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cinemagician Inner circle Phila Metro Area 1094 Posts |
Max, I could not help but notice that many of your presentations seem to follow the paradigm laid out by Henning Nelms in Magic and Showmanship. Which is put very simply; that the function of the effect is to prove the phenomenon. Do you believe like Nelms that the performer should begin by making some claim of a supernormal power or phenomenon, then indicate that the purpose of the performance is to demonstrate this power, then provide a demonstration which appears to prove the claim. Furthermore, even some of your more impromptu offerings seem to follow many of Nelms sugestions such as beginning a conversation on an obscure topic in order to create a magical atmosphere. For example, in the Blue Book of Mentalism you begin the effect, "Geometric Coin" an "after dinner trick" by stating, "when the talk has turned to paranormal avenues of communication... (a better start than hey kid wana see a card trick)
I noticed that after I had read Magic and Showmanship and after I had thought about what the effect really was my magic became clearer. I think too often in magic many magicians are not even clear as to what effect is taking place. In an ambitious card sequence is the card transposing with the top card of the deck, is it pennetrating the entire pack to arrive on top? I realise that much of what I'm saying may sound elementary BUT, What do you have (if anything ) to say about Nelms. What other rescources can you recomend for building clearer, more powerful presentations? Thanks.
...The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity...
William Butler Yeats |
Max Maven V.I.P. 266 Posts |
I find Nelms and Fitzkee tend to be overly didactic. Having said that, their books can be useful in stimulating your own explorations.
I agree that there most often needs to be clarity of effect. I've long described this as Ostensible Reality. It's not enough to make the handkerchief vanish; the magician should understand the nature of the vanish. There's no right answer to this. The handkerchief might "pop" out of existence, or shimmer away, or implode, or gradually fade, or... Whatever. And usually, the audience does not have to be informed of this -- but the performer does, in order to make the effect more coherent. |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The May 2005 entrée: Max Maven » » Presentation and Routining Structure » » TOPIC IS LOCKED (0 Likes) |
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