|
|
Matt New user 41 Posts |
Anyone ever seen or considered a redneck/nascar type character? Something along the lines of Bob (?) the Cable Guy, or Roy G. Mercer?
Matt |
Eric Starkey Regular user Pittsburgh, PA 180 Posts |
Please, correct me if I'm wrong (but I don't think that I am). Isn't "Redneck" a racist term? I'm pretty sure that it is, at least in my vocabulary (it's not a word, or stereotype, that I use or would like to see replicated - plus, it's not really all that funny.
|
Matt New user 41 Posts |
Well, let me try another word or two then. How about country or hillbilly. I'm just thinking of sort of the antithesis of the cultured tuxedoed magician, Slydini's fancy gentleman type character. By redneck, I just meant an over the top version of a country/hillbilly. No offence was meant to any white people on this board from either side of the Mason/Dixon line.
I'm just throwing out an idea. It's ok if you throw it back. Matt |
Eric Starkey Regular user Pittsburgh, PA 180 Posts |
I'm just throwing out an idea. It's ok if you throw it back.
Great thought Matt. After all, that's how brainstorming and creative sessions SHOULD work. Back to your "country/hillbilly" idea. I'm not saying that it won't work, because it's a stereotype (after all, Jeff Hobson does quite well with an overly homosexual character and he is strait, sort of!). My concern is simply, why take the chance of turning off an audience to such a great extent that there is no chance of winning them back? - you can't just turn the character off if it's not working and try something else, it would take a complete commitment to the character. It would probably work best if you are able to ensure that the audience knows that your tongue is planted firmly in your cheek. By the way, I am a northerner (not that it matters). Lastly, regarding the comment about Slydini being a "fancy gentleman type character", I would have to disagree, somewhat. I don't say this to nit-pick, just (hopefully) to inform. Slydini was more in-your-face and confrontational. "Watcha my hands, I'ma gonna fool you." Guy Hollingworth is probably more in line with what you meant. Again, I am not pointing this out to make anyone feel as though they made a mistake, I just wanted to clarify it. I look forward to discussing "character" further with you. |
Thomas Wayne Inner circle Alaska 1977 Posts |
Quote:
On 2002-02-15 10:58, Eric Starkey wrote: Okay, I think you're wrong. To my knowledge, "Redneck" is not connected to a specific RACE; rather, it refers to a lifestyle that is entirely independent of any ethnic origins. I have heard a number of different racial types referred to as "rednecks" due to their clothing, demeaner and accent; race had (and has) nothing to do with it. Now, "Cracker" might be another story. Regards, Thomas Wayne
MOST magicians: "Here's a quarter, it's gone, you're an idiot, it's back, you're a jerk, show's over." Jerry Seinfeld
|
Scott F. Guinn Inner circle "Great Scott!" aka "Palms of Putty" & "Poof Daddy G" 6586 Posts |
Perhaps the term "hick" might be better, although most rednecks seem to know that they are, and are proud to admit---Jeff Foxworthy comes to mind.
Steve Simbeck, owner of Showplace Magic in Salt Lake City does this type of magic act with a character he has developed called Billy Hill. You might try contacting him.
"Love God, laugh more, spend more time with the ones you love, play with children, do good to those in need, and eat more ice cream. There is more to life than magic tricks." - Scott F. Guinn
My Lybrary Page |
Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts |
Isn't this carrying "political correctness" just a wee bit too far?
Eric Starkey makes a good point, in his post, about Slydini. Slydini almost challenged the audience to get ahead of him. He was, indeed, an "in your face" kind of performer (although I suggest he might be baffled by the term!) However, I don't think he or anyone else would ever consider him a "fancy gentleman" (in the style of Dick Cardini, for example). Tony's bolero suit kinda took care of that! cheers, Peter Marucci showtimecol@aol.com |
Matt New user 41 Posts |
Peter's right, I think I meant Cardini. Comes home from a party and cards and balls begin appearing from everywhere right? Sorry, I got the wrong dini.
