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Logan Five Inner circle Northern California 1434 Posts |
I only perform for small groups as a tarot reader. I talk for the first ten mintues about the history of the cards, and what can you expect from a personal reading, and what makes for a good reading. It's a build-up to the moment I actually bring out a tarot deck ( or a Psycards deck ).
I do little channeling bit, then I ask the audience if they are interested in drawing a card, the hands go up, and I am off and running. The build-up is everything. I really learned a lot from this thread.
Self concept is destiny..
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Peter McMillan Elite user St. George, Utah 497 Posts |
Just a suggestion for getting started in Bizarre Magic. Take an effect you know, let's say the Haunted Key. The mechanics are as simple as it gets, and most routine patter goes for about a minute or so. Almost a throw away effect.
Take that same effect and build a story around it that stays interesting for 5 minutes minimum. The entertainment becomes the story you weave in the mind of the spectators rather than the ultimate movement of the key. Giving this prop a provenance or history is good practice towards building up to developing the same for a more fantastic prop. As it has been stated, once you understand and believe in your props your audience will follow you. Mine has to do with Grand Uncle Ossie's encounter with the Chief Second Class Steward John T. Hardy of the RMS Titanic after he was rescued by Carpathia. The description of that encounter on April 19, 1912 is the entertainment, the movement of the key is just the exclamation point of the routine. For this reason, I prefer to make as many of my own props as possible, which has taught me a lot about crafting in wood, metal, cloth, and electronics. It is while I am creating the physical props, my mind starts to fill in who made them, where the materials came from, why the items were created in the first place. Start simple, then go for the fantastic would be my suggestion. Build a good solid base story and have your routines branch out from them. In my opinion, Bizarre is a story driven entertainment, augmented with fantastic (magical) moments.
Spiritus Dictum Artifacts ~ Tools of the Craft for Serious Workers http://petemcmillan.wixsite.com/sd-artifacts/artifacts
~ www.SantaPeteUtah.com |
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Brynmore14 Inner circle The Séance Chamber 1815 Posts |
Well said Peter. I like what you said about the crafting of the props giving you time to contemplate the purpose and means of their construction. It imagine this also allows you to speak with authority on this, adding much detailed real information, which reinforces the reality of the fictional elements of the story.
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horus1 Special user 645 Posts |
I like your post, Peter. Thank you. It's that type of thinking that led me to the Magic Café and spooky forum. I too have started to dabble in making a few props to help make my stories more personal. Maybe this needs its own thread, but I'm curious what you're making and what resources you've found to facilitate that creativity?
I found the sticky posts regarding this subject in the AM forums to be incredibly helpful. |
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Peter McMillan Elite user St. George, Utah 497 Posts |
I hope this response continues in the vain Sparrow Hawk asked the original question in.
I have made several basic items including a wood Chop Chop Cup, Dean's Box(Dean gave me permission), Square Circle, and performing tables. Things I needed and were just to cheap to buy. When I became interested in Bizarre, I ordered a couple of items. Upon receiving them, I wanted something different and undertook to create the items the way I wanted them to look and operate. A Spirit Lamp, Spirit Bell, Large and Small Slates and a Seance Table. In addition I modified a pendulum and made my own PK Ring from a large silver band. The table has devices to assist in creating miracles as wel as leather inlays to assist in a 3 Card reading routine using reproduction 1864 cards, a palmistry inlay, and the leather cue sheet for the Book of Answers. The BOA Book has also been modified to be used with 7 Keys of Baldpate as suggested by Arielf's post, http://isawthat.com/magic/tricks/the-boo......owledge/ in addition to some things I wanted it to look like. A lot of research goes into finding the effects I want to accent the story with, and I make full use of every Public Domain PDF and eBook on magic I can find. The Will Alma Collection from the State of Victoria Library, Archive.org and Google Free Books all have books from the mid 1800's through the early 1900's that have more ideas then you can use in a life time. I believe you will find many effects on the market today have been influenced by these volumes. Kotah and Michael MacDonald to be very helpful in my progression in Bizarre. Nick Wenger has been of immeasurable help guiding me in matters of electronics. Chris Gould, Vic Nadata and Rick at Outlaw Effects have all been more than patient in answering my questions so I could keep my act on the right track. They have all been approachable. Be polite and they can be a positive resource. But do your own homework first. My idea had been developing for 3 years. It started with the Spirit Lamp from Unleash Your Dreams in the UK. The more I read and play with developing the act, the more things present themselves. It is now to the point where any new ideas MUST fit seamlessly with everything else or it is discarded. I am keeping the number of effects at 10, and perform only 5 in any one performance. This way I can have another 5 to draw on just in case there are repeat spectators, but still keep the base act and not have to travel with a lot of props. Right now, everything is packed in a 1920's Wardrobe Steamer Trunk, which is also the resonator for a remote MP3 vibration speaker. Each is in it's own box I have made for it or found in thrift or antique shopes. Small refinished cigar box's are perfect. I can pull which ever one of the 10 from the drawers and make the decision on the fly. The seance table fits very nicely in the bottom along with a folding chair. Wheel in the wardrobe and off we go. In the long run, you can get a lot of great advise, but unless you get started on the ground work, it will stay a dream that was not realized. You can start with "Once upon a time there was......."
