice) I see the value of this thread. I still love to watch acts outside of magic both full plays and one person shows. Though props have their place, as useful is a well placed pause, double take, pacing....
Going back to my mime routes I decided to take a few days workshop...an got a reminder that it was not as easy as you think.... Harris
Harris Deutsch aka dr laugh
drlaugh4u@gmail.com music, magic and marvelous toys http://magician.org/member/drlaugh4u |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The little darlings » » Don't kid yourself - it's not as easy as you think (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.04 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 < |