|
|
bluemagic Loyal user 271 Posts |
What are basic tips for beginner to tell basic stories?
|
afinemesh Inner circle Senseless gibberish that amounts to 2621 Posts |
Tell em. . .
"I've always been mental, I'm sure of it" Boris Pocus
"Someday we'll look back on this and it will all seem funny". . .Bruce Springsteen |
Darkness Inner circle 1626 Posts |
Afinemesh too funny but you are right.
Keep it simple and have the script/story so memorized you can then forget it and just tell it in a natural tone and voice, be yourself! Cut out the fluff and keep it moving forward and interesting. Some people think stories have to be long (the trap can be it translates to boring). Record yourself and listen to it back and you will be able to tell right away. Edit and edit some more until there are no wasted words. Don't worry about getting the exact words right. Use silence to punctuate key moments. Create peaks and valleys. Be in the moment and share the roller coaster ride with them. If that makes sense.
THE SUPERNATURAL ILLUSIONIST & EFFECTS CREATOR WWW.MRDARKNESS.COM
|
bluemagic Loyal user 271 Posts |
Yes thank you.
|
Brynmore14 Inner circle The Séance Chamber 1815 Posts |
Http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......forum=14
You might find some useful resources in this thread. |
weepinwil Inner circle USA 3828 Posts |
Practice, a lot of practice. You can start by telling people tasteful jokes with a storyline. Humorous stories are easy to remember and will allow you to focus on the telling. You will see people everyday you can share a joke story with, but not usually so with bizarre. The story will brighten their day and give you a lot of practice. You will also get a reaction you can use to measure your success.
"Til Death us do part!" - Weepin Willie
|
Darkness Inner circle 1626 Posts |
Jokes are a great idea. It relies on timing and personality to be effective overall. I used to be a very successful comedian. I'm morbid now.
Don't be discouraged if its not a good fit or the reaction is ??? Just don't become the bad joke guy. It's very hard to find "excellent" jokes that don't make people want to ask you for their 2 minutes out of their life back. Good actors make the best story tellers. Take acting or improv classes to develop yourself as a performer I can't recommend it enough (film yourself so you know what you look like and can see your energy and demeanour). You will be surprised to know a lot of people don't do this. Ask yourself what your goals and aspirations are (pro or amateur?). Toastmasters will help you develop your presentation. If you want to become a successful performer get professional feedback or it's a long road of being average. Audiences, especially friends, will always smile and pat you on the back to be polite and that's no help in the end. I have seen a lot of guys who have been in the business for many years who just are not advancing and don't even know it because of the polite applause or worst yet forced applause. Especially if you want to go pro it's a different game than the family living room. Which is not a bad thing it just depends why you are telling stories. Why do you want to tell stories? You can tell almost any story just don't be a boring Chatty Cathy, it's the kiss of death! If it looks like you're having fun and the energy is infectious then they will come for the ride. Best of luck!
THE SUPERNATURAL ILLUSIONIST & EFFECTS CREATOR WWW.MRDARKNESS.COM
|
Harley Newman Inner circle 5117 Posts |
Find stories that are comfortable for you to tell, that roll easily from your imagination and off your tongue. If they happen to have an "effect" attached, fine, but that's not the point, is it? The important thing is to engage your audience, whether it's one person or a thousand.
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus” -Mark Twain
www.bladewalker.com |
afinemesh Inner circle Senseless gibberish that amounts to 2621 Posts |
Quote:
On Jun 9, 2014, Harley Newman wrote: Exactly. It also helps if your story/plot/idea is something that is important or interesting to you. . .it's easier to be enthusiastic and convincing if YOU'RE connected somehow to your story.
"I've always been mental, I'm sure of it" Boris Pocus
"Someday we'll look back on this and it will all seem funny". . .Bruce Springsteen |
afinemesh Inner circle Senseless gibberish that amounts to 2621 Posts |
Also, have lots of conversations with people you don't know. Bank tellers, grocery clerks, store employees;
great for being able to "wing it"
"I've always been mental, I'm sure of it" Boris Pocus
"Someday we'll look back on this and it will all seem funny". . .Bruce Springsteen |
Joshua J Inner circle 1014 Posts |
Learn form John Hurt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_oGqJllElw Leslie Melville is excellent at story telling. He has two volumes on story telling magic (magictales). His website has some advice, check write a folktale. He is wonderful to watch tell stories if you ever get the chance. http://www.thestorytelling-resource-cent......lle.html Here is a podcast with Leslie http://podbay.fm/show/736796701/e/1385773712?autostart=1 |
Darkness Inner circle 1626 Posts |
Thanks for the Joshua!
THE SUPERNATURAL ILLUSIONIST & EFFECTS CREATOR WWW.MRDARKNESS.COM
|
Joshua J Inner circle 1014 Posts |
No worries. Leslie is the first name that comes to mind with story telling. I would also say read as much as possible. Read fairy tales, folk stories, horror, history whatever style of story your interested in absorb as much as possible. I like working with local stories. I can usually find more enthusiasm for those stories. If you love your story chances are your audience will. I work as a teacher and love telling the traditional tales: the Billy Goats Gruff, the three little pigs, Little Red, etc. Start with stories you know well. Knowing stories well is important, then your able to improvise, adapt to your audience, speed it up, slow it down.
|
george1953 Inner circle Mallorca (Spain) 5943 Posts |
I would say start off with a story you know back to front. Then you will be more fluid in your presentation. There's nothing worse than a storyteller that has to keep pausing while trying to remember what's next. You must really know what you are going to say, and what you are going to do when you get those unexpected interruptions.
By failing to prepare, we are preparing to fail.
|
bluemagic Loyal user 271 Posts |
Thank you all for your help.
|
Brynmore14 Inner circle The Séance Chamber 1815 Posts |
Quote:
On Jun 9, 2014, Joshua J wrote: The Gingerosity podcast is great, I listened to both the episode with Leslie and the one with Harley. Both were fantastic. |
MRSharpe Special user Never a dull moment with 940 Posts |
I have to back up what weepinwill said. I've always recommended my magic students learn to tell jokes. Not just to hear or read a joke and then repeat it, but to actually tell their version of any joke they find in order to make it there own. A joke is a short story with a beginning, a middle, and an end. Just like any good story that is a sound structure, but you still have to make it your own, even if it is not original with you.
Custom Props Designer and Fabricator as well as Performer from Indiana, USA
|
bluemagic Loyal user 271 Posts |
When telling a joke should it flow?
|
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The spooky, the mysterious...the bizarre! » » Tips (6 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.03 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 < |