Spiritus Dictum Artifacts ~ Tools of the Craft for Serious Workers http://petemcmillan.wixsite.com/sd-artifacts/artifacts
~ www.SantaPeteUtah.com |
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horus1 Special user 645 Posts |
Wow Peter. Such a wonderful and informative post. I'm new to the bizarre / storytelling telling magic world and sincerly appreciate the glimpse into your process and growth.
Funny... Like you I started with the UYD spirit lamp and was hooked. You've given me a lot to think about and I'm quite excited to be on this path. Thank you so much for sharing !! |
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Dr Spektor Eternal Order Carcanis 10781 Posts |
I believe it's the natural evolution - I love making my own props, or work with artisans who have the skills and time I do not possess to collaborate to make things for my routines. The latter is very key as in working together comes the sharing of knowledge and skills that each party ca benefit from. Even when I get someone else's produced item - if it could not be customized before hand, I deconstruct where I can and rebuild it to suit my own performance requirements. I'm just picking up casting of resin molds etc and still debating if I really want to go that way or just outsource.... I like dabbling to understand the basics - but true craftsmanship mastery is a huge commitment of time - and in our field, there is so much to master! It is a life long journey.
"They are lean and athirst!!!!"
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ZoOpDoG Veteran user All the cool people have 311 Posts |
I think an good introduction would be something like "Till Death Do Us Part" or "Hampton Falls". It is easy to believe someone would have some old photos. This way you can ease yourself into it. Once you see the reactions you get, you will have a good gauge on how well you like this style of magic. If you can convince yourself that it is very easily possible that you have these old photos I think you will find that more elaborate items become easier to craft into a very believable routine. Maybe move to "White Star" next so you are still dealing with photos but have introduced a couple of props as well. When you are comfortable with that and feel confident you have made your story and props believable then try something a little more expensive, that at first may have seemed hard for you to believe but after working you way up to it now seems quite simple.
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aheads Regular user Stockholm, Sweden 188 Posts |
I've been guiding groups and telling ghost/murder stories for entertainment purposes for about 10 years. I can say Rule No. 1 is to believe whatever you're talking about. I have made stuff up on the spot but am able to convince myself that it is a real occurence even as I'm thinking of it. The power of telling a good story and seeing the horror, fascination, sympathy and empathy in their eyes is incomparable.
Now that I'm venturing out into adding bizarre magic effects, I see a whole new dimension opening up before me. The artifacts will now be the evidence supporting my stories. I admit that there are some items which seem over the top especially if you are working on the cruise ships for the silver brigade. You could have stumbled upon an old, curious book in an old, curious bookshop but the chances that you picked up a possessed Victorian doll incarcerated in a wooden crate whilst on shore leave are pretty slim to none.
All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream
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critter Inner circle Spokane, WA 2653 Posts |
Magicians are generally supposed to be presenting ourselves as extraordinary, I think. As such, why should the things we collect be ordinary?
"The fool is one who doesn't know what you have just found out."
