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Ross W Inner circle UK 1778 Posts |
I was finishing up at a gig at the weekend and one of the spectators approached me on my way out. "I loved the magic, mate - that was great!"
"Thanks a lot - glad you had fun," I said. And then he added: "You know, I see quite a lot of magicians through my work," [it turns out he works in hospitality and catering], "But I've never seen anybody do that thing with the rubber bands before. That was just awesome!" Good old Crazy Man's Handcuffs. I truly hope I never have to retire that trick in the same way I have had to retire the TT Silk Vanish. And for all our concern about having new stuff, most people have never seen our old stuff before. |
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Kabbalah Inner circle 1621 Posts |
A lot of the *new stuff* is purloined old wine in new bottles!
"Long may magicians fascinate and continue to be fascinated by the mystery potential in a pack of cards."
~Cliff Green "The greatest tricks ever performed are not done at all. The audience simply think they see them." ~ John Northern Hilliard |
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jay leslie V.I.P. Southern California 9498 Posts |
When I was touring, I would buy the latest & greatest then wait eight or nine years and put it in the show. That way it was new again and I had the performance worked-out.
Jay Leslie
www.TheHouseOfEnchantment.com |
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Yellowcustard Inner circle New Zealand 1334 Posts |
Just a note on CMH that has been published in several magic books aimed at young pepole which you normally find in a library and yes it has been exposed on Youtube. But here is the key no one has seen it done clean and well. So when people see it it looks like nothing they may of seen before. Another example of a old exposed trick is the principle that Powerball 60 is based on. I have performed this while versions on it lay on the table from Christmas Crackers. We also use it in a school show and when I announce the number they chose the crowd go wild. Again pepoel forget and are not use to it begin performed well.
As for the TT silk vanish time will pass. I have started to do it again and it like the good old days. I once did a vanish and a kid and his mum said we have a trick simaulau to that but yours must be diffrent. As we spoke I realised they were on about the TT so again with good stuff and done well. Keep going and have fun.
Enjoy your magic,
and let others enjoy it as well! |
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themagiciansapprentice Inner circle Essex, UK 1381 Posts |
Amateurs who want to play with their toys want the latest stuff.
I use a blend of new and old. New because my restaurant boss wrote it (clone and Look Sharpy), old because I can entertain with it. Often it's a year or more between purchase and using a trick for real. My pockets still hold - ring and rope, questionable trick, bill switch, SB to pocket, TT silk streamer/ mini changebag, card to wallet, Directors Cut, Sneak Preview, Hotrod, Elastic bands New stuff might include Ocular, Bill switch reverse, OCD but only if I feel the need/ worked up to an entertainment level.
Have wand will travel! Performing children's magic in the UK for Winter 2014 and Spring 2015.
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patrick flanagan Inner circle lisle, illinois 1045 Posts |
I, too, stopped using the TT silk when people (mostly teenagers) would shout out about the fake thumb. So, I started using a finger instead. I still get the occasional "Hey, he's using that fake thumb thing"....and I will on occasion stick my thumbs out inviting them to grab them....while still having the finger on. I've never had anyone accuse me of using a fake finger...ever.
Falls under the "more than one way to skin a cat" theory....which is a weird saying by the way. I will have to google that to see it's origin. patrick |
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Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Quote:
On Oct 6, 2014, Kabbalah wrote: More like old wine in cardboard boxes.
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Yup! In '85 I started using the Kovari Pom Pon Stick, In '92, I put the Abbott Mutilated Parasol in the program.
Yup! The latest stuff! hee hee
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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george1953 Inner circle Mallorca (Spain) 5943 Posts |
I can'tremember last time I put anything new in my show. I know that what I current?y do plays well so why change it.
Also as I live and work in a tourist resort, the audience changes every 2weeks so I have no need to do new stuff.
By failing to prepare, we are preparing to fail.
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EVILDAN Inner circle 1279 Posts |
I'm always on the lookout for something new that's good.
Funny thing about the saying "There's more than one way to skin a cat." That also refers to new tricks coming out that have a similar effect to something I currently do now. So I ask myself, "Is it better than what I do now?" The answer is usually no. But sometimes, something good comes along. So it's good to keep in the loop with the stuff that's coming out.
by EVILDAN....
"The Coin Board Book" - moves and routines with the coin panel board. - http://www.lybrary.com/the-coin-board-book-p-827955.html "SLASHER - A Horror Whodunnit" - a bizarre close-up routine based on Bob Neale's "Sole Survivor." PM me for more info. "Zombie Town" - a packet effect about how a small town turned into zombies. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nzJhcoJtyOM |
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Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
I'm rarely on the look-out for new stuff, unless I have a specific use in mind before I set out on the quest. Once in a blue moon something come along that will make me say, "Oooo, I want that! I know exactly how I can use it," But that is quite rare.
But, I am not swayed by the advertising and hyperbole that surrounds much of the trick hawking that goes on. I have been doing magic long enough to know almost immediately whether something is good for me or not. I guess that's one of the benefits of doing it the wrong way often enough in the past! Ha! There are always folks out there to take up the slack and keep the dealers in business. A good litmus test for what is really a good trick or not is to look for something new, the wait a few weeks and see how many are up for sale on the used magic forums. Lots of lemmings jumping off cliffs.
