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Ron Slater Loyal user 257 Posts |
As the title says, how many of you feel magicians feel they have an obligation to be funny during performance? Apart from dark and mysterious performers, many performers I've witnessed have jokes, punchlines, most of which are the classics; not good or bad. I think there are many who are very good at this, it comes natural to them; but then there are the others. Through no fault of there own sometimes, many performers fail at this humor he or she feels is necessary in performing. I agree its part of entertainment for most, but do I think it's mandatory? Absolutely not.
R. Slater |
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Father Photius Grammar Host El Paso, TX (Formerly Amarillo) 17161 Posts |
Unless you are billing yourself as a comedy act, I don't think there is any "obligation" to be funny, just an obligation to be entertaining.
"Now here's the man with the 25 cent hands, that two bit magician..."
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tommy Eternal Order Devil's Island 16544 Posts |
When they laughing they can’t concentrate on your hands. Misdirection...con men are always funny guys.
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.
Tommy |
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Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-10-06 23:40, tommy wrote: I disagree. Con men (and women) can be charming, flattering, threatening, overwhelming, confident, beguiling and needy. Always funny...nah.
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
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tommy Eternal Order Devil's Island 16544 Posts |
All the real ones I have known have been funny. Ruthless though.
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.
Tommy |
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Big Daddy Cool Inner circle 1604 Posts |
When I try to be funny, never happens. I don't write anything to be funny. However, some of my routines turn out to be funny because of the interaction with the audience - but I never say "oh, this would be funny..."
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tommy Eternal Order Devil's Island 16544 Posts |
Quote:
The "story" is the theatrical part--the hook. Theater is used by magic the way a matador uses a cape--to help conceal the sword of the dilemma. -Whit- Funny is part the Theater when it is used by the magician. What else would magician use it for after all we not comedians are we?
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.
Tommy |
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stoneunhinged Inner circle 3067 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-10-06 22:49, Father Photius wrote: I made this point in another thread, but I'll repeat it: I think that too many magicians are simply lacking in creative thinking when it comes to entertainment, so trying to be funny is the only way they can think of to entertain (other than the magic). That would be ok, except for the fact that so many of them are not funny. What's missing is a "character". A character can be funny at times, mean and nasty at others, whatever. Get that character built and run with it. That's where the best jokes come from anyway--something that's funny for your character to say. As Tommy said, a good joke can be great misdirection. But: only if the laughs are guaranteed. That guarantee comes with something other than a tired one liner, I think. |
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The Burnaby Kid Inner circle St. John's, Canada 3158 Posts |
A lot of magic involves (a) acknowledged interaction and (b) performing feats. Most other art forms are one-way and less about showing off what one can do. Being funny can take the edge off what could otherwise be seen as very aggressive ego gratification.
JACK, the Jolly Almanac of Card Knavery, a free card magic resource for beginners.
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stoneunhinged Inner circle 3067 Posts |
Oh...disagree, disagree about magic being so different. Agree with the third sentence.
I've seen some incredible musicians perform in ways that make me disagree with the first part, and heard them make self-effacing jokes that make me agree with the second part. Magic really isn't all that different from other art forms, I think. But that's another thread. |
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The Burnaby Kid Inner circle St. John's, Canada 3158 Posts |
There aren't many songs in which the singer stops and asks an audience member to sing a verse, or paintings which have been left half-finished, waiting an audience member to fill in part of the painting, before he finishes it up. The general dynamics of presentation in a lot of magic have things built into them that are totally absent from other forms.
Think of the undercurrent that exists. Performer takes command of social situation, asserts himself, invites spectator to assert themselves, and then the performer reasserts himself, at which point applause is given the performer. Not a lot of art forms have built within them such a potentially anti-social dynamic. Bringing the funny at the very least flatters the audience and makes it obvious to everybody involved that the point of everything is to provide entertainment and amusement to the audience, and that the performer knows this. Obviously, that doesn't hold true for stage illusions, manipulation acts, and things of that caliber. The rules are different.
JACK, the Jolly Almanac of Card Knavery, a free card magic resource for beginners.
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
If you are not funny you stink.
A unfunny magician is very forgettable. As far as using standard magician lines or patter is concerned that is far worse than not being funny at all. My opinion, and advise to everyone is to be both funny, and original if you want to get future bookings, or food on the table.
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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Ron Slater Loyal user 257 Posts |
Al Angello I have to respectfully disagree. An unfunny magician is very forgettable? Maybe I'm alone but if anyone agrees with that I'll happily say I am wrong.
R. Slater |
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ryansmagic Regular user Reading, PA 147 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-10-07 12:56, Ron Slater wrote: I see your point, and Al's as well. I would not say Lance Burton or Jeff McBride are "funny" but they are memorable. I think that comes from a certain level of skill and charm. I think that being charming is one of the most important qualities in any performer, with charm often comes humor. |
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
R. Slater
I will go one step further "an unfunny magician is an out of work magician" Ryan The ratio between successful non comedy magicians, and successful comedy magician is more important, because we can't all be Lance Burton. How many non funny successful magicians do you personally know? My answer to that question is zero.
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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tommy Eternal Order Devil's Island 16544 Posts |
Quote: The scientists have studied how magicians mix humour into their performances because a laughing audience is unable to pay attention to the magician's hand. The study also determined that there are various levels of misdirection that magicians use to trick an audience. These insights, which were previously unknown to scientists, suggest that humor and misdirection can help manipulate levels of attention.
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.
Tommy |
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Big Daddy Cool Inner circle 1604 Posts |
Al, I don't think I agree with you either. My friend Jason Michaels could not make a clown laugh, but he is a full time working illusionist on the college and cruise ship market.
I don't think Jeff McBride, Eugene Burger, or Max Maven are particularly funny. They may use comedy as a theatrical tool, but they are by no means comical. And yet, they work. |
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tommy Eternal Order Devil's Island 16544 Posts |
Quote:
So how did he make that important? -Eugene Burger-
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.
Tommy |
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
Big daddy illusionist's do not even have to talk, and without several lovely assistant in brief costumes they are nothing.
How many funny magicians do you personally know that work full time in Nashville as compared to non funny magicians? You are talking about the couple of exceptions to the rule, and not the Joe six pack magicians that you meet at your local magic club meeting. I repeat the funny ones work, and the clever ones don't.
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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Big Daddy Cool Inner circle 1604 Posts |
I just don't buy it Al. I'm not sure you are being entirely serious...
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