~Will Rogers |
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lotcaster Regular user Texas 151 Posts |
Since I have just started learning magic, I can't speak to your primary question, but I did want to address this one:
>These are just not the type of >things folk keep around the house. Some folks do. I have a lot of odd collections: bloodletting devices (fleams, scarificators, etc.), coyote skulls, unintentionally scary dolls, old Hoodoo books, bizarre old photos, quack medical devices, high-end BDSM implements, etc. I just like strange things. My display cabinets are filled with things that would make for very interesting bizarre magic props. There are a number of people out there who collect similarly unusual things, and I think people in general are more aware of it in general, thanks to television shows like Oddities and auctions on eBay. Since I'm a short fat little bespectacled librarian, most people wouldn't guess that I enjoy those things, but I have met a lot of fairly nondescript people who have the same interests. When people visit my home and notice those things, I start pulling them out and explaining what I find so interesting about them. Most of them get very interested at that point because I have (true) stories to relate about each item which I can relate in a non-creepy, enthusiastic way. |
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Al Desmond Inner circle Secret Mountain Lair in Conifer, Co 1511 Posts |
Quote:
On 2014-02-22 16:40, pickin_grinnin wrote: It sounds like your display cabinets are filled with things that would make for very interesting date? |
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Doc Ben Loyal user Phoenix, AZ 261 Posts |
Peter, thanks for sharing in your wonderfully informative post. I started a couple of years ago with my tweaked version of Wh*£e St $# and added my own items of a pocket watch and Morgan dollars that were passed down by the pursors of the ill-fated vessel,....but you just gave me the idea to now add my new haunted key (from the Inns of Prof BC) to the routine.
I have currently 10 performance pieces (well, will be ten once ASH arrives) and plan to concentrate on 5 for six months, then rotate to the other 5 for six months once perfected. Thanks again for your kind generosity of your journey and your procedures.....wonderful!!
"Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain" (the original F. Baum)
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critter Inner circle Spokane, WA 2653 Posts |
"The fool is one who doesn't know what you have just found out."
~Will Rogers |
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Lord Freddie Inner circle 1093 Posts |
I have written a series of books (Occult Magic) on presenting your show in the correct context to make it a believable experience. The props are a big part but it's your presentation that sells it to an audience. If you owned REAL shrunken heads would you really do something as crass as a magic trick with them?
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Dr Spektor Eternal Order Carcanis 10781 Posts |
Quote:
On , Lord Freddie wrote: No but you'd use them for a ritual - like lagoda's heads. I wrote up a routine for the midnight in the dark museum book that people seemed to enjoy.... As soon as you believe you are doing a magic trick versus an immersive theatrical experience - it will fall apart IMHO Oh I have one routine based on lagoda's heads story where I do show my arm gets a bite mark from the spirit of the head Aside: before I got into magic big time I was already collecting strange objects because I liked the concept of the night gallery, the books of hidden libraries of cthulhoid stories, indiana jones artifacts and so on... In fact it's my love of stories from an early age that drives my creativity to use magic to bring them to life for others.
"They are lean and athirst!!!!"
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Lord Freddie Inner circle 1093 Posts |
I've seen so many magicians reduce what should be items of wonder into a cheap prop for a magic trick.
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spookyone Loyal user Canada 282 Posts |
If you can start by spending months/years building up a small collection of interesting/bizarre "artifacts" before performing, it will go a long way to enhancing believability, especially with people who know you. You can patiently work that into your persona and set the stage. Not everything can or should be a rip open the package and perform it right away kind of thing.
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Dr Spektor Eternal Order Carcanis 10781 Posts |
Quote:
On , Lord Freddie wrote: Ice seen that with any trick - a normal deck of cards can be transformed into a weird of gateways into the realms of alternate realities if done right. It is the performer to blame.... Wether it's mentalism without props at all, a magician with a $1500 high tech spirit cabinet or whatever.... And I share your sadness when people don't take the time to realize the prop so to speak should be in the service of a goal and engaging experience vs just using it for alookeeeee ain't dat cool
"They are lean and athirst!!!!"
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The Curator V.I.P. Beware Vampire, I have 3908 Posts |
Quote:
On , spookyone wrote: Why Small? |
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