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Josh the Superfluous Inner circle The man of 1881 Posts |
This was conceived after reading some posts in the card forum, thus the pasteboard slant. But it could be any sleights.
I have a lot of tools. My wife thinks I have too many, but I know they all serve special needs. I have the basics like a hammer, a screwdriver, and pliers. But I also have special tools like a pipe cutter, and wire strippers. I know I don't need them all. A hacksaw works fine for cutting pipe, for example. But when the right situation comes up it's very satisfying for me to use the right tools. And they usually do a nicer job for me. Some people don't use as many tools as I do. Some use different ones than I do. Some make nicer things, some do worse. When someone with fewer tools does incredible work, I am impressed. But when I see someone fumbling or limited in what they can do, I want to share the special tools, that fit the task at hand. I know a lot of sleights. My wife thinks I practice too much, but I know they all serve special needs. I know the basics like the hindu shuffle, the double lift, and the classic force. But I also know special sleights like the pinky count, and the pass. I know I don't need them all. A double undercut works fine for controlling a card, for example. But when the right situation comes up it's very satisfying for me to use the right sleights. And they usually do a nicer job for me. Some people don't use as many sleights as I do. Some use different ones than I do. Some have better performances, some do worse. When someone with fewer sleights does incredible work, I am impressed. But when I see someone fumbling or limited in what they can do, I want to share the special sleights, that fit the task at hand.
What do you want in a site? "Honesty, integrity and decency." -Mike Doogan
"I hate it, I hate my ironic lovechild. I didn't even have anything to do with it" Josh #2 |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Not a bad analogy. Actually a quite appropriate one.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
That's an excellent analogy. Sometimes you can tell how a person feels about his audience by the way he refers to his sleights. The idea of saying that a sleight is a great thing to have in your arsenal of magic appears to have a belligerent or adversarial relationship to the audience. But to call it a tool makes it constructive.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
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kregg Inner circle 1950 Posts |
Yup, good one Josh. You only have one hammer?
The object of knowing more than you need, is to expand your understanding, What is life if you don't learn something? Though I was an A student (perfect score) in algebra, I have to read the prompts to recall the subject when my son needs help. I don't use algebra (ever), but I do know that it enriched my character and strengthened my work ethic.
POOF!
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George Ledo Magic Café Columnist SF Bay Area 3042 Posts |
Good one, Josh!
I have a lot of tools too, and I don't even use a good chunk of them even when doing a major project. But knowing they're there, and knowing I can use them if I need to, makes me feel... oh... about 10,000% more confident. Donna has just about every kitchen tool imaginable, and she doesn't use the majority of them either. But, again, knowing what they are, and what they're for, and how to use them if she needs to, increases her enjoyment of cooking and baking by about a millionfold. I don't think it's so much an arsenal as a toolbox... and this from a guy who spent six years in the military. An arsenal implies having a lot of "hardware" -- enough that if a few don't work, you can just throw more and more at the problem until you saturate it out of existence. A toolbox implies being able to pick just the right tool to solve the problem. It's a nicer way to look at it.
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" |
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
Using only the tools that are necessary to produce the desired effect is a principle that people should pay attention to. In the field of publishing, there was a revolution during the 1980's when "Desktop Publishing" became a viable means of book production. There was one major problem with DTP. It didn't come with skill or taste -- a lot like some magic DVD's.
Some people went "font crazy." This gave rise to an expression that has stuck with me for a long time -- "Ransom Note" layouts. These are layouts that use as many fonts as the user can cram onto a page. "I have 356 fonts and I want everyone to know it!" When I published Sheherazade and Final Curtain, I used three basic fonts. I used Garamond for the main text and University Roman for the titles. Courier was used for the MSDS's. By using bold face in the appropriate areas and italics in other areas, I could keep things interesting without having to create clashes of typefaces. Simplicity is very important. This applies to magic as well. Sometimes a difficult sleight may be the most efficient way of performing something. If so, learn it. Then practice it until it isn't difficult for you any more.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
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Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Good topic, Josh!!
For many years I have referred to this particular phase in the study of magic as filling your tool belt. I see this as actually going beyond the learning of particular sleights. Tools are anything that the magician can use to complete or aid the process of a particular task. Among other types of magicians' tools, this can include an ever-growing knowledge of the physical tools at the magicians' disposal. The mechanical props, the gimmicks, and just a knowledge of the variations of particular items can aid the magician tremendously. This doesn't mean that the magician should begin buying every mechanical devise available, but to become familiar with them is certainly a useful thing. Knowing what is available, and particularly, where to obtain it, should the need arise is no less important than adding any other tool to the belt. This could range from knowing the inner workings of a dozen different boxes used to vanish a dove, to knowing where to obtain the best scissors for efficiently cutting through a thick piece of Camirand rope. Even if particular items are not always kept in the working inventory, knowledge of these things gives the magician a jump start on developing new routines when the need arises. The same can, of course, be said for sleights. Knowledge of particular sleights without having them under constant maintenance is not necessarily a bad thing. It would mean that those sleights would not be ready to use at the drop of a hat, but knowing that they exist may become important when designing a new routine. Even with only a few tools, or sleights at one's disposal, it is likely the best option will be chosen from those available. But, the more sleights or other tools the magician has to pick from, the more refined that choice becomes. Knowledge is power. What follows next is reliant on the magicians' ability to use the tools to the best advantage. ~michael
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
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RandyStewart Inner circle Texas (USA) 1989 Posts |
Great analogy and topic Josh. Is there a tool for Superfluosity? Were you able to say that aloud the first time without tripping all over yourself? Of course you were. I notice you've been the given the title of Superfluous. I can't even imagine what the tool looks like!
