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ChristopherM Special user UK 844 Posts |
"Be natural"
"The real secret...lies in the presentation" "Resolve all doubts/suspicions before the climax" "Confusion isn't magic" Strive for purity of effect; that is a lofty aim. Remember that magic is not for magicians' own selfish gratification. Oh, and show the utmost respect for the secrets of magic. That'd be my pick of the lot, in today's climate of newbie magi. |
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Antino New user South Florida 53 Posts |
Become a hobbiest. Do packet tricks. Learn every flourish you can. Buy one-trick Ellusionist DVDs. Fool your friends. Your mom. Your girlfriend. Go to magic conventions and tell everyone about it with utmost excitement. Don't hold back. Feed your ego. Buy more tricks. Fall madly in love with what you’re doing. And call yourself a magician.
Then step back and take a year or two off from magic. Spend those years listening to poetry at open mic nights. Strolling through museums. Seeing plays. Going to breakdance jams. Practicing Tai Chi. Reading about people like Musahsi, Sun Tzu, and Bruce Lee. Stopping to look at the Graffiti on the Subway walls. Playing long, epic RPG games. Babysitting. Conversing at length with the children you’re babysitting. Cooking the fanciest dish you can, even though it might not taste good. Traveling to other countries, and possibly trying to learn their language. Getting good at monotonously tedious tasks, like sweeping the floor. Or doing the dishes. Cutting your own hair. Watching And1 mixtapes. Lowering the basketball hoop in your driveway and holding your own slam dunk contest. Delve into as much non-magic related stuff as you can. Then come back to magic. Resume your training. And call yourself an apprentice. |
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Drew Manning Special user Dallas, Texas 913 Posts |
Antonio-
I must say that is great advice! I was very into magic about 12 years ago and spent a lot of time on close up stuff etc and got ok at it, but my interest was in stage magic, which I was never good at. After taking a lot of time off, but never forgetting about magic, I am coming back to it, wiser and more thoughtful of the art. I think a lot of that may have to do with changes in my self from my late teens when I got into magic until now in my early 30s where I know a lot more about life in general and thinking for myself.
I live my life for a layer of ice
Just like those poured by my bartender vice Any taste of vermouth would be really sublime, When you have a good martini time! -The Reverend Horton Heat |
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karbonkid Special user 951 Posts |
Since art is a reflection of life, and YOUR art, more specifically, is a reflection of YOUR life...then magic is just an extension of that, right?
If that's the case, then you can't define that for anyone. Ultimately they have to find out for themselves. Which is the great thing about magic...everyone is bringing their magic, and themselves to the table...but I thought that was a given, and perhaps I was wrong. |
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Servante Inner circle 1330 Posts |
If you must do sucker tricks, make yourself the sucker, not audience members. Make any true volunteer the hero of the piece. They trust you. Don't betray them.
Study the history, the people who came before. An understanding of them and what they did will build reverence for your heritage. this will lead to more study and more practice. As has been mentioned above, studying a thing can eliminate personal wonder. If you study a butterfly, pull of its wings, slice open its abdomen and come to an understanding of it physically, you are in danger of forgetting the wonder you first experienced as a child...upon seeing that very first butterfly. Don't forget that what seems obvious to you, immersed in it, is true and wonderful magic to those who watch. |
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rannie Inner circle 4375 Posts |
More than just knowing the move.... understand and know why it works.
learn to discern. Learn to recognize which magician is sincerely trying to help you advance... This may be in the form of criticism, suggestions or advices. Watch out for some who just wants to screw you up. Mostly from bitter magicians who never had recognition or who were forgotten. Usually in the form of criticism, suggestions and advices. don't forget the word RESPECT. Rannie
"If you can't teach an old dog new tricks, trick the old dog to learn."
-Rannie Raymundo- aka The Boss aka The Manila Enforcer www.rannieraymundo.com www.tapm.proboards80.net |
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Antino New user South Florida 53 Posts |
Whats up Drew, appreciate the respect.
Yeah breaks from magic really give you insight. I too have taken a break from it, and by doing so, have found so many non-magic related things that can be applied to magic. Outside our art, there's a reservoir of ideas for routines, patter, presentation style, character development, training discipline, criticism-taking tactics, etc. Not to knock on anyone, but I notice a lot of mages imprison themselves in magic. Good insight from Karbon- magic is an art reflective of life. So to truly be a magician, step forward and see the art, then step back and see life. Keep stepping. Make your perspectives dance. Peacefully, Antino |
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Clark Special user 957 Posts |
1) Take your magic very seriously without taking yourself too seriously, your connection with the audience will show you're ability to this very thing.
