Hello people,
I'm just thinking here but what skills does a bizarrist need?
Acting is a great part I think, as well as storytelling.
Crafts is a great deal, for making your own props.
But now I'm talking about magical skills, what skills and sleights are most necassery for a bizarrist?
I never was a fan of mentalism but I think it might be usefull for bizarre magic, so I'm looking into it now.

Yeah themes of mentalism are important all skills are good skills and can relat to bizarrist one way or another

I think you need a broad knowledge of as many things as possible so you can weave convincing stories.

You are absolutely right, Jon.
I read articles and books about everything I perform : Jack the ripper, the death of the Romanov family, the iron mask, Vlad Tepes...It's important to read about the historical, cultural context of all the stories linked to your routines. So...go to the library or spend time on the internet !
That will make of you a good storyteller. According to me, one of the most important skill of a bizarrist.

I would also say that a good bizarrist must have a good sense of misdirection. Physical and mental misdirection.
We are not clowns, we are not fairground wizards. We are storytellers. Let me tell you that I prefer the word "storytelling magic" or even "fantasy magic" than "bizarre magic".
The translation "magie bizarre" in french sounds aweful, and morever doesn't mean a thing for the audience. Strange how words take another meaning when they cross the borders... That's...bizarre !!!

I supposed it really depends on what kind of show you are looking at performing, but I think that you should have
skill in as many genres of magic as you can. Slight of Hand, Illusion, Mentalism, Card Manipulation, Stage, Parlour, Close-up.....

Anything can be turned bizarre.....it's all in the presentation.

I originally come from more of a Stage Illusions background. I used to spend a good deal of my time designing
new illusions for my show....then when I shifted to bizarre, I realized that I was going to need to bring up my
slight of hand and mentalism skills for the types of shows that I wanted to perform. As I come up with new ideas, I take a look
at what methodology would work and if it's something I'm not already familiar with, then I go and hit the proverbial (and literal) books!

One of the nice things about bizarre magic is you will see many different types. You will see people who play the role who have spent time studying acting. You'll find academics combining their specialist subjects with magic and mentalism. When it comes to skills basic forces are high on the list for creating bizarre routines. Some sleight of hand. I'd still put Bobo as important for bizarre magicians. While you may not use coins the ability to switch a small object can be used for many bizarre routines. As I've seen you've been working on a diary effect a knowledge of mentalism is going to be more important. 13 steps gives a tool kit for creating incredible bizarre routines. I'm currently going through expert at the card table and quite enjoying it, despite a bit of a dislike of cards. But I can see uses for it still. You need a bit of knowledge in sill in many areas. People skills would be nice too.

I have the skill to keep people listening for hours to what I have to say. So I think I have people skills.

What was that Cirrus?

....just kiddin' there.
I have begun to discover that bizarre magic demands more traditional skills. This for me is interesting, and where I think we are going.
A restoration of traditional disciplines in a setting void of spandex is a good thing.

Although there is an argument that a truly great bizarre magician should perform void of any artifice - and this requires a different set of skill, many of which you mentioned Cirrus.

....there is one more thing!

HA ha ha.....

Respectfully, lots of people can do that. To my mind, the question is: can you stop talking and still have people pay attention to you?




I had a teacher with no people skills, but he (and the school) made us listen to him.

Perhaps there's more to people skills than you think?

They made you. People always have the choice to leave, but they simply don't want to.

Jon hit the nail on the head...

Also, appearing to be believable and able to answer any of the audience's questions with ease is a skill that is helpful.

Bizarre magic requires, to my mind, excellent story telling skills. This is NOT the same as reciting a script accurately. Good story telling is a skill unto itself and one that I am constantly trying to improve in my own performances.

I really do feel that if you are a really good story teller you can use the most basic of moves/techniques and still keep an audience enthralled/mystified.

I used to work with a prison officer who really was naturally an amazingly enthralling story teller. He could tell you what he had for his tea and you would want to listen and ask questions at the end - he's one of my role models for the development of my own presentational skills (such as they are! )

You're voice and demeanour are two of your greatest tools in this field.

Mr. Gould and I are very often in agreement -- though arrive from different routes.

It's pretty amazing how, a few months ago, when I plucked my dusty copy of Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic off the shelf, I was stupidly amazed at the amount which can be twisted for a bizarre performance.

There is a world of info out there for the budding bizarrist -- you've just got to allow your brain to look at things from a different angle.

The hardest step, of course, is admitting that you have to do your homework and must follow through.

A bizarre presentation can work with anything. I have a colour changing knives routine which is bizarre themed and we published a bizarre sponge bunny routine!

Imagination, storytelling skills, and a knowledge of strange and bizzare history are three good building blocks needed to get a good start in performing bizarre.

I wouldn't say that I am a great storyteller, or dramatist, but these are always things I am striving to improve. One thing that is critical, and that I have learned numerous times when performing for audiences both close-up and parlour, is the need to have the ability to improvise. I have had things go wrong with props, and have had audience members behave in a less than predictable manner. The first few times it happened I was paralyzed with uncertainty, but now I can roll with it. I try to ensure that I leave space in my script and presentation for improvisation, as this forces me to learn and develop this skill. I will qualify this by saying I am not a 'professional' performer, I do not make my living this way. I am a casual performer, I work for paying audiences of strangers maybe 6-7 times a year, and for family/friends/aquaintances all the time. I am sure a pro would have a different opinion!

The main skill is the ability to find the right people to help you, except if you're only an armchair magician.
If I want to play piano, I'll first gonna search the best teacher.