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mastermindreader 1949 - 2017 Seattle, WA 12586 Posts |
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On 2012-02-17 18:05, maxpax wrote: You're right. People are people. Icelanders too. I lived in Iceland for a year and they were some of my best audiences - especially when we were all drinking. Good thoughts, Bob |
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Slim King Eternal Order Orlando 18012 Posts |
Don't perform at all until you are good enough to be paid the going rate. Crummy mental magicians have exposed enough already. On a recent thread I expressed my feelings about this very subject. If you suck... don't do it.
THE MAN THE SKEPTICS REFUSE TO TEST FOR ONE MILLION DOLLARS.. The Worlds Foremost Authority on Houdini's Life after Death.....
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Tom Jorgenson Inner circle LOOSE ANGLES, CALIFORNIA 4451 Posts |
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On 2012-02-17 20:17, Slim King wrote: How do you get good enough to be paid without performing? Is there a secret to that? How did you get good enough to to get paid without any performing first?
We dance an invisible dance to music they cannot hear.
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theamazingryan New user 95 Posts |
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On 2012-02-17 21:34, Tom Jorgenson wrote: That's exactly what I'm wondering. It seems like your advice is to just become a great performer without any performance experience. Maybe some black magic? |
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Chaz93 Inner circle Texas 1754 Posts |
I don't agree with the advice to not perform until you're a pro. I do think your material needs to be strong though. To get started, stick with one effect. Script it, rehearse it, record yourself performing it for yourself focusing on the delivery of the patter rather than the mechanics of the effect. Notice your posture, breathing rate, tonality, etc. Get these down perfect. Then, once you have that down and you have that one super strong effect that you pwn the muggles with go out and about. When you see someone sitting at a bus stop, walk up and say "Hi, my names _________ and I'm a mindreader/psychic/psychological illusionist/lightning victim. Would you like to see something mind boggling?" If they say yes, get to work. If they so no, politely bid them a good day and move on. The only way to get the balls to go approach strangers is to do it. In fact, if this is something that you're not comfortable with I would suggest not even doing any effects at first, just walk to up as many people as you can and start a conversation. It doesn't matter what you talk about, the point is to just get comfortable starting conversations and interactions with random people. So, spend a few hours at home looking over your recording of yourself, studying your body language, tonality, etc and making sure your script is the best it can be. Then, go out for a beer or a cup of coffee and strike up as many conversations with strangers as possible. When you are comfortable just walking up to people and starting a conversation, then start performing that ONE effect you have mastered. Not only will this make you a better performer (in my mind) but it will also open all kinds of doors for awesome experiences you may not have had, had you not struck up a conversation with that one fellow that particular day. You may even make some new friends, and everyone needs friends.
Good luck to ya, PM me if I can help with anything. |
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mastermindreader 1949 - 2017 Seattle, WA 12586 Posts |
When I was a kid, my brother and I would charge the neighborhood kids to attend our backyard puppet and magic shows. We had no idea what we were doing but went ahead and did it anyway. Later, I started entering talent contests and performed at a lot of kids birthday parties. When I turned 18 I started doing lodge and civic club shows. By the time I was 22 I was working cruise ships and then comedy and nite clubs.
I wasn't any good at all when I started out. I got good along the way. You can't learn to entertain people doing your stuff in front of a mirror. Just get out there and start doing it. Don't let anyone tell you what you can't do. Good thoughts, Bob |
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Slim King Eternal Order Orlando 18012 Posts |
Don't perform for free EVER! Don't perform unless it is FLAWLESS.. otherwise you expose secrets or give mentalism a bad name.. I'm not saying you can't improve, but mediocre performances help NO ONE! Show respect for the art. Horrid mind readers are one of the reasons Mentalism has reached an all time low.
I would never sing a song if I didn't know the lyrics and the Melody. Mentalist Karaoke ruins the whole thing!
THE MAN THE SKEPTICS REFUSE TO TEST FOR ONE MILLION DOLLARS.. The Worlds Foremost Authority on Houdini's Life after Death.....
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Chaz93 Inner circle Texas 1754 Posts |
Disagree. Mediocre performances help the performer learn what he needs to improve on. Not all of us were as lucky as you Slim, being born an amazing mentalist. For some people it requires work, practice, and a learning curve.
