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Lucas Walker Regular user Missouri 125 Posts |
I've noticed a trend in some spectators to not care for the magic but look upon all routines as Sherlock Holmes novels that must be solved (or at least attempted) to be figured out by the reader before the end. The reason I posted this under coins is because there is a "guess which hand" effect in Bobo's I've used before that turns the magic into a puzzle. Sure the frustrated reactions can be funny from a performance point of view but I've removed this routine from my repretoire because it leads the spectators to attempt to figure out how ALL of my routines are done. Are there any other takes on magic and why so many spectators look at it as a puzzle to be solved instead of a theatrical piece where the behind the scenes only polish the spectators enjoyment and aren't noticed consciously?
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Reed McClintock V.I.P. 772 Posts |
PRESENTATION
You didnt exactly ask me for my input, but I will interject my opinion. I think every effect is all pronounced by presentation. If you present something with an underlying tone of "look at me I know this and you dont", the spectator will of course not wanting to feel stupid will try to figure it out. If you present something as how cool is this, and show it, it will take the challenge out of what you are doing lessoning the way they anaylize it. here is something Three Fly, every one does it magicians think of this as great magic. Well lets look at this closer. When you perform it no matter whos version you do, a smarter person will and can only assume you have an extra coin, there for making them correct. That is not magic that is a fun puzzle that visually looks cool. I sat down and thought about this long and hard. I thought well it is obviously a puzzle to people more so than magic. So why not make it very difficult for someone to try and figure it out. thus giving me the The birth of international three fly . no shells and this is the original version with the real work. three different coins three different metals, sizes and there is a hole in one. logically in the spectators mind there must be six coins. but you plainly show only three. the first coin travels by misdirection the other two happen visually, with no misdirection. now they travel back. The audieance has no out. There is no logical solution for this mystery. I dont do regular three fly anymore. I am using this as an example not to shamelessly plug my trick, but to point out clearly an effect everyone understands. When there is no possible solution your audience for the most part will hopefully think you sold your soul, as opposed to thinking you used sleight of hand and trickery. People know about trick cards but very few have heard of trick coins. ahhh life is good when you are a coin man. You may not agree with this statement and example and thats ok I just felt I would share a brief thing. There is obviously more to this than this small bit typed but I hope it comes across clearly what I am saying. If not I am sure I will be asked to clarify. in that case we will halve to type more. Please dont make me type more, I suck at typing as if you couldnt tell.My spelling needs work to, oh well I went to art school what do you expect, lol lol |
wayman Special user England - Sunderland 589 Posts |
very thoughtful Reed.
A basic effect that defies logic using A simple process that requires extreme skill. Wish more magicians would think like this. |
Lucas Walker Regular user Missouri 125 Posts |
I appreciate your response Reed. I agree that presentation goes a long way. I guess, more specifically my question should have been "is there an ingrained need for a spectator to know how a trick is performed?" and also "are there any tricks that validate this mindset that magicians may want to stop performing?" Again, thanks a ton for your comments on the presentational aspect. I will do some self evaluation and see if that isn't what's been going wrong for myself. Stay magical.
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Thomas Wayne Inner circle Alaska 1977 Posts |
Quote:
On 2002-11-10 23:54, Reed McClintock wrote: Spelling, too. Regards, Thomas Wayne (PS. "thaught"? LOL)
MOST magicians: "Here's a quarter, it's gone, you're an idiot, it's back, you're a jerk, show's over." Jerry Seinfeld
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Reed McClintock V.I.P. 772 Posts |
thank you Thomas Wayne for the redundancy department of the redundancy department, ahh a genius mind always willing to help a friend. Thanks for being there for me you are the man. lol I appreciate all of your support.
I will see you soon |
Chris "linkster" Watson Special user England 564 Posts |
I have been thinking on a similar line to Reed all be it on a much simpler level with regards to not leaving a possible solution.
