Ok, I don't take a stance that something is Inherently right or wrong. I am only stating MY opinion. Your opinion is yours. Since you know everything, may I ask what makes you such an expert? What type of shows do you perform? How often?
Maybe you can teach me more? I am always open to suggestions as well as the fair and free exchange of information and ideas.

On 2007-05-08 14:23, gsidhe wrote:
Justin,
Rolling up the sleeves is not inherantly a sign of weakness as you seem to be making it out to be.
It would never be considered one in real life, so why would it be on stage?
In everyday life, as far as body language goes, what does rolling up the sleeves mean?
Time to get to work. To get serious about something. What they are about to do takes some work and or concentration, so they had best be comfortable.

To me, rolling up the sleeves in an act CAN convey that as well. The sleeves going up are a subtle psycological cue-"Ok...What I was doing before was fun, but now it is time for the real thing, time to get to work".
It is a relatable and understandable gesture. It can draw the audience closer to the character while relaxing them, making the performer more human than they once appeared. It can help to get them on your side.

Granted, in real life, we are not going to roll up our sleeves and show how bare our arms are "See...No office supplies in there!!", and I would not want to see a magician doing that either (Unless it was intentional hack). It needs to look natural.

If we don't act a little human on stage, the audience cannot relate to the show. I think rolling up the sleeves is an acceptable way.

Just to head off the inevitible questions like the ones you asked Laurie and Jack Scratch-Here is who you are talking to.
I have been performing on stage in one way or another since I was 6 years old. Not as a kid in the school choir either, but as a solo violinist. I also did my first chain escape in front of an audience that same year. I ran away for several months when I was 16 and made a decent living doing betchas, magic and other street performance. I have a BA in Theatre Performance (Concentration in dialect and Directing), minors in Music, English and Sculpture. Out of college I went straight to work as a street performer for one of the larger Theme Parks, and then worked full time as a magician for about three years, doing voice over and commercial work in my spare time.
Currently, I design effects and perform with the Dolls Macabre Cabaret- A Fire, Burlesque and Performance Art Troupe. I also write, act and direct for the Grimprov (www.grimprov.com) Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre and am the co-owner of Knotty Bits Entertainment, which performs Sideshow, traditional Stage and Bizarre Magic at festival, coorperate and private functions. I also have an effect commercially available on the web.
Since you asked Jack Scratch how often does he perform, I'll assume you would like to know the same of anyone who posts here.
From now, until the end of June, I have about 48 shows booked for Knotty Bits in a 400 mile radius, 2 Murder Mysteries and One show booked with the Cabaret.

So...I'm a nobody too. A very busy nobody.
Gwyd

On 2007-05-08 17:48, Vandy Grift wrote:
David Roth is one of the best coin men alive. And I'm certain that he does NOT fear his audience. However, I don't like the rolled up sleeves with a jacket. Frankly, I think it looks stupid. Purely from a fashion perspective.

I mean maybe for 15 minutes back in the early eighties it was cool to roll up your shirt and jacket sleeves ala' Crockett on "Miami Vice". But I cringe evertime I see David Roth or anyone else doing that now.

Shirt sleeves rolled up are fine. But rolling up jacket sleeves looks gay as all hell to me.

On 2007-05-08 13:31, Justin Style wrote:

Quote:

On 2007-05-08 13:31, JackScratch wrote:

That post is a sign that you read what I wrote and cherry picked the words you thought supported what you are saying. Make no mistake, you and I do not agree. In one of these posts, you make a comment about it "being part of your character". Almost anything you can imagine, can be the right thing to do. I almost always disagree with anyone who takes the stance that something is inherently right or wrong.

Reaching your audience is right, not reaching them is wrong. Anything more is limiting the creativity of expresion, and retarding the progress of our art.

Ok, I don't take a stance that something is Inherently right or wrong. I am only stating MY opinion. Your opinion is yours. Since you know everything, may I ask what makes you such an expert? What type of shows do you perform? How often?
Maybe you can teach me more? I am always open to suggestions as well as the fair and free exchange of information and ideas.

On 2007-05-09 08:50, magicalaurie wrote:


Oh, and are you some kind of fashion expert? What are your credentials?

