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insight Inner circle 3095 Posts |
In your opinion, is it better to do propless magic so there are no storage requirements? I guess the other implication or question is, is propless magic more powerful? If I do a "think of a card" routine with cards, and then I do that same exact routine without cards, with the SAME PRESENTATION BUT JUST WITHOUT PROPS, is it more powerful?
Regards, Mike |
Mr. Mystoffelees Inner circle I haven't changed anyone's opinion in 3623 Posts |
I would say no. I am a fan of gaffless magic, but even that has its limits. Certainly, if it can APPEAR propless, that is a big advantage. Kind of like Michael Ammar talking about planting rubber bands around at a party so it can look like he is being totally impromptu.
With your card example, seeing the chosen card appear is "magic". Without the cards it tends to seem more like mentalism... Jim
Also known, when doing rope magic, as "Cordini"
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magic4545 Inner circle Jimmy Fingers 1159 Posts |
A large percentage of propless magic in your act will make the occasional use of props 'pop' a little more powerfully. Or actually, a lot!
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KC Cameron Inner circle Raleigh, North Carolina 1944 Posts |
I try to keep props at a minimum, and those I use, I use in several different ways. I think the audience is much more impressed. The magic is in you, not the props.
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
Propless magic is mentalism, not magic.
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
I think that would depend on how you define propless and what actually happens.
For example, if you define propless as completely without any physical objects of any kind involved, this may be correct. However, if by propless magic, you mean magic that is done with everyday objects, such as napkins, borrowed coins, coffee cups, rolled up dollar bills, then you would not necessarily have mentalism.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
Circus Bambouk Loyal user Tempe, AZ 256 Posts |
Interesting question. I'm always looking to pack smaller, and to make my show more about me than it is about my toys.
I suppose if I actually had magical powers, and wanted to demonstrate them, I wouldn't use tubes painted with dragons or silk handkerchiefs in colors you can't find in the men's department at Macy's. I also probably wouldn't carry around rope or eggs or a deck of cards. But on a daily basis I do carry around my keys, my wallet, my cell phone, a metrocard (subway fare card for NYC transit), my wedding ring, a hat (keep me warm in winter, protect the bald head from the sun in the summer), my clothes and my body. I also usually have business cards, chapstick and listerine breath strips. Also, if I wanted to write something down, or have somebody else do so, a pen and sheet of paper wouldn't be too hard to find or out of place, even a clipboard on which to put the paper. So I could do stuff with my fingers, my hands, my feet. My ring, my shoelace, my buttons and buttonholes. My business cards, my wallet, my credit cards, my drivers license, photos of my family. My blackberry, my metrocard, my keys, keyring. My hat--isn't that what people first think of in regard to a magician--a hat? There's probably a half-hour of "PROPLESS" magic there. Sure, some of it would probably be mentalism, some of it would be penetrations, vanishes, transpositions, color changes, levitations...and I wouldn't need to carry a bag, and I wouldn't need to devote 200 square feet in my basement to store it, and I could work lots of different venues. And I think it would be perceived in a pretty powerful way, as far as the magic. I think it would take a very special performer to really sell it, though. You must transcend the lack of props...that sounds weird, but it also sounds right. What do you think? When I go to China for the clown festivals I have a thirty-minute "Commando" show that I always keep in my pockets just in case I need to cover something (I'm staff there as well as a performer). I have two silk handkerchiefs of different colors and sizes, a juggling scarf, three sponge balls and a TT, in addition to the lenseless glasses I am already wearing. With a crowd of at least ten people, my fingers, hands, feet and those toys, I can do a silent show that gets laughs, gasps and a round of applause or two with instant reset and no prop case. I'm not doing anything revolutionary, I'm not claiming to. But it's nice to be reminded that I do have that in my arsenal when I'm packing for international travel. I look forward to hearing more thoughts on this. Best wishes, Brian |
Leland Inner circle St Louis 1180 Posts |
Propless means walk in with nothing? You use props that you see or that people around you carry? What if you have a stooge holding a newspaper and use it to do a torn and restore? Is that propless? After all, you do bower it from someone else.
Life of Magic!
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Geoff Weber Inner circle Washington DC 1384 Posts |
A similar discussion: http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......forum=17
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Magic Patrick Inner circle Minnesota 1591 Posts |
For my kid show I bring in a backdrop and a suitcase table filled with my show. Set up and tear down is 10 minutes max. Everything resets in 10 minutes. I feel that it is good to not rely on props but the props I use are pretty cool and impress them. For example, hippity hop rabbits and stratosphere are very colorful and play big. I would love to just walk in with nothing and perform for an hour but I am not that accomplished. I think my show packs small and plays big. I am happy.
Patrick |
Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
But do their checks clear the bank?
Seriously, Bob Read did a strolling show that looked like it was basically "propless." He did the cups and balls with the venue's teacups, and made the balls from bread dough. The props he carried looked completely like things you would find at a good banquet hall or in someone's home.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
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