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Edgely New user 4 Posts |
I have been practicing and performing magic since I was a very young child. I am currently 21. However, I just can't seem to figure out what to do to keep me going. See, my magic comes and goes in spurts. I get a desire to perform and then I binge on magic, but I quickly burn out. I think much of my problem is not knowing where to start. See, if I can figure out a trick myself before knowing the solution, I find that I am afraid to perform that for another individual on the idea that they too will figure it out and call me on it. So, to stay in magic, I have been learning sleights (push-over double lift, pass, palming, etc.) But I need to be performing. I just don't know where to start. I have so much material and I feel like I overwhelm myself with possibilities. Any help please? Ideas for good effects that aren't dead simple and easy to figure out that I may be comfortable performing. Also, tips for breaking out and actually performing? Like, fighting stage fright and fear of failure? Thank you so much.
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Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
Pick 3, 5, 7 and odd number of trick routines you really like. Build them into an 'act' with a beginning, middle, end. It does not have to be perfect...it won't be. Do it for folks, observe what happens, make changes...do again. It's a simple structure that will give purpose to what you are doing.
Good luck,
Brad Burt
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rklew64 Inner circle 1265 Posts |
Without going into too much. My opinion is that maybe your approach to this magic thing is all upside down.
It's so not about being clever or deconstructing a trick. It's about relaying an experience, magic. and certainly not about Catch you moments. I think you may have lost sight of what is magic to you not about worrying being caught - really is that what you watch or enjoy magic for?! If you feel this way now, no waaaay can you even think there is some silver bullet or sage advice that will resolve all that in 6 months and your doing street magic - I don't think so and sounds like you know that. I say step away altogether from it and just watch magic performances and note what your reactions are after each viewing. Plus I'm afraid there are no tips for actual experience - "dying" out there, failing in front of people IS part of the deal. No such thing as perfect execution out of gate each time. Maybe there is a personality issue that needs to be resolved and that thing is not helping your progression of magic. So maybe it's not that magic is overwhelming, you can not focus, break it down and go step by step with workable and realistic plan that fits you. I don't know, just playing Devil's advocate. |
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Mr. Woolery Inner circle Fairbanks, AK 2149 Posts |
Find someone at an old-folks' home who needs a visitor. Show him a few tricks. Listen to what he has to say. Recognize that sometimes you will be trying out a trick on him and sometimes you will be company.
Find a kid who needs a friend. Same deal. Here's another suggestion. Pick out a trick you think is lame and obvious. Now, work out a presentation that turns it into a cool trick. Not easy. I hated the egg bag until I saw Payne's video of his Magic Castle debut. Now I hate most egg bag presentations by recognize that this is a potentially cool trick. What's a self-working card trick you think is too obvious? Make it into a stunner. Remember that just because there are folks who will figure it out does not mean you should not perform it. I love Cardtoon. Chatting with a kid at work (I work at a school) who is into magic, I mentioned it. He went home and found an exposure video. Wrecks the magic of the trick. People will be like that. But open a card trick book at random and figure out how to present that trick and the same kid won't be able to find it on the web because it isn't a marketed, packaged, fancy-named, DVD trick. So nobody does it and it doesn't matter how simple the method is because you've made it fun. Take him on the ride and he won't be looking for the tracks, just where he is going. -Patrick |
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Edgely New user 4 Posts |
Thanks for the replies. I really appreciate it. I'm thinking about mixing the Biddle trick and 2 Card Monte. I usually perform those two regularly.
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Cyberqat Inner circle You can tell I work on the net from my 2209 Posts |
Magic isn't about tricks. Its about illusions.
If you want to really be a magician you need to make that leap. A "trick" is a puzzle and contains the challenge "can you figure out what I did?" Its an adversarial relation ship with your audience. An illusion is a *performance* where the audience comes along with you because they WANT to believe. have you ever seen a live play? You never once thought the action was "real' did you? yet, you believed the story while it was happening because you wanted to. A classic in this area is Helms' "Magic and Showmanship". Your goal should be to come up with routines that even people who *know* the mechanics will enjoy watching. Your audience isn't magicians, but a routine that makes a magician smile and nod and see something new in an illusion he or she knows is sure to wow your layman audience.
It is always darkest just before you are eaten by a grue.
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mrunge Inner circle Charleston, SC 3716 Posts |
First, welcome to the Café. You'll "meet" some good people here.
