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Graymatter_Fireworks Veteran user Atlanta, GA 357 Posts |
Obviously Covid has had a major impact on what many of us do. Having such a forced restriction upon us, has anyone put the extra time
into mastering a new technique or focused on their character development? Personally I discovered a whole new premise (for me) and rewrote my act. I caught up on much of the literature I’ve had hanging around, became inspired and was very creative. I’m hoping others found similar inspirational winds. -Brandon
"The social world in which we live, determines our experience of what is real." - John Gager
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funsway Inner circle old things in new ways - new things in old ways 9982 Posts |
I rewrote my "Thrifty Telempathy" eBook as "Sanatized Telempathy" with modifications for a completely "no touch", social distancing setting.
"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 |
Mr. Woolery Inner circle Fairbanks, AK 2149 Posts |
I have been pretty disappointed in my creative efforts this past year. I had a young kid at home and was the primary school tutor and social outlet for a little girl. Anyone who has the mental resources left for creating new performances in a vacuum after doing that daily all year is superhuman.
I did work on a method for Zoom seances and performed exactly one. But that was 5 months ago. Patrick |
Bryce Regular user Oxon, UK 108 Posts |
Not creativity per se, but I have found that my interest in Mentalism was disappearing before the crisis. Having more time indoors I have found myself reading again the mentalism books in my collection and it has sparked my interest again. Not that I am performing, but it will be nice to do some small things for friends and family at reunions.
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CurtWaltermire Special user Curtis The Mentalist 505 Posts |
I've had perhaps one of the more creative years throughout all of this than perhaps I've ever had in the past 30 years of performing. I've tackled a number of projects and been enjoying each one of them. I'm a bit of a tech nerd, and have really enjoyed building my video production and streaming studio, developing my skills as a videographer, web designer (for my own business use that is), graphic designer, and even voice over work. Regardless of what many think of virtual shows, it has been a great experience for me and I've been making a decent living with them. I started doing some live "in-person" shows again last August (some comedy clubs, socially distanced, etc.) and between the two it has given me a bit of a fresh perspective as a performer. I've been studying comedy and my presentations much more closely, writing some new material, and looking to more and more outside of magic/mentalism (which is really not too new for me, I've always done that). Picked up a great book a while back called "The Intent to Live" by Larry Moss. If you don't know who he is, look him up. One of the greatest acting teachers/coaches in show business. I also moonlight some as a professional actor (TV commercials, films, industrial videos, printwork, etc) and am always working to develop those chops as they are useful across the board. I have talked to a number of people who tell me that "there's just nothing to do" or they're just waiting for things to get back to "normal." I don't really understand that. As a performer and businessman, there is always work for me to do, something to be improving, learning, practicing, etc. Whether I like it or not, this "virtual shows" thing is a brand-new market and a high-demand, so why not make something of it? I don't see it as a compromise of any kind, but rather as a new market that exists in a parallel universe. Its it's own thing with a unique set of challenges. But I digress a bit, as I'm not trying to derail this thread with a discussion of the virtual thing as I know it's been beaten to death like so much else on this forum.
Want peace of mind, and a lot more time to do things? One of the absolute BEST things I've done to open my mind and creativity throughout this last year was to go completely off of social media. It has been an absolutely freeing experience. For the last 10 years or so I dived deep into most all of the platforms, even using things like Facebook for Developers to make sure I was getting the best from the platform, my website links and meta info rendering properly, etc., thinking it would really help my business. For some time, it did, but then as things changed over the years I was seeing less and less return on my time and money investment in them. I looked long and hard at the details of all of the statistics and saw less and less engagement no matter what I did. Ran ads to reach more people. Very little return. Since I'm mostly a corporate performer, I had a premium, paid LinkedIn account for years and applied all of the ins and outs of that platform but found almost NONE of my corporate clients there, with few exceptions. I amassed a ton of rave recommendations and reviews, only to still get little to nothing in return for it. The amazing thing is that going off of social media has had ZERO negative impact on my business. I'm as busy as I've ever been (with virtual shows mostly, but still an occasional in-person show a few times a month), and apart from some closer friends and family NO ONE HAS SEEMED TO NOTICE. One of the comedy clubs I frequently work has given me a bit of push-back about leaving social media, but we're working around it and I'm doing other things to promote my shows there and put derrieres in seats. I can't recommend this enough. I know that social media is a real money-maker for some people, especially those who have products to sell or have a brick-and-mortar type business to direct people to. But for me so far I have found it to not really be necessary and I'm surviving just fine without it, and getting a lot more done, having more time to be creative, and spending a lot more time kissing on my wife of 30 years. Which is always a good thing...
