|
|
Go to page 1~2~3 [Next] | ||||||||||
RedHatMagic Loyal user UK 239 Posts |
Slow Down!
Let the Entertainment Commence!
|
|||||||||
KenRyan Elite user 465 Posts |
Heh. I totally get why you say that. I started in November of 2014 and blasted through a LOT of things and sort of decided "OK, that was easy. What's next?" But later - weeks or even months later - I realized that I missed some of the important aspects of doing those "easy" tricks. I turned back around and went to the basics again. Boy am I glad I did that!
Even so, I don't know if "slow down" would have been the right advice. Maybe something like "revisit the basics early and often" would have been more helpful. I felt like "slow down" risked affecting my passion. The spark is important. It needs protecting, I think. My 2 pence as a Beginner. Cheers! Ken |
|||||||||
RedHatMagic Loyal user UK 239 Posts |
Nope, I mean slow down. Presentation of a trick is often too fast. Plan what you want to say, get rid of extraneous words, plan your body language, pauses and tone. And when presenting the trick, slow down.
Let the Entertainment Commence!
|
|||||||||
Dougini Inner circle The Beautiful State Of Maine 7130 Posts |
Red Hat is right. Give the effect time to register. To be blunt, do the effect, then pause...shut up...let them think about what they think they just saw! So many new people rush, rush, RUSH! Next trick, next trick! Tell a story. Set them up beforehand. Ask them to temporarily join you into a realm of Enchantment. Of wonder. Impossibility...
Doug |
|||||||||
funsway Inner circle old things in new ways - new things in old ways 9982 Posts |
This one of the most important themes presented of late ...
do not Rush to perform, do not Rush the presentation and do not Rush to find another trick because you didn't change the world with the last one. Re-read the posts above of RedHat and Dougini. If you are planning on "doing a trick" you are already rushing things. Back up and prepare to do some magic. "Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe." - Abraham Lincoln This "sharpening" includes honing of skills and filing away unnecessary words and actions -- but also effect selection as appropriate to the audience, not "running past the end," and asking, "would the tree be best left standing?" Do not Rush to perform just because someone says, "show me a trick." Do not Rush off to some other activity without asking, "what did I just learn from this experience?" The world today seems a frenzied lemming rush to a cliff of someone else's pretended needs. Magic is a way of getting people to slow down for a moment. "join you into a realm of Enchantment." -- you are a tour guide, not the baggage handler.
"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 |
|||||||||
Bin Regular user 124 Posts |
So, so true. I think beginners often rush through a trick because we're not confident in our magic. We may be afraid of getting caught, so we rush through a trick so fast that the method is undetectable - and so is the magic. Or maybe a piece of magic is met with silence, and we respond with "okay okay here's something else move it along" instead of letting the spectator marinate in the moment. Our perceptions are so sped up that a short pause feels the same as an long, awkward silence, and we lack the self confidence to believe that we just did magic and that they are enjoying it.
(And also, some people just don't react very dramatically: stunned silence is how some people appreciate magic.)
Remember Quacky.
|
|||||||||
wwhokie1 Special user 512 Posts |
Great points. See value in each and every part of the routine. It is not just about the magical climax, it is about the beginning, and the middle as well; the entire routine has great value. You shouldn't skim a great novel just to get to the last chapter. Neither should you rush through a routine. Help your audience enjoy each and every moment of the routine. If you find yourself rushing through the routine, then its probably because you haven't fully developed the routine well.
|
|||||||||
RedHatMagic Loyal user UK 239 Posts |
Plus hurry your sleights and you are more likely to muck them up plus it looks suspicious if you rush. Wait for the off beat - the point where no one is looking. Talk to them, joke, engage their interest.....and they will watch your face not your hands
Let the Entertainment Commence!
|
|||||||||
Kyoki_Sanitys_Eclipse Inner circle 1513 Posts |
One thing that really helped me was learning to quit when I was ahead. I would sit and do twenty tricks and by the end of it my friends and family were mentally exausted. If they are amazed stop. You can always impress them later.
|
|||||||||
Dougini Inner circle The Beautiful State Of Maine 7130 Posts |
Quote:
On Jul 19, 2015, RedHatMagic wrote: Red Hat said the magic words! Off Beat. It's not the point where no one is looking, it is...hmmm. A sort of a "relaxation"...a period where they don't feel "something is being done". They look up at you. Mastering that skill is NOT easy. It is part of Spectator Management. It takes experience. Timing is everything. Doug |
|||||||||
zoescout New user Washington 48 Posts |
I love this thread - great advice! Some of the big name pro's could learn something from this as well. To me the "magic" is the presentation and the way the routine is structured. Many many people can do "tricks". Few can master the rest....
|
|||||||||
miltos New user 58 Posts |
Read as many books you can
|
|||||||||
Doug Trouten Elite user Minnesota 471 Posts |
Remember that fooling people is a means, not an end. The goal isn't to trick somebody. The goal is to entertain, or to touch hearts (but not literally, unless you're into bizarre magic). An episode of Harry Anderson's "Night Court" ended with actress Selma Diamond saying, "I laughed, I cried, it became a part of me." That's a pretty good description of an effective magic performance.