Now, all good advice above. I'd suggest just taking 3 or 4 effects with you wherever you go, if they're easy enough to carry. Don't feel a need to do them all at once. Maybe you'll run into someone and can show them one or two, just for a nice break in that person's day. Then, do it again for someone else. Don't go running up to everyone you see. Let it happen. When it does, just have fun with it. Enjoy the moment. If you "flub" something, it's no big deal. Learn from it and do it again. Over time, you're nervousness will become less and less. I know people who are great performers and still get a slight case of the jitters at times. It's normal. The main thing is just have fun. Enjoy what you do. Don't try to learn, or carry, everything at once. Also, don't feel you have to put on a show. Just be willing to entertain when the opportunity arises and enjoy yourself. Good luck. Mark. |
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Edgely New user 4 Posts |
Thank you, Mark. Very inspiring reply. I'm looking forward to getting out there are performing again.
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shamsiel Regular user 120 Posts |
I saw a magician once, I was very young. He only did one card trick for me. It was simple. But it amazed me in ways I cant describe. And he was missing an arm BTW. But the miracle was not in the trick. The miracle was in the way he drew me in with his story.
If I where you. I would begin by reading Victor Hugo. Or Bram Stoker. Ulysses is another great book. Ayn Rand, or Stalin,... who cares.... even that nutcase Hitler... but read read read....Forget about magic for a while! Immerse yourself in many tales. Maybe even CHUCK PALAHNIUk, Michael Moorcock, Blavatsky, Gandhi, Crowley, the autobiography of Keith Richards... who cares! . After that, I would go and have plenty of life experience. Get drunk, if you are an adult... get into a few bad relationships or not. Free yourself and have a lot of non-magic related life experience. Then you will have the skills to do REAL MAGIC. You see... I have found that great magicians draw my senses into something bigger, some grand design, some story, some enchantment, and the illusion is the glue that holds it together... But remember that glue, even the best glue, the perfect glue, serves no purpose if it is not applied towards something bigger than itself. I hope that my diatribe made sense. Respects, Shamsiel |
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DWRackley Inner circle Chattanooga, TN 1909 Posts |
While I wouldn’t advise trashing my life just for the sake of good magic, I agree with where shamsiel is coming from. There is no substitute for experience. I think the public school system is NUTS for trying to teach Shakespeare to school kids; they can’t understand the jokes. But read it again in your late twenties and it’s hilarious; this was the Saturday Night Live of the 17th century.
Read everything you can get your hands on. But do more than that. READ IT ALOUD! Get used to the sound of your own voice. Have someone record you talking; it sounds different when it’s not reverberating through your own skull. Try different voices, different speeds; try it with a Southern drawl or Chicago clip or even an Irish lilt. Pretend you are the author and you’re telling the story as if it really happened to you. Get all emotional. This is good practice for an actor, and to be an effect presenter (of which “Magician” qualifies) you’ll need to know some acting techniques. Even slapstick requires some panning! Next, set aside the patter for a while, and just look at what you’re doing. Watch your hands. Think about what’s really going on, and how is it different from what the AUDIENCE thinks is going on. How can you help “sell” the illusion? Can you act like you believe the coin is still in your hand when you know it’s already in your pocket? Then think about the logic of what you’re doing. Why are you having them sign the card? Then start to build your own story around what has to happen. Make it logical. Even if it’s absurd, keep it consistent. The audience will believe (temporarily) anything you tell them, IF it’s cogent. If your magic word “booglie wooglie” makes the silk disappear, you might need a different word for a different effect. If you learned the trick (as your story goes) from an old man in a covered wagon, don’t suddenly introduce space aliens and time travel. Even if what you wind up with sounds similar to the “out of the box” instructions, it will have your touch impressed on it. It will be your personal “one of a kind”. Also, don’t try to do too much. You’ll overwhelm yourself, and nothing will be “special”. Pick a few, three at most, to REALLY put your brand on. Here’s an example you’ll enjoy. We’ve all seen the Vanishing Yellow Bandana; it’s a hilarious bit of business, and most would call it “dead easy”. But take a few (15) minutes to watch these three different presentations. Gary James Justin Credible David Copperfield Same effect, three VERY different presentations. You can do that, too! (Be original, I mean!) Finally, don’t be afraid to fail. It IS part of the process, as rklew stated above. You actually learn more from what doesn’t work, IF you remember it and study it. I remember the first time a kid grabbed my deck of “trick cards”. I panicked and grabbed them back, bending a couple in the process. Fortunately, I only got laughed at; it could have been worse; but I learned how to better position things so it doesn’t happen again. Things like that, perhaps millions of little things, you can only learn by being there. You won’t die, but you might grow. Good luck and go get ‘em! And welcome to the Café!
...what if I could read your mind?
Chattanooga's Premier Mentalist Donatelli and Company at ChattanoogaPerformers.com also on FaceBook |
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jakubr Veteran user 326 Posts |
Some great advices above. One more thing you might consider is begin with learning classics. I know that watch trailers on magic websites might make you want to perform these tricks, but really if you start with classic, you can't go wrong. Even if you as magician now how trick works, without looking at the explanation of the method, remember - these tricks survived long time, and proved to be good for many magician. So perhaps if you pick 3-4 tricks like that, and make a small routine, you can start your performances.
