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Daniel Ulzen Elite user Berlin/Germany 490 Posts |
Hi everybody,
if a trick goes wrong it is a good idea not to make a big thing out of it and just perform the next trick. But I would like to remember some funny lines that I can say when a trick goes wrong. Can anybody share a good comment? Thanx! Daniel |
Dr_J_Ayala Inner circle In search of Vlad Dracul and his 2169 Posts |
Check out two books - First Aid Lines by Aldo Colombini, and Lifesaver Lines also by Aldo. They both have a boatload of rescue lines for situations like that.
When you drop something and nothing has been totally ruined - you can say something like, "Okay, let my try that again without dropping it..." and emphasize 'without.' You can add audience-appropriate things to that line like, "I knew there was something funny in the water," or "I should really lay off the Red Bull," and (in the right venue) "I knew I should not have had that last martini..." You have to judge your audience for the lines you use, of course. When spectators forget a card - "Curse my memory-scrambling skill, that happens every now and then...We shall try again..." Most importantly when things happen and an effect goes wrong, do not blame the spectator or put them down. There may be a few times, with the right venue and audience, where that might work out okay, but in general I avoid it. Humor is the best way to deal with these situations, even if the actual blame is directed inward. I hope this information is useful to you. |
jimhlou Inner circle 3698 Posts |
I usually say: "That's the first time that's happened again"
Jim |
Mike Maturen Inner circle Michigan's Beautiful Sunrise Side 2726 Posts |
LOVE that line, Jim!
You can--if possible--also try to turn it into a "magician in trouble" trick that eventually works. Audiences LOVE that!
Mike Maturen
World of Wonder Entertainment The Magic and Mayhem of Mike Maturen 989-335-1661 mikematuren@gmail.com AUTHOR OF "A NEW DAWN--Weekly Wisdom From Everyday Life" member: International Magician's Society |
Waters Inner circle 2508 Posts |
"Oops!"
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Dr_J_Ayala Inner circle In search of Vlad Dracul and his 2169 Posts |
Oh bummer, that always never works.
@jimhlou: Love it! |
SpellbinderEntertainment Inner circle West Coast 3519 Posts |
A great line from the Indian Chief in the movie Little Big Man:
"Sometimes the Magic doesn't always work." Walt |
Darren Kidby Loyal user UK 291 Posts |
"oh XXXXXXX"
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Dr_J_Ayala Inner circle In search of Vlad Dracul and his 2169 Posts |
This is not working like they said it would...
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MitchellMac Loyal user 210 Posts |
Hmmm let me think about this.
- "Wait, why didn't that happen? Oh I forgot it's tuesday, this never works on days that end with Y" -Pull out a piece of paper with a hangman design with a man missing his arms. Then draw an arm. -Look angry and say "Crap! stupid gremlins" I'll come up with more |
Yellowcustard Inner circle New Zealand 1334 Posts |
I love the hangman idea.
I was doing a trick which had a stacked deck. I got a third way through and lost it the wrong cards came out. So I pretended to sneeze and throw the deck up in the air. Cards every were.
Enjoy your magic,
and let others enjoy it as well! |
ralphs007 Inner circle 1087 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-07-11 17:29, Yellowcustard wrote: That's funny!
"You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him".
James D. Miles |
Mike Maturen Inner circle Michigan's Beautiful Sunrise Side 2726 Posts |
How about "the higher the tip, the better the trick"?
Mike Maturen
World of Wonder Entertainment The Magic and Mayhem of Mike Maturen 989-335-1661 mikematuren@gmail.com AUTHOR OF "A NEW DAWN--Weekly Wisdom From Everyday Life" member: International Magician's Society |
motown Inner circle Atlanta by way of Detroit 6127 Posts |
The Devil made me do it. Goes over great in the Bible Belt.
"If you ever write anything about me after I'm gone, I will come back and haunt you."
– Karl Germain |
Dr_J_Ayala Inner circle In search of Vlad Dracul and his 2169 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-07-11 22:40, motown wrote: LOL! That is great! I will have to remember that next time I am over that way... Here is another: The voices in my head made me say/do it... I love the gremlins idea as posted by Mitchell - I will add that to my leprechauns/faeries/lawn gnomes list. Those pesky faeries include coin, card and other misc. magic prop faeries... |
SpellbinderEntertainment Inner circle West Coast 3519 Posts |
Think seriously how you wish to be perceived by your audiences.
In a potentially embarrassing situation, do you really want a cheap joke or flip comment to dig you in deeper? This is an area that deserves thoughtful care, and a hard look at what you wish your professional perception to be. Sure, a one-liner may cover the gaff, or get on with the show, or smooth/ignore the gaff- but at what expense to the audience or the performer? It's a case of think before you use the easy (or even tasteless out) to solve a gaff in the show. Many of the lines suggested were old when vaudeville was young, and were at the best band aids then rather than effective solutions. My rant and opinion, Walt |
Rainboguy Inner circle 1915 Posts |
If you're CAUGHT....."OOOPS....you caught me! I caught me TWICE!"
If you just plain MESSED UP....."Well.......there's GOOD News! (pause)....... This could be YOU up here making a fool of YOURSELF, ya know!" |
MagicD48 New user 93 Posts |
One I just mentioned in another thread for my own horror story experience...
The upside down card within the invisible deck WASNT their card (caused by bad prop management). "Im really sorry for the 7 of clubs extreme negligence, this is considered gross misconduct within the art of magic. It will be severely disciplined and maybe even face the sack"...recently added continuation for future stuff ups: "now for a trick that uses a more disciplined object". Not sure where I actually picked this up, but its stuck with me for life, and jumped in on this occasion like a reflex action. |
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