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MagicBrent Inner circle 2574 Posts |
I love collecting methods for metalbending and mentalism. However, my natural personality is one of comic versus a Max Maven stare at the silverware with a
cool look persona. So wish I could! But alas it's not me. I want to be original and incorporate the skills with my own personality but don't want to do obvious erectile dysfunction jokes when you see a spoon bend when staring at it...hehe...anyone know of any resources incorporating the two, humor and metalbending. |
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Badger Elite user Ireland 401 Posts |
When it comes to metal bending I do not think there is a place for jokes, metal bending is an all inspiring feet that is jaw-dropping and mystifying. I think that jokes would ruin a really good effect. Mentalism and comedies do not mix but this is just my opinion something for you to think about. A little joke here and there it would be okay then again I'm contradicting myself.
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MagicBrent Inner circle 2574 Posts |
I agree Badger. Thinking more about comic timing in doing the dirty work rather than character based mental guy...like Cody Fisher's comedy book test was a great combination for me . Just wondering about combining humor and metal bending without my fun persona undermining the impact of the effects. The older I get the more I recognize I want to entertain rather than impress and I'm working on finding that balance. Not that metal bending itself can't be entertaining but I'm not a "serious" performer. More lighthearted and jovial.
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mastermindreader 1949 - 2017 Seattle, WA 12586 Posts |
I use comedy and humor throughout my act. But the mentalism itself is always presented seriously. Telling jokes isn't the same as presenting an effect as a joke.
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C.J. Inner circle There's a lotta rambling in my 2366 Posts |
I don't know. I'd say pointing a black and white stick at a top hat and making a rabbit appear is quite awe-inspiring. And yet we have the break-away wand that never fails to have me pee my pants laughing. The Break-away Spoon seems like a logical continuation.
But seriously... the appeal of metal bending was that when I first saw it done, I swore it was the devil's work. Like much of mentalism, the entertainment is in the believability. Making it a comedy routine must be handled carefully so as not to trivialise what a large portion of the world's population seems willing to believe is supernatural. As Bob has suggested, the routine should not be "Hahaha - look at it bend! Hahaha", but instead, "Joke, joke, hahaha, but seriously...BAM!"
Connor Jacobs - The Thought Sculptor
Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur Be fondly remembered. |
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Martin Pulman Inner circle London 3399 Posts |
Comedy metal bending? I'm afraid I can't think of anything worse.
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Woodfield Special user 756 Posts |
Ian Rowland has a good and funny spoon bending routine in one of his lecture notes.
I've used bits of his in my own routine. Woodfield |
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signal2noise Regular user 136 Posts |
I like David Williams take on bending spoons. There's a bit of a comedic delivery of it.
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C.J. Inner circle There's a lotta rambling in my 2366 Posts |
Quote:
On Jan 31, 2015, Martin Pulman wrote: Not that I disagree with your perspective Martin, but I'm sure you've said that about quite a few ideas in the past couple of months... I'd love to know your thoughts on the Pol Pot regime, the Rwandan genocide and of course, the WW2 Holocaust....
Connor Jacobs - The Thought Sculptor
Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur Be fondly remembered. |
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Tony Iacoviello Eternal Order 13151 Posts |
Quote:
On Jan 30, 2015, signal2noise wrote: I love David Wiliamson's spoon bend. |
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Ollie New user 87 Posts |
I don't think it work well at all.
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signal2noise Regular user 136 Posts |
Quote:
On Jan 30, 2015, Tony Iacoviello wrote: Dang, I realized I'd messed up his name after I could no longer edit the post. With spoon bending I can't think of any jokes that would work, but an "I'm just as confused as you are." kind of look really works. |
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Tom Cutts Staff Northern CA 5925 Posts |
Outrageous!
Can't be done!! Utterly rediculous and fool hearty!!! ... ... Now go do it!!!! |
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Atticus R. Cane Regular user since Mar 15, 2007 and still only 181 Posts |
Do a gag bit with this to start...
http://www.hahaprank.com/catalogsearch/r......&x=0&y=0 Then make it serious to finish. |
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gabelson Inner circle conscientious observer 2137 Posts |
Quote:
On Jan 30, 2015, mastermindreader wrote: As a professional comic (and comedy writer) for 30 years, and a mentalist for 15, I say fervently that one should not overlook this insightful statement by Bob. It is one of the most valuable things you will ever read. |
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KC Cameron Inner circle Raleigh, North Carolina 1944 Posts |
The more serious the topic, the more humor potential. I do a comedy fork bend in my adult & kid's shows, and it slays. I did it in two shows today. It is not serious, obviously, but neither am I - but people believe it is real - especially when I give away the bent fork.
I don't know why magicians/mentalists think you need a joke to be funny. My show is one-liners and situational comedy - no jokes. Most magicians/mentalists can't tell a joke properly anyway, and sound pretty corny when they try. Anyway, the bending is not funny, but the situation I put people in while bending is hilarious. |
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mastermindreader 1949 - 2017 Seattle, WA 12586 Posts |
Quote:
On Jan 31, 2015, KC Cameron wrote: I guess I've been doing it all wrong for the past forty years. |
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KC Cameron Inner circle Raleigh, North Carolina 1944 Posts |
Bob,
I don't know why you think that was aimed at you - it wasn't. KC |
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mastermindreader 1949 - 2017 Seattle, WA 12586 Posts |
I didn't think that. I just thought it was worth talking about so I pretended to be offended.
Sorry about that, but I'm in a mischievous mood today. I agree with you about not using the kind of jokes that really have nothing to do with the show. But I've found that humorous stories work very well, if they relate to and advance the premise of the show, as do one-liners that I've honed over the years that seem to be ad-libs because they relate directly to something a participant has said or done. I think we all use that sort of thing. Occasionally, someone on the Café will refer to what I do as "comedy mentalism," but it's not that at all. The comedy I use is a counterpoint to the serious nature of the mentalism and serves to relax the audience, as well as getting them to react enthusiastically rather than to just sit there in the "stunned silence" that some mentalists seem to think is a good thing. |
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phillsmiff Inner circle UK 1794 Posts |
When I perform metal bending, very often when I do the first bend someone makes an erection joke - I don't make the joke but I leave space for them to because I'd rather they get it out of the way with than break my finale with it. Usually the wife rolls her eyes at the joke, and the sequence rolls on. I don't put them down or imply it was wrong for them to make the joke, but I don't give it any focus. As my routine progresses it goes from that loose funny open to far more intent and focus. I create the feeling that they are seeing something unique and the punters respond with an atmosphere that suggests they are engaging with that. There is also some business about them trying to do it too for the first bend, and that has some humorous play in it, but again I let that pass as I progress.
We had a discussion about metal bending a while back. As a trick, metal bending is pretty naff (IMO), so you shouldn't do it as a trick, you must create that feeling of something genuine and powerful. I would personally steer away from a comedy routine for that reason. If I wanted to do a comedy routine I would lead in with a funny story about it, or where my ability came from, making light of the whole thing, but I would absolutely play the actual bend for real. I'm sure it is possible to do a funny metal bending routine but for me the actual bend shouldn't be played as funny or you rob it of its potential power. Use the routine as a framework around which to build humour rather than a source for the laughs and you will probably be able to put something together that punters really enjoy. Just make sure you leave space for the amazement! Phill
The new Elysian Duets, marked cards featuring my unique Optical Marking System:
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