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AndreJ New user Sweden/@andrewestberg 90 Posts 
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Why does so many magicians say "Do me a favor...(insert common audience interaction here)"
Why is picking a card a favor? For who is the magic happening, for the audience of for the magician? I think the phrase "do me a favor" is just filler words. What do you think?
My background: Loved magic for 25 years, always wanted to do paid gigs but never had the courage. Faced my fears some years ago and now perform regularly.
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Kabbalah Inner circle 1621 Posts
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"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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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8361 Posts
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OK~ I'll "do you a favor", and say, "I agree!" (LOL)
KABBALAH!~ Where did "youse" get that video? Funny!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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davidpaul$ Inner circle Pittsburgh, Pa 2959 Posts
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Those guys are annoying. Just sayin!
If you can't help worrying, remember worrying can't help you!
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 20518 Posts
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It all depends on context.
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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MeetMagicMike Inner circle Gainesville Fl 3219 Posts
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These things really only annoy magicians who watch a lot of magicians. Lines like "do me a favor" are simply every day speech and go unnoticed by a lay audience.
Unless you perform for magician's your audience will NEVER have heard these so called "hack" lines. The question is , does the line work for you in your act? |
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22771 Posts
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Quote:
On Mar 5, 2015, AndreJ wrote: Take a motivational management and supervision seminar, they will explain it to you. Short answer, you will always get a positive response if you ask a person to do you a favor, instead of saying, pick a card or go ahead and pick a card. One is intimidating the other seems like they are the one making the decision to help. It does get old after repetitive request, sometimes to the point, they will say, depends on the favor, or not again. Seems you have heard it to often yourself for you to be asking, Will you do me a favor? Actually, when performing it is better to get the person to do exactly what you want in the way you want to be more shot, and then take the sting off, like, Pick a card, any card at all. Today would be convenient for all of us. |
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JordanB Special user dallas, tx 638 Posts
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Saying " Do me a favor" sucks. There are many magicians and many good magicians who use it but it doesn't mean they should or that it works for them. They just overcome it.
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 20518 Posts
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You do favors for people you like. It is a way of breaking down social barriers. Used correctly it can put people at ease.
If you don't understand these things don't use the phrase. But don't necessarily judge those that do too harshly.
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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AndreJ New user Sweden/@andrewestberg 90 Posts
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I'm not judging anyone. I just think it's overused. If you have a clear purpose for using it, fine...but I believe most magicians don't.
My background: Loved magic for 25 years, always wanted to do paid gigs but never had the courage. Faced my fears some years ago and now perform regularly.
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silvercup Loyal user 223 Posts
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It's better than starting a sentence with the word actually, and then sprinkling more in as an attempt to sound intelligent. No offence intended Bill. It's become so common in language these days, pushed farther by those in broadcast medium it seems, that people parrot it without even realizing what they are saying. Same with "you know", "ummm", "like", etc.
http://www.4hoteliers.com/features/article/7765 excerpt: Her (Caroline Kennedy) natural intelligence was overshadowed by the fact that, within one 30 minute interview, she said "you know" 168 times, a fact that was mockingly reported by the late night comedians." Actually, my ears are actually finely tuned to the actual overuse of the actual word actually, actually. 
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 20518 Posts
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Quote:
On Mar 6, 2015, AndreJ wrote: Incidentally "worst line ever" is a judgment.
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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JordanB Special user dallas, tx 638 Posts
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I’m judging. It sucks. I don’t claim to be perfect, but my shortcomings don’t make it suck any less.
Most magicians use it in some variation of the following “Do me a favor and (pick a card), (hold this object), (tell me when to stop)”. The variations are endless and overused. Saying “please select a card” is much better and with proper scripting there are even more polite and professional ways of giving our spectators instructions. Saying “do me a favor” is just a crutch for giving a spectator instructions. Emily Post would roll over in her grave if she saw how overused and trite it has become. |
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drmagico Loyal user 237 Posts
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How about " I would be very grateful if you would assist me" or something similar
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jay leslie V.I.P. Southern California 9495 Posts
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Why not say "You're probably thinking I want you to take a card and memorize it so I can find it later. That is correct so.. can we move-on to a coin trick now?"
Jay Leslie
www.TheHouseOfEnchantment.com |
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frankieacemagic Elite user 496 Posts
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So this is annoying for magicians to hear OTHER magicians saying? I suppose. Don't we all sprinkle a few one liners throughout our show? Sparingly, of course. It's much better to interact with the audience genuinely. But who's annoyed by this? Not the audience, right?
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MeetMagicMike Inner circle Gainesville Fl 3219 Posts
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Right, Frankieacemagic
In my opinion this is much ado about very little. Jordan B wrote: Quote:
Most magicians use it in some variation of the following “Do me a favor and (pick a card), (hold this object), (tell me when to stop)”. The variations are endless and overused. Saying “please select a card” is much better and with proper scripting there are even more polite and professional ways of giving our spectators instructions. It seems to me that "Do Me a Favor" is serving the same purpose as "Please". It is just a little nicety to acknowledge that they are not required to follow your instructions. Here is a nice article about why we say please and thank you. http://www.brainpickings.org/2013/07/25/......ank-you/ |
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Theodore Lawton Inner circle 1686 Posts
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Change with the times peeps, it's "Do me a solid."
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WilburrUK Veteran user 389 Posts
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Quote:
On Mar 7, 2015, Theodore Lawton wrote: If you asked people round my way to do you a solid, you may not be thanking them for the results ! |
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jay leslie V.I.P. Southern California 9495 Posts
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Quote:
On Mar 7, 2015, WilburrUK wrote: Or "Could you Float me a loan"
Jay Leslie
www.TheHouseOfEnchantment.com |
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| The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Table hoppers & party strollers » » "Do me a favor..." Worst line ever. (26 Likes) | ||||||||||
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Posted: Mar 5, 2015 09:16 am 
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