|
|
Go to page 1~2 [Next] | ||||||||||
Kevin Ram Special user Travelling through Europe 791 Posts |
I've been doing sleight of hand for many years, card, coin, billiard ball, & thimbles. Whenever I talk to magicians the topic is always about what the spectator can see and always about entertainment.
When I started, and even now, I practice sleight of hand as a sort of meditation. I really don't have an interest in entertaining or being a performer. Magic is not just about entertainment What do you think? Also, I hate it when I talk to another magician and they say don't do what you like, only what the spectator wants. I hate that, I'll give my opinions on the latter topic later. I would like to hear what you guys think.
"Your the Italian stallion" As said by my g/friend
|
|||||||||
S2000magician Inner circle Yorba Linda, CA 3465 Posts |
If you want to be an entertainer, your magic should be entertaining.
If you don't, it can be whatever you want. If you're trying to entertain spectators, you'll do better if you perform what your spectators find entertaining. If you're not, perform whatever you want. Perhaps you shouldn't waste your time hating what other magicians say. |
|||||||||
Samuel Special user Norway 831 Posts |
Hate - by the way - is one of the most overused words ever...
Samuel
Magic is everywhere |
|||||||||
Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27297 Posts |
I find that what feels comfortable is usually not so good for the audience.
As to other magicians... I find there are some who have a love of the art, and some who enjoy the craft, and some who treat the field as a career. Of all of them, those whose ego issues do not interfere in our communications can be great resources for discussion. I cringe when I see magic done AT people.
...to all the coins I've dropped here
|
|||||||||
erniep33 New user Marysville, WA 72 Posts |
I agree that magic can be done for various different reasons. If you're doing kid shows, you should do what the spectator wants and what you're paid to do. On the other hand, if you are doing it because you love magic and have no intention of performing, then magic, like S2000 said, can be whatever you want.
|
|||||||||
S2000magician Inner circle Yorba Linda, CA 3465 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-06-14 17:36, Jonathan Townsend wrote: Even worse: magic done to people. |
|||||||||
bishthemagish Inner circle 6013 Posts |
What works for me may or may not work for anyone else. People should do magic they way that they want to and not hate this or that.
I like what John Ramsey said, "Go and see every magician you can. If he is good you will be glad you saw them. If they are bad you should be pleased with yourself. Magic can also be a personal thing for many magicians.
Glenn Bishop Cardician
Producer of the DVD Punch Deal Pro Publisher of Glenn Bishop's Ace Cutting And Block Transfer Triumphs |
|||||||||
NJJ Inner circle 6437 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-06-14 17:17, kukram wrote: People do magic for 100s of reasons and TONS of magicians claim to be entertainers when really they are just being self indulgent. I'm glad you've decided to call a spade a spade. However, here are some thoughts for you to consider... -Why bother trying to create the illusion of the impossible if not to show other people and fool them? -Do you EVER show people your magic? If so, then its pretty selfish not to consider them in the equation. -Meditation is an internal experience, and an important one for many people. However, you will find that there is great joy in connecting with real people in the real world. Magicians spend too much time alone in their rooms with their decks of cards as it is! -If you are any good, you can create something that is beautiful and wonderful and SHOULD be shared with the world. You claim that Magic is not Just entertainment. That suggests that there is some higher purpose for magic. You might be right. Magic can be an artistic or spiritual experience for many people. But I don't think that higher purpose comes from sitting by yourself getting a really good pass. |
|||||||||
Samuel Special user Norway 831 Posts |
I think magic should be a personal thing, it's implemented in my lifestyle and everydaylife...
It's when getting personal things really shine through - when the specs feel that they get a piece of me to take home with them, to remember me by. When the spec after a show feels that he knows me to some extent. That's both magic and bonding - which is how I want it.
Samuel
Magic is everywhere |
|||||||||
LBP MAGIC Veteran user 374 Posts |
I disagree with S2000.
Why perform something you don't like doing? I hate and yes I hate using rings. A lot of people like linking rings. If I perform linking rings I would be bored with my own perfomance. People can feel or see that and they will no longer want to watch my act. Kurkram being paid or not, do what you like doing. Spectators should not control what you do! |
|||||||||
Kevin Ram Special user Travelling through Europe 791 Posts |
Great replies guys.
I was in a magic shop in the UK and it's a very well known one. And a well respected magician (old timer) said to me you should do what they want to see not what you like. I hadn't heard anything so ridicolous in my life. My view is you do an effect which you like and tweek it so an audiance will enjoy it(that is if the audiance wont enjoy it in its original way) If you only do what the spectators want to see then you will start to lose the passion pretty quickly.
