On 2008-07-09 09:50, Hamil wrote:
Hum? Obviously Kevin you have spent a great deal of time working on these effects and I congratulate you on your dedication.

However, a few things I would say in response to viewing your work.

First, the thing that stood out the most is the absence of any kind of patter and the extreme intensity of your facial expressions. I could not tell if you had just lost you job or hadn’t had a bowel movement in several weeks…..lol

Seriously, Kevin, showmanship is everything. As I’ve mentioned, obviously you have spent the time learning the tricks, now learn to perform them.

Although, at the time of performance you audience was a video camera, when you published it, your audience was the world. Video is a awesome medium for practice but painfully ugly in capturing depth of your skills and showmanship.

As far as the tricks themselves and the second thing that got me was the lack of wonder watching you perform them. I was told once years ago that it did not matter how well you perform the effect if in doing the magic, the spectator suspects you have done something sneaky,in which case it is now just a trick. (unless of course your setting them up for an even greater surprise)

The difference is in your audiences response from, “That was nice” or “that was ok” to, “Wow, how if the heck did you do that” And when you get the latter response you can boldly insert one of Gregory Wilson’s great quotes, “Thank you, I’ll take that as a compliment”.

The specific part that I’m referring to here is when you started your rope trick and tying the 2 ropes together. You held the rope so close to you body and your hands so enclosed the knot tying process that one can only wonder, “He’s got to be kidding if he thinks I believe he really tied it”

There were other things but I think I’ve made my point. Less hiding and show that you’re having as much fun performing the effect as you want your audience to have watching you do it.

Kevin, I really do not mean to be critical here, only painfully honest.

Remember, showmanship is everything.

Can’t wait to see volume 2.