|
|
David Thiel Inner circle Western Canada...where all that oil is 4005 Posts |
I recently did an inventory of the props I've acquired over the past 25 years. So there I sat...literally in the middle of a magic/mentalism mountain. I have no idea where some of this stuff came from -- and actually have no memory of buying some of it. (Which does create that delicious moment of finding something, looking at it and thinking "Hey...this is cool. Where'd that come from?")
Still -- it's a horrible waste...particularly when I consider that, since I do this for a living, these props are my "stock" and that each one SHOULD be an investment. It is also true that many of these are magic props since I did magic for so many years before turning full-time to mentalism. Some of these came out of the "drawer of no return" -- the place where you shove the "gee...it seemed like a good idea at the time" props. I'd say MOST of the time there's nothing wrong with the prop. Maybe it just didn't suit me at the time, or the effect wasn't what I was expecting or I bought it on an ill-considered lark. Why am I telling you all of this? Here's the thing: I have about 35 effects that I draw on for my stage shows, my close-up and my paranormal evening shows. That's it...which is less than 15% of all the props I actually OWN. A number of these "effects" consist of nothing more than billets and index cards. The rest of my props just sit there on the very off chance I'll re-discover them one day...or that they'll be of use to me "sometime." (Which has happened exactly ONCE.) Some I plan on selling here or on eBay. But there's also a lot of other stuff that would be a bigger pain in the you-know-what to list than simply give away. Some of it's not pristine because it's used...some of it never got used. And that's where I got this great idea. There's a young guy who's just getting into mentalism. He's about 27...and doesn't have a lot of money but he's excited. He's going to get a "mentalism care package" from me that will include the Psypher stuff I don't use and a Lottery Prediction effect I picked up last year at MV. When he shows me he has done something inventive with these props -- I'll give him something else...and so on and so on. Here's my reasoning: the stuff is just SITTING there. I've not used Psypher since I discovered the ParaPad. Is it my first choice? Nope. Second? Nope. (Riggs' stuff is there.) I'm never gonna use it. So why not give it away? "So why are you telling us about this, Scooter?" you ask. I think most of us know people who have questions about magic or mentalism. I'm not talking about the triflers. I'm talking about the sincere committed ones who REALLY want to learn. They ask well thought out questions and they ask them with respect. And I'm pretty sure everyone has a "Drawer Full Of Crap" that might be a treasure to someone else. This isn't a Pollyanna post. Seriously. It's not a "look at me" post either. I'm just talking about using some stuff I haven't gone near in years and investing it in someone else. Maybe something very cool will come out of that pile of unused props. After all: they're just sitting there, right? I guess I'm just raising a topic for your consideration. David
Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Except bears. Bears will kill you.
My books are here: www.magicpendulums.com www.MidnightMagicAndMentalism.com |
George Hunter Inner circle 2013 Posts |
David's problem is unique to him; he is sui generis, a cult of one. None of the rest of us have ever, ever, ever bought even one effect that just sits ignored in a box or on a shelf.
Nevertheless, he have probably discovered the best solution to his problem. Think of it, readers, David is actually acting on the "magicians helping magicians" ethic that the Magic Café features. Now I know that the odd are remote, but in the unlikely event that we ever catch David's disease, we will know what to do! Thanks for the game plan David. George |
DWRackley Inner circle Chattanooga, TN 1909 Posts |
This is a great idea, David. We have the ability to personally “check up” on a student’s progress and enthusiasm, and to provide the next step up when he’s ready. Less than a mentorship but more than an instructor.
