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Darth Ewok Loyal user Greeneville TN 228 Posts |
I'm about to join a magic club, but to be honest I only know a few of them and none of them very well. I'm prety much self taught and have had very little contact with other magicians
every month they have magic theme and a magician of the month contest based on that theme (last month it was mentalism so I didn't bother), I basicly perform stuff for normal people, not magicians. this months theme is pick a card magic. I have some ok effects that do well with normal people, but I'm not sure my stuff will play with a magicin any ideas on tricks that may go over well? (keep in mind I'm no card master) |
Christopher Moro Special user 793 Posts |
If the club is worth anything, they will accept you warmly and support you as a magician, regardless of your skill level. If they are professional and mature, they will realize that fooling them is not what it means to be a magician, and won't expect it of you. Intelligent magicians will recognize what you may call "ok effects" to be as effective and substantial as anything a "card master" may do, so long as you execute and perform it very well. As a matter of experience...clubs are often "too nice" I think the tricks that will go over well, will be the tricks you personally do the best - with comfort, ease, and mastery.
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
Go in and perform. Don't look at it as a competition. If you try to compete, you will be working to please the wrong people. You need to please yourself and your audience.
I have a friend who meets with a club in Kentucky. He tried many, many times to win their close-up competition. Then he realized that even though his material was excellent, it wasn't going to beat the presentation by the old boy whose wife made the best bar-be-cue. Your club may not be like that. The ones here in Houston aren't. In ours, we accept any serious attempt at performing well.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
kentfgunn Inner circle Merritt Island FL 1639 Posts |
I think developing outside a magic club is invaluable. I spent 20 years in the service and had limited contact with magic clubs. Now a retiree I find the clubs in my area were VERY welcoming. The weird stuff I do is different than every one else in the magic clubs.
Treat every performance, regardless of how many magicians are in the crowd, the same. Do, what you do. Practice, rehearse and be a pleasant person. Every audience you find will know your magic is of value. Old Sailor Kent |
Robert Kohler Special user Fayetteville, Arkansas 520 Posts |
Kent:
I've seen your posts elsewhere in these forums and you have me very curious - what is the 'weird stuff' you do?
We judge ourselves by our intentions - others judge us by our actions.....
<BR> <BR>B. Wilson |
Christopher Moro Special user 793 Posts |
Kent brings up a good point. I've spent a lot of time outside a magic club and it has been tremendously valuable even though meeting people and making friends in clubs can also be valuable for you.
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kentfgunn Inner circle Merritt Island FL 1639 Posts |
Robert, Basically the routines I do, I worked out, with little input from other magicians. I don't mean to imply they are any good, just that they're very different from what I see others doing.
I think being isolated from all inputs except the magic books I carried to sea helped me to develop as a magician. I couldn't buy the latest thing. The cups I used for years were made by the ship's machinists. The balls were sailor's balls. (Incorrectly referred to as monkey's fists here. To me a monkey fist has to have a lead weight in the middle of it!) The routine I do and the sleights I use are just plain weird, as well. Kent |
tbaer Inner circle Pennsylvania 2003 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-03-07 06:20, Bill Palmer wrote: Just bring some good tasting bar-be-que. |
Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
A lot of magicians developed in relative isolation. Jerry Andrus was one. Stewart James was another.
However, there is something to be said for being able to find someone who can help you over various rough patches. Not necessarily a mentor, but an objective, understanding viewer.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
I would like to add this. At some point, I decided there wasn't any sense in going with the grain. I wanted to go against it. I figured out what I liked and emulated it. Then I changed it to fit my own style and abilities.
My best recommendation to anyone in magic is to start making connections, mental bridges between one idea or concept and another. You will start making things happen that other people will not be able to fathom.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
Josh the Superfluous Inner circle The man of 1881 Posts |
Back to the initial question:
If you do "ok effects that do well with normal people", pick the best pick a card trick from those. Don't go to win. Just show what you do and get feedback, so you can make it better than OK.
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 |
MinnesotaChef Regular user Minneapolis,MN 176 Posts |
Am I the only one who just read the term "Sailor's Balls" in Kent's post?!?
Anyways, the criteria I used when debating if I should join a club was how much time do these guys spend focused on the area the club is about. Do the magicians talk about magic or everything else? Is it a magic club or a forced friendship? I still haven't found one that meets this. I have better luck with sessions.
"Great restaurants are, of course, nothing but brothels.There is no point in going into them if one intends to keep one's belt buckled."- Fredric Raphael
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kentfgunn Inner circle Merritt Island FL 1639 Posts |
Minnesota,
Hah, someone does read these things. Hah. I found most magic clubs to be an abject and abysmal waste of time . . . until . . . I figured out: If you show up and do solidly rehearsed, well thought out stuff. Listen to the youngsters when they ask questions or want to show you their stuff, Encourage all that attend when they actually do a magic trick. Be honest with your criticisms and accept the input of others. The whole club can turn into a vehicle for improvement. Just a thought, Sailor balls! KG |
Corbett Inner circle Indiana 1161 Posts |
Don't worry about the "competition" aspect of a magic club. Your fellow magicians are your friends and will enjoy what you do, whatever it is. I'm fairly new to magic clubs myself (1 year under my belt). I decided to join because I craved an outlet for performing and found I just enjoy the fellowship of other guys that love magic as much as I do. If your club is anything like mine, there are all ages and skill levels represented. Everyone is welcome, and everyone enjoys themselves.
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Darth Ewok Loyal user Greeneville TN 228 Posts |
Well Dan Wolfe is a member. he's awesome. theres a guy named Clifton Mitchell who may be one of the smartest guys I've ever met. Clif seems to know everything.
a few others that make me feel like a newb are Scot Price, Dave Vaught (a good friend of mine), and Jeff Wampler (amazing card skills) the 1st meeting I went to was a strange night. not too many of the guys showed up so I havent met everyone yet. gonna miss this months meeting cause I got to work. bummer |
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