"Your the Italian stallion" As said by my g/friend
|
|||||||||
LBP MAGIC Veteran user 374 Posts |
That is the way I feel. I can tell if a Magician is performing something they don't really like. Go to a magic shop and watch them perform pen through dollar for the 6,000 time and you will see it.
|
|||||||||
Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27297 Posts |
If you are performing FOR them, find out what they seem to enjoy, and offer it to them in a way that they enjoy it.
...to all the coins I've dropped here
|
|||||||||
LBP MAGIC Veteran user 374 Posts |
I always perform FOR them and I agree Jonathan. I have a lot of effects that I perform. If they are not liking the presentation I can change to different types of effects that I like. Eventually I will find something that I like and the spectators like. But S2000 and the "old timer" above makes it sound like you should do anything a spec likes even if you don't. I disagree with that.
|
|||||||||
abc Inner circle South African in Taiwan 1081 Posts |
No Way.
Magic is all about entertainment for you and the spec. The magician that was my greatest mentor and an excellent magician told a story about himself. He was a superb sleight of hand magician and would have been well known thru out the world if he didn't have an unfortunate accident. A girl 4 years old asked him to show her a card trick. He declined (for a variety of good reasons) but her response was what's the point of doing magic if you don't show people. He did his favorite trick and she loved it (I don't think she had a clue what even happened) I often hear people say so and so is the best painter in the world but he doesn't sell his work commercially. Whatever... if you cannot compete with the market then don't call yourself anything. Magic is an art...yes ... but the key word missinf here is it is an performance art and magic is meant to be shown and entertain people. If you choose to entertain thru comedy rather than mystery or shock rather than drama that is up to you but it has to be entertaining for you and the specs. |
|||||||||
owen.daniel Inner circle England 1048 Posts |
A lot of the magic that I practice is not the sort of thing that I would ever perform, and is probably highly impractacle for lay audiences any way...So why do I practice such routines? By practicing them I may be increasing my technical accomplishment etc.
People say that Ed Marlo's routines were often impractacle and that a lot of what marlo wrote etc. was more for the sake of being difficult and coming up with a new method. I do not really agree with this although to an extent I think that it is true. Marlo (by the sounds of things) performed to himself...And those who cared to watch. There are routines which I will learn becuase they will be good performance pieces for an audience. These take up a lot of my serious practice time...But a lot of effort,as said above, when just mucking around with cards, will be spent practicing difficult sleights etc. As you said Kukram in your first post, it is like some sort of meditation, it is relaxing and something I enjoy... Owen |
|||||||||
Larry Barnowsky Inner circle Cooperstown, NY where bats are made from 4770 Posts |
The only way to know what will be entertaining is to do a lot of performing and getting feedback through their reactions as well as comments after the show. Two people can do the same trick and may get completely different responses from the audience. Find out what works best for you and make that part of your repertoire of performing effects. You may find that the effects you like to do are the ones you get the best reaction from as opposed to the effects you get satisfaction because they are more challenging or for that matter self working. This you cannot get from a book but it can be acquired from your own performing experience.
|
|||||||||
Kevin Ram Special user Travelling through Europe 791 Posts |
Abc, saying that magic is just entertainment is ridiculous. Maybe that's how you see it.
As I said earlier I find sleight of hand a relaxation, also interesting and I can use it to express my creative side. I show people magic if they ask, and as I said I tweak things to make them work. In my point of view it is a lot more than entertainment. Magic is great for building confidence and self esteem, getting used to social interaction. I think magic is worth a lot more than that!
"Your the Italian stallion" As said by my g/friend
|
|||||||||
owen.daniel Inner circle England 1048 Posts |
Magic has definitly made a difference to my personality. As you say it helps with confidence, and I have found this to be a real benefit!
owen |
|||||||||
Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
It isn't the trick that entertains.
It is the performer. If you are an "entertaining kinda person" it almost doesn't matter what the trick is. Believe me. I had a discussion about this just yesterday with Joe Porper... who knows a lot of the really top notch knuckle busting magians... he said something like, as great as some of these guys are and as incredible as their tricks are, they are hardly worth watching as there is nothing entertaining about what they do. :kermit:
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
|
|||||||||
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The workers » » Not just entertainment (0 Likes) | ||||||||||
Go to page 1~2 [Next] |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.03 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 < |