Take for instance a vanish...you pretend to place a coin into your hand and it vanishes and you then re-produce it.A Spectators mind thinking logically might assume that the coin was never in that hand in the first place (Correct!!! puzzle solved.) If you then performed a Steal mimicking the actions before but showing the coin very clearly in the hand with the other hand no where near and the coin still dissappears surely this cancels out the spectators origional assumption and leaves them with little firm ground on which to base an opinion...Magic! I think this in conjunction with getting the spectators on side would make for strong magic. What are your thoughts? Does anyone else have effects which mimick the actions before to create a stronger effect? |
Chris A. Inner circle AKA Chris A. 1123 Posts |
Quote: Yep, many Magi use the effect of cancelling to strengthen their routines. Very well known and effective strategy. Sometimes it's even used in movie special effects. An example. In the movie "Back to the Future II" you see many shots of Marty flying around on his "hoverboard". The method of levitation varies from scene to scene to make the overall effect quite convincing... On 2002-11-12 07:56, Chris "linkster" Watson wrote:
AKA Chris A.
Keepin' the Funk Alive |
Magicbarry Loyal user Toronto 276 Posts |
Quote:
On 2002-11-12 07:56, Chris "linkster" Watson wrote: Dai Vernon's version of Coins Through the Table does this. As for the original poster's question, yes, there is definitely an ingrained need among spectators to figure out the puzzle. Actually, your question and comments remind me a lot of something Doug Henning once said along the same lines. According to Doug (and I'm paraphrasing), the spectator's natural instinct is to try to guess how a trick is done. With "theatrical magic", as Doug called it, the spectator is drawn away from this instinct, and is caught up in the theatrics. There's still a puzzle-solving instinct, but that instinct takes a backseat to the satisfaction of being entertained. |
Thomas Wayne Inner circle Alaska 1977 Posts |
Quote:
On 2002-11-12 03:30, Reed McClintock wrote: I look forward to it with eager anticipation. Regards, Thomas Wayne
MOST magicians: "Here's a quarter, it's gone, you're an idiot, it's back, you're a jerk, show's over." Jerry Seinfeld
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Ross W Inner circle UK 1779 Posts |
I too have been thinking about this a lot.
Personally, I reckon Reed has it it on the head. Many, many people (men especially) are automatically inclined to view any perfomance of magic as an intellectual challenge - especially close-up magic performed by an acquaintance or friend. Steering these people away from such a mind-set is, I believe, the HARDEST part of performing. When it works the benefits are manifold: 1. I think they enjoy it more 2. It gives you an easier ride (they won't burn your hands as much!) 3. You appear less of a jerk (if they think it's just a puzzle, and you won't tell them the solution, then you're just irritating them.) I had excatly this sort of spectator last night. He proceeed to tell everyone around the dinner table (very) roughly how I had just done the Gemini Twins card effect (first time I've ever been called on this, and full marks to him - he's a bright guy) but reluctantly conceded that he "couldn't work out the solution" to the unlinking rubber bands. It's infuriating! My performing persona is just me, really (these were friends) - I do stuff VERY laid back and relaxed and unchallenging. Steering people away from viewing magic as a puzzle is a work in progress. I'm getting better at it but sometimes it drives me mad - i want to say, "relax, man! It's only for fun, for God's sake - you don't have to prove anything!" Ross PS - moderators - wouldn't this be better in Food For thought? |
Matt Graves Special user Huntsville, Alabama (USA) 504 Posts |
When you're talking about better presentations, do any of you use actual scripts for your coin magic? I've tried to write scripts for a lot of coin stuff (I read a lot of Eugene Burger's books . . . ), but it comes really hard. Sometimes I get the feeling that coin magic is hard to do without being monotonous. (although it's my favorite branch of magic to practice . . .) I've even thought about changing the tricks and doing them with Sweet Tarts or little Starburst squares or something, just to liven it up.
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