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Stephen Long Inner circle 1481 Posts |
For me, the unfunniest line in the history of magical patter has to be the following:
Performer: Do you believe in coincidences? Spectator: Yes. Performer: So do I. What a coincidence! I still hear magicians using this line today. It just is not funny. (In my opinion). Are there any lines out there that you find tedious that are intended to be humourous? thanks Stephen :carrot:
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maurile Regular user San Diego 102 Posts |
"Hold out your hand. <pause> No, the clean one."
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Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts |
How many times have you used a line that slays one audience and falls flat the next time you use it?
An unfunny line is one that doesn't work. A funny line is one that does. Examples? Hey, if I knew that I'd OWN Las Vegas! cheers, Peter Marucci showtimecol@aol.com |
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Stephen Long Inner circle 1481 Posts |
Quote:
On 2002-04-08 22:15, Peter Marucci wrote: I could not agree with you more, Peter. I just wondered if there was one in particular you find trite and over used. Maurile, I cannot stand "the clean hand" gag either. Talk about belittling your audience... Stephen :carrot:
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Magicduck Elite user Washington State 484 Posts |
Stand over there, yes on the trap door.
quack |
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Dennis Michael Inner circle Southern, NJ 5821 Posts |
We as magicians may not like some of these lines because we've heard them often, however, there is a whole population that has never heard many of these gag lines. The kids!
As a kid show magician, the above lines are still funny, and many have not heard them. And many of those those who have have forgotten them. Even varitaions are still funny. "Stand over there, over the trap door... right above the alligator pit." Now the "clean hand" bit goes well with the dirty towel trick, an excellent gag for kids. They still love it. It may be insulting to do it on adults, but not if it is done in fun. If presenting in obvious fun, without an insulting tone, then it is OK. No line is over used in front of the right audience.
Dennis Michael
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Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts |
Perhaps the idea of "gag" is the wrong one; maybe the worst "line" might be more suitable, because there are overused, trite, and -- today -- meaningless lines that magicians use almost without thinking:
"Look at a card and keep it in mind -- which is an odd place to keep a card." Even worse -- much, much worse -- is the usage of original lines by those other than the originator. Take, for example, the great Jay Marshall's "I'm one of the better, cheaper acts." That line has been stolen and used by countless "performers" who don't deserve to hold Jay's coat! cheers, Peter Marucci showtimecol@aol.com |
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Magicduck Elite user Washington State 484 Posts |
What Den says is true, especially with kid's magic. Very old gags can still be funny to them. It is less likely one would have success with old lines in front of adults: "I just flew in from Florida, boy are my arms tired." Too many old comedians used that, although it is a bit funny, it would make you a bit like "Uncle Milty" 50 years late.
The other thing, which is true: We magicians see more magic and tire of old lines, yet often the audience has never heard them before even once. I worked many years in top 40 radio. When we, as the announcers, were absolutely ready to flush, tear, break or runover some song....that is about the time it caught on with the public and they really wanted you to play it a lot. quack |
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Scott F. Guinn Inner circle "Great Scott!" aka "Palms of Putty" & "Poof Daddy G" 6586 Posts |
I agree that old lines can still work. However, there are some lines that should NEVER be used. I still cringe when I think of a "major" magician at a major convention a few years ago--he looked at a lady in the audience and said, "My gosh! Has anyone ever told you that you're absolutely gorgeous?" She said no, and he said, "For good reason--you're not!"
That kind of joke is NEVER funny, unless it used with, say, a guy in drag who is part of the act. But on an unsuspecting audience member... And we wonder why magicians have a bad reputation!
"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 |
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Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts |
Good grief, Scott, don't tell me someone actually USED that line!
He should be shot! However, it certainly is an example of an unfunny line. cheers, Peter Marucci showtimecol@aol.com |
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armagic New user 79 Posts |
I think some of the most disturbingly unfunny lines are those that solicit tipping in restaurant work, such as:
"Tipping is not a city in China" Everybody can see through the thin vaneer of humor to the brash "hustle," This is just bad for magicians reputations. |
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DarryltheWizard Loyal user 238 Posts |
To me any gag that puts down or embarrasses a member of the audience is a least, funny gag. When I joke with an audience, I always try to turn the gag or jokes towards myself in the end. When the audience realizes that you can take a joke as well as give one, they are more apt to play along with your gags, for they know it's all in good fun. I do a number of silly gags in my egg bag routine; however, when I put on the chicken mask and the silly hat and start to dance around the table, the kids don't even remember the gags I played on them.
Darryl the Wizard , that wild man of magic
DarryltheWizard
"Life without mystery is like a candle with a snuffed out flame." Albert Einstein |
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Magicduck Elite user Washington State 484 Posts |
I am curious about this. I saw a tape of Terry Seabrooke the other day, certainly a well-respected magician. A number of his gags were negative towards his assistant. Granted, this was a tape for magicians, with a magician assistant from the producer's company. Just the same, Seabrooke did not make it come across as if he thought the assistant was very bright. I got the idea the lines were his standard lines. Anybody have comments, or seen more of Terry? It seemed to me that, despite all the talk among many, to never insult an audience member, that was happening here with one of magic's most beloved and respected omedy magicians. I liked the tape, generally, but was surprised.
