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Stefan Rupar Regular user 121 Posts |
I've got a lot of tapes; definitely the best way to view a magician's version of the magician-in-trouble ruse.
Let's look at the Michael Ammar ETM tapes. In every instance where he tries to act like he's in trouble, it is unconvincing and lame. But still, I love those tapes, they made me what I am today. I love Aldo Columbini and have all his tapes, yet whenever he goes for the magician-in-trouble act I recoil in embarrasment; not even anywhere near convincing. I'm really working on making this plot more convincing; maybe you should too. |
Winks Special user Arizona 753 Posts |
I'm real convincing when I look like I am in trouble - that's cause no acting whatsoever is needed
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Scott F. Guinn Inner circle "Great Scott!" aka "Palms of Putty" & "Poof Daddy G" 6586 Posts |
You need to understand that those tapes are designed for magicians--they are compilations of demonstrations. I have seen both Mike and Aldo (many, many times in Aldo's case) perform live for laymen. They didn't do several of these types of effects in a row--only one or at the most two in an entire set, and the audience was completely taken in.
The problem with instructional magic videos is that magicians tend to make these kind of judgements of the performer's real world work based on the videos. As I've said elsewhere, it's not fair to do that, as the purpose of these types of tapes is to demonstrate and teach the individual effects, not to entertain or give you an entire show as a sample of the perfomers' working persona. To make the effect work, you do have to be a good actor. There is no magic without conviction, and there is no conviction if you can't sell it. If you can't sell it, don't do this type of effect. (When I say, "you" I am using it in the collective, not personally toward Stefan.)
"Love God, laugh more, spend more time with the ones you love, play with children, do good to those in need, and eat more ice cream. There is more to life than magic tricks." - Scott F. Guinn
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Adam V Special user 603 Posts |
In the 2nd (I believe) "Lesson's in Magic" tape by Juan Tamariz, he performs a routine called "Four of a Kind". During the explanation he gives some very good advice about convincingly the audience that you've screwed up.
Adam V - 9 out of 10 dentists recommend him.
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gmartins New user Portugal 88 Posts |
I'm with Winks: when I'm in trouble, the blank of my face and my lost eyes fool every person. ))The problem is that I'm not acting!
I'm not a great actor, so I try to present those kind of effects with a more "I'm wrong? Let's try again".Normally I'm always smiling(again, really bad actor), so it's really kind of hard to pass an image of panic with a smile on my face. But it can be done!
Gonçalo Martins
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Paul Inner circle A good lecturer at your service! 4409 Posts |
??? I found it doesn't take much acting, if the effect appears not to have the right result, the spectators are only too ready to believe you have screwed up
Magicians watching other magicians are familiar with the scenario, and don't expect "names" on videos to get it wrong, so you have a viewing perspective lay people don't. Paul. |
Magique Hands Loyal user Lincoln, NE. 247 Posts |
One of the best things that has helped me play the part 'that I've messed up', is to break character, and really act as though I've messed up.
Breaking my performance character was the key in helping me understand this concept. Normally, when people mess up things, they are embarrassed, and their confidence level decreases. Apply this same 'feeling' to your performances, and the spectator's will begin to believe that you really have made a mistake. Then, get back into character, and let the magic happen. Have Fun! - - Troy
"If you go around sprinkling Woofle Dust on everything... people will think 'My... What an odd character." www.magicmafia.com
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Mark Ennis Inner circle Raleigh, NC 1031 Posts |
Some people are good actors. Some aren't. It's all a matter of being able to convince people. Also, you don't want to cry wolf during the performance and pull the magician in trouble scenario over and over.
ME
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David Fogel New user Minneapolis, Minnesota 87 Posts |
Whenever I screw up a trick, I blame the audience. I typically berate them, telling them that I'm a mindreader, but I can only work with what I'm given...
(ok, I'm just joking)
davidfogel@attbi.com
"I'm not a praying man, but if you're up there, Please save me Superman!" Homer J. Simpson |
Geoff Williams Special user St. Pete Beach, FL 617 Posts |
To help sell the idea of being "in trouble," pause until it becomes uncomfortably tense and, if you have something like cards or coins in your hand, take a moment to quietly fiddle with them.
This will easily signal to your audience that something is amiss. Then, break the silence and the tension by becoming a little excited and exclaiming, "No, wait!..." and then pull the routine out of a dive (and be sure to appear relieved at the unexpectedly-pleasant outcome).
"Saját légpárnás tele van angolnák."
(Hungarian for "My hovercraft is full of eels") |
Greg Arce Inner circle 6732 Posts |
I'm an actor so it's easy for me to fool someone into thinking I've screwed up... I do it all the time. Here's an acting trick you can use: write an internal dialogue that you recite as you "goof up". If you recite the internal dialogue to yourself and carry out the proper physical reactions you'll get a better response to your acting. Here's a brief scenario: You turn over the card that is suppose to be the right card, but it's not. Stare at the card. Try to remember what you ate for dinner a week ago... trust me, your face will make the right contortions if you try to think about that. Tell yourself internally, "That's not the card. It's suppose to be the card. I wonder what happened?" Try to now remember the name of your first grade teacher. Then try to remember what you ate last night... when you remember think to yourself "Hey, I know how to fix this problem. I can change this card to the correct one."
I know that sounds like a lot, but these steps make you react and act as if what is going on is really happening. After awhile it becomes natural and you don't have to go through the steps. Try it. Greg
One of my favorite quotes: "A critic is a legless man who teaches running."
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Lonnie Dilan Special user Canyon Country, California 823 Posts |
wow Greg, cool tip.
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GlenD Inner circle LosAngeles, Ca 1293 Posts |
This is good info and thanks from me also Greg. I will try to remember your suggestion and what you said next time I am in that situation.
GlenD
"A miracle is something that seems impossible but happens anyway" - Griffin
"Any future where you succeed, is one where you tell the truth." - Griffin (Griffin rocks!) |
Tom Cutts Staff Northern CA 5925 Posts |
Since proper acting is SO critical to the accurate presentation of Mage in Trouble effects, it is a shortcoming to "teach" such a routine without even mentioning that you need to act convincingly, let alone give an example of it.
I do fault the performer making the tape if his "teaching" leaves out any indication of such critical information while presenting a less than accurate representation of how to perform the routine. That is a diservice to the customer...and in the end a diservice to the art. |
DoctorAmazo Special user Florida 643 Posts |
Greg,
How do you expect us to remember this internal dialogue when most of us can't remember what we had for dinner last NIGHT, let alone last week.... |
linkinparkfan New user Phoenix, Arizona 14 Posts |
I believe that, if you are performing a new effect to your friends and you screw up to help out the effect, they might believe that you screwed up because you just learned that effect. If you are performing a magician in trouble effect to people you don't know, I feel that when you screw up they know you are still in control (but they will act as if they think you screwed up), even if you are a good actor. This is because every peson has seen a magician act as if they are in trouble, and get out of it. In the back of everyone's head is that part that reminds them that they are still watching a magician.
So if you want to practice acting, you can, but it may not be as much help as you think. Don't get me wrong, the magician in trouble effects are still fun to do but you should not have to work for it.
"Magic is like the water after a race, it is both necessary and refreshing" - Anthony (me)lpxtremefan@linkinpark.com
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tglund Regular user Broomfield, CO, USA 115 Posts |
I have seen a couple of posts above for people saying that they are not very good actors. I would highly recommend working on your acting abilities, because as magicians we all are actors. Every time we perform a trick we are acting like we have the ability to do something magical, yet we know how absolutely logical the effect is because we know how it is done. As magicians we are story tellers who use props and other elements of the theatrical world, to bring our audience into a new place. A place where magic is possible. We all have seen a killer trick at the magic store only to bring it home and have our audience go ho hum. The difference is the presentation ability of the performer. Acting and story telling is what changes a trick into magic.
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Alan Munro Inner circle Kentwood, Michigan, USA 5952 Posts |
Magic is supposed to require skill, because it isn't easy! If someone isn't willing or able to do the necessary practice, rehearsal, research and thinking required to master an effect, that person shouldn't perform. That's not a popular view, but then I don't subscribe to the "FCM view" toward magicians. I believe the performer has to EARN the respect of the audience.
I can get away with the magician-in-trouble thing because I don't overact. Overacting is the real problem with many presentations. Having a studio audience for a magic video, that has already seen many magicians, doesn't help to highlight a magician's acting ability. Performing to a video camera doesn't help either. There are many magicians who are great in person, but never come across well on video. |
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