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Cameron Francis V.I.P. 7025 Posts |
Hi, Richard. My name is Cameron Francis. I’m a thirty-something professional actor who has recently rediscovered my passion for magic and mentalism.
I have a lot of questions for you but I’ll start with a fairly simple one. I love your StenoESP routine from The Very Modern Mind Reader (Actually, I love all the routines in the book). While practicing it, I showed it to my wife, my best critic and confidant. I explained to her that this is really something that needs to be done for at least three people. So I did it for her and although she liked the routine she seemed a little confused. She didn’t know how I did it but she said that I must have flipped the pages back or something. Obviously there’s something wrong with my presentation. My question to you is this, how do you set up the effect for your audience? Do you explain the use of the steno pad before you do the effect? Do you reiterate that you flip the page after you write each prediction? Do you number the pages at all? Any tips on presentation would be most appreciated. I love this effect and I don’t want to ruin it by making it confusing. Thanks so much for all of your time and generosity.
MOMENT'S NOTICE LIVE 3 - Six impromptu card tricks! Out now! http://cameronfrancismagic.com/moments-notice-live-3.html
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Richard Osterlind V.I.P. 2213 Posts |
Cfranbcis,
I don't really talk about the pad or number the pages or anything. Gosh, I did this on the new DVD's and I don't want to sound like I am hawking them, but I think that is probably the best way to show you how I do it. I just use the pad like, "OK. Let's try a test. I want you to think of something. Let me write it down and put it where you can't see it. OK, now what did you think of?" See? Like that. Richard PS I hope that didn't sound vaugue. |
Cameron Francis V.I.P. 7025 Posts |
Not vague at all. In fact, you confirmed my suspicion that I over-explained the effect to her before I started. I should have kept it simple.
Frankly, though, I think part of the reason the effect didn't go over so great is because my poor wife is getting a little tired of me asking her to "Just help me with this one other thing I'm working on." She's very suportive, if not always in the mood to see magic. Thanks for the help. Cameron
MOMENT'S NOTICE LIVE 3 - Six impromptu card tricks! Out now! http://cameronfrancismagic.com/moments-notice-live-3.html
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Richard Osterlind V.I.P. 2213 Posts |
Cameron,
You should be very happy you have such a supportive wife! I am lucky in that way myself. One thing I should mention is that it is always difficult to get a good reaction from someone, no matter how willing, when they are asked to play the part of multiple spectators. It is confusing and all the mental effort is lost trying to keep things straight instead of appreciating the mystery. Richard |
Cameron Francis V.I.P. 7025 Posts |
Yes, I completely agree. I think she did get a little confused. I just needed the rehearsal.
Thanks again for your feedback. Cameron
MOMENT'S NOTICE LIVE 3 - Six impromptu card tricks! Out now! http://cameronfrancismagic.com/moments-notice-live-3.html
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Cameron Francis V.I.P. 7025 Posts |
And my wife is great. She knew she was marrying an actor (bad enough). But an actor AND a magician. Man, I sure wouldn't marry me.
MOMENT'S NOTICE LIVE 3 - Six impromptu card tricks! Out now! http://cameronfrancismagic.com/moments-notice-live-3.html
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Richard Osterlind V.I.P. 2213 Posts |
I wouldn't marry you, either!
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Cameron Francis V.I.P. 7025 Posts |
I never ever write this, but I think that comment deserves a good LOL!:)
MOMENT'S NOTICE LIVE 3 - Six impromptu card tricks! Out now! http://cameronfrancismagic.com/moments-notice-live-3.html
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mormonyoyoman Inner circle I dug 5,000 postholes, but I have only 2440 Posts |
Well, this is starting to enter the Too Much Information category.
All seriousness aside, Cameron, I think you've entered into mentalism/magic with a distinct advantage: you have years of experience as an actor. This may be why I've gravitated towards mentalism - I was a "drama freak" (theatre minor) in college and was a semi-professional actor for a decade after that. Don't you find that you're very good at telling a story with actions as well as words? Back to StenoESP: I've found that it adapts well to individual presentation. My interpretation exists because of a physical limitation of mine, which causes mistakes in the second phase frequently. (Feel free to PM me for my handling, though it may be of no use to you.) Oddly enough, reactions are greater because of my "mistakes" in the second phase! Still, I'd strongly recommend you perform it, under fire, exactly as written a few times. You'll probably find that it and you adapt to each other rapidly and quite well. If you have a larger-than-two-people audience, you really should try the alternate version given in the book (smack in the back). Phase three will hit so closely so often, that your audience will go home with the grand feeling of "I read the mentalist's mind!" Nobody ever went broke making an audience feel great about themselves. *jeep! --Chet
#ShareGoodness #ldsconf
--Grandpa Chet |
Richard Osterlind V.I.P. 2213 Posts |
Chet,
Great thoughts! Cameron, I meant to tell you that you have a GREAT NAME! Cameron Francis! That just has a "ring" to it that seems to cry out - Mentalist! Richard |
Cameron Francis V.I.P. 7025 Posts |
Thank you, Richard! I hated my name as a kid (I wanted people to call me Steve Austin) but I like it now. People think it’s a stage name but it’s not. My mother is the real psychic. She knew I was going to be a performer.
Chet, I don’t know that my training and experience as an actor gives me an advantage as a magician or mentalist, but I’d like to think it does. I actually find myself gravitating more and more toward mentalism as I perform. I think it’s because mentalism offers so many great acting opportunities.
MOMENT'S NOTICE LIVE 3 - Six impromptu card tricks! Out now! http://cameronfrancismagic.com/moments-notice-live-3.html
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