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warren Inner circle uk 4138 Posts |
I would be interested in how people define a worker, as many times when a new product is released I often read posts stating this is a definite worker, this is going straight into my number one set etc. Then when doing some research on an effect I'm thinking about purchasing I'll contact those same people who six months earlier raved about how this or that effect was the greatest effect ever, only to be told oh I haven't performed that in months or oh I sold it.....so much for it being a worker then as it was quite clearly just flavour of the month at best.
For me an effect earn's the title of being a worker, it's something that you have put some time and effort into ie you've made the effect your own, you've found a presentation that fits your personality, you've ironed out any possible flaws and added bits or taken away bits to suit the performance area you'll be performing in etc. A great example of this off the top of my head would be my ring and rope routine, it's something I take with me to every gig, I may not always perform it but I do perform it often and it has served me well for a great many years, only today someone posted a clip of their ring and rope routine which used two rings rather than the standard one. Did I like the routine ? Well it was good and the performer certainly got good reactions with it so overall it was a nice routine, do I intend on putting my routine to rest and learning this performers routine....hell no as I much prefer my own routine, not because I think I'm a better performer or that my routine is better but because it suits my perfectly, it's something I can perform without having to think about and more importantly just as the routine I mentioned got good reactions for the performer I know I will get great reactions off a lay audience with my routine. I'm not saying other effects don't have the potential to be a worker but just because an effect has potential to be a worker doesn't mean it will be as that comes with time I believe. Anyway I would be interested to hear other peoples thoughts on this. |
MeetMagicMike Inner circle Gainesville Fl 3501 Posts |
We live at a time where most magic is sold to hobbyists. Hobbyists for the most part like methods that fool them. Sometimes these new methods actually hurt the trick as far as a "regular" audience is concerned.
Also they often are less practical than a "worker". Ambitious card using sleights is a worker. There are many gimmicked versions that don't improve the trick for a "regular" audience and sacrifice practicality. So for me a worker is a trick that isn't angley, doesn't require refills and has no reset. There are exceptions. I use mouthcoils in my kics show for instance. I actually make purchases both as a working magician and as a hobbyist. I like Tenyo tricks for instance. |
warren Inner circle uk 4138 Posts |
Thanks for your in input Mike,
Interesting so basically you class an effect as a worker based on how practical it is ie angles, resets etc. I can understand where your coming from and I agree they are definitely factors that should be taken into consideration however I believe that to be just the starting point and what I would class as a potential worker. |
davidpaul$ Inner circle Georgetown, South Carolina 3086 Posts |
For me a "Worker" is an effect that has proven to me to pass the audience "wow" factor.
Time after time. Card to impossible location, coin flurry, coins across, bill switch, the myriad of card effects that again have been time tested in the wow factor arena. Center tear effects, Messado Rings and the list goes on. A number of years I got into fishing "big time", almost to the point of obsession. I purchased every new fangled lure that promised to "catch the big one". What I discovered was that I didn't use the the majority of those lures that I spent hundreds of dollars on. There were a few I discovered that produced consistent positive results. So it goes with the effects I perform on a regular basis. I would be embarrassed to show you the amount of effects that sit in storage in my "magic room". Could many of them become workers? Sure. I just have to take the time and effort to make them so. The magic isn't in the effect but what the audience perceives. Hopefully with that " WOW" factor.
Guilt will betray you before technique betrays you!
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simplymagicweb Inner circle Norfolk, UK 1410 Posts |
A worker for me is;
Angle proof Instant/quick reset A strong effect (of course) Appropriate for your performing attire Minimal pocket space required Durable Tried and tested Being examinable, is also something which is important to me. If not examinable, then a practical switching in or out method would need to be included. However, as previously mentioned, most of the Magic market is sold to hobbyists with the vogue at the moment being eye candy magic front onto a camera, with lots of screaming and shouting as demonstrations of how awesome the trick is, so maybe workability isn’t really a big deal!
Magically,
Website - www.simplymagic.co.uk Twitter - www.twitter.com/simplymagic19 Facebook - www.facebook.com/SeanGoodmanMagician Creator of BDZ, Holidayz, The Grayle, DUO, Secret Servante, Genetics, Vision, Tick Tock, Starstruck, CelebriDate, MagiDate, Focus, SIGMA and R2R |
warren Inner circle uk 4138 Posts |
All great answers thanks for contributing, I agree totally with you David because at the end of the day if the audience doesn't enjoy the effect then it becomes magic for the magician.