~ magicalaurie, mgoQotMpi

On 2007-05-08 17:48, Vandy Grift wrote:
David Roth is one of the best coin men alive. And I'm certain that he does NOT fear his audience. However, I don't like the rolled up sleeves with a jacket. Frankly, I think it looks stupid. Purely from a fashion perspective.

I mean maybe for 15 minutes back in the early eighties it was cool to roll up your shirt and jacket sleeves ala' Crockett on "Miami Vice". But I cringe evertime I see David Roth or anyone else doing that now.

Shirt sleeves rolled up are fine. But rolling up jacket sleeves looks gay as all hell to me.

On 2007-05-09 12:26, Vandy Grift wrote:
I didn't say anyone WAS gay. I just said anyone who does that LOOKS gay. LOL!

Yes, I am aware that's a terribly Un-PC thing to say. Which is, of course, why I said it.

On 2007-05-09 12:26, Vandy Grift wrote:
Yes, I am aware that's a terribly Un-PC thing to say. Which is, of course, why I said it.

On 2007-05-09 12:22, Justin Style wrote:

Quote:

On 2007-05-08 17:48, Vandy Grift wrote:
David Roth is one of the best coin men alive. And I'm certain that he does NOT fear his audience. However, I don't like the rolled up sleeves with a jacket. Frankly, I think it looks stupid. Purely from a fashion perspective.

I mean maybe for 15 minutes back in the early eighties it was cool to roll up your shirt and jacket sleeves ala' Crockett on "Miami Vice". But I cringe evertime I see David Roth or anyone else doing that now.

Shirt sleeves rolled up are fine. But rolling up jacket sleeves looks gay as all hell to me.

I wouldn't actually call anyone gay. But I do agree with what you said. Thanks.

On 2007-05-08 14:23, gsidhe wrote:
Justin,
Rolling up the sleeves is not inherantly a sign of weakness as you seem to be making it out to be.
It would never be considered one in real life, so why would it be on stage?
In everyday life, as far as body language goes, what does rolling up the sleeves mean?
Time to get to work. To get serious about something. What they are about to do takes some work and or concentration, so they had best be comfortable.

To me, rolling up the sleeves in an act CAN convey that as well. The sleeves going up are a subtle psycological cue-"Ok...What I was doing before was fun, but now it is time for the real thing, time to get to work".
It is a relatable and understandable gesture. It can draw the audience closer to the character while relaxing them, making the performer more human than they once appeared. It can help to get them on your side.

Granted, in real life, we are not going to roll up our sleeves and show how bare our arms are "See...No office supplies in there!!", and I would not want to see a magician doing that either (Unless it was intentional hack). It needs to look natural.

If we don't act a little human on stage, the audience cannot relate to the show. I think rolling up the sleeves is an acceptable way.

Just to head off the inevitible questions like the ones you asked Laurie and Jack Scratch-Here is who you are talking to.
I have been performing on stage in one way or another since I was 6 years old. Not as a kid in the school choir either, but as a solo violinist. I also did my first chain escape in front of an audience that same year. I ran away for several months when I was 16 and made a decent living doing betchas, magic and other street performance. I have a BA in Theatre Performance (Concentration in dialect and Directing), minors in Music, English and Sculpture. Out of college I went straight to work as a street performer for one of the larger Theme Parks, and then worked full time as a magician for about three years, doing voice over and commercial work in my spare time.
Currently, I design effects and perform with the Dolls Macabre Cabaret- A Fire, Burlesque and Performance Art Troupe. I also write, act and direct for the Grimprov (www.grimprov.com) Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre and am the co-owner of Knotty Bits Entertainment, which performs Sideshow, traditional Stage and Bizarre Magic at festival, coorperate and private functions. I also have an effect commercially available on the web.
Since you asked Jack Scratch how often does he perform, I'll assume you would like to know the same of anyone who posts here.
From now, until the end of June, I have about 48 shows booked for Knotty Bits in a 400 mile radius, 2 Murder Mysteries and One show booked with the Cabaret.

So...I'm a nobody too. A very busy nobody.
Gwyd