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illusionistaxe New user 69 Posts 
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This is perhaps, the most important question I wanted to ask. It's been almost 10 years now and I have performed a lot of magic effects. But at some point I realized I need to keep track of the effects. Because when I saw some other magician do a trick, I recalled myself doing it in the past, but I had almost forgotten that trick! So, I think it's really important to list the best tricks I have performed in years. It makes it easy to get back to those good old tricks once you get bored with the existing one.
Do you keep track of the tricks you did so far? How? Using an excel sheet? Do you categorize your list of tricks into coins, cards and others? Or do you just list them directly? |
pepka Inner circle Uh, I'm the one on the right. 5041 Posts
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I don't have a real formal way to keep track of tricks, although I should. Like many, I've forgotten more than I know. This doesn't come from old age so much as it comes from being very enthusiastic and buying everything, but then finding out that it's not your style. Many tricks that I bought years ago may be fine for a casual performance, but they won't work in the real world because it's not examinable, too tough of a reset or whatever.
One thing I have done is keep a practice deck with the name of a different card trick written on every card. Just keep the deck handy when you practice and shuffle and cut to a card, and practice that trick. Of course, you have to know 52 card tricks. |
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illusionistaxe New user 69 Posts
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Wow! That's a good one Sir. Thanks a lot for the idea.
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sirbrad Inner circle PA 2096 Posts
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I have 32 years of tricks so no. Tricks themselves are not as important as being a great entertainer. I have so many that I cycle through that I do not have to keep track. I used to keep track years ago of all the tricks I did for my stage shows, and who I did them for etc, but filled up too many notebooks. I have a great memory also. But I usually add a few new effects at a time over a few months to a year, so by the time a repeat client calls, or I have an opening, most if not all of my act is new. Sometimes I only do 4-5 effects on stage and usually 2-3 for restaurants. So I get A LOT of mileage.
Quote:
On 2012-10-23 00:25, pepka wrote: Over the years I have also opened a book to a random trick, or picked out a random DVD and picked a trick to work on, or random number for the trick.
The great trouble with magicians is the fact that they believe when they have bought a certain trick or piece of apparatus, and know the method or procedure, that they are full-fledged mystifiers. -- Harry Houdini
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illusionistaxe New user 69 Posts
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I have lots of tricks and bad memory. I definitely need to keep track of stuff I did!
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bowers Inner circle Oakboro N.C. 7024 Posts
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I keep track of what effects I own.man its a booklet full.i can always look at it. and decide if I want to use one in a show.
todd |
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hocuspocusjay23 Regular user 170 Posts
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I have performed at amusement parks for the last 15 yrs. It's a great idea to keep track of the tricks you do . I recycle many effects after about a 3 to 4 year period. However there are a couple of signature pieces that I leave in often, just because the regulars come to see them.
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21263 Posts
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Write a jornal, or better yet it is easy today to keep a video journal.
I have never done tricks I don't use in my act. Magic is and never has been a hobby for me. Only reason I have ever done it was simply for money. So the number of tricks I learned just to learn I can probably count on my fingers. But a video journal will help you with remembering moves, lines and subtle things quite well.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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Gary T. Veteran user 375 Posts
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You know what's sad, I had one effect that was completely my own, just one, sure I have my own version and own handling of a lot of stuff, but I had only one effect that I created myself. I remember that I loved it, but I stopped using it for a while, and BAM, I can't remember it for the life of me, I should have wrote it down somewhere. It wasn't like great or revolutionary, it was pretty simple and probably been done before, but I thought of the idea and the handling myself and I just can't figure it out again, I've even tried to duplicate the conditions that I came up with it in, sleep deprived at 5am, but I cant remember it, so I think Imma start writing down only my favorite effects
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illusionistaxe New user 69 Posts
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Thanks for the feedback guys. Yep, a video journal is a great idea too. I had created 6 of my own strong effects. I had made the video journal of them. @Gary, in the future if you recall the effect you created, ASAP make a video journal, as Danny mentioned. Because we could always refer to DVDs to learn other's tricks. But if we don't have video journal of our original effects, it will be hard for us to recall.
I keep a list of the best tricks only, otherwise it would take me ages to search through the list, what I am looking for! |
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Jumbopenny Loyal user Bay Area, Northern California USA 257 Posts
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I carry a small Mead spiral bound notebook wherever I go. It has different chapters in it. The chapters range from tricks, philosophy, humor, sleights, lines, etc. All my set routines are in it. Also, whenever I come up with a new idea I write it down on the spot. Sometimes as I'm watching TV if I hear a funny line that can be applied to a routine I'll write it down. If I didn't do this I really would have forgotten more than I know. Doing this really helps In putting routines together.
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jugglestruck Inner circle Wales 1038 Posts
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I have a list of tricks in my case which I don't often do. Sometimes at a gig when I need some new material I go to the list just to remind myself of some effects.
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Dimitri Mystery Artist Veteran user Israel/Ukraine 355 Posts
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I agree with Jumbopenny, actually I am big fan of lists
I have separate lists for *effects I do *effects I have seen that might fit me *my original effects that I do or intending to develop, *personal touches, *repeated mistakes, etc also I have a ¨Feedback list¨ it contains audience reactions, in other words, every-time when I get strong or weak reactions I write the experience. another list I started recently is a ¨Progress list¨, every time I feel something important happened during performing a routine, I write it down! |
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illusionistaxe New user 69 Posts
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Quote:
On 2012-10-24 22:24, Dima Mystery Artist wrote: Must be a lot of work!  How do you maintain these lists? using excel sheet?
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Dimitri Mystery Artist Veteran user Israel/Ukraine 355 Posts
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Simple word sheet.
yes a lot of work and I constantly change them, with the time I learnt to be more effective. but it also save time...as I can review reactions and clearly see that routine A ain't strong enough, while people always wonder about routine B, so I can leave the first routine and focus on the second. |
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illusionistaxe New user 69 Posts
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You must be having patience like Tommy Wonder! Good job!
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| The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Table hoppers & party strollers » » Tricks you did so far (0 Likes) | |
Posted: Oct 23, 2012 04:06 am 
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