Sean do you think if an effect meets your criteria above that it's a worker or would you say it's a potential worker ? |
simplymagicweb Inner circle Norfolk, UK 1410 Posts |
Warren, if my criteria above are met, then for me it’s a worker. I don’t buy lots of stuff, as I’m fussy (based on the criteria above), but the last thing I did buy was Bliss. This is a worker, as it’s found it’s way into my close up set! The creator is also a working magician, so I also had faith before placing my order.
Magically,
Website - www.simplymagic.co.uk Twitter - www.twitter.com/simplymagic19 Facebook - www.facebook.com/SeanGoodmanMagician Creator of BDZ, Holidayz, The Grayle, DUO, Secret Servante, Genetics, Vision, Tick Tock, Starstruck, CelebriDate, MagiDate, Focus, SIGMA and R2R |
warren Inner circle uk 4138 Posts |
Quote:
On Sep 7, 2018, simplymagicweb wrote: Thanks for your input Sean, this is one of those subjects where there is no right or wrong answer I'm just genuinely interested in peoples thoughts even if different to my own. I actually purchased Bliss myself on a pre-release however it just didn't suit me and sold it, I personally prefer other similar effects such as Cramped & Bill To Marker both of which I own, yes the pens used for those effect's are larger however I prefer the method as I do not like r***s Like yourself I don't buy many effects but I do purchase quite a few downloads ie Penguin magic lectures etc as I think these are great value for what you get. Thanks again for your time |
puggo Inner circle 2022 Posts |
Sean's list works for me, however I would add 'performing environment' as well e.g. table or no table.
A few further thoughts (which are perhaps not entirely on topic): 'Belief' - Not all workers suit all performers even if they hit every point on the list - some routines/effects I just don't like and therefore can't inject my personality into. For example, 99% of oil & water effects and 95% of spelling tricks. I think that an audience can pick up on a lack of belief/conviction. I spent a bit of time with the late Paul Daniels at one of his teach-ins and he discussed a little plastic basic magic trick (from a beginners set) which he said he used when strolling - he certainly entertained me and would have baffled a normal lay person with. I would have never had dreamed of trying to perform it. 'Experience' - As a part time performer (and also a hobbyist) I think that it is harder to rack up 'flight time', so new effects can be harder to incorporate as no matter how good the effect is, if you don't get comfortable with it, it may get dropped. There is always learning and development to be had from performances, which brings me onto my last point... 'Listen' - The performer needs to be able to reflect on their own work, listen to their audience and be able to get honest feedback. While I know that this does meet the examinable/apparently examinable criteria, I once went to a magic club's theatre night (close up and stage magic). One of the magicians had a set which consisted of 3-4 card tricks, but he used a different deck for each trick, from a pile on his table. His performances were fairly polished but the audience - or at least the people I could hear - were mostly discussing that the packs of cards must be special etc. I suspect that the magician would have described each trick/effect (and his set) as a worker, but had he ever either had honest feedback from peers ("hey - try a deck switch or non card effect!") or an audience ("can I see those cards"). Interesting discussion, Charlie |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
A criteria for me is if I can sell it to an audience. For example one of the most sold packet tricks in history is Twisted Sister. To me it is one of the things I could never sell in a performance. I have seen HUGE reactions with it from many. I just can't bring myself to do it. So it is definitely a me thing.
For me I just do not add things much and almost never buy effects. But I change audiences every night for 30 years. I prefer to really hone the edge on the effects I use as opposed to finding new ones. This approach is not for everyone.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
warren Inner circle uk 4138 Posts |
Charlie once again some great points, I'm of the school of thought that for an effect to be a true worker flight time counts as Danny said it allows you to really hone an effect but as you quite rightly point out if someone is a hobbyist it's hard to get that flight time in.
Belief/conviction in an effect is also a very important part that is overlooked as Danny and yourself mentioned, also as you quite rightly point out what is a worker for one person isn't always for another person. Thanks for sharing your experience at the magic club theatre night I'm amazed that the magician you mentioned didn't realise that using a different deck for each effect would indeed be questioned by the audience, that does go to show that honest feed back can be a good thing and definitely helps in the long run. |
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