I just remembered my Army days when you had the crusty Seargent in the Motorpool (mechanic shop) send the totally newbie private to the Supply Seargent to get tools which might include a box of "grid squares". Well grid squares are only found on maps. Sometimes they'd even be specific with the private about the color and weight of grid squares. That or have them jump up and down on a real tank to test air pressure in the tire tracks. It's a real sight to laugh your butt off. You'd also be amazed at how long it can take before one realizes they've been had. This can happen to anyone not familiar with the available tools and their uses. Back to your topic. I've collected a lot of "tools" in magic. Only in the last couple of years have I decided what I want to build. I wish I had learned to ask myself this question a long time ago so I wouldn't of collected as many tools, although I can use them well, but have not use for. I also wouldn't be in the "blueprint" stage of development today in a couple of my developing acts. This is what happends when you are talked into buying the box of grid squares - even those made to your specs. |
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tommy Eternal Order Devil's Island 16544 Posts |
The only problem is having so many that it leaves you with no time to practice them all. Tools can get rusty if you don't look after them.
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.
Tommy |
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wildarr New user Isle of Palms, SC 80 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-07-07 06:07, tommy wrote: Very true. There are several options and I can think of just a few:
All valid choices...except maybe the "or worse" part... It all depends on individual needs and tolerances. |
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Josh the Superfluous Inner circle The man of 1881 Posts |
I didn't realize how Chauncey Gardener-esque this discussion would get.
What do you want in a site? "Honesty, integrity and decency." -Mike Doogan
"I hate it, I hate my ironic lovechild. I didn't even have anything to do with it" Josh #2 |
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wildarr New user Isle of Palms, SC 80 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-07-07 08:37, Josh the Superfluous wrote: At least we're not walking on water....yet! |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Regarding neglect and tools it is an OLD story about the lumberjack kid who shows up at the site. He decides he is better than the old guys and will outwork them.
Well turns out the old guys know some stuff and he is only even. So after the first week he decides to work harder and stay longer. He is still only even. So he decides to show up early the next week and stay late. Oddly enough he is still even. The next week no lunch, shows up early stays late and still he is just even. Finally one of the old guys comes up to him and says "you are a real hard worker kid you should do just fine." The kid asks why he can't get any more than even with the old guys, so the older gentleman picks up the kids axe and says "every once in a while you gotta sharpen your axe". I have used the tool analogy for years. Maybe it is why I agree with it so wholeheartedly. We are not at war with our audience. We are building an experience for them.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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kregg Inner circle 1950 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-07-07 06:07, tommy wrote: I posted this anecdote in another forum, but, it seemed more than appropriate here. While attending a wood carving class, another student asked, "How do I keep my tools from rusting?" Without pause the instructor replied, "Use them." Kregg
POOF!
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cinemagician Inner circle Phila Metro Area 1094 Posts |
Would a carpenter sell his tools?
...The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity...
William Butler Yeats |
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Josh the Superfluous Inner circle The man of 1881 Posts |
They often pass them on to their apprentices. And if they come up with a new one, they will market it. Is that what you're asking?
What do you want in a site? "Honesty, integrity and decency." -Mike Doogan
"I hate it, I hate my ironic lovechild. I didn't even have anything to do with it" Josh #2 |
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cinemagician Inner circle Phila Metro Area 1094 Posts |
Good answer to a stilted question. I was thinking about the way that magicians protected their secrets in the golden age of magic vs. today. Not making any judgements here just kind of worth considering...
Passing the tools on to the apprentices that sounds nice doesn't it? Has a nicer ring to it than "marketing them" huh?
...The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity...
William Butler Yeats |
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Josh the Superfluous Inner circle The man of 1881 Posts |
If they didn't market them, I'd never own a Garden Weasel.
As far as giving them away: I'd think most serious carpenters would cringe if they saw someone misusing a high quality tool, while making something substandard. Or using one tool, when another would be better suited. And they'd never let just anyone use their tools. The analogy gets a little thin when comparing a single object to a concept that can be learned. In that case switch over to Michael's gaff related comments.
What do you want in a site? "Honesty, integrity and decency." -Mike Doogan
"I hate it, I hate my ironic lovechild. I didn't even have anything to do with it" Josh #2 |
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wildarr New user Isle of Palms, SC 80 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-07-07 11:34, cinemagician wrote: Definitely. It's a shame that the world has gotten so big and busy that these types of relationships are dwindling. |
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
In another thread, I posted about asking Roger Klause to teach me a sleight. The first thing he asked was how I planned to use it. That's the key. Learn things you will use. Then you don't have to worry about practicing them as much. You will practice them constantly under audience conditions.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
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