Curtis Waltermire
Mentalist/Magician/Speaker/Actor/Grandpa/Cool Dad & Above-Average Husband CurtisTheMentalist.com YouTube Channel My Touring Public Show "The Mastermind Show" Check Out My Podcast "The Mastermind Show with Curtis The Mentalist" |
Graymatter_Fireworks Veteran user Atlanta, GA 357 Posts |
I’m glad to see many of you finding your own way despite the curious times we’ve all been enduring.
Funsway, I still owe you a review. I have a new born baby that has put a major dent into my time. I’m glad you had some time to write your eBook. It’s very thorough. Patrick, I can understand your difficulty finding balance. It seems like your time is rightly placed in your child. Zoom seance work seems really interesting. Let me know if your have any resources you’d recommend. Bryce, I’m glad to see it helped re-ignite your interests. It was things like this I was hoping the roadblocks of Covid could help inspire. Curt, Yeah, I don’t know how people can live in such a state of boredom to have nothing to do. I wish I had more time to keep learning and growing! I also see Social Media becoming more and more of an expectation and obligation in many facets of life. Even despite people knowing how radioactive social media can get, let alone a time suck, it’s a funny state of events for society to “need” us to be on the platforms. Strange times. -Brandon
"The social world in which we live, determines our experience of what is real." - John Gager
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Doc Ben Loyal user Phoenix, AZ 261 Posts |
I found and performed some "plague"-related routines;
"Ring" by Prof BC, a Vince Wilson plague card type effect and a "Plague Cards" effect.
"Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain" (the original F. Baum)
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CurtWaltermire Special user Curtis The Mentalist 505 Posts |
Quote:
On Apr 14, 2021, Graymatter_Fireworks wrote: Congrats on your new arrival!
Curtis Waltermire
Mentalist/Magician/Speaker/Actor/Grandpa/Cool Dad & Above-Average Husband CurtisTheMentalist.com YouTube Channel My Touring Public Show "The Mastermind Show" Check Out My Podcast "The Mastermind Show with Curtis The Mentalist" |
Graymatter_Fireworks Veteran user Atlanta, GA 357 Posts |
Quote:
On Apr 15, 2021, CurtWaltermire wrote: Thank you!
"The social world in which we live, determines our experience of what is real." - John Gager
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dvno Special user Hamburg 570 Posts |
Just before Covid I was taking the plunge starting with paid gigs. So I had the worst timing ever, haha. But I really wanted it to happen - make my first money with mentalism. So I used all my connections and now - despite the tough times - I had several paid zoom gigs and one, last summer, on stage. One was for Google, one for Hummel (danish sports outfitter) and one for people in ireland - I am from germany. So I guess it could have been worse. Now I am super motivated to increase everything I do. I have a full time pro on my side who likes my stuff and my style and we are planning working together. I really hope that maybe some day I will be able to make a living out of my passion. I am 35, so very late to the party.
So Covid took me further than I‘ve ever been. |
Graymatter_Fireworks Veteran user Atlanta, GA 357 Posts |
DVNO,
I’m happy to hear you have such passion. Oh, and don’t forget Ted Lesley was around your age when he too decided to go pro. He’s one of my favorites and he’s from your neck of the woods too. -Brandon
"The social world in which we live, determines our experience of what is real." - John Gager
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dvno Special user Hamburg 570 Posts |
Thanks! Yes, I think the age doesn’t really matter I guess. It’s not that I have planned to win wimbledon now, haha.
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a brown 1968 Elite user 470 Posts |
The additional time at home I used initially to delve back into my library of books to rediscover principles , methods and premises that had faded from memory . I set my self a few creative challenges and over the months tackled each one . Listed below are just a few of them .
