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daffydoug Eternal Order Look mom! I've got 14077 Posts |
With all the variances of opinion on the use of stooges (plants) in magic, I was hoping to hear your opinions on the subject. It would be nice to hear whether you are pro or con on the use of stooges, and even more importantly, the reasons why you see it in the light that you do.
The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.
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unilogo Veteran user Las Vegas , NV 359 Posts |
I NEVER use stooges.
UNLESS it is either a fella magician or a pro assistant (with a contract...haha). Ok here is the basic outline.For a general audience if you have a strong effect you will truely look astounding to the audience but it looses that intimacy you make with a person you are doing an effect for. Aside from that you don't want to go spend a TON of money for something only to have it be exposed by the stooge. Unless the stooges is BEYOND trustworthy I wouldn't do it. I pay too much for stuff to have a stooge accidently spoil it even by mistake. I don't personally see any use for a stooge. Because I want my magic to be intimate with the audience and hit the person I am doing it for EXTREMELY hard. I would be againts it but I know there will be some good reasons why. I am blinded tho.... |
Roland Henning Special user Kiel, Germany 511 Posts |
I never use stooges, unless of course I do!
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lane99 Elite user 421 Posts |
If magicians want more people to be interested in what they do, they should, as a group, foreswear the use of stooges. A huge number of people dismiss magic/mentalism right from the gitgo because they know about stooges.
From my perspective, if you use a stooge you are only a pretend magician, not a real one. |
daffydoug Eternal Order Look mom! I've got 14077 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-07-29 22:24, unilogo wrote: That is a posibility that I always wondered about whenenver I read the description of an effect that requires stooges. What if the Stooge goes and blabs? It always semed like a glaring obstacle that just can't be overcome. Quote:
On 2005-07-30 01:50, lane99 wrote: The first time I recall being exposed to the concept was in a Mark Wilson book when I was just getting my feet wet in magic. One or two effects Mark described the use of stooges. I believe one was his version of the cut and restored necktie. I used the effect for a while...I figured if it's good enough for Mark Wilson, it's good enough for me. But even now, I still feel that Mark is as real of a magician as any of us. Paul Harris also describes the use of stooges in some effects in his trilogy. Food for thought?
The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.
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lane99 Elite user 421 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-07-30 05:24, daffydoug wrote: Oh, just curious...I'm assuming your moniker is a play on words of "Daffy Duck"? Actually, I love the cut/restored tie of Mark Wilson. And, hmm, the Electric Chair which uses a stooge, is that a Paul Harris trick? That's a riot, too. Well, this time I just cut to the chase, without nuance, in saying "nyet" (come on, "nyuk" is not proper Russian) to stooges. Actually, I've written a few posts here before on the subject where I gave my fully realized point which, in sum, is: usually not, but, sometimes I think it's ok to use stooges. Particurly when they're employed in a clever way or when it allows you to avoid destroying the clothing of, or frying the rump of, one of your audience members ;-) |
Stokesy New user Brisbane, Australia 25 Posts |
I tried some 'Instant Stooging' the other day on my family and friends just for the hell of it. The good part is that you can do the trick and say 'I haven't pre-organised anything with any of you?' and they can give a truthful answer, because they don't know they are a stooge until the trick has begun. It lets for some awesome mentalism effects. The only downfall I see is the chance of the insta-stooge blabbing later on.
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
To me the use of a stooge is NOTHING bad. If done properly. The proper use of a stooge can be quite fooling and entertaining. The OBVIOUS use of a stooge is hideous to observe in my opinion.
Magic should blur the line between what is possible and impossible. Not vault over it. This is what happens when we stray too far from what is possible. Stooges become obvious and this is bad. So use stooges, but use them wisely. Oh and I think he said NYUK in reference to "Curley" the ultimate stooge, not a Russian reference.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
oagwood Veteran user Pleasant Hill, CA 392 Posts |
I use stooges even when I don't need them, ie card tricks, sponge balls, color changing knives, I just can't stop myself.
ok kidding, but I have in the past and will again in the future. oliver |
Shalin New user 91 Posts |
I don't think that stooges are necessary. I prefer to do magic that relies on only one person-me. If the stooge makes a mistake then your effect is ruined. I like to rely on sleight of hand and not other people. More can go wrong if you have stooges involved.
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daffydoug Eternal Order Look mom! I've got 14077 Posts |
That is my little "fear". That the stooge will screw things up for you.
The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.
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Jonton Veteran user New York City 336 Posts |
When I use a stooge to help me with the trick, I don't perform the trick for him/her. Does that make sense?
I use a stooge as more of a gimmick or utility rather than an actor. I'll use a stooge for planting a card or something, but I'll never perform a trick for a stooge only to get other reactions from the true audience *cough Copperfield cough*. I recently acted as a stooge for a professional magician in Virginia Beach. He hardly knew me, but he trusted me enough as a magician to allow him to slip me a signed card to plant in a nearby window. Nothing was lost from the effect, but so much more was gained. Just my opinion. ~Jonton
I Came, I Saw, I Conjured
www.jontaylornyc.com |
cornfarrell New user 12 Posts |
I have noticed that Stooges usually work best in threes.
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lane99 Elite user 421 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-08-01 11:45, Dannydoyle wrote: Yes, I know I was making a play on words on the play on words. |
Brent McLeod Inner circle 1792 Posts |
On a previous thread similar to this
One of the best stooge effects I used was when Performing at Market Festival every Sunday with big crowds etc in between our full evening Illusion/Hypnosis shows that play in Theatres I was performing the Linking Rings & used a fellow Magician who stopped by -He ended up holding the Key Ring as the rest were passed out during the routine etc-Played really well & the crowd were amazed all the rings were passed out etc Not Ethical ?-If you can get away with it-Go for It!!!!!! |
daffydoug Eternal Order Look mom! I've got 14077 Posts |
It's nice to have friends.....
The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.
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