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Ben Train Inner circle Erdnase never had 4639 Posts |
Mildly amusing story. The other night I was contacted by a young person who wrote to me and said that he had watched my "interview" and wanted to learn more about me. This surprised me- I had no idea what he was talking about. After some prompting he sent me a link to a video interview I did with the Browser's Den in Toronto. I had no idea that this was online.
In the videos I discuss my thoughts on magic theory, history, performance and even sex tips (ok, that last one's not true!). Some of it I disagree with now that I hear it, some of it seems kinda contradictory (what's my main focus- audience interest or expressing something true?) but I think there's some mildly interesting stuff talked about. So, I thought I'd share it here. Happy holidays guys! Ben Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RMeGgTXlB8 And part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6jTEmHNc8Q&feature=related
If you're reading this you're my favourite magician.
Check out www.TorontoMagicCompany.com for upcoming shows, and instagram.com/train.ben for god knows what! |
professorwhut Inner circle Posts R US sold me 1353 Posts |
Ben,
I have come to respect your posts here on the Café, I can see why now. Very nice indeed. You seem to be quite knowledgeable, and I would be willing to bet that you have a very bright future in magic. btw, that guy really reminds me of Jerry Lewis . Thanks for posting the links
After much soul searching about a signature, I decided not to have one.
TG Pop [aka ProfessorWhut] |
Ben Train Inner circle Erdnase never had 4639 Posts |
Tracy,
thank you very much for the kind words. I can't take any credit though- anything I said that was intelligent I probably stole from someone much much wiser than me. I am curious to hear people's thoughts though. The good, yes, but more importantly, I'd love to hear what people disagreed with and why. I'm nowhere near learning and I know others out there have thought about these questions and have come to different opinions. Here's hoping it starts an interesting and fun debate! Ben
If you're reading this you're my favourite magician.
Check out www.TorontoMagicCompany.com for upcoming shows, and instagram.com/train.ben for god knows what! |
gourdini New user 76 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-12-15 13:16, professorwhut wrote: How can you be sure of any of this? He didn't do any magic he just talked about it- just like the majority of guys here on the Café. |
professorwhut Inner circle Posts R US sold me 1353 Posts |
I have come to respect Ben’s posts here on the Café. Period.
I did so, long before I ever saw the interview. I have come to respect Ben’s thoughts a and ideas after reading his posts for several years. I am challenged and inspired by Ben’s words, not his performance. There are lot of guys here on the Café that I have a great deal of respect for and have never seen them perform. Again, due to their insight and knowledge. You have a point gourdini, I cannot be sure that Ben or any of these other guys have the chops to do anything but talk and post in forums. I really don’t care. I am richer for having gained their insights.
After much soul searching about a signature, I decided not to have one.
TG Pop [aka ProfessorWhut] |
Ben Train Inner circle Erdnase never had 4639 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-12-18 13:27, gourdini wrote: Hell yah! I'm with you brother: there is no way anyone who hasn't seen me can know anything about the quality of the work. It's easy to talk a big game... it's harder to live up to it. I'm more interested in hearing what people have to say about what I said here- the philosophical stuff. Do you agree? Disagree? Did I miss the mark on certain things? What strikes you as not just wrong but determent-ally wrong? One day I'll post some video of me performing stuff, but for the most part I prefer to show material to people online. But maybe during the break I'll put something on video and upload it, just so we can see if I'm a contender or just a pretender. BEN
If you're reading this you're my favourite magician.
Check out www.TorontoMagicCompany.com for upcoming shows, and instagram.com/train.ben for god knows what! |
gourdini New user 76 Posts |
OK- great attitude Ben- and it is not nesc. to EVER post vids of your performances if you don't want to- I was just pointing out the fact that "users" of the magic Café- are often too easily persuaded simply by THE WORDS people have written- or spoken without getting a glimpse of their magic.