2) Avoid drowning in information an yet thirsting to death for knowledge. Information ("secrets") are at everyones fingertips now. This fact muddies the distinction between "knowing" and "doing."
“The key to creativity is in knowing how to hide your sources.”
Albert Einstein |
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MitchMagic Loyal user Montreal, Quebec 277 Posts |
1) Relax
2) Avoid the temptation to purchase too much magic. Mitchell
Magic For Darfur
Save Us. |
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Drew Manning Special user Dallas, Texas 913 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-06-27 14:45, Antino wrote: There's a lot of truth in what you say. During my break, I took up oil painting, martial arts and learned to speak Spanish to some degree. All of these will help me as I go forward in magic. From painting, I have learned about ligh, color and shadwo. From martial arts, I ahve learned focus and sticktuivness as well as imporved my psoture and balance and Spanish means I can communicate with a larger audience or throw what sounds like mumbo jumbo to most folks into my work and a few people will get some meaning from it.
I live my life for a layer of ice
Just like those poured by my bartender vice Any taste of vermouth would be really sublime, When you have a good martini time! -The Reverend Horton Heat |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-06-26 10:38, kregg wrote: Pretty much says anything I have to say on the subject right there. Very nice. It is very OLD SCHOOL in thinking, but it advances the student and in my opinion the "art" faster.
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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Joshua Lozoff Inner circle Chapel Hill, NC 1332 Posts |
So great to see you chime in with this one, Whit. Your discussion about this topic in your Chicago Surprise manuscript is so well written.
So many people in our culture (even including someone further up in this very topic) offer the simplistic advice to "be yourself," or even more judgementally, not to copy anyone, and to be original, but we are the only culture in the world that feels that way. The classic arts and apprenticeships in most traditional cultures place such high value on copying your teacher/mentor/idol without putting the slightest bit of your own personality in, for a period of time. THEN after much time, allowing yourself to shine through. It's sad how often beginning magicians are criticized in this forum for copying their idols, and told to "be original." I wish they could all read your manuscript and your comparison to Japanese calligraphy, if I remember correctly. I've always kept that in mind. So my answer to Clark's question is to read Whit Hadyn's advice in his Chicago Surprise manuscript! (except I still prefer Invisible Pack to Brainwave!) Quote: On 2007-06-25 20:02, Whit Haydn wrote: |
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Clark Special user 957 Posts |
Josh, if you like Whit's views on originality you should definitely read his essay he posted here on the Café years ago (a quick search will dig it up). He expands quite a bit on what he eluded to here...genius.
“The key to creativity is in knowing how to hide your sources.”
Albert Einstein |
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Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27297 Posts |
One for the café
If you wish to be entrusted with secrets, at least have the good sense to respect the privacy of private messages on the café. After all, how can you trust someone to protect your private work or ideas in progress when they can't manage to keep a conversation private? Awkward to have to write that but it also, sadly, seems necessary, J
...to all the coins I've dropped here
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karbonkid Special user 951 Posts |
JT,
That really happens? |
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Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27297 Posts |
Yes KK, I would not have thought to write it or found it necessary to post otherwise.
...to all the coins I've dropped here
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enginemagic Special user Bluffton Indiana 597 Posts |
I wish many would take advice LOL ,I can take it myself espeically when it is for the better
theres a lot to learn out there,many interesting subjects,and hobbies to enjoy
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Clark Special user 957 Posts |
Sad, sad, sad.
“The key to creativity is in knowing how to hide your sources.”
Albert Einstein |
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karbonkid Special user 951 Posts |
So maybe advice tip would be...if it's a secret...keep it a secret.
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Drew Manning Special user Dallas, Texas 913 Posts |
Quote:
So many people in our culture (even including someone further up in this very topic) offer the simplistic advice to "be yourself," or even more judgementally, not to copy anyone, and to be original, but we are the only culture in the world that feels that way. The classic arts and apprenticeships in most traditional cultures place such high value on copying your teacher/mentor/idol without putting the slightest bit of your own personality in, for a period of time. THEN after much time, allowing yourself to shine through. I think it's ok and even quite advisable to be inspired by those who have been successful in magic, but to copy thier act or routine exaclty isn't the best idea IMO. I love Lance Burton and especially his dove routine and it with some practice, I could learn it move for move. The problem is, that I would never preform it the way he does as it is HIS routine. I would be seen as an inferior copy or imitation and I don't want that type of reputation. I think that is the true nature of that type of advice.
I live my life for a layer of ice
Just like those poured by my bartender vice Any taste of vermouth would be really sublime, When you have a good martini time! -The Reverend Horton Heat |
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