It's still magic even if you know how it's done.
Terry Pratchett |
|||||||||
Anand Khalsa Loyal user Phoenix, AZ 201 Posts |
In no particular order:
1 - Pick up a book on theory and read it cover to cover (Strong Magic, Maximum Entertainment, Fitzkee Trilogy, The Five Points, etc.) 2 - Pick up a course/encyclopedic book or series (Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic, Tarbell, Card College, Now You See It, etc.) 3 - Pick up a book on the history of magic (Hiding the Elephant, other Jim Steinmeyer books, The Illustrated History of Magic, etc.) 4 - Pick up some essential classics (Expert at the Card Table, Modern Coin Magic, Royal Road, etc.) 5 - Don't worry about being original at first (see Pop Haydn's essay on this: http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......orum=117) 6 - Join a local SAM or IBM assembly/ring as soon as you can. 5 - Learn the basics of acting and public speaking. 6 - Think early on about what style you want to pursue, and what type of audience you want to perform for. 7 - Join The Magic Café Just my two cents... |
|||||||||
Dougini Inner circle The Beautiful State Of Maine 7130 Posts |
Wow! Anand covers just about all of it. May I add:
8 - Get a part time job at a theater or Performing Arts hall. Be a stagehand. Learn stage work and the terms. Upstage, Downstage, etc. If you are working there and David Copperfield comes to town, for the love of GOD, don't let them know you are a magician! I learned a LOT in three years! Doug |
|||||||||
Anand Khalsa Loyal user Phoenix, AZ 201 Posts |
Quote:
On Jul 31, 2015, Dougini wrote: Thanks Doug! I definitely agree with your addition. I was fortunate enough to already have a background in acting and stage work when just starting out in magic. It's such an essential component of our art that's often overlooked. Learning about things like lighting, sound systems, microphones, technical terms, staging/spacing and rigging will benefit you as a beginner magician and serve you down the road if and when you choose to perform on a stage. |
|||||||||
RedHatMagic Loyal user UK 239 Posts |
Don't spend all your time reading - get out there doing! But think about what you do, absolutely take acting classes, consider studying improv, mime and clowning (I said consider it depends on your style) and read the books too - they will help you think about what you are doing. But no-one became a concert pianist by reading a book. First do, then read
Let the Entertainment Commence!
|
|||||||||
Anand Khalsa Loyal user Phoenix, AZ 201 Posts |
Quote:
On Aug 1, 2015, RedHatMagic wrote: Concert pianists have direct instruction from mentors from day one. That is very often not an option for magicians. Books are our mentors, and our sheet music. I do not agree with your philosophy "First do, then read". Of course you shouldn't spend all of your time reading. However, as I stated, you should obtain at least one book on theory and presentation, one book on history, one encyclopedic book or course, and some essential classics. That doesn't mean you shouldn't learn some basic effects. I think one should absolutely know the basics of theory, presentation, and showmanship, have a basic understanding of the history of magic, and have access to a wide selection of effects (in the form of an encyclopedia or course) before performing publicly. |
|||||||||
RedHatMagic Loyal user UK 239 Posts |
Well we disagree, no harm done
Let the Entertainment Commence!
|
|||||||||
Doug Trouten Elite user Minnesota 471 Posts |
Perhaps there's a middle ground between the very thoughtful and helpful course of study laid out by Anand, and the "man of action" urge to jump right into performing expressed by RedHatMagic.
Learning "the real work" takes time and lots of practice. But there are also effects that require very little in the way of technical proficiency, while still making a strong impression. A new magician might work to master one or two such effects and use them to satisfy the urge to perform while also devoting time to the study of magic theory and history, and while steadily building an arsenal of techniques. Study and performance both have their place. Performance without study winds up embarrassing the performer and the art. Study without performance is limiting because there are things you can't learn from a book -- only from an audience. Anand has provided an amazingly helpful roadmap for new magicians. And RedHatMagic has reminded us that on a long trip, every now and then you need to stop and play.
It's still magic even if you know how it's done.
Terry Pratchett |
|||||||||
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » New to magic? » » Advice for New Magicians (22 Likes) | ||||||||||
Go to page 1~2~3 [Next] |
[ 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 < |