There’s a kid in my son’s Scout troop. I noticed a couple months ago that he ALWAYS had a deck of cards in his hands, shuffling, dealing counting (you know what it looks like when a cardician is playing). That deck was worn OUT! The next meeting I brought him a new deck of cards and a copy of John Scarne on Card Tricks, and invited him to the next local magic club meeting, about two weeks away. He showed up at the meeting and sat politely through the old business and the new business, and watched the other guys show off their latest toys. Just before we were about to dismiss, he raised his hand and asked if he could show a trick. Sure! We all gathered around the close-up table. This kid floored a room-full of magicians. No grand flourishes or complicated sleights (I don’t consider a glide or DL to be “complicated”), but you could see every head in the room trying to work backwards to how he got that result. (That in itself was worth the price of the book! ) Thing is, it costs very little (I have a drawer full of unopened cards, and duplicates of several books), it’s personally rewarding, and you may just be helping to launch a lifetime love of magic. I probably don’t have the same quantity of magic, and much of my stuff is ancient, but books are forever.
...what if I could read your mind?
Chattanooga's Premier Mentalist Donatelli and Company at ChattanoogaPerformers.com also on FaceBook |
MichaelCGM Inner circle Oklahoma City 2286 Posts |
Sounds utterly delightful, and a great way to pay-it-forward, Scooter. I'll have to start digging too.
|
AttnPls Special user 554 Posts |
I agree. I have been trying for the last couple weeks here on the Café and at local magic meetings to give away an illusion base to a south Florida magician. I think it is important to support young worthy performers.
|
The Amazing Pog Veteran user 372 Posts |
Sounds great, David. And I loved the anecdote, DWRackley.
It's good to encourage.
'One of the safest ways to make a good performance is to have tricks which work so easily, that mechanics can be forgotten and every attention devoted to presentation' - Corinda
|
Cbring Loyal user Sweden 241 Posts |
I like the idea to help them who wants to learn. I also think that the generous gesture gives respect to the secrets and David also become a mentor for the young magician. I think that is great.
|
Dr Spektor Eternal Order Carcanis 10781 Posts |
I actually take stuff I don't use for a while, place it on a table... stare at it.... pull out a few of my favourite fiction books.... stare at the stuff on the table again... eventually they get refurbished into something bizarre
"They are lean and athirst!!!!"
|
John C Eternal Order I THINK therefore I wrote 12945 Posts |
I emailed all the guys and gals in the local magic club and let them know about a sale I was having. I took emails and made appointments.
|
MentalistCreationLab Inner circle 1528 Posts |
First thing you should do David is sell any of your stuff made by Brother Shadow to a guy named Bill Montana.
Now about giving stuff to a new guy who is getting in to mentalism is a really good idea and I done it myself on several occasions. I would rather pass certain items on to new performer who are serious and show potential. If the guys are indeed serious they take something old you thought was useless or had no need for show it to you later in a performance and then you ask them what was that. The person will respond that that was the thing you gave me sometime ago. It does not happen often but it has happened a couple of times. The first time it happened it made me took another look in my junk drawer. The other thing I tend to do more and more with some of the surplus stuff is donate it to a magic auction who will use the proceed to send less privileged or newer members to conventions or gatherings. Speaking of which I got some stuff ready for an upcoming auction later this year the sale of which will be used to buy some copies of the 13 steps and these will be given away to new mentalist. The important thing here is to remember to sell your Brother Shadow and small items made of cloth by Howard Hale to Bill Montana. |
David Thiel Inner circle Western Canada...where all that oil is 4005 Posts |
Brother Shadow....Bill.......Montana...yes.......I...will remem...ber......
:)
Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Except bears. Bears will kill you.
My books are here: www.magicpendulums.com www.MidnightMagicAndMentalism.com |
jamiesalinas Special user Houston 728 Posts |
My problem is that when I go through my "junk", I find all this great "stuff" and just can't seem to part with most of it as "One day I will NEED\USE it!"
Great idea David! BTW: That wouldn't happen to be Lotto Fever would it? LOL Jamie Salinas
Jamie Salinas
|
David Thiel Inner circle Western Canada...where all that oil is 4005 Posts |
Nope. It's not, Jamie. It's an effect I picked up at MV last year. It's a wonderful effect...I just haven't used it.