Meanwhile, I'm sure a homogonized hick type character could be done without offending much of the audience. I would love to see Steve's Billy Hill. (As I'm thinking about it, I'd love to see someone put together a tape that had performances of Peter, Scott, Mumblepeas, Steve and the many, many other's, that contribute to this and similar forums. That would be sweet. Who has a video camera and is up for a road trip?) Anyway, my first image of this hick character was definitely a risky one. Somewhere between an Andy Kaufman stunt and a serious magic performance. I saw it happening on the street, so that if things turned ugly, one (notice that I'm not using "I" just yet) could high-tail it to the pick-up and get out of there. This might be something one could do to practice crowd management or work through some performance anxiety. But it could also turn into an interesting and doable character. I could revive my prof nightmare patter that dealt with buying shoe laces for my three legged pig (a pig that good, you don't eat all at once). An escape would be a story about a run in with the local sheriff. Topsy turvy beer bottles anyone? I'm rambling now. Good night. Matt |
Thomas Wayne Inner circle Alaska 1977 Posts |
If it's a politically incorrect performer you're looking for, just catch Gazzo's act. His routine alone has set the PC movement back 25 years. Not that there's anything WRONG with that...
Regards, Thomas Wayne
MOST magicians: "Here's a quarter, it's gone, you're an idiot, it's back, you're a jerk, show's over." Jerry Seinfeld
|
Burt Yaroch Inner circle Dallas,TX 1097 Posts |
Hey Matt, I jus' could, might, have to come down there and teach you a lesson. How biga fella are ya?
Yakworld.
|
Matt New user 41 Posts |
|
Scott F. Guinn Inner circle "Great Scott!" aka "Palms of Putty" & "Poof Daddy G" 6586 Posts |
"If you go to your family reunion to cruise for chicks...
You MIGHT be a redneck!" -Jeff Foxworthy
"Love God, laugh more, spend more time with the ones you love, play with children, do good to those in need, and eat more ice cream. There is more to life than magic tricks." - Scott F. Guinn
My Lybrary Page |
Paul Inner circle A good lecturer at your service! 4409 Posts |
Or how about a white trash act?
You need to be white, your act needs to be trash. Come to think of it, that wouldn't be too original for many. There is nothing wrong with character acts, but I feel they CAN narrow rather than widen your appeal. Paul Hallas |
Matt New user 41 Posts |
Oh, oh, oh!
I betcha I could be the first magi to do the bullit catch with a shotgun. I'm off to the thrift store to buy some bibbers and a straw hat. While I'm there, I'm a donatin my socks and shoes. |
Harry Murphy Inner circle Maryland 5444 Posts |
While “Redneck” might not be identified to an ethnic group, it is clearly regional in origin in the USA. It originally was a derogatory reference to a field worker. That is a farmer, a migrant worker, or a field hand. People who worked in the hot sun chopping cotton, picking grapes, lettuce, cabbage, whatever! Most of these field hands wore broad brim hats that protected (to some small degree) their faces. However, stooping forward exposed the back of their necks to the sun. They got sever sunburns, especially early in the picking season, and thus were called “red necks”. They were the lowest of the low in the social pecking order. After a time, city folks, came to call any farmer (rich or poor) a red neck. It was meant as an insult.
