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VincentLee New user 44 Posts |
Hi all,
my name is Vincent, I live in Hong Kong, I love mental magic so much but I am not only a mentalist. coz I mention I am a witch doctor when I perform. normally I try some book test, prediction, haunted key and some fortune teller story. I am not sure am I right to ask this question here, or here just for graveside magic. I am thinking about following routine, but I want some advice of yours. start with a story about witch doctor, why I become a member of them 1. haunted key 2. pendulums 3. like a open prediction but using tarot cards 4. tarot fortune teller other one also start with a story about witch doctor, why I become a member of them 1. draw duplicate 2. book test 3. haunted key 4. pendulums 5. using audience key for key bend my question is, is it good? or do you have any enhancement? I like bizarre magic but I feel scare of invulnerability like needle thru hand... does anyone have some suggestion of maigc of witch? or good bizarre magic? Best Regards Vincent |
Doug Higley 1942 - 2022 7152 Posts |
You need my Dark Museum versio, ETMP Prediction...(Monkey Paw, Toe and Ear) see at http://LionPointStudio.com
Also my '3 No Evil' will work. Link on http://grindshow.com Others can testify. Good luck! Doug
Higley's Giant Flea Pocket Zibit
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The Curator V.I.P. Beware Vampire, I have 3909 Posts |
What is a mentalist ? Some kind of disease ?
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lejon Special user 721 Posts |
And not a nice one.... it makes people act very chaotically..... its a bit like vampirism, it provides a strong sense of superiority.
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ghostgaff Regular user North Carolina 106 Posts |
Vincent, Bizzare magic is mostly the story, not the effects. To offer proper criticism, it would help to hear a little more about the storyline that you use with your effects.
In addition, you mention a book test. What type of book test do you use?
"The prince of darkness is a gentleman"-
"All the world's a stage, and the people merley actors."- Shakespeare |
VincentLee New user 44 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-07-13 23:33, ghostgaff wrote: depands on the routine, normally I use Lord of the ring, or some book relate to Tarot. |
The Curator V.I.P. Beware Vampire, I have 3909 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-07-13 23:33, ghostgaff wrote: Not really, it's both; considering that the combinaison of story + trick + object + theatrality = the effect. Some people falsly believe that bizarre magic doesn't need extremely strong techniques. Nothing can be wronger. If you're the hell of a cardman/mentalist/classical magician, it's just the first step... Plus, asking what book test you use doesn't mean anything. Use the right book test for the right performance. I use book test in certain effects that aren't usable in others. |
VincentLee New user 44 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-07-14 02:10, The Curator wrote: Curator I think I am suck at story telling, do you have any source or how can I improve the skill? or only improve by experience? sometime I get some nice story book but I feel hard to translate to Cantonese or let the audience plunge into my story. Best Regards V |
The Curator V.I.P. Beware Vampire, I have 3909 Posts |
Critter, in another thread gives a nice serie of links about writing Horror stories by Graham Masterton. It's a first step.
http://www.grahammasterton.co.uk/rulesofwriting.html http://www.grahammasterton.co.uk/pdf/horrorofhorrors.pdf The next step should be learning to tell a good ghost story. M.R.James is a perfect example in the European tradition, but I advice you to work on your local traditions first. http://gaslight.mtroyal.ca/superhor.htm The short essay about M.R.James is at the end of this text. Quote:
The art of Dr. James is by no means haphazard, and in the preface to one of his collections he has formulated three very sound rules for macabre composition. A ghost story, he believes, should have a familiar setting in the modem period, in order to approach closely the reader's sphere of experience. Its spectral phenomena, moreover, should be malevolent rather than beneficent; since fear is the emotion primarily to be excited. And finally, the technical patois of "occultism" or pseudo-science ought carefully to be avoided; lest the charm of casual verisimilitude be smothered in unconvincing pedantry. The absolute MUST READ about the subject of scripting is "Story" by McKee. http://www.mckeestory.com/ There are also a lot of practical examples in this section of the Magic Café. Then, learn to speak in public if you feel uneasy to do so. Take some theater lesson, in case of. |
Steve_Mollett Inner circle Eh, so I've made 3006 Posts |
I might also suggest getting or making an Okito Voodoo Doll.
