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asherfox Veteran user 366 Posts |
Are the materials in this lecture covered in L&L DVD set?
I know some card trick are covered. How about the book test? I have to decide go for his DVD set or his lecture. |
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pacozaa Loyal user 273 Posts |
Quote:
On Oct 22, 2018, asherfox wrote: Lecture first |
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Sudo Nimh Inner circle 1866 Posts |
I am one of those who really enjoyed Docc's L&L set. Not so much for the material (which is fine), but more because you really get a good sense of 'why' Docc's material plays so well for him and his persona. Docc's a real character and it comes through in his performances and stories on that set. There are a few gems in there as well. My favourite effect on that set (besides Nightmare Coins) is his Uncle Clink routine. His classic Pendulum routine is also featured. My memory's a little hazy, so don't quote me on this, but I'm certain that he has a book test on there as well if I remember correctly.
Docc's material is hit or miss for many people. I've always enjoyed Docc's releases even though I've only ever really used two of his effects regularly. That's not because his material isn't good, but that the real lesson with Docc is in learning how to choose material that suits your character or persona. If I were you, I'd flip a coin and call it. While the coin is revolving in the air, you'll think to yourself "I hope it lands heads..." - or whatever. And in that moment, you'll know which release it is that you truly want. Go with that. Because the good news, is that you can always go and get the other later on down the road if you should still desire and when you have some extra money set aside. That said, I'd easily go with the L&L set before any others because there is more bang for your buck and his loveable character is better conveyed than it is in the Penguin Lecture format. In case you didn't know, Docc also has a two-disc dvd set called "The Vault" which you might also really enjoy. |
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Matthew Crabtree Special user 611 Posts |
Paul Draper's At the Table lecture had a bit of advice that I think new mentalist AND magicians overlook. Pop Haydn has a set of lecture notes on the same subject. They even covered in it the movie Empire Record when Marc was told he needed to know the name of the band before you know what type it is. Know YOUR character before you even build your act. Docc knows his character. Max Maven knows his character. Pop knows his. This that work for Docc will not work for Max and vice versa. You never even have to tell the world what the story is behind your character as long as YOU know it.
National First Vice President
The Society of American Magicians |
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Sudo Nimh Inner circle 1866 Posts |
Indeed Matthew.
It's funny - I've seen critiques of Max for his choice in material by people who thought he could have used "stronger" or "better" material in this show or that. The same critiques have occasionally been aimed at Docc as well. These people are missing the point. The material they use is designed to further the character. I've even seen people say things like "Max is more a creator than a performer" etc. Sometimes, you just have to shake your head in sadness and walk away.... I like "tricks" and studying methods just as much as the next and that's been my main area of focus now that I am no longer an active performer. But when I was actively performing, I would have likely suffered the same critiques as well - but again, only from Magicians. |
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Matthew Crabtree Special user 611 Posts |
Case in point. I saw Max do a version of the Phoenix Page. He had two people on stage, a man and a woman. He gave the man a box and had a woman pick a page in the book. He then told the spectators that he was going to make what ever the woman though of from the book show up in the box. When the word face was chosen, there was this pause. a VERY pregnant pause. The box was opened and nothing was there, but you could almost feel that those watching believed that there might really have been a face in the box when it was opened. The box was closed again, the woman was asked to go back to the page, we know the rest boom page in box. Max projects this persona of someone who could make a face show up in a box.
Now this presentation works for Max. I'm 95% sure it would have for Eugene Burger and I'm 99% sure it would work for Rob Zabrecky. Would it work for me? No, it doesn't fit my character.
National First Vice President
The Society of American Magicians |
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Sudo Nimh Inner circle 1866 Posts |
That's a great story about Max. He is really great at the tension and release technique. His presentation for "Seven Keys to Baldpate" is another good example of this. If you've not seen it, I think you'll love it. Very simple method, but wow - does it ever hit deep.
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Senor Fabuloso Inner circle 1243 Posts |
A testament to Docc, is how this thread was started back in 2014 and is still going strong today. While it's true that much of Docc's work is character specific, much of it will work in almost anyone's act. Simple items like Nightmare Coins and others are things, a person can keep on the back burner for those times when we want to practice our story telling skills while in the end, freaking out the spectators. As has been mentioned the Vault DVDs are excellent but won't appeal to everyone. Bizarre magic isn't for everybody and one of the effects is more "geek" than anything else. If you wouldn't do the rising voodoo doll because of the pain involved, you won't do the effect either.
But while Docc can be strange and bizarre, he can be warm and inviting. His voice is hypnotically soothing and when working intimately he really does look psychic. You can get a good look at this from his Real Mind Reading video. There are so many aspects to his personality that to pigeon hole him into one genre, would be silly. The man has videos on 20 Minutes with a Balloon and Paper Rose all the way to The Confidence Man. How can he be put into just one category? As to the Penguin Lecture, Docc starts by trying to get us the watchers to dispel our intellects and watch his performance for the perspective of a lay audience. (easier said than done) He goes into his disclaimer and begins the show. Beginning with a card trick Docc illustrates, the difficulty in receiving a thought. Here he takes a simple item that most of us know and do, turning it into a comedic interlude, relaxing the audience and showing his humanity all with just this one effect. Next using the same deck of card a two person effect is done using 10 cards. Here Docc is able to discern the card chosen be each participant without them even know what card they chose. Now Docc thinks of a card and lets a person from the audience try his hand at what he's doing by guessing the card, Docc is thinking of. Another card effect where Docc feels for the chosen card. At this point he moves on to a book test that uses two books and the page line and word are called out by the audience. Of course Docc divines what's written at that place in the book. In his next test, letters are called out and cords are made with the letters only to end with Docc then is able to not only tell a participant the word he sees in the book but does so using the letter first called out by the audience and proves that he knew even before the test stated, what the word would be. ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. That's where the show ends and the explanations begin. Obviously I won't talk about any of that except to say that the material is well within most performers abilities. The video ends with the common one on one with Dan where much of the thinking is talked about. I didn't read all the posts in this thread so if somebody already outlined the video, I'm sorry. But you can compare both of our observations and see how we might have each seen things, differently? I'm a fan of Docc's although I can be critical of his marketing strategies. That's two different things and don't relate to each other really. The man is personable and talented and somebody I'd like to hang out with.
No matter how many times you say the wrong thing, it will NEVER be right.
If I'm not responding to you? It's because you're a TROLL! |
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