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xxxRoyxxx Loyal user 218 Posts |
Though this fits under any genre of magic, I thought I'd put it here...
I made an interesting discovery while reading. As I've mentioned before, I am a college student majoring in education... Well I'm reading a book titled "The Essentials of Children's Literature" and I came across a sentence that opened my eyes... I'm reading a section that is introducing "Modern Fantasy", which is the genre into which most children's literature falls into... Think about this... Kid's, being is smart as they are, usually accept the stories they read. If, for example, the story is read out-loud to them, they will sit there and enjoy the story. The same is true for adults, teens etc.. They will read a book/story/novel and enjoy it, and not really question it; well, not like they would question magic tricks. For example, when Peter Pan flies, they don't say, "Hey, I know that trick."(that's a terrible example) My point is, they won't really question it, instead they would enjoy the story, once again...When it comes to magic though, many people, in general, tend to be skeptical and don't really enjoy the magic like they would enjoy a story. This, once again, can be applied to any genre of magic, even manipulation(which I enjoy the most). Like it is so often brought up here, when manip. acts are being created; they need to be more than tricks to music(in the context of manip.). If it's not more than tricks, then the audience can begin to question it, try to figure it out, rather than really enjoy what you're doing... You all are still probably thinking, "what's he talking about?" Well, let me finally introduce the quote I found; it reads, and keep in mind the author is talking about modern fantasy stories, "The plot, characters, and setting must be so well developed that the child reader is able to suspend disbelief and to accept the impossible." This is beautiful guys/gals!!! I think more need to apply this to our magic. And, I know that this is nothing new... It's just another way to introduce it, since many of us fail to see this. Copperfield, I think, has mastered the concept in the above quote. This is why, when he flies, or teleports people across the world, the audience forgets it's magic and gets into the story/emotion of it... We need to spend more time writing rather than on tricks; even manipulators!... This is something I've slowly learned myself, even though I've heard it said before many times...I just didn't TRULY understand it. Now, I do. Other scholars out there know what I'm talking about... JUst something I thought I'd bring to the table. ROY IN the example I have up there about Peter Pan flying, let me clear that up... Why don't children/people in general question it saying, "Hey he couldn't fly...It's impossible!" Even children, like I say, who are so smart. Why do they accept these stories of fantasy, though fantasy, are at times made to be/seem true, yet the children seem to bypass that(this is another point the author brings up). the quote above answers the question... Just making sure I make sense, ya know! |
RandyStewart Inner circle Texas (USA) 1989 Posts |
You raise an interesting point Roy. I agree with you on an audience's skeptical approach to magical performance. Members of the same audience, however, are very receptive to storytelling. These same individuals even do it voluntarily by reading such "Modern Fantasy" in their spare time.
People just flat out enjoy a good story! We also learn better, perhaps because we are more receptive, through a good story. This is why a good salesperson will use "examples" or "stories" (true or not) to sell an idea or product. It's just how people learn. |
Daniel Faith Inner circle Neenah, Wisconsin 1526 Posts |
You are so right.
More thought to entertainment is what every magician could use more of. Even those of us who work hard on entertainment. We can always improve. It's not the trick it's the entertainment.
Daniel Faith
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Randall:
Amen to that. How many of us have seen other performers who do their show mainly to impress themselves. They do the tricks because THEY like them, not because they might entertain the audience with them. Creativity in magic is lacking. The reason it is lacking is because it is just too easy to get a trick, read it, figure out how it is done and perform it that way. We never truely get to learn that the trick is just a tool of many that should be used to create a magical and entertaining experience. Kids do live in a magical world already. This is what is so great about performing for them. We can learn to tap into this world and act upon it. Children use their imaghinations very well and they love to hear stories. If we can take our magic and use it to convey magical stories that allow them to use this imaghination, we will see that our shows get a bgetter reaction from the children. Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
Tate Loyal user NC 211 Posts |
Roy, It's interesting that you mention Peter Pan in your example. This past year at KIDabra (a convention for family and kid show performers) there was a lecture by Arnie Kolodner and Alice Bergmann.
They successfuly put on an off-broadway version of Peter Pan for children. Their lecture was on how to combine a play with magic to make "Magic Theater" (sort of like Musical Theater, but instead of songs, magic is inserted into the play) In the course of the lecture Arnie talked about the difficulty of having Peter fly in the show. Now I'm not going to tip his method, but he has a roomful of magi believing he was flying - even though you never really saw him leave the ground! By the way, they're lecturing again this year. Here are some links, if you're interested. http://arniemagic.com http://www.kidabra.com |
xxxRoyxxx Loyal user 218 Posts |
Randy, that is my point exactly. In your words, "People just flat out enjoy a good story!" My point is not that they tend to be more skeptical about magic but that we need to work on our stories more; you know, the story we wrap around our magic!
Kyle, Guardian; stories, entertainment, patter whatever you want to call it, that's what we need to work on... We should get rid of all the other forums in here and keep one that talks only about writing. Magicians should be known behind the scenes as writers/actors... Don't you all agree? How many of you would be willing to start and sign a petition with me, so that we can get rid of the other posting areas and makes this a writing forum, of course, within the context of magic???? C'mon guys!!! Tate, that is very interesting. I had always wondered whether something like magic theatre existed. I even wrote out a script! Well, thanks for the info... |
magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Magic is theater and theater can be magical. However, you can not deminish the other places here on the Café. Each of them have their importance in the context of presenting the best entertainment that one can.
Your revelation of putting theater and stories and themes around your magic is a good one and will serve you well if your willing to dive into it. It gives your audience soemthing more to grab ahold of and to get something more out of your magic. Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
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