Like most insults the very people who it was meant to insult neutralized it. True rednecks simply took on the name with pride. Most rural folk and many “blue collar” workers, city folk or country folk, refer to themselves as rednecks with pride. Almost a year ago I posted a note on a forum about “Adult Magic” (referring to language, innuendo, etc). I wrote: I work bars, some rather rough and tumble bars at that. I do an adult act for adults. There is not one swear word or sexual innuendo in the entire act. Yet the audience laughs long and loud. I play a naive NASCAR loving, RAVENS rooting, cigar smoking, and booze drinking, hard working, union dues paying, but laid off, redneck kind of character. The magic is part of the ongoing story line (is the story line) and is sort of a boozy hallucination (sorry Cardini for lifting your swell idea! I just cannot be a gentleman!) I don’t smoke, yet do a smoking pipe routine (the old clay pipes done with corncob’s) and I do Fox’s multiplying cigar routine. I don’t drink during working hours, yet I produce a couple of full shot glasses (tea looks like Jack D.) and a bottle of Jack Daniels (tea again) in my opener, and I do a hip-pocket lotta “water from Ireland!” as a running gag through the act. My finish is the production of a full case of Budweiser cans! (Gwynn’s appearing fishbowl modernized for a bar environment. OH so easy!) I do a 20th Century bandana (homemade as usual) with a woman from the audience. I suspect that most people expect the "bra" trick, but only a clean bandana appears. The laughter is more a relief for the audience that a bra did not appear. (A bottle of beer is produced from the gathered bandannas and presented to the lady assistant for helping). The act is fun and well received. It is an adult act! It deals with adult themes. Yet I contend that it is 'clean'! I try to speak to the life experience my audience lives (or at least is familiar with if they are from this area), with gentle good humor and without any crudity. Again, I perform an adult show for adults. I think that the entire family could enjoy it. However, as a parent I would think twice before I let my kids watch a funny act that modeled smoking and drinking behavior, even if it was a 'clean' act. Clean but adult! To build this type of character, one that can be identified and identified with, don’t buy bib overalls, or silly straw hats. Levies, t-shirt or sweatshirt with a team or Union logo, ball cap with a NASCAR drivers name and number. (My hat is a Dale Earnhardt, number # with piece of black ribbon sewn over it – a moment of reverence to the great Dale is always part of my show). I will take it off and put it on a homemade pedestal table to stage right. The table is made of a pool stick cut down. Screwed to a base and with a small round top. I put my hip flask Lotta on it with a shot glass and Hat. Hey, put a black or navy blazer over this and you are a redneck getting ready for your best friends wedding. My prop box is an Igloo brand ice chest (lunch box size) with Football team bumper stickers on it. Different team on each side, those teams that are important to the area I tend to work (Cowboys, Redskins, Ravens, Steelers). I can do a “ by the sound of the applause, who is the best team” bit. It sits on a stool. My character is not played with broad burlesque humor but with a more gentle and respectful, “let’s poke fun at ourselves” type of humor that Foxworthy is well know for. Everyone can identify with this character, yet he offends no one. Like any good character, it takes study, building, and experimenting. I have often wondered how many years it took Richard Pitchford (Cardini) to build his character or Johnny Thompson (The Great Thomsoni) his? Me? After over 10 years of working on this guy, he's still not done. I’m Buffbillybobburt, but just call me Buff! (Which is my name by the way!) Hummmm. I wonder what a straw hatted, bib overall kinda guy would do?
The artist formally known as Mumblepeas!
|
Mark the Balloon Guy New user Tampa Bay Florida 27 Posts |
Amazin Abner does a country style magician act.
As for it being a redneck magician, I think there is a market for about anything. Just look at stand-up comedy as a model. Most successful comedians rely on some stereotype to propel their career. Tim Allen - tool guy Jerry Sienfeld - New York Jew Steven Wright - Psycho Philosopher John Candy - jolly fat guy Jeff Foxworthy - redneck Richard Pryor - Black What to do as a Redneck Magi? First you may want to explore your characters roots. Why did he become a magician? My father was a magician, he could walk down the street and turn into a bar. What props would be natural to his enviroment? Multipling beer bottles. How would he look? Pull a possum out of a CAT diesel ball cap. Love the idea of a shotgun bullet catch. He could spit out a mouthful of buckshot. I could also see using the Jerry Springer trailer trash angle too. Think big hair, Daisy Duke wearing, bimbo assistants.
Mark Byrne
AKA Mark theBalloon Guy "Bad to theBalloon" |
Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts |
I think Mumblepeas has the right take on this.
You can do just about anything, as far as a persona goes, so long as you don't play it too far "over the top". cheers, Peter Marucci showtimecol@aol.com |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » We double dare you! » » redneck magic » » TOPIC IS LOCKED (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.05 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |