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Sudo Nimh Inner circle 1879 Posts |
Let's assume you have every aspect of your show in perfect order:
Outfit, props, script delivery, handling, deception, - the works. Those things aside, I'm curious to hear what others perceive to be the SINGLE most important feature that either makes or breaks YOUR performance as a whole, whether in the eyes of the audience or in your own mind, or both. I have my own answer and thoughts on this, which I'll share as this discussion (hopefully) grows. So, folks...what is it? |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Umm if every aspect is in order what can be left?
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
Sudo Nimh Inner circle 1879 Posts |
Just because everything is "in order", does not guarantee success.
I have seen many acts that have everything in order and still fell flat. Additionally, it is sometimes only the performer's perception that everything is in order. Hopefully that helps to clarify things. |
Sudo Nimh Inner circle 1879 Posts |
Quote:
On Jul 26, 2016, Dannydoyle wrote: Umm..anything that's not right. ;) |
funsway Inner circle old things in new ways - new things in old ways 9982 Posts |
From sales training there is a critical element called "grounding" that should occur just before you meet a client or walk on stage.
You have already done you mental check list of "every aspect of your show" and should reflect who you are in the moment in order to "be present" for each member of your audience to be met in an instant. You have within you the ability to exceed the expectations of this audience as an entertainer, as a performer of mystic arts, and as a person of purpose, value, integrity and resolve. Alwasy remember that you are doing something most people avoid or fear -- the willingness to get up before strangers and put yourself at risk. I am sure that renounced stage performers like Danny do this automatically, but would not be surprised if he has some little grounding ritual -- perhaps curling his toes to feel the earth beneath or clenching his fists Prior to entering a meeting with a client in which I might perform a magic effect (and did tens of thousands of times), I always pressed by elbows into my sides sharply. This forced me to breathe, and reminded me that I was human first and a professional consultant second. I had a pending opportunity to positively affect another person's life. As a performing magician, so do you.
"the more one pretends at magic, the more awe and wonder will be found in real life." Arnold Furst
eBooks at https://www.lybrary.com/ken-muller-m-579928.html questions at ken@eversway.com |
tommy Eternal Order Devil's Island 16544 Posts |
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Anyhow technically the bosh cannot go wrong because it is art but the magic experiment can go wrong because is science. A motor car does not breakdown because somebody did a paint job on it. Still one wants a good paint job but the car must be mechanically sound and serve its function. In word a mechanics is the SINGLE most important feature.
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.
Tommy |
Sudo Nimh Inner circle 1879 Posts |
Thinking about this further, I realize that my perspective is mostly from the Close-Up side of things. With a stage performer it is a little different. By way of example, Copperfield: people come to his show knowing full well what his personality and show is like, generally speaking. They come to see what he has to offer. The structure of his show does not "dial-up or down" to match the audience.
In close-up environments especially, the most critical mistake I usually see is the performer's inability to read the audience. This results in inappropriate effects and themes very often, simply due to the inability to read the audience. I saw this even in my own work, many years ago. Much of the time when performing in a Close-Up venue, your audience is NOT there to see YOU. They are there to have a drink, dinner, etc. That has been the critical "make or break" feature - for me. |
0pus Inner circle New Jersey 1739 Posts |
I have seen close up performances where the performer makes no attempt to read the audience at all - where the performer runs through the whole performance by rote.
I was under the impression that the whole "deal" with close up magic is to interact with the audience - which may only be one or two people. Whenever I am at the receiving end of a spiel* - whether it is magic, a telemarketing scam, a high-pressure sales pitch - I find myself becoming hostile toward the spieler. **************** * spiel informal noun a long or fast speech or story, typically one intended as a means of persuasion or as an excuse but regarded with skepticism or contempt by those who hear it. |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Well in performance a certain amount of script is necessary. Are you offended when a comedian goes through his routine? Probably not because the good ones make it seem like it is just sort of stream of consciousness. But in reality it is rehearsed and polished.
