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harris Inner circle Harris Deutsch 8812 Posts |
This is a great spot at the Café.
This spoonful of instant coffee is about using your chops (from a french drop to a palm to palm with a dime sized coin) to connect. 1. Know your audience 2. Bring the audience into one unit. (whether it is 1 spectator or 50 of them) 3. Be clear 4. Be courteous (unless your character used is not) 5. Be seated. ..(not necessarily during the performance...but know when to quit) and what works for you? ____ ____ ____
Harris Deutsch aka dr laugh
drlaugh4u@gmail.com music, magic and marvelous toys http://magician.org/member/drlaugh4u |
Orb New user 90 Posts |
Thank you for these, Harris. Your many years of performing experience makes your opinions and theories very valuable!
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evikshin Special user 893 Posts |
Not much I can add as you are a veteran... But regarding knowing my audience: I like to scout them first to determine their depth of knowledge of magic. If they know about vanishes and palms, then I'm more cautious . Way I scout is with simple questions like "you seen coin magic before? Etc "
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Chris W Regular user Have you seen my 176 Posts |
E. that's pretty dang smart. And very simple. It makes the audience feel like you are interested in them, but it gives you more information to see the risks you can take. Impressive.
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harris Inner circle Harris Deutsch 8812 Posts |
Connecting and knowing your audience is crucial.
Last week during my puppet workshops at a middle school, I started with a comparisons with the art of magic and the art of puppetry. Both create illusions. The magician tries not to "die on stage", while the puppet tries not to die.(unless it is part of the script) By his words and actions in helping me, I could tell one 7th grader had a great interest and more than a cursory knowledge of magic. Yesterday I called him into my office and complimented him on not revealing that knowledge during my program. We then had a mini jam session. Part of my work is to find interesting ways to engage students interest in making a positive connection with school I am blessed to have two great professions. (Counseling and Entertainment) Though I have been playing and sharing my coin work for many years, I need to be open to hear what others find useful. Sometimes it is someone just starting in coin magic (that doesn't know what is impossible) will come up with a solution or other wonderful idea/input. Thanks to all that have added food and coffee for thought.... Harris a full cup can not hold any more coffee...
Harris Deutsch aka dr laugh
drlaugh4u@gmail.com music, magic and marvelous toys http://magician.org/member/drlaugh4u |
Alan Munro Inner circle Kentwood, Michigan, USA 5952 Posts |
One important lesson that I took away from a Shawn Farquahar lecture was to give the audience a reason to care about what you're doing. I performed a quickie coin effect, years ago, but it wasn't meaty enough to put in the regular repertoire. After the lecture I applied the basic plot from one of his effects to the coin effect - the application was obvious to me. It plays just as well as sponge bunnies, now!
By the way, if you ever get a chance to see Shawn lecture, do everything in your power to see it. |
Lawrence O Inner circle French Riviera 6811 Posts |
I'd add an initial
0. Be energetic in your presentation (remembering that energetic doesn't mean neither offensive or aggressive)
Magic is the art of emotionally sharing live impossible situations
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J-Mac Inner circle Ridley Park, PA 5338 Posts |
OK - You'll have to explain to me why "O"?
Jim |
Sean Giles Inner circle Cambridge/ UK 3517 Posts |
He means zero. As in the zero coming before number one in Harris original five points.
Sean |
BenSalinas Special user Coinoscenti 746 Posts |
For me, Alan nailed it! You need to engage your audience.
For most card effects you START by choosing a card, the audience is immediately involved. In coin magic, it's more "watch what the coins can do". The crucial step of involving the audience doesn't happen until the end, when the final coin jumps to their hand. If we can get the audience involved from the start ("pick a coin, any coin"?) then coin magic can rival the most engaging card magic.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Coin Flinger
www.SalinasMagic.com The Modern Coin Magic blog www.ModernCoinMagic.com |
funsway Inner circle old things in new ways - new things in old ways 9982 Posts |
As mentioned before, I have had my greatest successes with handing out a basket of small objects and allowing a spectator to select an object of interest. Since they appear to control the choice and are "forcing" you to perform with "their" object the level of audience engagement increases. Other spectator's can't wait to choose an object, but happily wacth to see what you can do "on demand."
An interesting coin is a common first choice, and it is is simple to direct other selctions such as, "I'll need a copper coin about the same size." Other samll objects like stones and nuts still allow you to do coin effects (same moves and sleights), and surely you can handle a ring, key, piece of string, etc.