Lotto Fever is set high on a pedestal under a glass "environmentally controlled" dome with a 24 hour guard. Of former Navy Seals. And Marines also. And there's...umm...motion detectors and those red light thingies all around it. Honest. :) David
Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Except bears. Bears will kill you.
My books are here: www.magicpendulums.com www.MidnightMagicAndMentalism.com |
jamiesalinas Special user Houston 728 Posts |
Thanks David! I have an updated version coming out on DVD soon. I hope to have it ready for Mindvention but we will see.
Jamie Salinas
Jamie Salinas
|
Ray Bertrand Inner circle Ottawa, Ontario 1452 Posts |
Great idea David. Your contribution to neophytes will help them get a head start. Paying it forward is a worthwhile gesture.
Ray
Mentalism in Ontario.
|
ThatsJustWrong! Special user My flying monkeys are perched on 629 Posts |
I have two Padawans that I mentor regularly. I don't let them rummage through my forty years of accumulated crap for something that looks cool. My spproach isn't to teach tricks and sleights, I try to teach Mystery. As such, they are learning my own thought process which boils down to:
1. Tell me a story. 2. Who is their intended audience? 3. What feeling or message do they want their audience to walk away with? 4. What effects would enhance or illustrate the story and emphasize the message? What do you want to happen? Nothing is impossible. 5. We rummage through my props and books to make their magic. If I don't have what they need, I help them find it. Anyone can learn a trick at their age (teens). The art I teach is that of performance. They are also learning to retask old props to new purposes. Occasionally I will pull out a prop, demonsrate what it does and then have them tell me the effect. They rarely describe the original effect and their versions are often better. I'm proud of these monkeys.
Joe Leo
All entertainers can benefit from some help from an experienced stage director. How about you? www.MisfitMysteries.com |
C.J. Inner circle There's a lotta rambling in my 2366 Posts |
I saw this thread when it was first posted and didn't weigh in at the time, as I had nothing to say. Since then, a good old friend of mine came to visit for the first time in ages, and brought his kids with him, aged 5 and down. The week before, they'd happened to be somewhere and the kids had been captivated by a street performer who sounded like he had been doing sponge ball magic for them. Off-handedly, my friend had told his kids that I could also do magic, so when they arrived at my house, I was completely put on the spot by their excitedness wanting to "see some magic".
For three years, I've not even touched what remains of my traditional props. I'm so out of practice on that side of the art, and finding something that would appeal to an under-5 crowd is challenging enough as it is. I turned out all my old props, and found two possibilities that I knew I could perform despite lack of practice: A small self-working wooden box that could vanish a coin, and my TT and silk. Turns out, I didn't need the TT. The vanishing and reappearing of the coin caused squeals of delight, particularly as it is the sort of prop that can be snatched and fiddled with to no avail. When the three year old accidentally managed to get the coin to reappear after half an hour, there was loud screams of enthusiasm; "I DID IT! I CAN DO MAGIC!". Alas, followed by the failure to do it a second time for mum. This particular prop was quite possibly the oldest piece in my collection, and I've probably owned it since I was their age! I tell you what, though - for the delight it brought to an unexpected audience at a moment's notice, I'm so glad I never got rid of it! Like Angier in (the movie version of) The Prestige, I do what I do because of the looks on their faces. For that reason, I'm treating this little encounter as a reminder to take a little time to practice some simple classics and sleights, even if mentalism remains my prime focus.
Connor Jacobs - The Thought Sculptor
Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur Be fondly remembered. |
dooblehorn Inner circle Pittsburg, CA 2474 Posts |
Wow, this is a really great and inspirational thread
|
Scott Fridinger Special user Gloucester Pt, VA 893 Posts |
I have thought of selling, giving stuffs away, but I have 3 little ones. I am hoping one will become interested and I can pass it along.
www.JustGreatMagic.com
Sleight of Hand, Sleight of Mind |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Penny for your thoughts » » What are you gonna do with those props you don't use? (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.06 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |