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The Amazing Pog Veteran user 372 Posts |
Given that most mentalists present their performance characters in a serious, or at least semi-serious, manner, and that most seem to be agreed that it would be hard for a youngster to credibily present mentalism, would it also be true to say that a strong, resonant and deep voice is a positive boon for a mentalist?
After all, I find it very hard to imagine a squeaky voiced psychological illusionist (is there one?). Similarly, I find it that (as in advertising) certain accents and dialects command greater respect and authority (or at least evoke a different response). Do working mentalists therefore seek out voice coaching and elocution lessons? Would this be considered a wise investment of time?
'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
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Dr Spektor Eternal Order Carcanis 10781 Posts |
Yes. Yes.
"They are lean and athirst!!!!"
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funsway Inner circle old things in new ways - new things in old ways 9982 Posts |
You can also practice developing an effective speaking voice by going to a hospital or Assisted Living Center and reading stories out loud. AS you strive to bering the story alive with voice modulation and variety you will become attuned to using your natural instrument.
Since having kids perform live in skits at school and college speech courses seem to have gone the way of the Great Auk, proper use of the voce can make of you a person of extraordinary skill. Telling a story properly can have the same impact as a magic effect or mental mystery -- and takes as much work and practice. If Orson Wells could captivate an audience while reading from a phone book, so can you -- and you don't need a voice coach -- just do it! Shouting into a cellphone does not qualify.
"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 |
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IAIN Eternal Order england 18807 Posts |
Join a drama group...
I've asked to be banned
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Silvertongue Inner circle One day I will die leaving behind 2426 Posts |
I'm not a professional mental person but know of the power of the voice from experience. I'm English and have travelled back and forth to America all my life, I've actually lived here in the US for over 10 years now. The accent is surely seen in a positive light over here. I have heard many times things like, I just sound like I know what I'm talking about, I could listen to you all day and a variety of other compliments.
I have studied linguistics from a variety of sources and angles and traded work for voice coaching lessons for 6 months which after all the previous work I had put in was told I was a natural - but I assure you it didn't come naturally. As you know we are basically made up of three things, body, speech and mind. It begins as thoughts in our mind, then these thoughts are expressed either through our actions of body or our actions of speech. All three of these are important to master not just from a mental persons perspective but also from the perspective of human being. Also from what I have noticed people opt for the monotone monotonous method which bores the bo locks offa me, the best IMO are those whose have studied the storytellers.
For as long as space exists,
And living beings remain in cyclic existence, For that long, may I too remain, to dispel the sufferings of the world. -Shantideva Engaging in the Conduct of a Bodhisattva |
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The Amazing Pog Veteran user 372 Posts |
Are there any good Youtube clips of what people would consider an effective voice for mentalism? Orson Welles sounds a good call.
I imagine any 'solid' (English?) sounding actor's voice would work likewise: Richard Burton, Alan Rickman, Richard Attenborough etc. But are these voices learnt or natural; I mean, I doubt that even with coaching I'd ever sound like Burton! And what about the female voice ... ?
'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
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innercirclewannabe Inner circle Ireland 1597 Posts |
Quote:
On 2013-04-25 07:46, The Amazing Pog wrote: Pog, me old Mucker! The following link is the voice of two Magicians, Male and Female. The male had just shown her his new ACAAN! Hope you like it; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH5WFIiynbE
Tá sé ach cleas má dhéanann tú sé cuma mhaith ar cheann.
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IAIN Eternal Order england 18807 Posts |
Richard Burton had a welsh accent so thick, not many could understand him when he got his scholarship for school...it was his ward, Professor Burton (richard took his name, originally Jenkins) that used to make him stand on top of a hillock and read poetry out loud for hours on end...
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The Amazing Pog Veteran user 372 Posts |
That's quite interesting, Iain. Are you saying that Burton's spectacular voice was less the result of nature and far more the result of careful nurture? Where did you get that info? If his voice was the result of training ( and possibly early smoking and drinking!) then there may be hope for me yet ...
'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
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innercirclewannabe Inner circle Ireland 1597 Posts |
Quote:
On 2013-04-25 14:53, The Amazing Pog wrote: Nice 1!
Tá sé ach cleas má dhéanann tú sé cuma mhaith ar cheann.
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Godzilla Inner circle Tied & Untied Witches on 5316 Posts |
Quote:
On 2013-04-25 14:01, innercirclewannabe wrote: Here,is another comparison! Vincent Price,is the male voice! lol http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLA-QUN_35s Vincent,is my all time favorite in voice,and can do it in any context!
"If you watch Godzilla backwards, it's about a big ass lizard who helps rebuild a half burnt-down city, then moonwalks back into the ocean"
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The Amazing Pog Veteran user 372 Posts |
I do love Vincent Price, though perhaps more bizarre parody than serious mind-reading . Maybe the difference between bizarre and mentalism is the difference between Vincent Price and Christopher Lee? Hmmmm... Must go watch old Hammer movies now ...
'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
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IAIN Eternal Order england 18807 Posts |
When I was about 20 years old (20 years ago), I tried to study certain actors that I admired - partly just out of curiosity and how they became who they did - but also cos I had just tried writing a book and wanted to see how they saw their process and who influenced them... I think we have a lot to learn in this field, by looking into neighbouring fields...art, music, film...
so richard Burton, anthony hopkins, oliver reed, john gielgud are some of my favourite actors...so I read as many biogs about them as I could... hopkins dad owned the bakery that Burton used to cycle to, to get his family their bread... gielgud used to prance about town as a kid wearing a cape and carrying a cane...i like little stories like that...
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The Amazing Pog Veteran user 372 Posts |
Cool, I can just imagine a young Gielgud in a cape . And yes, I agree, magic is a performing art and so much can be learned through multi ( cross?) disciplinary study. Do you think your forays into acting etc have improved your mentalism?
'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
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IAIN Eternal Order england 18807 Posts |
Never been an actor - it was just to help give me an insight into an actor's mindset whilst trying to write stories/books...
and without a doubt, yes...
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dmoses Inner circle 2261 Posts |
Instead of trying to change yourself into Wells or Geiguld... make the Amazing Pog into the Really Amazing Pog.
A squeaky voice?! Make it squeakier! A club foot?! Walk with a cane-- turn everything that you think is a weakness into Character.
"You're a comedian. You wanna do mankind a service, tell funnier jokes."
TPR by Dave Moses and Iain Dunford T-shirts for Magicians and Mentalists |
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IAIN Eternal Order england 18807 Posts |
Listen to The Moses...
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Shrubsole Inner circle Kent, England 2455 Posts |
In performance I slow down and lower my pitch slightly, but mostly for clarity.
In real life I jabber way too fast and can get squeaky when excited. Slowing down does set the tone, pace the show and add a perceived gravitas to what I'm saying. Far better than sounding like I'm trying rush thought a script as fast as possible so I can get off as I have stagefreight. As I pronounce things slowly and clearly, my script is paired down to the minimum I need to say to get the job done as otherwise it can get very long and very boring.
Winner of the Dumbringer Award for total incompetence. (All years)
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PhilDean Elite user 445 Posts |
FFS Pog, just be yourself. There's no point in overanalyzing every little detail. Just get out there and do it. And besides, you're not going to 'change' your voice. Sure, you can put on a voice, but it will just sound like you - putting on a silly voice. You can look at all of the other voices you like, and it will not change anything about your own voice, yet will just waste time as you procrastinate further. Just do 2 things. Speak with enough volume (so that people can hear you) and speak clearly (and not too fast). It doesn't matter if your voice is high pitched or low pitched. It's your performance that counts. In even more base terms, it's about 'what' you say, not whether it's high or low.
And I should know about this stuff because I'm a voice over professional for a living. |
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scottds80 Special user Victoria, Australia 730 Posts |
Hypnotists I think would hold important value on their voices, the tones are used to aid in their suggestions.
Listen to the voice of Richard Nongard: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSS8-Pn_1......a_player
"Great Scott the Magician", Gippsland
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