ACAAN - Having created the Crusade many years back , I did not think I would come up with a version that I would consider its equal but I wanted a more in the hands version that met the following criteria . The spectator can freely shuffle the deck . The choice of card and number is not forced and to be done while you face away from the spectator . When you face the spectator and they return the deck to you at this point the spectator has no idea where their card is in the deck and you have no idea where the card is also . Yet you go on to prove what card they are thinking of and the number they are thinking of . TEQUILA HUSTLE - I love the principle used in the original effect used to locate a coin in a hand but it can be used for so much more . Instead of finding a coin from two possible hiding places I worked up a version to find which of 8 blank cards has the spectator written £10 on . Also the principle is mainly used with one participant. I wanted to be able to toss some coins onto the table and turn away . The 2 spectators flip coins over randomly to mix the orientation up and one of them decides to cover one of the coins . Still facing away using the principle I can state which person has their hand covering the coin . Then facing them to see iff am right , I ask the person covering the coin if it is heads or tails up and again they can lie or tell the truth . With 100 % I tell them which role they chose and if the coin is heads or tails up . This last question could be answered mentally not verbally ESP CARDS . Never really thought about them much but found some in my cupboard looked at a few matching effects being sold and decided I need to go in a different direction . The challenge was for both the spectator and performer shuffle their 5 esp cards , for the spectator to eliminate 8 with no forcing and with the remaining 2 give me one and to keep the other . My math is poor but the permutations are 50 . That’s a lot of outs , however on the table is an envelope not gaffed with just 1 index card inside which predicts the outcome . No switching of the prediction was the hardest criteria to comply with . OOTW Probably the hardest one to crack . A normal deck that the performer mixes and spreads face up on the table for the spectator to see and jokers removed . The deck is given a genuine shuffle and handed to the spectator. The spectator is asked to deal cards onto the table facedown and stop when he wants , free choice . Where he stops at determines his choice . Dealt cards are added back to the deck and he proceeds to take cards from the deck . If he thinks he is holding his choice he puts it facedown before him otherwise he gives it to you . At the end he turns over his cards and they all match his choice and all the cards you have are the opposite . Deck is normal and ready to use for other effects . You never touch his pile . DESIGN DUPLICATION I wanted a set of say 40 double blanked cards with simple designs on one side and the backs completely blank so no question of secret markings , which is true . For the deck to be freely shuffled by both you or the spectator. Cards are spread , he touches one , you turn away show him the None forced picture close up the cards and immediately pocket the stack . His design is not manipulated to the bottom for say a sneak thief glimpse . You can now duplicate the picture the spectator is thinking of . A WORD - A couple of books are taken from the shelf of a friends house . A page number is chosen and written on the back of a double blank card and handed to the spectator with the pen . He goes to the page in the book he holds , chooses any word on the page and writes it secretly on the opposite side to side with the number . This card is buried into the middle of the stack of blank cards . Even after the stack is closed you can spread the cards again to show the card is still in the middle , he can even outjog it a little to keep sight of it . You proceed to reveal the word with no fishing , since it is a free choice , no anagram . A STAR - I like my friend Mark Elsdon Limelight , where a spectator is the star . I wanted a one phase version rather than multiple versions . A spectator from a group is chosen . You shuffle the cards and taking her aside you whisper in her ear . You confirm to the audience you have asked her to think of a card and she confirms that you do not know the card she is thinking . She is given the deck and asked to remove her card and pocket it . She is asked to shuffle the deck and a joker is placed in the deck where ever she wants . The performer reads her mind and with no fishing names her card . Taking the deck cards are counted off until the joker acting as a marker turns up . Taking her chosen card from her pocket , what are the chances of her locating the mate of her card from a deck she freely shuffled . The top card of the deck is taken by the spectator, it is the mate of her card . I did not ask her to choose 1 or 2 cards STOP HERE - I always liked the idea of the psychological stop trick but not the outs if the spectator did not stop the deal when you wanted and if performing for work colleagues this can happen often . Therefore I wanted less risk . The performer tables a physical deck and hands an imaginary deck to the spectator to shuffle and return to you . You take the top imaginary look at is face and place on the spectator’s hand facedown naming the card . He is asked to write an imaginary number on the back with his imaginary sharpie . This is repeated until he says Stop . At this time he names the number on the back of the imaginary card . You take the real deck and deal to that number . The card at that number is the card you named . No I am not a finger flinger ,no culling and second dealing . So there are a few of the ideas I came up with and worked on over these long lock down months . None of them are published anywhere before anyone asks . Looking at other threads , goes to show we do not all create one day and publish the next . Also looking at other threads you can be a hobbyist and like hobbyist card guys , create stuff which is not crap . You do not have to be a great performer to be a good thinker . However I would caveat that by saying I do not create stage effects because there and understanding of stage craft , audience management is critical . My tip . Never be afraid to think up an effect . Yes most will be crap or poor but you learn something from each idea . Wishing everyone a nice day Andrew |
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