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jay leslie V.I.P. Southern California 9498 Posts |
Donald
I believe my question is even more pertinent for professionals then amateurs. Amateurs ask because they need information and professionals ask because of? Why do they ask? I think, if the questions are 'What effects does the public associate with magicians - or - What image do lay people associate with bad magicians, because I want to avoid that?' That those have a purpose. Otherwise the ego aspect, which can be viewed from different prospectives (ego meaning; the public face you wear or your self-concept) is in actually employed by people telling others what they like, for no reason. Socrates said "A life unexplored is a life not worth living" So I believe that asking what motivation is behind a question helps answer it and understand the purpose. So, since Frank and I are the only people looking at this from our prospective, I will abstain from stirring the pot and leave that for others that have more time. Thank you. I like chocolate ice cream, in case anyone wants to know and I prefer to change my oil at 4,500 miles as opposed to 5.000
Jay Leslie
www.TheHouseOfEnchantment.com |
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Hi Jay -
I saw the original post in a different way, I guess. I thought he was curious about other performers and the material they choose for themselves. I didn't see anything deeper than that. - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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TheAmbitiousCard Eternal Order Northern California 13425 Posts |
I'm always very curious what makes someone switch tricks; especially, openers and closers.
I wonder why they switched, how long they were doing the old one before they switched, what their goals are for the new tricks, etc. When the 5 card opener came one the market, it seemed like half the Café posted... "great trick. my new opener. thanks, Bill". Maybe I'm wrong but it seemed there were an awful lot of people that thought an off-the-shelf trick having nothing to do with their current act made it immediately BETTER? Hence my curiosity.
www.theambitiouscard.com Hand Crafted Magic
Trophy Husband, Father of the Year Candidate, Chippendale's Dancer applicant, Unofficial World Record Holder. |
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Sometimes performers have several different shows, so in that case they might have different tricks in those shows. More food for thought.
- Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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jay leslie V.I.P. Southern California 9498 Posts |
A perfect point. Not only do different tricks work for different people but different situations call for different tricks.
Jay Leslie
www.TheHouseOfEnchantment.com |
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The White Wizard Regular user Australia, Queensland 148 Posts |
Frank Starsini - Correct. I used to do the 6-card repeat, however now I have begun with an opener like Dan. Music and visual comedy magic (I have no animals as where I live it is very hot most of the year - makes for poor working conditions for them). No real reason for the change other then reinventing the show and myself.
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charliecheckers Inner circle 1969 Posts |
I personally appreciate those who try to put a context to the conversation and suggestions on a thread like this. To just read a list of effects seems boring and pointless to me. The thought process behind what one chooses and a deeper discussion would be awesome. Sometimes I think the original posts are just not worded with a optimal framework to be most helpful.
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TheAmbitiousCard Eternal Order Northern California 13425 Posts |
I use an opener I crafted myself that basically sets the tone for the show.
funny surprising skill don't take myself too seriously quite a bit of nonsense The only time I use something different is when I do a show where my usual opener wouldn't work. For instance, where I need to focus the attention of a "non-audience" in dramatic fashion very quickly, and in that case I've done the balloon swallow to loud music. Instant audience!
www.theambitiouscard.com Hand Crafted Magic
Trophy Husband, Father of the Year Candidate, Chippendale's Dancer applicant, Unofficial World Record Holder. |
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charliecheckers Inner circle 1969 Posts |
My opener is a rabbit production set to music. I want to set the tone of a fast paced and exciting show. I choose a rabbit production in order to win my audience (kids ages 2 to 12) over right from the start. Some believe one should close with the rabbit production, but I believe that it fits much better into my show as an opener.
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jay leslie V.I.P. Southern California 9498 Posts |
Jay Leslie
www.TheHouseOfEnchantment.com |
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The Mighty Fool Inner circle I feel like a big-top tent having 2140 Posts |
WW asked what our faviorite openers were. He said "It would be great to share" And why wouldnt it?? What's so...BAD about people discussing what their openers are? Is the question not highbrow & broadly philosophical enough for some people?
Everybody wants to beleive.....we just help them along.
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The White Wizard Regular user Australia, Queensland 148 Posts |
Lol - Abstain indeed.
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
My favorite is the Goshman Ball to Jumbo Square, lets the audience know it is a participation show. Sort of follows the late Hank Moorehouse's published routine, just presented in a somewhat different manner.
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The White Wizard Regular user Australia, Queensland 148 Posts |
Thank you for your input Bill. Hank Moorehouse did a routine with a straight jacket that I really enjoyed some years back also. He will be missed.
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MagiCol Special user Dargaville, New Zealand 929 Posts |
"Amateurs ask because they need information and professionals ask because of? Why do they ask?"
One reason professionals ask questions can be that they want to stimulate the thinking of other people. What good teacher doesn't ask questions? Teachers ask questions sometimes because they want their listeners to do their own thinking and improve themselves/their act. Self-critiquing is one way to improve our own magic.
The presentation makes the magic.
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NocturnalMagic New user 96 Posts |
I know a ton of Pro Poker Players, they all say the same thing for the most part. There game is constantly changing, and they only really get better by discussing hands/situtations with their peers. I think of this question as a very simialr situtaion, someone looking to see what others are doing, not to carbon copy but to evolve.
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Ed_Millis Inner circle Yuma, AZ 2292 Posts |
I've opened my last couple of kid's birthday parties with The Letter, then followed with a silk and TT vanish. The Letter worked great to establish my character with the younger kids - we're here to play and have a good time.
I'm seriously rethinking the silk, though. I'm getting tired of "it's in your ... (whatever)"!! So I'm going to try it a'la Seriously Silly and see if that doesn't quiet down the older kids at the party. (Note: this is not a request for help - just a sharing of my process in finding openers suitable for the different audiences I get in front of. Most birthdays for smaller kids will also have some older kids present, and they can ruin it for everyon if you can't grab them right away!) The silk vanish actually works fairly well with a mostly-adult crowd. Or maybe they're just being exceptionally polite. But I'm working on something a bit more visual and magical for them, while still keeping the character intact. Ed |
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MagisterFreud Regular user The 18 135 Posts |
I too have been opening with 5-card opener lately, although I call it "The World-Famous Five Card Miracle" and patter revolves around math-- subtract one, you still have five, subtract 3, you still have five, eventually, "How many should I be able to get rid of?" they are now used to shouting "five!" so then I discard one, two, three, four, ... five, ... even six cards! and still have five!!
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TheAmbitiousCard Eternal Order Northern California 13425 Posts |
Quote:
On 2013-04-08 13:39, Ed_Millis wrote: Nobody wants to hear "it's in your... " but that presents a positive. You've got kids engaged and interacting. Awesome. Use it to your advantage. So what can you do to prove them wrong and show them that their idea is way off? You should be HOPING they say "it's in your..." because they are about to be fooled really badly. You could do it the first time by vanishing it with a pull and show them that they missed you magically make it float to your pocket. Look in John Carney's book "Secrets" for a fabulous way to vanish a silk. It is also a wonderful lesson in "changing the moment", which isn't used nearly as much as it could be. Just because one is performing for children doesn't mean you shouldn't use sophisticated psychological ploys, right? Thanks for posting, Ed.
www.theambitiouscard.com Hand Crafted Magic
Trophy Husband, Father of the Year Candidate, Chippendale's Dancer applicant, Unofficial World Record Holder. |
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Ed_Millis Inner circle Yuma, AZ 2292 Posts |
Thanks for the perspective shift, Frank. I needed that!
Have to look for that book when I get a free minute. Cheers! Ed |
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