And you can start by showing it to family/friends and then if it all goes well, try with other environments. Good luck. |
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volto Special user 603 Posts |
About fear of failure -
"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." - Michael Jordan If you fail, you're in very good company... take it on the chin, pick yourself up, figure out what went wrong, and try again... |
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silent shadow Loyal user United Kingdom 231 Posts |
Never tell anyone what your tricks are called this should take some worries off you about them finding out secrets, seems a bit pointless anyway to me.
Magic or just an illusion? it's a free choice .... isn't it?
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Edgely New user 4 Posts |
Very good advice, thank you all. I read very frequently; Shakespeare is amazing to me, in fact. But I never thought about taking my vast knowledge of literature and applying that to presentation in magic. Very clever and unique approach. And the Michael Jordan quote really opened my eyes. Again, thank you all so much.
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Cyberqat Inner circle You can tell I work on the net from my 2209 Posts |
Inr e failure, I agree 100%. Pilots have an important expression: "Any landing you walk away from was a good one." Lost of us make mistakes. That part of being human. But you only truly fail if you let the mistake stop you from trying-- either trying by going on and recovering or trying by doing it again with what you learned another time. I recently posted a description of my first kids show, which was quite recent. It started out disastrous, but I stuck with it and by the end it was a success and everyone was happy.
Be your own worst critic, but never be an unreasonable one And expect to flub. You will. The difference between an amateur coin manipulator and a master is that an amateur has dropped his coin a few dozen times, a master has dropped it a few thousand. You cannot improve if you are afraid to make mistakes.
It is always darkest just before you are eaten by a grue.
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Jaxon Inner circle Kalamazoo, Mi. 2537 Posts |
Just have fun with it. IF you can't enjoy it, don't do it.
I know that's simplified. But for example if I loose interest in something and it's not something I "Have" to do. Then I don't think I'd worry about doing it anymore. No one said that if you learned a little magic then you're suppose to be a magician. So you learned some card magic. If you no longer feel enthused by that. I wouldn't dwell on it. Maybe someday down the line you'll be sitting with some people and there happens to be a deck of cards there. YOu pick them up and show them a card trick or two. They enjoy it. You get a bit of a thrill from their reaction and suddenly you've been struck with the desire to learn more card magic. This is what we often call "Getting bit by the magic bug". When from performing we obtain a desire to learn more and perform more. When that happens you get a thrill from the experience and want more of it. But if it don't happen then you won't get very far with this pursuit. Maybe it will come to you some other day. Maybe it'll come to you from something other then magic as well. People develop an interest in other things like this. Some get excited about learning to play a music instrument, singing, drawing, collecting stamps. So, as I said before. If you can't enjoy it and you have no commitment to do it. Then I wouldn't dwell on it. On the other hand if this is just from the fear that everyone will know how your tricks are done. Then all you've got to do is go out and perform and learn that "How it's done" isn't what makes magic work or doesn't work. It also has nothing to do with how good the trick is. It's about your ability to make what ever you are doing entertaining. Take the "best trick" and perform it badly then it's not going to get a good reaction. Take a "terrible trick" and perform it well then it'll get a great reaction. So, don't work to enjoy magic. Just enjoy it or find something else you enjoy. There may come a time when magic will seem like "Work". But that shouldn't happen until you're getting paid good money to be a professional at it. Even then, after all the planning and preparation is done. The performance itself should still bring you some degree of satisfaction. I hope that helps. Ron Jaxon |
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HerraTaikuri New user Helsinki, Finland 60 Posts |
Don't be afraid that if you can figure out a trick, everyone else could.
You don't have to do magic for long, before figuring out tricks starts to be easy. But if presented well, with some patter as a misdirecktion, even the siplest tricks can amaze layman |
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Harry Lorayne 1926 - 2023 New York City 8558 Posts |
Really?
[email]harrylorayne@earthlink.net[/email]
http://www.harrylorayne.com http://www.harryloraynemagic.com |
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silent shadow Loyal user United Kingdom 231 Posts |
Dear Harry Lorayne when was the last time you were fooled and amazed, I would love to know this please
Jason
Magic or just an illusion? it's a free choice .... isn't it?
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Harry Lorayne 1926 - 2023 New York City 8558 Posts |
Hi Jason: It's been a while, but that's not the point here. It was that remark "You don't have to do magic for long, before figuring out tricks starts to be easy" that instigated my "Really?" remark. My feeling is that I can probably do perhaps a thousand things that Mr. Taikuri couldn't figure out. I think he was probably referring to tricks (or whatever) that he does. Not important. HL.
[email]harrylorayne@earthlink.net[/email]
http://www.harrylorayne.com http://www.harryloraynemagic.com |
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