"the more one pretends at magic, the more awe and wonder will be found in real life." Arnold Furst
eBooks at https://www.lybrary.com/ken-muller-m-579928.html questions at ken@eversway.com |
Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
Be optimistic. When the audience sees you are happy enthusiastic, they are more willing to listen to you. Attitude plays an important role.
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fonda57 Inner circle chicago 3078 Posts |
I think there's always the chance that somebody will know about vanishes and palms to some degree, but not often. Unless, of course, you're performing for magicians. The idea is to always be cautious and well rehearsed, and if someone says, "hey I've seen this one," you can politely say, "so have I," and keep going. Or you can ignore the remark.
If you want to test this theory out, get out a coin and do a coin roll while standing in the grocery line. People will look and smile. They don't see this often, and they're charmed when they do. |
Curtis Kam V.I.P. same as you, plus 3 and enough to make 3498 Posts |
I think Harris has a good list, and I must say, I consider these things in putting an act together. There's more, though. For a long time, now, I've wanted to put together an act that's entertaining and commerical, 30 minutes or more in length, and all entirely coin magic. At first, it was just to provide a response to the naysayers who harped on the "limited" number of effects in coin magic. But the project took on a life of its own. So now, I'm happy to say, I have that act. In addition to being a solid, commercial parlor performance using only coin magic, it has the following stats:
-No Matrix, Chink-a-chink, or assemblies -No coins through the table -No cards used in any way -No "Threefly" or Winged Silver to speak of, (although I do perform a version of my "goblet" routine) -None of David Roth's routines (as much as I wanted to include them) -I don't think I ever say the words, "for my next trick". Nothing wrong with any of the above effects, especially David's signature routines, but those are his. Part of the point was to show how much more material there is out there that nobody's using. I mention all this because the key to building the act was this: Consider what the audience experiences. I refused to add a piece unless it provided an experience that was significantly different from all of the others. One piece, based on Slydini's work, is a cat-and-mouse game with the audience. Another is not based so much on the "gotcha" but on the visual qualities of the magic (it's set to music) My Cylinder and Coins is presented as a "look behind the curtain", a glimpse at the secret world of magicians, and the trick magicians do only for each other. And so on. That simple question: "What does the audience see?" made it very easy to build the act, and I hope it's useful to someone here. If anyone's curious, you can see this act performed at the Golden Gate Gathering in San Francisco, June 16-18, and if California is too far away for you, I'm working on getting the act to this year's European Coin Magic Symposium in Milan, in November. Or you can come to Hawaii and ask for a show. Sorry for the plug, but I'm serious about the "simple question" idea, and I hope you'll try it.
Is THAT a PALMS OF STEEL 5 Banner I see? YARRRRGH! Please visit The Magic Bakery
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ljh21 Regular user Philadelphia 112 Posts |
Curtis I am sure your act will be great and I wish I could see it but geographically and financially it is out of the question. Thiry minutes seems like an eternity to me. When I perform one effect it is demanding. Although I do not have the performing experience that others here have. Anyone have any pointers on how to be less for lack of a better word intimidated by crowds when performing? I have practiced and practiced and feel cofident in my slieghts and technical performance. I have been a mirror magician for years and have a wife and son that are very honest, I feel I am ready to perform more and I would like to perform for more poeple so any pointers on how to break out of the closet so to speak would be appreciated. Ben makes some very good points especially the difference between card magic and coin magic. Dynamike good tip also. Apoligies if I am getting to off topic.
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ljh21 Regular user Philadelphia 112 Posts |
Harris sorry forgot to mention your posts are very insightfull and helpful.
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Mobius303 Inner circle Lakewood, Ohio 1309 Posts |
Umm the best way to perform for people is to go out and perform. The jitters and shakiness will go away within two or three spectators.
I am not saying perform for money but go out and practice at the local bar....with friends whilest out. Two things will happen...these people do not know you so will be very honest and you can ask your friends how they thought it looked to them. Practice is truly the best master. One day of performance is like a month of practice. Enjoy it and it will come. Mobius |
ljh21 Regular user Philadelphia 112 Posts |
Mobius
Thank you for the advice. "One day of performance is like a month of practice." That is a very motivational and inspirational statement. I just need to get past the nervous awkwardness that I am sure everyone has felt at one time. Thanks for the wisdom. |
Strange Tasting Fish Sticks 1988 - 2013 The Big Brother is watching you 1095 Posts |
I find what helps me is to start a trick that I've can do very well without failure (pretty much 'fail proof") then I feel more comfortable doing the more difficult routines.
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