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MCM Elite user Minnesota 456 Posts |
Just for something different, I was thinking (a dangerous thing). Often magicians will ask about the right music for an illusion, but what about taking it the other way....
The idea is to name a song and talk what illusion would fit it best. Ideally use music that you have not used in a show, or seen anyone else use, either live or on video/internet. To start things off, how about the song "I would do anything for love." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tuYKUgBZEc |
TheMagicOfLuke Loyal user Illinois 201 Posts |
I find it difficult to shape your magic around your music. I like to find a routine I like, then find a song that fits the time well and if I like it for the trick I use it and make some minor adjustments. What do you usually do?
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MCM Elite user Minnesota 456 Posts |
The idea of this topic is more "just for fun" rather than serious thought, though it might inspire someone.
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Craig Dickens Veteran user 376 Posts |
Back when I was performing and singing, the song came first. I would then imagine something magical happening to it and then go from there. That is how the "Witch Doctor" song became my sketch pad effect and how most of my early creations came to be. This was when music videos were popular and the concept was to create live magical music videos on stage.
e-mail at:magicaldickens@aol.com
website: www.dickensmagic.com |
Michael Berends Loyal user Canada 220 Posts |
Sometimes it's easier to use the music to motivate the magic!!!
There are TONS of examples of this and a lot of top performers have routines that were created this way. Some of the best routines that I do were motivated by music. Hear a song, close your eyes and see what type of pictures you come up with in your imagination. Just look at Shawn Farquar's "Shape of my Heart" for example.
www.michaelberends.com
"IMPOSSIBLE HAS JUST BECOME AN OPINION" |
w_s_anderson Inner circle The United States 1226 Posts |
I always hated it when I'd ask for ideas for a song to fit a routine and the reply was "First do the routine, then figure out the song." I always found that rhetoric very stupid. I agree with what has been posted here already. I mean you obviously want to have an idea in your head of what you want to accomplish first. Then find the music you think fits what yor are trying to do. Then choreograph your act so the timing and motions fits the music. It would be nearly impossible and therefore a waste of time to come up with a choreographed routine without music then try and find a piece of music that fits it. One option would be to have a custom piece of music made to fit your exact routine, but that will get expensive quick.
For the song mentioned in the first post......Oh, I would use any song for tricks, but I won't use that!! LOL I honestly can't think of an illusion that I would perform with that soung. I think it would come off as being too cheesy, but that is just my opinion. I'd like to see someone do a dancing cane routine to the song "I Got The Magic Stick" |
Frank Simpson Special user SW Montana 883 Posts |
I have several routines where the music came first. My Zombie routine, and combination of floating sphere and floating lady began with the music. Of course I had already had these effects in my arsenal, but the finished routines that I still use began with the music.
Years ago I performed for several seasons as Herr Drosselmeyer in The Nutcracker. In that case I really had no choice but to have the music come first. It was a lot of fun when the choreographer assigned me the music that was to be used for magic. I listened to it over and over without a single effect in mind, just letting the music suggest ideas to me. I was delighted with how much story-telling is built into good music (and without any lyrics to serve as a thematic crutch I might add). For instance, with the music that I chose to use with the Ralph Adams Dancing Hank routine, the music actually helped to cast the handkerchief as a mischievous character, out to have its own way, and refusing to cooperate with my wishes as Herr Drosselmeyer. There are even applause cues in the music that lead an audience to a satisfying conclusion to the segment. @Scott, it's not always stupid rhetoric to "first do the routine", especially if you are fortunate enough to have original music scored. In fact, this is the ideal situation. But often it can be a good idea to stage a routine without music so you know what and where the essential beats (acting beats, not musical beats) are. I have done this before and then sought out appropriate music, "auditioning" it with my staging. Often I can find a piece of music that closely matches the mood, pace, timing, etc. of the illusion, and at this point I again just listen to the music and see if it can suggest any staging movement to coordinate with it. Then I'll usually adjust my staging to best fit the music, or edit the music to fit, and most often a bit of both! |
Mike Maturen Inner circle Michigan's Beautiful Sunrise Side 2726 Posts |
To answer the ORIGINAL question, regarding what magic might work with "I would do anything for love", how about a nice floating rose routine, as a story of a lover being stood up by his date? I am routining something very similar, but not using that music...much prefer royalty free music.
Mike Maturen
World of Wonder Entertainment The Magic and Mayhem of Mike Maturen 989-335-1661 mikematuren@gmail.com AUTHOR OF "A NEW DAWN--Weekly Wisdom From Everyday Life" member: International Magician's Society |
w_s_anderson Inner circle The United States 1226 Posts |
@Frank, you are correct. My choice of wording could have been much better. I actually wish I had the budget to have my own personal score written for each one
of my routines! |
mpicard Regular user 102 Posts |
Whenever I hear the song "All By Myself" b y Eric Carmen I always pictured myself performing the dancing cane.
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