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theamazingryan New user 95 Posts |
With all due respect, slim, you've offered plenty of jaded cynicism but not much in the way of advice. How do you propose one improves their ability to perform without performing? I'm not trying to be difficult, I'm asking earnestly.
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Tom Jorgenson Inner circle LOOSE ANGLES, CALIFORNIA 4451 Posts |
Thank God I never let mediocrity stop me from performing.
We dance an invisible dance to music they cannot hear.
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Slim King Eternal Order Orlando 18012 Posts |
Please take another look Harry.... I told you to find a Mentor... it's age old advice and 100% positive! Join the IBM or SAM and practice your routines with them. Some of you seem to think it's just fine to offer amatuer mental magic as professional mentalism....IT'S NOT! .. Please name afew old folks homes or Caféterias that Kreskin or Derren Brown played..... I started my first show right away...SUPERNATURAL FLORIDA... I consider it a mistake to have started so soon. The show was OK but it wasn't as professional as it could have been. I took a few years to focus, script, and learn, and my next gig paid more than I'd made the entire summer with Supernatural Florida.
THE MAN THE SKEPTICS REFUSE TO TEST FOR ONE MILLION DOLLARS.. The Worlds Foremost Authority on Houdini's Life after Death.....
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Slim King Eternal Order Orlando 18012 Posts |
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On 2012-02-18 00:07, Chaz93 wrote: MEDIOCRE PERFORMANCES MAKE MENTALISM LOOK BAD!!! BOTTOM LINE!!!
THE MAN THE SKEPTICS REFUSE TO TEST FOR ONE MILLION DOLLARS.. The Worlds Foremost Authority on Houdini's Life after Death.....
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Tony Iacoviello Eternal Order 13151 Posts |
For those who don't know: Slim posted a few weeks ago about he worst show he had seen, a mentalist who he described as being very bad who then turned to insulting his audience. This was at a paid performance. Having heard and read of this, I can understand where he is coming from.
At least some of the audience was more angry than disappointed, and not entertained. After attending an event like that, it is doubtful that they felt positive about entertainers calling themselves mentalists. It is less than likely the venue would want a similar act in fear of repeating what had occurred. Slim's was not the only account I heard of this show, not one had a single positive comment. All stated the act was bad, the performer had a caustic personality, and the audience was not happy. (This may bring back memories of a story told, to those who attended the Doctail Party a few weeks back...) After attending an event like that, and being a mentalist yourself, how would you feel? Tony |
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Slim King Eternal Order Orlando 18012 Posts |
I'm sorry I've come on so strong. Tony is totally correct... I'm still a little peeved at what happened a bit ago. I never want to see anything like that again.
THE MAN THE SKEPTICS REFUSE TO TEST FOR ONE MILLION DOLLARS.. The Worlds Foremost Authority on Houdini's Life after Death.....
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Tom Jorgenson Inner circle LOOSE ANGLES, CALIFORNIA 4451 Posts |
Slim, few others can expect that sort of pathway.
We dance an invisible dance to music they cannot hear.
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Slim King Eternal Order Orlando 18012 Posts |
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On 2012-02-18 01:28, Tom Jorgenson wrote: There is a great need for clarity in this area. The Pathway is available to all who work hard and avoid mistakes at all cost.
THE MAN THE SKEPTICS REFUSE TO TEST FOR ONE MILLION DOLLARS.. The Worlds Foremost Authority on Houdini's Life after Death.....
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Decomposed Eternal Order High Desert 12059 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-02-17 22:21, mastermindreader wrote: Ah the great memories..... I had a museum of Higgley sorts, charged a dime. Did not last long.
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Steve_Mollett Inner circle Eh, so I've made 3006 Posts |
I agree with Slim that getting a skilled mentor saves a lot of gray hair (both for the performer AND an audience).
What's more, a good mentor is often easier to track down than you might suspect. Many a good performer enjoys helping a novice to get a good start, and fairly experienced acolytes to smooth the edges and fine-tune their styles.
Author of: GARROTE ESCAPES
The absurd is the essential concept and the first truth. - Albert Camus |
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Magicus Loyal user 281 Posts |
Usus est magister optimus.
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Billy-one Inner circle IOWA 1028 Posts |
Its hard to get a good mentor with so many bad mentalists? Also, if you live in a rural area, its impossible.
respect, Billy |
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