I have stumbled upon a few videos on youtube of some of the "real work" by long time Café luminaries- and all I can say is that most of it was mediocre- some of it abysmal. I have had discussions with some of my magician friends about people we know collectively, and how they come across on the Café vs. how crappy they really are in actual performance. Boy are a lot of people being duped here! Magicians are in some ways the biggest suckers of all. They will buy ju$t about anything as long as it is hyped and touted by those perceived to be authorities(?) (actually standard has now become much lower than that) on any given subject in magic. Nothing against Ben at all (his interview was just fine- and yes, he seems to be a good guy)- just don't give too much weight or "respect" to any of these people (including some of the blowhards with more than 10,000 posts) until you REALLY know who they are! |
Ben Train Inner circle Erdnase never had 4639 Posts |
I think it's true to some extent. I can respect someone for the intellectual contributions without making the assumption that they'll be fabulous performers, or vice versa. I can also respect someone's performing ability without seeing them because people whose opinion I trust tell me I should (though it's a reserved respect).
For the record though... I'm awesome. My mom will back me up in that.
If you're reading this you're my favourite magician.
Check out www.TorontoMagicCompany.com for upcoming shows, and instagram.com/train.ben for god knows what! |
gourdini New user 76 Posts |
I personally do not like any magic that interfaces with modern technology. I hate tricks that utilize cell phones/ cell phone apps. etc.
What you were talking about re: "shaddow coins" was interesting- In the first consideration you are using the phone to act as a flash light- perhaps years ago a candle would have been used in it's place- but then you allude to the use of the phone/ phone app. in order to provide the auditory illusion of coins clinking together- I believe this would be a fine technique as long as there is no perception/ suspicion that the phone (the instrument of technology) is the source of the (auditory) illusion- But as long as the audience was able to determine that it was the phone that provided such an illusion- I feel that this this would only be accepted as a theatrical addition or "touch" to the "real" magic that was being performed on the surface of the table. I feel this would ultimately result in weakening the primary demonstration being exhibited, thus ultimately lowering the status of the performer rather than raising it. |
Ben Train Inner circle Erdnase never had 4639 Posts |
Utilizing any tool poses a problem and an opportunity for a magician. While I agree with much of what you wrote, all you're really saying is that poor uses of technology produce poor results.
I’m playing with a bunch of ideas using the technology on the IPhone and having looked at a lot of the apps out there I’ve noticed that most people make the same basic mistake- virtually anytime the magic happens on the phone, be it a change, a revelation of thought of word, etc- it’s going to be weakened by the fact that almost ANYTHING on the phone is both visually eye-candy and deceptive (in the sense that most of us don’t know how it works). Since those instances don’t feel like magic it’s unlikely that presenting magic on the phone will seem magical either. The secret then is to use the phone in a motivated way and have the effect happen separately and in isolation from the phone. I have a bunch of ideas I think satisfy these conditions and I think it makes for really powerful magic. (Rich Aviles has a great use for it too in his book “Above the Fold”- which is a fantastic read!) Ultimately, I think it behooves us to make use of all the tools available to us- in appropriate situations and applied in appropriate ways. I'm not ready to discount the IPhone... or hammer pants. Ben
If you're reading this you're my favourite magician.
Check out www.TorontoMagicCompany.com for upcoming shows, and instagram.com/train.ben for god knows what! |
MickeyPainless Inner circle California 6065 Posts |
Gourdini,
I've met and spent a little time with and around Ben and he CAN walk his talk! He's bright, charming, witty and handles a deck of cards purdy darn well IMO! I guess I've been pretty lucky in that most of the guys I've met from the Café can hold there own but I have heard of (and even met) a few that perform best from their keyboard! Mick (with way more posts than talent) |
iamslow Inner circle Proffessional Slacker 2001 Posts |
Great Interview Ben!! I miss Browser's Den
"Everyone has a plan till they get punched in the face" Mike Tyson
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Ben Train Inner circle Erdnase never had 4639 Posts |
It misses you to John!
Come visit us both some time (and give us both money!) Ben
If you're reading this you're my favourite magician.
Check out www.TorontoMagicCompany.com for upcoming shows, and instagram.com/train.ben for god knows what! |
Medifro Inner circle Miami 1258 Posts |
Just watched this, brilliant interview. Great thoughts Ben, the way you put it in "You have to be interesting" just nails it. We had a discussion a long time ago in a thread which you might not remmeber, but it certainly clarified lots of things to me on this.
And that idea on how to use technology is a stroke of genius. Loved it ~ Feras |
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