Author of: GARROTE ESCAPES
The absurd is the essential concept and the first truth. - Albert Camus |
ssucahyo Inner circle 1954 Posts |
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Van Helmont Elite user 488 Posts |
Please, at all times AVOID FAKES unless you clearly point out they are fakes and that, for whatever reason, it's impossible for you to have the real McCoy!
I can imagine that, in Hong Kong, there are quite a few antique shops around: browse around, try finding one particular item, see what it tells you, do research around that item, what other references can you find, etc... By the time you've got that covered, the item will be totally 'yours' and your storytelling will have its beginning. It is pointless (and take it from someone who made the mistake all beginners make) to spend waaaay too much money on useless tricks, just because you're curious of the method or it looks like something you might use one day. You won't. Question is: do you 1. want to do a series of urelated tricks (under the general umbrella of "I do dark stuff") and leave an impression of a minute? or 2. want to tell a story, both told and untold, so strong, so solid, so obviously real that by the end of it, you might not even nééd to perform a trick because your audiences will be inside your story already? - Option one takes: a credit card - Option two takes: time, sensitivity, creativity, intelligence and a lot of technical work (and the Curator is ab-so-lu-tely right in stressing that). Your call... Your calll
The Epiphany Before Christmas: this day (12/23/13) I leave the Café for good!
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VincentLee New user 44 Posts |
Thank for experts give me some advice
I am watching and try to digest^^ Best Regards V |
The Curator V.I.P. Beware Vampire, I have 3909 Posts |
If you wanna watch an excellent ghost story movie, I highly recommend "Dorothy Mills" by Agnes Merlet. Some reminiscences of "the Wicker Man" (the original, not the stupid remake), but a very different plot.
http://www.spike.com/video/dorothy-mills/3023044 |
Thamiel New user 92 Posts |
I feel for you Vincent. I know that my pacing, enunciation and movement are weak and have difficulty improving them. Its funny, when I do straight card and palm readings things flow freely and easily. When I add a script and/or sleights I have difficulty conveying a 'natural' feeling. Its the same as when I perform visual magic. Keeping people's interest via patter for the few minutes it takes to perform most tricks doesn't give me trouble...but extending the timeframe and trying to communicate a meaningful narrative becomes problematic. I would love to see footage of contemporary 'bizarre' magicians performing, and would stand to learn much.
Curator, will we ever have the opportunity to have a video, performance only? How about Kotah, Mr. Fraughton and the legions of other people here? I think it would be brilliant! |
The Curator V.I.P. Beware Vampire, I have 3909 Posts |
I always avoid any video about performance of bizarre magic (even if one or two do exist) because they must be filmed by a real professional team in a studio or correct setting.
But who knows.. |
Roni Elite user 405 Posts |
Bizarre Magick is all about the skill of the performer to tell stories. You must be believable and convincing. Giving yourself a name like "Witchdoctor" is not what it is all about. You must become a "witchdoctor" when you play that part. Everything you decide to use must look like a "Witchdoctor's" paraphanelia. For instance I don't believe that witchdoctors used a key to demonstrate their power. Instead they will perhaps use a bone. They will certainly not do a Booktest as they could not read and never had books and so on it goes. My suggestion to you is to do a research into witchdoctors and what did they use and with this in mind work out a show that will look sound smell and feel like a witchdoctor.
Anyway all the very best to you Roni |
Doug Higley 1942 - 2022 7152 Posts |
Please don't cut out the casual Bizarrist performer who does not fully immerse themselves into becoming card carrying 'Witch Doctors' or deep dark personas. Bizarre elements in a (hate to use the term but) 'normal' act can be terrific interludes and fun for the audience and the performer.
Higley's Giant Flea Pocket Zibit
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WitchDoctor Regular user 130 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-07-30 15:37, The Curator wrote: I really want to try Dorothy-Mills, but I am scary when I finish the trailer
WhY SO SErIOUS?
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The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The spooky, the mysterious...the bizarre! » » Suggestion of Witch Doctor act? (0 Likes) |
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