|
|
davidpaul$ Inner circle Georgetown, South Carolina 3086 Posts |
Hi Steve,
Great week chock full of super advice. Many of us here spend countless hours honing our "magical" skills. We not only study the mechanics of a sleight but presentation, audience management as well as getting proficient in different types of magic. (cards, coins, cups & balls, stand up effects etc.) This obviously takes a lot of dedication as well as the willingness and "want to" to get good.................I'm assuming, no..I'm sure, the same amount of dedication and hard work goes in to ventriloquism and working the puppet. Now, I'm assuming that if you'd really want to get proficient performing with a puppet that that's were your energy and time should go. One would have to make a decision to either choose one or the other. Can there be a balance? There are only so many hours in a day and people in our lives that should obviously take priority. Any words of encouragement or advice, or cold hard facts and truths regarding this. A famous book I read said that " You can't serve 2 masters, he will be devoted to one and despise the other." Your thoughts?? Thanks, Dave
Guilt will betray you before technique betrays you!
|
Dennis Michael Inner circle Southern, NJ 5821 Posts |
Which does one really love the most?
The decision shouldn't be based on money. I love them both, but my heart is magic all the way. I am not willing to spend the time necessary to be proficient in vent. Magic comes naturally to me, vent doesn't. I have to really work at it. There are other issues like character development and properly voicing the puppet. Many times the puppet sounds just like me. I know Ax can state it better, he and I talked about this several times.
Dennis Michael
|
wizardpa Inner circle The New Orleans area 1011 Posts |
Once I developed my magic so that I could perform for any age audience, I finally worked on another long time love of mine, ventriloquism. Sure there was a little apprehension at first, but I learned rather quickly that I could do it.
I bought one of Axtell's hands free (vent) toucans and now He performs at almost every show. I have even incorporated several magic and mind reading routines that he does. Taco (MY TOUCAN) has made my magic show so much more unique and special. I am almost ready to add another different puppet to my show. This is just after 8 or 9 months. |
axtell V.I.P. Steve Axtell 2126 Posts |
Dave, I agree vent is not for everyone but I don't think the Master we serve should be Magic or Ventriloquism... I believe it should be Entertainment. This opens far more opportunity to learn various skills and broaden you as a performer. Plus your audience gets FAR more entertainment for their money, and it widens your marketing appeal.
I'm not in the business of Ventriloquism or Magic or Videos or Music... I'm in the business of Entertainment. It's way more fun.
Axtell Expressions, Inc.
Pro Puppets, Magic & Animatronics |
tonyborders New user 12 Posts |
Wayne Newton has entertained in Vegas for decades as a singer. Yet in his shows he would pull out a saxophone, spend time on the piano, and even jump in on the drums. I'm sure he just wanted to add to the entertainment package. I call myself a V.I.P. Ventriloquist, illusionist, and puppeteer. I mastered puppetry, then started bringing the puppets with legs out front. I'm not a great magician, but I give the illusion that I am.
|
MagicMatthews Regular user Sydney, Australia 174 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-12-20 21:21, axtell wrote: Well put.
Don't get even... Get odd!
|
Heres Tony Loyal user Orlando 259 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-12-20 21:21, axtell wrote: Great quote Steve and I agree completely. My dinner show has as much, if not more comedy and impressions as it does actual magic. In addition, I play the guitar and have a lot of music tracks in the show. It's all about the total experience and not about a "trick" in my book. Tony |
Anatole Inner circle 1912 Posts |
This thread reminds me of the story about a magician who had his business card announcing "John Smith--Magician." Then he added comedy and changed his card to "John Smith--Magician/Comedian." Then he added ventriloquism and had new cards printed saying "John Smith--Magician/Comedian/Ventriloquist." Then he added chalk talk and his card read: "John Smith--Magician/Comedian/Ventriloquist/Chalk Talk Artist."
In my book (still in progress) I discuss the difference between a "comedy magician" and a "magician who does comedy." To me, Carl Ballantine was a "comedy magician" because he was a comedian whose magic never worked. His intent was to make people laugh, not to fool them. On the other hand, Tomsoni and Company qualify as a magic act with comedy because not only do Johnny and Pam have the audience rolling in the Nile (when they perform in Egypt), but they also Fool them with a capital F and actually a capital OOL as well. ----- Amado "Sonny" Narvaez
----- Sonny Narvaez
|
axtell V.I.P. Steve Axtell 2126 Posts |
Yeah...you need a long wallet to carry that card around. I look forward to seeing your book!
Ax
Axtell Expressions, Inc.
Pro Puppets, Magic & Animatronics |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The December 2009 entrée: Steve Axtell » » Dedication to puppetry vs. the magical arts. » » TOPIC IS LOCKED (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.01 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 < |