quack quack |
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p.b.jones Inner circle Milford Haven. Pembrokeshire wales U.K. 2642 Posts |
Hi,
Like anything it comes down to the person delivering the lines. Terry Seabrooke being British cut his teeth so to speak over here in the Uk. This type of insult comedy is not so out of place here though has become more unpopular over the last 10 yrs or so. This in my opinion was part of Paul Daniels drop from favour with the public. In a club situation if you went to the bar or to the toilet while the comedien was on then you where fair game for the Barrage of insult humour when you returned to your seat. From what I understand Terry often supported Top name Bluish comediens such as Jim davison,Bernard Manning or Roy Chubby Brown so Terrys remarks would be mild compared to if Roy Chubby Brown made a remark. These people like it or not Put bums on seats over here. I would not perform blue, off colour or insult comedy. However, I have seen live most of these types of comediens live over here and I totaly enjoyed them. phillip |
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John C Eternal Order I THINK therefore I wrote 12945 Posts |
Quote:
On 2002-04-08 18:34, Stephen Long wrote: As all patter lines....it's in the timing and the delivery." Have you ever received a trick that includes the "complete patter" and when you read it, it is dry as the desert? Then one day you see the author of the patter in a video or at a convention and they deliver the exact patter included in the routine they sell and it is just as funny as can be. I am not ashamed to say that I still, on certain occasions, use the "clean hand" line. Sometimes it has its place and it is really very funny. It depends on your personality and the audience you are performing for. I never, ever, use sexual conotations in my close-up performing but when the spectators start their own little sexual overtones then I subtely add some of my own. Have you ever heard that sales technique of becoming the person on the other side of the desk? That really does work. A close-up perfomer has the advantage of being able to see - realtime - the audience reaction to his performance. So, whatever works for you you should use...to a point. I mean, Simon Lovell uses some stuff that I could NEVER get away with, but when he does it it is very funny....you know why?...because that's his personality, that's Simon Lovell, he's not making up the character. I am not Simon Lovell so I just can't deliver the lines he does the way he does. And that is what it is all about. I am (stuck?) with delivering lines the way I - John Cesta - deliver lines. If I can't get away with a particular line - even though I think it's the funniest line ever and I've seen other magicians get laughs from it - I won't use it. I don't pay much attention these days to the routines that include "complete patter" because that doesn't necessarily mean that it will work for me. I buy a routinie based on whether or not I like and think the routine fits my performing style. I may or may not use any of the included patter. Well, anyway....that's my opinion. Here's an announcement to all magicians: My good friend Allan Hayden (Professional Tricky Person) will be on TV Monday April 15 at 7 pm and 10 pm PST and Saturday April 20 at 4 pm PST. He will be on the Travel Channel in a special called "Magic in the Streets." If you have never seen Allan watch this special. Allan is an expert at card magic, very funny, and has been performing for decades, and, I have always been proud to say that Allan is my friend. John Cesta |
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mastermindreader 1949 - 2017 Seattle, WA 12586 Posts |
There are no hard and fast rules here. If your character is likeable, or cute, you can get away with murder. That really the basic formula for a vent act, isn't it? The ventriloquist is the nice guy and the figure makes wisecracks and remarks that are often downright insulting, and the audience laughs because of the incongruity.
And delivery (which consists of timing, tone, and precise wording) makes all the difference in the world. As to the example "Do you believe in coincidence?" "Yes." "So do I, what a coincidence!" It doesn't seem funny to me, either---- on paper. But a slight change in the wording and a persona based delivery makes a major difference: "Do you believe in coincidence?" "Yes" "Whoa! Is that weird or what??" (Delivered in the manner of, say, the Reverend Jim from the old series "Taxi.") That, I believe, is funny and would work for me. And maybe for you, but maybe not. Its just too idiosyncratic an area for broad generalizations to be of much help. Look at Scott's example of the clod who asked the woman in the audience if anyone ever told her she was gorgeous. Almost no one could make that funny. Almost. But,then, imagine that the woman is Margaret Dumont and the performer is Groucho Marx. In that context the line works because it is consistent with the callous and self serving persona that the audience expects to see in Groucho. (A passing thought... one of the ironies of Don Rickles' act was that people would be insulted if he DIDN'T insult them.) What about putting together an act that is nothing but cliches and old jokes. In the right hands and perhaps with a persona of an old dude trying to be hip it could really get some genuine laughs. The audience would sense, hopefully, that it was a put on. The only general rule I can think of as far as comedy goes is that comedy works best if you have an innate sense of what is funny in a given situation. The problems arise when comedy is attempted by someone who thinks the words alone determine if a given line or gag is funny. Don't take comedy lightly- it's a serious business. Best Regards- Bob Cassidy |
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Quentin Inner circle 1020 Posts |
What is the norm in one industry can appear completely original in another. A magician appeared at a comedy club. I attended with a friend who is a comedian.
The magician did every stock gag in the book. Afterwards the comedian commented favorably on his "original" material. Quentin Reynolds |
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Mr Phil Regular user Tilton, New Hampshire 160 Posts |
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On 2002-04-12 23:37, armagic wrote: Hello Again, I get a great amount of postive feedback to that very message. "Tipping is not a city in China" I find it a lot lower key than "tips accepted" or the money sticking out of the pocket routine. As for magicians reputations I am much more concerned with people who really think that they can do it "right out of the box" or use most of the patter that comes with the instructions. Bad magic is what hurts magicians reputations. Mr Phil
Mr. Phil & Co.
Quality Family Entertainment, Guaranteed!
(603) 286-3029
WWW.mrphilandco.com
Snail Mail to: P.O. Box 31
Tilton, NH 03276
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majorshaw New user Randy Shaw 73 Posts |
I am tired of, I just signed a contract with the cable co., pause, Ya I get HBO and two...
Jay Is Great and so is lefty, but that line came from Vaudeville.
R.Shaw
AIMC with Silver Star |
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Adam V Special user 603 Posts |
Excellent point, Mastermindreader. We have a comedian in Australia who does nothing but really terrible 'dad jokes' and is one of the funniest performers I've ever seen.
Adam V - 9 out of 10 dentists recommend him.
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