For those out there who want to really get into magic and understand what it takes to be a real magician, read Darwin Ortiz "Strong Magic." I assume even Jay has read this book; it’s that well noted in magic. I want to share my experience with this book. It really opened my mind to different points in magic , as well as how to make an effect even better for you and the audience. Let’s face it , spectators don’t care that you can palm 4 coins in one hand and let them go one a time …simply because they don’t see it. Nor do they see how that skill can help then in their day to day life.

When making routines and working on effects, please practice them… not just the effect but the story line to go with it, because realistically, why “Float a Bill?" What’s the point? Most people I do any effect for with small object levitation, respond " so where’s the wire?" Trust me on this, laypeople are not idiots that you can simply fool . You have to draw them in like a good movie , and let them hold the remote . Remember, you don’t pay you , they do. So entertain them and please read Strong Magic . It will help you, I promise .

Ok… we have a lot of magicians out there who think they need to know the latest knuckle-busting move. I’m here to say, “ put the cards down and back away slowly.” Keep in mind that spectators don’t care how you changed the jack of hearts to the 10 of diamonds. They care about the presentation…the meaning behind the message. They care about WHY you changed it. This concept is encouraged in Strong Magic by Darwin . He speaks about how a lighter never missed, and it always light s. To the spectator, if you said that, they would say "so....big deal?"

However, if you made it into a presentation like: “A cocky young man one day in the pub started boasting to a lady about how his lighter never missed. He tried to impress a wealthy old man from across the room, who heard this claim and summoned the boy over. He says ," I hear you’re proud as a peacock about your lighter and that it never misses." The man grinned " perhaps a wager need be in play?" The young man’s eyes widened. " What kind of wager?" The old man reached into his pocket and pulled out his car keys and a knife. " I bet that you can’t light it 10 times in a row without missing . If you can you win my car ...if you can’t I get your little finger." The old man waves his knife hoping not to disappoint the girl he was impressing, and seeing the chance for a new car, the young man agrees. The old man then grabs his hand and places the knife above the pinky. " Go boy." He lights the lighter. It lights the first ...and second...and third... and fourth... and fifth... and sixth....AND SEVENTH ...AND NINTH .....

Right about now you’re wondering if the boy succeeded...that’s not the point. The point is that you’re wanting more , and it gave presentation to just some dumb lighter that never missed, and transformed it to a riveting tale of good and evil, rich and poor , danger and excitement . Your spectators DESERVE to have the feeling you just experienced from reading this story. They deserve to be entertained as well as wanting more.

Randy Rodgers

Have you read that story? What do you think of the ending? Was it a good example?

For anyone who is curious, the story he's talking about is Man From The South by Roald Dahl (who also wrote Charlie and the Chocolate Factory).

I do agree that Strong Magic is a valuable book. When I first read it, I found it so interesting and useful, I broke it down into a series of questions. Thanks to the generosity of Richard Kaufman and Darwin Ortiz, I have been able to post these questions online. The list is in outline form, following the structure of the book.

I started to read your post. It gave me a headache so I had to stop. Hope I am not missing out on anything.

Read it. Good book.

I agree. Strong Magic provide you with interesting theory which can be applied directly

Cheers
Andre

Agree -- not a dense book, and it very much helped me think about the effects I do and how and why I should be doing them.

Scott -- very useful outline; thanks for posting.

I ordered Strong Magic from Penguin, so I can't wait!

What was the point about Jay?

I agree...as Randymagic stated above about how important presentation is, as explained by Darwin Ortiz in Strong Magic.

There are also many other tips through out the book, like simpling rolling up you sleeves when performing. I started doing this about 6 years ago after reading the book. The audience has one less method to consider when something appears or vanishes.

Rich B.

Strong Magic is a great book -- a very entertaining read with lots of very useful information. Definitely changed the way I think about how I present my effects.
Ortiz's new book "Designing Miracles" is a must-have companion that focuses on effect *design*.

Kevin

Good magic like well written stories engage the reader or spectator The hook that gets them involved can vary. In the example given it's suspense and curiosity as to what will happen next. Getting the viewer or reader emotionally involved in the story is key. That's why scripting is so important. Nearly all the entertainment we see is scripted but for some reason some magicians think they can wing it. Some can but most can't.

Larry

Two weeks ago I had two close-up gigs where a sizable contingent of the audience spoke only Spanish. My two years of high school Spanish were both insufficient and far too long ago to be of any practical help. Fortunately I found a translator at each table who could help me.

A business associate of mine speaks Spanish fluently - he designs Spanish websites, for example. I'm going to give him my scripts and have him translate them, then work with him till I'm sufficiently well-versed to take it on the road. I can ad-lib in English rather well; I'll feel ready when I can ad-lib in Spanish. I see an entirely new market opening up in the future.

LOL....S2000 I worked for an asphalt company in Anahiem last weekend....yes Spanish would have been very helpful

Spades

I was an editor of "Strong Magic" and it is highly recommended.

I was NOT an editor of Darwin's second book in his theory trilogy, the recently published "Designing Miracles," but I've read it an it is very highly recommended, especially to those who appreciated Strong Magic."

Matt Field

I found Designing Miracles to be even better than Strong Magic. Perhaps because there are other good works which cover much of the ground covered in Strong Magic, but I can't think of one that competes with Designing Miracles (one I'd recommend anyway).

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