|
|
Dan Mindo Regular user Chicago 125 Posts |
Rick Maue brings up an interesting point. Where do you perform or where have you performed Bizarre Magick.
|
Necromancer Inner circle Chicago 3076 Posts |
My show, "Supernatural Chicago," is on stage every Friday night inside a nightclub that has been called one of the most haunted nightspots in Chicago (by A&E, The Travel Channel, and other sources).
You can read more about it (and even order tickets online) at http://www.SupernaturalChicago.com I hope to see you there. Best, Neil
Creator of The Xpert (20 PAGES of reviews!), Cut & Color, Hands-Off Multiple ESP (HOME) System, Rider-Waite Readers book, Zoom Pendulum ebook ...
|
Black Hart Elite user Scottish Highlands 475 Posts |
Well tonight I was in a Hotel in Manchester doing my Black Magick Theatre for a corporate client.
Black Hart
Black Artefacts, manufacturer and dealer of weird, bizarre and psychic magic: www.blackhart.co.uk
|
ptbeast Special user Oregon 831 Posts |
Last year we built Theatre Macabre. It was two small theatres (about 40 seats each) in the same complex as several very large haunted attractions. This arrangement had some major drawbacks, but it allowed us to perform for a great number of people. We are still working out where the theatre will be this year, but have run into some snags.
It was our intention to explore more venues throughout the year (right now the Theatre only operates for the month of October), but frankly have not had a lot of luck. I would be very interested to hear in what venues others perform. Dave |
lordblasto New user Detroit.Mich. USA 14 Posts |
I bring my brand of bizarre magic to the rock"in"roll masses of Detroit.MI.USA and beyond. I'm playing an art gallery this weekend. I've never found a shortage of places to perform or reasons not to. Don't be timid. Get out there an show them what you've got. Mystery has an appeal all it's self. And can lead you to some very interesting places.
Magic is. For if magic is of the mind. www.lordblasto.com
|
The Curator V.I.P. Beware Vampire, I have 3909 Posts |
We have made expositions about the Surnateum's collections and I work almost everywhere in the world (but always in strange places) with a small portable cabinet of curiosities.
|
Dr_Stephen_Midnight Inner circle SW Ohio, USA 1555 Posts |
I work 'psychic parties' with my wife, Andrea (a tarot reader), am performing at a local coffee shop (table hopping mentalism-bizarrism) and am planning a busking show at Newport on the Levee.
Steve
Dr. Lao: "Do you know what wisdom is?"
Mike: "No." Dr. Lao: "Wise answer." |
Rick Maue V.I.P. Pittsburgh, PA 586 Posts |
Greetings,
Obviously, this thread came about as a result of my post about The Haunted Chamber. Although, we are a bit sad to close The Chamber after fourteen years, one point that I should make is that we are shutting down because we want to, not because we have to. The only reason I mention this is that I strongly believe that there is always a tremendous amount of interest in good theater. If we wanted to continue with The Chamber, we most certainly could. But with that said, the question that I raised in my original post was the question of venue. Where does one perform their art on a regular basis (once again, without making it trivial)? It does not matter if we are talking about bizarre magick, mentalism, card magic, or any other style. Sadly, the art of magic has numerous obstacles that prevent it from being considered a well-respected theatrical art form by the general population. This is partly because they come across it in shopping malls, bars, restaurants, birthday parties for children, etc... Please do not assume that I am saying that any of those types of performances are bad. They certainly are not. However, they do help to create (and maintain) the stereotype that magic is "filler" entertainment (and in the eyes of the majority, it is mostly for children). Magic is often "seasoning" that the audience comes upon by accident ("Oh look, there is a magician at the next table!"), but it is rarely the "full-course meal" that they intentionally sought for their evening. That stereotype makes it very difficult to attract an adult theater crowd to an evening of magic (which was my goal). I realized this problem years ago, so I created my own venue, and for those that have attended The Chamber over the years, we changed their perception of what magic can be. The point is that the question of venue is easier to answer when we know what we are trying to say (and do) with our art--and who our desired audience really is. Simply put, my goal was to make magic desirable to an audience of theater-going adults, and we have been fortunate enough to succeed. That will continue to be my goal, but now we will do it outside the walls of The Haunted Chamber. So the real question may not be where can we perform bizarre magick, but instead what are you trying to say and do with your art? If you can answer that honestly, the question of venue is much easier to focus upon. Keep the change, Rick Maue Deceptions Unlimited |
Osiris Special user 610 Posts |
{Picture me prostrated and bowing to thee kind sire!}
Long ago in a land far away (... well, Nashville...) I found myself seeking out venues that were "appropriate" to what it was I THOUGHT I was trying to deliver. A few availed themselves... a local Goth spot and a self-created bit of reality centered around a live action version of MASQUERADE (yes, I really do suck!... that's an inside joke for those that get it...) Truth is "Bizarre Magick" is very much akin to the Goth world or, more specifically, what it means to be "Goth" -- it's a mind set, not a look! It's being able to (as Rick put it in the BoHM) "perform Cerebral Magick" e.g. reach into a person's consciousness vs. their normal realm of sense. Sure, you can do a somewhat gruesome card bit or something along lines of Dracula & the Sorority Girls... on one level that is most certainly "Bizarre" magic... it's also a small ton of corn vs. the psychological manipulation "true" Bizarrist claim they wish to achieve. As I refer to it "the HITCHCOCKIAN Effect" i.e. Alfred Hitchcock managed to leave his audiences hanging, uncertain, CREEPED THE HECK OUT! When you can achieve this level of PRESENTATION you have become a genuine "Bizarre" performer. Problem is, most of us sporting the lable, are little more than clowns in whiteface and black makeup and goth costumes... as much as I love the Mummers of the world, this image just don't hack it! When we can create an "illusion" in the mind of one or more people using little other than our words, we've transmuted what it is we do from being "magic tricks" to theatrical special effects... an "accent" if you would, that punctuates the idea and intrigue we've planted into our victim's minds. I have been a Bizarrist since before the days people put a label on it... I used to call what I did "Magic & the Macabre" and it admittedly had a slight tongue-n-cheek tone to it, but was still rather gruesome -- surreal. The past decade taking me away from the higher profile major illusion side of things, into the realms of Mentalism and the ART of psychological theater. Long story short, I no longer do tricks or shows, I present interactive theatrical demonstrations that solicit a "theatrical" sense of personal investment or "belief" if you would. Just as the creators of the Blair Witch Project planted exceptionally subtle seeds in our minds a few years back, so too my style of presentation penetrates the recess of the logical mind and envelopes the participant's imagination. Long story short, my "venue" is the mind of those willing to follow along and enjoy the ride. When you are able to walk into any room, anywhere and turn heads without doing a single effect and yet people know you're "special"... "different".... "Magikle"... you ARE NOT bizarre. I and many others (including Mr. Maue) accomplish such reactions daily, wearing nothing other than jeans and a T-Shirt. To coin a new age term "Our aura fills the room" and it does so without out intending to draw attention to ourselves. Few ever reach this platue. Those that do have learned how to see beyond the "delusion" of what everyone else claims to be "Bizarre" or even "Magic". The bottom line is, you must learn how to create the ultimate illusion -- YOURSELF (your character). When you're reached that pentacle you will know how to take the elementary and blow people's minds, including those that THINK they know how to do it. You see, there's a difference between knowing how an effect works and knowing how to do it... there's a difference in jumping on the Bizarre/Mentalism bandwagon of current vogue and having lived it for longer than many of you have been out of diapers (I hate admitting I'm that old, but it's true...) Bizarre or, as I prefer "Surreal Entertainment" is what I have become. It don't happen over night and it must be a part of who and what you are from the deepest regions of your immortal soul. If that's the case, the day will dawn when you discover the world is your venue and ask "why have I been making such a big deal out of all this for so long?" Now that I've confused you all, I'll return the soap box to it's rightful place... enjoy! |
Tony Chris V.I.P. Vancouver, Canada 714 Posts |
Here is one place that bizarre magick works very well. There are many vampire clubs in larger cities that are host to the wannabe vampires of today. These are actual night clubs, bars, after hours' clubs where the patrons dress and live that vampire lifestyle.