Good close up magic is the same thing. It has that intimate feel which seems as if you are seeing something unique but has been done thousands of times and is polished to a brilliant shine. The magic is the interaction and still having that polish on it. This is the idea of close up magic done well. Now I freely admit that in the past few decades close up magic done well is becoming a bird of rare plumage, but that is another story.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Quote:
On Jul 26, 2016, Sudo.Nimh wrote: It is odd to me that the very feature rust defines close to magic is some sort of revelation to you. By the way not to nit luv but if peopleare not coming because of you that is totally a yoy issue and not a universal truth. People came to Schuliens because of the magic. Same with Doc Eason at the Tower, Bill Malone, Mike Close, Eugene Burger, Heba Haba, Bob Sheets, Jim Ryan, Johnny Paul, Frank Everhart Sr. and Jr., and the list goes on. If people do not come to see you it is your own fault.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
George Ledo Magic Café Columnist SF Bay Area 3042 Posts |
Quote:
On Jul 26, 2016, Sudo.Nimh wrote: This reminds me of an episode in Star Trek: the Next Generation where Guinan was trying to coach Data on how to do a stand-up comedy act. Data had it all down: the jokes, the gestures, the timing, etc., but he totally missed the point of what comedy is, and he just couldn't get it. In my own case, many years ago, as a kid, I was doing a show for an adult event. Afterwards, one of the ladies came up to me and very nicely said something to the effect of, "You're a nice looking kid and you look good up there, and the tricks are good, but I have no idea who you are. You have no personality." When I finally calmed down a few days later, I realized how right she was.
That's our departed buddy Burt, aka The Great Burtini, doing his famous Cups and Mice routine
www.georgefledo.net Latest column: "Sorry about the photos in my posts here" |
0pus Inner circle New Jersey 1739 Posts |
Quote:
On Jul 27, 2016, Dannydoyle wrote: I think we fundamentally agree. I would just observe that I expect a stand up comedian to offer a monologue. I expect a close-up magician to offer a dialogue. If he serves up a monologue, I feel like he is performing "at" me. That doesn't "offend" me, but I am not receptive to it. |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Good close up is not a monologue by any means. This is true. I am not receptive to that either.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
Sudo Nimh Inner circle 1879 Posts |
Quote:
On Jul 27, 2016, Dannydoyle wrote: I generally agree with that. I feel there are occasions where it has its place, like the Magic Castle for example, where you are doing a set performance for a specific time period. I think a good performer knows when to "switch it off" when necessary though. |
Sudo Nimh Inner circle 1879 Posts |
Dannydoyle writes: "It is odd to me that the very feature rust defines close to magic is some sort of revelation to you.
By the way not to nit luv but if peopleare not coming because of you that is totally a yoy issue and not a universal truth. People came to Schuliens because of the magic. Same with Doc Eason at the Tower, Bill Malone, Mike Close, Eugene Burger, Heba Haba, Bob Sheets, Jim Ryan, Johnny Paul, Frank Everhart Sr. and Jr., and the list goes on. If people do not come to see you it is your own fault." I'm sorry, but I'm not understanding where you got the impression that I was talking about having a problem with people coming to see MY show. Looking back on what I've posted here in this thread, starting from the beginning, I realize that I was (and am) having a bit of difficulty trying to properly convey my thoughts clearly here on this thread. "It is odd to me that the very feature rust defines close to magic is some sort of revelation to you." I've been a performer for over 35 years, and feel it's a bit chillier in here with this particular comment than I'm accustomed to, so respectfully, I will bow out here. |
Sudo Nimh Inner circle 1879 Posts |
Quote:
On Jul 27, 2016, George Ledo wrote: You got it George! I was wondering how long it would be before somebody picked up what I was getting at. |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Quote:
On Jul 26, 2016, Sudo.Nimh wrote: Here you state, not me, that people are NOT coming to see YOU. You even emphasized the words not me. So I got the impression that people were not coming to see you. Then you go on to say that somehow this is a revelation. What am I missing? Now you agree with George that magic needs a personality. Is THAT your revelation? I am trying to figure out what you are saying, but apparently what you are saying isn't what you want to say. It is very confusing.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
Sudo Nimh Inner circle 1879 Posts |
I'm not sure what you're missing.
Apparently, you missed the part where I stated they're usually there for dinner or a drink etc. Sure, you get people who do come back into see you when you're at a regular venue, but typically they're the minority of patrons, not the majority. |
tommy Eternal Order Devil's Island 16544 Posts |
A character as such is not an essential element of magic and neither is patter. When Simon Drake performs the dancing cane it is good magic without what we might call a character or any talk. So what then do you perceive to be the SINGLE most important feature that either makes or breaks his performance of that act? As dressing is to food the character and patter is to magic. The character and patter serve and compliment but the magic is the SINGLE most important feature. Magic is the product and the one thing a magician cannot do without, no matter how important he perceives his packaging to be.
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.
Tommy |
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