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
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Alan Munro Inner circle Kentwood, Michigan, USA 5952 Posts |
If the truth be told, I already have a library that could keep me busy for several lifetimes. I'm working much more on connecting with my audiences, so that I keep earning the repeat gigs. Word-of-mouth saves me cash.
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LeoH Elite user 437 Posts |
An older magi once told me "You'll spend $10,000 on tricks to find the %500.00 worth of tricks that you use." He was about on target.
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jay leslie V.I.P. Southern California 9498 Posts |
On the other hand
I have a need for "similar but different tricks" so repeat shows appear different.
Jay Leslie
www.TheHouseOfEnchantment.com |
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Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Jay, I worked a kid's TV program once a week for 2 1/2 years. I learned real quick to paint stuff so it looked different, call it something different, and have it do something a bit different than I'd already done.
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
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Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Jay, I worked a kid's TV program once a week for 2 1/2 years. I learned real quick to paint stuff so it looked different, call it something different, and have it do something a bit different than I'd already done.
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
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jay leslie V.I.P. Southern California 9498 Posts |
Amazing ain't it... change the color and it's N∃W. BTW What show were you on? I did over 100 episodes of Bozo in a syndicated city. Steve Dacri was in Chicago with Larry. So at 14, 15 & 16 I was making twice as much money as my father, doing 3 shows on the weekend Back to the color issue: I had a similar approach. (I know you'll understand as Dick will, but it's here for everyone else that hasn't been around as long as some of us old fa rt s) Correction, Dick isn't old, just well traveled.
15 years ago around here, all the "clowns" were performing the Sucker Die Box - so I carried two (one was red, one was blue) I brought out the red model and the kids yelled "We've seen that before" So I put it away "OHHH, You've seen the red box have you?" then brought out the blue model saying "But, have you seen the ☛ blue ☚ one? " (Never any objections) So I performed the classic routine to a round of applause just like the directions say. (Both my boxes were the same size, just different colors) I perpetrated the same misleading, surreptitious, sneaky ploy with the Linking Rings (Which were overexposed in my area, also). I packed a 12 inch set and just 2, 10 inch rings. Same deal - When I brought out both 10 inch rings... "We've seen that before.." "OHHHH, You've seen those old 10 inch rings before... Ahhh.. just look at these ☛ 12 inch rings ☚ different from those old 10 inch rings... Have you ever seen the 12 inch rings?.. Wait till you see these" ... and the routine began. Granted, my routine is different from the other one but I had to get past the initial objection. (I love being a magician). About the only trick this color/renaming ploy doesn't work well for is the Magic Colouring Book. It's difficult to disguise that as something else unless it's a stamp album. And again. I'm sure you (Michael) already know all this but for anyone else... A Rose By A Different Name (and color) is not the same rose.
Jay Leslie
www.TheHouseOfEnchantment.com |
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Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Jay, I was on The Captain Jinks Show out of Peoria. You can catch about one second of me at 0:35, producing a dove from some tissues.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joKGRVAmM2k That was about 1980. 34 years ago??? EGADS!
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
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funsway Inner circle old things in new ways - new things in old ways 9982 Posts |
To paraphrase Noah Webster, "Your routine was new and exciting!
Unfortunately, the new parts were not exciting, and the exciting parts were not new." as magic is often a balance between Expectation and Astonishment shifting to Anticipation and Surprise, an effect that is "thought to be known" can result in a greater magical experience when the outcome is changed a bit, or an old method is dressed up in new clothing.
"the more one pretends at magic, the more awe and wonder will be found in real life." Arnold Furst
eBooks at https://www.lybrary.com/ken-muller-m-579928.html questions at ken@eversway.com |
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jay leslie V.I.P. Southern California 9498 Posts |
Quote: (and a great one second it was!)
On Oct 9, 2014, Michael Baker wrote: Were those guys all about the money or were they characters in real life? Bozo's cartoons all included little morility plays but when we opened Malls and shopping centers (grand openings) it was all about the money and getting 5,000 people to come out..... and they did. - - - - - - - It was Live TV for me. Only 30 percent of the TVs in the country were color so I was admonished for performing the Hippy Hop Rabbits (go figure) That was 46 years ago YES 46. (I'm older then I look) Lots of mistakes on live TV and no way to go backwards. Once, a stagehand tried to "remove" a loose microphone cord on the ground. He pulled it and the end got caught in my Eureka Table base........ so he pulled harder and tipped the entire table over. The camera rolled in on a close-up (No monitors. I had to guess what was happening) Bozo was on his knees (unseen) handing me props from the floor - and - the entire routine was rewritten right then and there. That ws my third appearance and that's when they asked if I could be on the show every week (yay) A great excuse for getting out of HS on Friday at 12:30.... every Friday at 12:30 for a couple of years.
Jay Leslie
www.TheHouseOfEnchantment.com |
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