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Tetkom4 New user 21 Posts |
This coming december, I was planning on heading to Tokyo to visit a very old, good friend of mine. I wanted to bring some magic over. Cards and coin mostly. Wat I'm worried about is patter. I speak broken japanese. My friend is fluent but I think that it'll be awkward for the trick presentation for the lag of time in the patter due to the translation. Also if I do coin tricks. I'd be using american currency. I'm not sure how that would play out in japan. Doesn't seem as natural and off the cuff to me. Any advice?
You think that trick was good? you should see what i can do with my...............
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NFox Inner circle I Do Mentalism Now?! 1101 Posts |
I say that you should try and sell the effects based on non-verbals (Blaine is very good at this). You know, stare deeply into someone's eyes, or whatever works for your persona. Something that may be even more mystifying through a linguistic barrier is some sort of mind reading effect. And I don't particularly feel that using a translator (your friend) would present too much lag in presentation so long as you know what you are doing. I think that this would be a really great test of any magician's ability to adapt. I wish you the best of luck with your endeavor.
Nick Fox PS: I don't think that using American currency will be too much of a problem so long as the trick is a readily visual one (scotch and soda...) and doesn't depend on the audiences knowledge of a certain coin. But remember there are American tricks being performed by American magicians that use foreign currency in thier magic (Japanese currency and Mexican Centavos jump to mind). Just as long as you can make it seem "off the cuff" the audience will believe it. And here's a question does anyone know whether Japanese coins are magnetic? Some of you probably see where I'm going with that question. |
rannie Inner circle 4375 Posts |
Try to hook up with Cyril. This guy is making major noise in street magic in Japan. Nice guy.
Rannie
"If you can't teach an old dog new tricks, trick the old dog to learn."
-Rannie Raymundo- aka The Boss aka The Manila Enforcer www.rannieraymundo.com www.tapm.proboards80.net |
Caspar Veteran user Tacoma 316 Posts |
I also beleive that language will not be too much of a problem and that actually you have a great opportunity to better your magic. I would recommend practicing and rehearsing to music to build a rhythm for your presentation.
I also recommend a little time to brush up on your Japanese. But don't worry about it too much. Alot of people in different countries usually have familiarity with two or three different languages unlike some of us from the States. |
Magique New user Malaysia 6 Posts |
If I'm not mistaken, david blaine went to the deep jungles of the amazon and met up with a few tribesmen...
he spoke no tribal language but was still able to show some pretty impressive stuff... ;) magic speaks its own language...
~penetrans ad interiora mortis~
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Partizan Inner circle London UK 1682 Posts |
The Japanese just love flourishes, They love displays of skill and a few good card/coin fourishes will have them spellbound.
As for the magic, keep it visual or easy to follow. don't use gaffs unless you really really need too. They can be wise to gaffs and gimmicks. They LOVE a good story, and you can tell one with cards as a visual cue. Magic is a weaved through the Japanese history and as such, many of its people are in awe of magical happenings. But beware of what is considered bad luck or insulting behaviour, your trick could backfire if you use an unlucky icon or produce an effect that is insulting. PS. The way they behave to your performance may be quite different to what you expect from your western punters.
"You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus."
- Mark Twain |
Greg Arce Inner circle 6732 Posts |
I'll second, Rannie on this one. Cyril is one of our Cola Bottle customers and he has put together some amazing effects for television in Japan. I was startled by his card on window. I played it back in slo-mo several times and had no idea how it got on that window.
Greg
One of my favorite quotes: "A critic is a legless man who teaches running."
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JesterMan Veteran user Maryland, USA 319 Posts |
Partizan makes a good point as regards doing anything that can be considered rude. It is important in your gestures, too. Something as mundane as playing "Got Your Nose" ends up being quite crude to the Japanese, as they have an entirely different meaning attached to placing your hand in that manner. If you use any envelopes in your act, stay away from white. Use red ones...
As for language needs; that really depends upon what you are doing. I often performed while I was living in Japan, including a two-week stint at an amusement park (three shows a day), and my Japanese would likely get me laughed out of Hawaii. Just keep it highly visual, and save the stories for audiences that you know you can communicate with. If you hear, "Sue goy dess" (sugoi desu), then you are a hit. JM
JM
Balloons, Magic, Mayhem & More! www.AArdvarkEntertainers.com www.JesterMan.com "... destined to take the place of the MudShark in your mythology... " FZ |
SeroJisan New user 2 Posts |
For all those interested in Cyril from Japan, he's got another 2 hour TV special airing June 21st in Japan. 9-11pm Channel 12 (TV Tokyo). If your in Japan, check it out!
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BBM123 New user Los Angeles 98 Posts |
I have been to Japan twice this year and am going back this summer(business) so all of your posts have been a great help!
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dynamiteassasin Inner circle Naval Air Facility, Atsugi, Japan 1158 Posts |
I just moved to Japan a few days ago. I'm staying in the U.S. Naval Air Facility and it seems I'm the only magician who strolls here. Does anybody know a person or a magic group here in Atsugi Japan?
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