I have met many from this lifestyle and believe me, most enjoy the whole dressup aspect of it and are quite nice folks and regular people outside of the club genre. I have done a few close up gigs at these types of venues and I can honestly say that they just love the bizarre magic. I know these clubs aren't everywhere but if you live in a larger city you will be pleasantly surprised to see that your city will prabably have one or two of these clubs. Simply approach the owner and offer a very quick 10 or 15 minutes presentaion of your best and most bizarre magic. It helps when you dress the part too. I no longer perform at these clubs so am letting you all know about it. This type of venue is amazing to perform bizarre magick in and you won't fing a more appreciate audience for that type of magic as they will truly buy into it.
As magicians we create what onlookers call magic. If they truly believe in what we have created for them to witness then magic is real!!!
- TONY CHRIS, A.K.A. Zany Zack http://www.tonychris.com |
Silvertongue Inner circle One day I will die leaving behind 2426 Posts |
Great thread thanks for the advice guys.
For as long as space exists,
And living beings remain in cyclic existence, For that long, may I too remain, to dispel the sufferings of the world. -Shantideva Engaging in the Conduct of a Bodhisattva |
christiancagigal Special user SF Bay Area 625 Posts |
Thank you Rick and Osiris for your words. We all bow at your presence here =)!
Rick is quite right and that is displayed by the many comments listed above. It all comes down to what exactly do you want to do with the Umbrella Asthetic of Bizarre. In most cases it seems that the folks above found a way to create the right situation for themselves. In some situations that means seeking out the right people and being the rare speciality in that world. In other cases, like myself, they had to create they're own venue or move their work into an existing venue. In order to allow their work to really breath and be appreciated. The reason for that is simple and was stated above already: this stuff ain't filler. It can be if one chooses to be tongue in cheek about it, and that's totally fine. But, I still maintain that what most of us are doing here is a form of theater. Some theater can be done outside but that requires certain skills and there are pro's and con's. Other kinds of theater can be done in larger indoor venues, that requires another set of skills and has it pro's and con's. Many of us have taken to very small indoor theaters, that requires another set of skills and it too has it's pro's and con's. Other folks are able to sell their form of theater to others, they actually get paid to bring the whole thing to other places and events. But, in most cases it requires it's own space or world to live in. Even if it means invading someone else's world with your magical world. However finding the right audience or producing your own show is no easy feat. Most non-magic performers are scared to produce their own shows. So, there isn't a lot of precedence to learn from or observe. Not like wanting to be a cruiseship magician or corporate entertainer. Many, many, MANY folks have walked those paths before so there are tons of folks to observe and meet and learn from. But, I do hope this continues to be a positive trend in magic: magic done in theaters or very special performances that will truly effect and move people and change the current face of what magic can be. Christian Cagigal The Pandora Experiment For the Fourth Time! July 25th to Aug 16 EXIT Theater, San Francisco, Ca. http://christiancagigal.blogspot.com/ Reviews http://www.sfstation.com/the-pandora-experiment-a4251 http://www.sfweekly.com/2007-06-20/cultu......eriment/ EXIT Theater Website http://theexit.org/now.html#anchor60063
"Besides the known and the unknown, what else is there?"-Harold Pinter
www.christiancagigal.com |
Michael Midnight Regular user Southern Swamp 104 Posts |
Thanks for the info guys...very informative thread. And I especially enjoyed lord blastos goth girls!
|
cocomax Loyal user North Fork, CA 289 Posts |
This may seem a bit odd, but I do bizarre, ghost magic for summer camp kids. Kids love spooky weird stuff, they love ghost stories. You get the kids to sit around in a circle, light a candle (our little camp fire) play some wierd soft spooky music, tell a interesting ghost story. . . take out the Spirit Telegraph and get a few simple signals from beyond. . . then to cap things off use Reel Ghost to let a single soda bottle come falling down the stairs.
Tim |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The spooky, the mysterious...the bizarre! » » Where do you perform Bizarre Magick? (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.06 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 < |