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Owen Thomas Special user 504 Posts |
Ive been doing magic for about two years now. David Blaine got me into magic and I copied his style. Since then I have change my stlye to the "Magicain that doesn't look like he knows what he's doing but magic still happens" But I have spiced it with "tommy cooper" stlye magic. For example making fun of the "classic force". Ive had bigger reactions to this type of patter. Does that mean my magic isn't as good as my comedy?
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Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
Yo:
If you are saying that you 'expose' the Classic Force as a joke, that's a shame. Done well it remains perhaps in the top 5 most powerful card techniques known. Note that 'making fun' of something humor is many times like getting a laugh using the 'F' word .... it's pretty much the lowest form of humor and shows almost no imagination. On the other hand if your Classic Force is so bad you couldn't fool Ray Charles then that probably says a lot about your humor vs your magic by comparison on the down side. (Also, for some of us, even the suggestion that you are exploiting the exposure of magic for entertainment is anathema.) The problem is that what you say above doesn't really tell us enough to make any, but the most superficial of judgements. The 'best' comedy magicians are both funny AND they are superlative magicians. My favorite in this regard is Billy McComb. He is simply superlative. His humor is smooth, studied, urbane and hilarious. Best, Brad Burt
Brad Burt
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Owen Thomas Special user 504 Posts |
Want I meant to say is the gag when you have a card sticking out a lot more than the others and say "pick a card....no not that one!..... no not that one either" Ive seen Paul Zennon do somthing similar. Its like a sloppy classic force in away? Its not exposure!
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Phaedrus Loyal user Mexico City 212 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-03-05 17:24, Owen Thomas wrote: I agree that this is not exposure, because it's clear to the audience that you are deliberately trying to get them to pick a specific card. As you said, it's just a gag. On the other hand, if you then continue with a trick using that card, you're diluting the effect, since the audience knows the card was not freely selected. To address your other question, I think the answer lies in how you describe your "style." In every instance, you reference another magician, either by saying you copied his style, or do something similar. If you continue to base your performance on someone else's style, you'll always be just a pale shadow of that person. I think the best course of action for you is to find the "Owen Thomas" style, whatever that may be. After all, there's no one who can be a better Owen Thomas than you! There's nothing wrong with trying out elements from other magicians, but ultimately the only way to become a real magician is to develop your own style that is based on your own personality. If you want to be an interesting magician, be an interesting person first; if people like you, they'll like your magic. |
eddieloughran Special user 942 Posts |
This is just my opinion - but I don't think its really posible to copy another magicians style so closely that you become a clone. Not unless you really try.
Even when I do a David Blaine trick I can't help it comming out as me. As to magician in trouble; many of the best tricks I do use this formula. Red Hot Mama for instance. The problem arises when the comedy takes over the magic, when you try to tell jokes and perform magic at the same time and the magic suffers. Its not an easy line to stradle. There is nothing worse than trying to force humour or trying to be something you're not. As to the joke classic force; its a very common stunt. I think both Doc. Easton and Bill Malone used it at Blackpool last weekend. And they were both very funny and performed first class magic. |
dan84 Loyal user 251 Posts |
Juan Tamariz has an excellent lecture video available from http://www.internationalmagic.com which explains how comedy an dmagic should be related. I don't think one trick is explained however it is very interesting
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Owen Thomas Special user 504 Posts |
Thanks for the advice. very helpfull
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Heinz Weber New user Austria 83 Posts |
Very often you can read the line 'find your own style' or something like that on the Café. I personally think that's pointless. If a rookie is searching for a magic style, he has none so far. If he tries to 'be natural' ie behave like in normal life, there will be no magic. There is no such thing like magic in our everyday life.
Don't get me wrong, I do not mean 'be natural' like vernon said it, as to do all movements with cards like in real life, like playing cards without magic. But as an overall style 'be natural' is not the way to go IMO. Nearly each and every magician I know has some kind of stage personality, some have established more than one character for their performances. And these charakters are to be built, by behavior, by costumes, sometimes by patter or even language. Certainly they do not unfold from someones natural personality, you have to think about it, you have to look at other magicians (that's ok, of course!), you have to consider the tricks you want to perform and lots more. On the other hand it's a chance, be a card shark, a gambler, a clown, be merlin, mephisto or the witch from Faust, live your dreams and fantasies. Sad to say that's all theory, I am absolutely no professional magicin (by fare), it's only my point of view. And I would be delighted to discuss it. Heinz |
Phaedrus Loyal user Mexico City 212 Posts |
Heinz:
You make some interesting points, and for the most part I agree with you. I believe that the persona one presents as a performer is not necessarily the same as one's natural personality, and that a lot of thought and effort has to go into the persona one chooses. However, I also believe that the persona has to be related in some way to one's natural personality. For example, if you're not really funny in real life, chances are you won't be very successful as a comedy magician. Your performing persona has to be built, in some way, on your natural personality. The danger, I think, comes when a person tries to emulate another, more famous personality. I think it's fine to use elements of a performer's persona, but if you are simply copying, you aren't going to be very convincing. I don't agree that rookies have no magical style at all; everyone has some sort of style, simply by virtue of the fact that we're all different and have different natural personalities. The question of whether or not that style is something that people will find appealing is another matter. I don't think it's pointless to advise someone to find their own style. As you pointed out, it's important to think about the kind of magician you want to be, and compare that with your own natural inclinations. If you perform often enough, and try out different approaches and personas, you will eventually hit on something that works well and is unique to you. At that point, you will have found your own style. Of course, it's easier said than done, but nothing worth doing comes easily, does it? |
Brad Lancaster Regular user 184 Posts |
I say emulate, emulate, emulate until your particular style develops. That is basic human development. Learn the tricks that your favorite magician has performed because that is what will essentially motivate you. Don't worry, each of us are different you will never become a total clone. Sometimes seasoned performers forget their journey in this wonderful hobby. I initially emulated pieces of Mark Wilson, Doug Henning and Bill Bixby because they were the "hot new thing", just as David Blaine,and Criss Angel are to you. But after a while of performing for people, something very "magical" was happening. Mark, Doug,and Bill were slowly disappearing from my persona and was lo' and behold being replaced by the person I saw in the mirror everyday. Keep learning, keep performing, keep having fun and "your" style will develop. I guarantee it!
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