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unclesamayen Elite user Taiwan 459 Posts |
Hello everyone,
I'm now a comedy magician and I am considering to start doing some bizarre magick because of the beutiful work from Outlaw effect. Can bizarre magick combined with some humor? Will it destroy the atmosphere? I've seen Derren Brown's show "Enigma", he did "spirit chamber" with some humor flavor. How do you think about it? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y6JyqBZoCc Start about 45:00 Let me know your opinion. Thanks, YuYen
Comedy, Mental, Busking.
Performing magic for the blinds. http://youtu.be/nW3O0nucQUI Busking in Mong Kok http://youtu.be/WqohXqTxRVU |
Stoltz Veteran user 400 Posts |
I guess it all depends on you.
Your presentation, and what your goals are. It could definitely be entertaining, even if it was entirely unbelievable. (not implying that it would necessarily be unbelievable) Do you care if your audience "buys it"? Would you buy it? Do you think Derren's audience believes it was possible spirits actually manifested? If not, why? I doubt most performers would ever do their effects dead pan. Unless they're going for believability. I have however even heard of a séance done with humor. The only atmosphere destroyed by humor, is boredom, in my humble opinion. |
weepinwil Inner circle USA 3828 Posts |
I've done comedy bizarre magic for a couple years now and I find it enhances the effect if you can do that sort of thing. Death and laughing always go together so the right audience will receive it if done with taste. Besides,.if you mess up the effect just remember that "death is never having to say you're sorry."
"Til Death us do part!" - Weepin Willie
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Clifford the Red Inner circle LA, California 1941 Posts |
It must match the presentation and the whole effect. Trying to lighten an otherwise powerful moment is counterproductive. On the otherhand, some presentations are structured to spin a wild yarn and be funny. Take it where your muse guides, just do it well!
"The universe is full of magical things, waiting for our wits to grow sharper." Eden Philpotts
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seadog93 Inner circle 3200 Posts |
I watched from 00:45 to around 1:03:00 I thought Derren Brown's performance was great, of course, but I personally was underwhelmed by the spirit cabinet routine itself. It didn't seem remotely like a spirit manifestation to me and I didn't see anything really unexplainable (the billets I guess).
Humor is great in Bizarre magick I think. It can be done as a funny, tongue in cheek presentation; I think that's fine and fun. I've also found that, for me, doing a presentation somewhat light hearted with a couple jokes thrown in actually makes the whole thing seem much more real and therefore much more creepy. When I was first learning "Latex Hounds of Hell," I tried to be completely serious and dramatic. The result was that my wife could not stop laughing when she overheard me practicing; and when I mad a tape I could see why. I gave up and presented it fairly somberly, but still tongue in cheek... it really creeped everyone out. I had a similar experience performing Docc's "Swamp Water." When you tell a story about something that REALLY happened (me at least) it's not melodramatic, it's just a real memory of something that may or may not have been very creepy. In fact, if you are still disturbed your more likely to throw some jokes in there to break your own tension; and of course if you have to throw in jokes to break up your own tension then it must be something very real and disturbing indeed! Eugene Burger said in one of his books that he felt humor was appropriate in Bizarre magick as long as it was authentic to the character and the setting. I agree.
"Love is the magician who pulls man out of his own hat" - Ben Hecht
"Love says 'I am everything.' Wisdom says 'I am nothing'. Between the two, my life flows." -Nisargadatta Maharaj Seadog=C-Dawg=C.ou.rtn.ey Kol.b |
Bill Fienning Special user 635 Posts |
Docc Hilford does a few really funny bizarre routines.
I am not a funny person; I do creepy much better. However, some of my routines have funny moments which I treat very seriously. For example, I use a beaker of goat urine as part of a test for the finger of a swamp monster. The goat urine coagulates when the finger is brought close to it.
Bill Fienning
"It's More than Tricks" |
docsteve Inner circle 1831 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-04-29 22:12, Bill Fienning wrote: Hi Bill That sounds fantastic! May I ask for a hint as to the method? I'm aware of the super saturated o*****e method. Or is this clever use of s***h ******? A friend of mine used a titanic story to present a gambling effect - it made for an excellent tale. At the e d he surprised with tyhe appearance of snow. It worked really well and played better than it sounds, I promise. Steve
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SpellbinderEntertainment Inner circle West Coast 3519 Posts |
Just as I feel there is a line between the Horror genre and Thriller genre,
I think there is also a line between Comedy and Humor. Much Bizarre Magic(k) has the flavor of the thriller-- darkness, mystery, suspense, but rarely does it cross over to Freddie Kruger violent slasher Horror. I've seen very effective, chilling, entertaining, and quite Humorous Bizarre pieces, but rarely stand-up Comedy or one-liner joke pieces that worked at all. I'd bet most want a clammy nervous titter, not a huge knee slapping guffaw. I work to bring a balance of humor to my pieces, but not mood stifling joking. Magically, Walt |
Todd Robbins V.I.P. New York 2922 Posts |
There can be laughs, but nothing done should be laughable.
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seadog93 Inner circle 3200 Posts |
Well said.
"Love is the magician who pulls man out of his own hat" - Ben Hecht
"Love says 'I am everything.' Wisdom says 'I am nothing'. Between the two, my life flows." -Nisargadatta Maharaj Seadog=C-Dawg=C.ou.rtn.ey Kol.b |
Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
One cannot truly appreciate the darkness without the light. Contrast gentlemen.
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
weepinwil Inner circle USA 3828 Posts |
I practice my bizarre humor in the embalming room... if you can make a dead guy laugh you know it is right. I especially like to do the "vanishing cigarette up a dead man's butt" routine.
"Til Death us do part!" - Weepin Willie
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Godzilla Inner circle Tied & Untied Witches on 5316 Posts |
Willie...you scare me ! (:
Your post reminds me of my Doctor..."Dr. Bananafingers" .
"If you watch Godzilla backwards, it's about a big ass lizard who helps rebuild a half burnt-down city, then moonwalks back into the ocean"
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weepinwil Inner circle USA 3828 Posts |
Godzilla, Hey! That's my doctor's name too... what a coincidence. My wife use to say I scared her too but the last 3 years that she's been dead she just lays in the bed and doesn't say anything. After all, dead girls are more fun.
"Til Death us do part!" - Weepin Willie
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