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Mike Walton Special user Chicago 984 Posts |
With kids, many and even most think that magic is real. My nephew thinks Uncle Mike can truly make silks disappear and go through a wall and end up in the next room, in a desk, etc. That's nifty.
But let's say you're performing for older teens or adults and you nail an astonishing effect. The audience was engaged, possibly they held the magic, and WHA LA , their reaction is strong and they're completely astonished. Do you think that they actually thought, even for an instant, that you have supernatural powers of some sort? What is their perception of what happened, if you don't give them a mental out? Maybe it's just a big mental whitescreen. It's difficult for me to think back and determine if I thought a magician really had magic as I didn't see any good magicians in-person while growing up. The question could be rephrased as what are spectators thinking during a period of intense astonishment after an effect if they can't find an out to explain the effect. |
Reis O'Brien Inner circle Seattle, WA 2467 Posts |
I have run into a few people that, for religious issues perhaps, have thought that what I did was shameful, that it was the "devil's work". Now, I don't really know if these folks thought I had true metaphysical dark powers, but maybe they were just not ruling that out. The funny thing is, if I really could manipulate the physical world around me with the power of true magic, I wouldn't being doing stupid card tricks! Do they really think that I would strike a deal with Old Scratch just so my Chop Cup routine would look smooth?
Then there are the people who WANT to believe you are a real magician, in the Merlin sense. They will talk themselves into anything if it means that they have just witnessed the supernatural. For the most part though, I feel that the majority of adults simply think we're clever. And that's good enough for me. |
Necromancer Inner circle Chicago 3076 Posts |
First, I must warn you all that Mike and Reis are evil incarnate, and that when they use the powers of the underworld for mere "entertainment," they are simply softening the general populace for the unexpected and diabolical fury they plan to unleash at some undisclosed future date.
As for the topic at hand: when you blow away a teen or adult audience, does their moment of astonishment include thoughts that you possess "gifts?" That depends on (1) your choice of material; (2) your manner of presentation (including atmosphere); and (3) the audience's prior beliefs and predispostion toward jumping to supernatural conclusions. When these three elements align -- for instance, in a seance situation where fairly moderate/plausible results are presented in a serious manner within a somber atmosphere -- I have had people ask me how old I was when I first discovered I had these special abilities. Conversely, to the best of my knowledge, nobody has ever been burned at the stake for their Comedy Egg Bag routine (no matter how much they may have deserved it). Best, Neil
Creator of The Xpert (20 PAGES of reviews!), Cut & Color, Hands-Off Multiple ESP (HOME) System, Rider-Waite Readers book, Zoom Pendulum ebook ...
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Reis O'Brien Inner circle Seattle, WA 2467 Posts |
Aw, Neil... you say the sweetest things!
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Moonlit Knight Regular user U.S. 113 Posts |
It’s been claimed that some effects and performances are so good that “you could start a church”. Well, I’ve found, that is not entirely outside of the realm of reality in some spectators minds.
It’s a loooooong story which I won’t go into here. It’s sufficient to say, based upon my performing style, there were a couple of people who thought there was more to my performance than the performance. So, I was the subject of an investigation in which I got the opportunity to meet some nice people the media had interviewed for their talents in getting out of and breaking up the activity they imagined I was in charge of. Not as bad as an exorcism perhaps, but just as interesting in my opinion. The rest - I’ll leave to your imagination. Nuff’ said. Perhaps, I should develop a Comedy Egg Bag routine to take the edge off things. Then again, being burned at the stake is not my thing.
"Join the dance... Follow on! With a twist of the world we go."
- Genesis "Dancing With The Moonlit Knight" |
Terry Holley Inner circle 1805 Posts |
In the summer of 1971, I performed over 400 shows at a theme park (If I remember correctly, it was about 8 a day for a 3-month period). I believe I was hired because of the Brainwave Deck, and I closed every show with the Brainwave Deck. I still think that it is arguably one of the greatest effects (if not the greatest) ever created.
The entire show was fairly strong, but I never felt Brainwave could be followed. When the show was over, it wasn't unusual to have adults (I was 19 at the time) converse with me about ESP. I also found that some thought that I was in league with the devil. People would come back to watch my show the same day in order to see if what I had was "real." I was prepared with Brainwave by having several resources. I can't say that apart from a mentalism show I have ever had close to this kind of reaction, although an illusionist friend of mine has gotten that reaction particularly from his self-levitation. My magic and illusions have never been staged as powerfully as his, so I can understand why. From my own personal experience, I have found that a fairly strong mentalism performance, even with disclaimers, will leave many people wondering. Terry
Co-author with illusionist Andre' Kole of "Astrology and Psychic Phenomena."
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
Some of it depends on the mindset of the audience. Once, at a party, I was not performing as a magician, but someone spilled the beans on me, and I was asked to "do something." They dug up an old battered deck of cards and I did OOTW. The speccy thought it was real.
When I was performing at the Renaissance Festivals, there were any number of people who thought that I could really do it, and that the comedy part was a way of disguising my actual powers. Services start at 10:00 AM Sunday morning.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
Partizan Inner circle London UK 1682 Posts |
If I get a chance, I drop in that I had a head injury as a child, and ever since I have these wonderful gifts of magic.
I back this up with an old scar and some memory feats. Most ppl get the impression I am a quite loopy savant.
"You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus."
- Mark Twain |
drwilson Inner circle Bar Harbor, ME 2191 Posts |
Lately, I have concentrated on effects that are "real" although they are not "supernatural" in my world view: glasswalking, mnemonics, escapes. When I was doing psychic work some time ago, I learned not to argue with audience members. If people come up after the show to talk, I make some vague answer to their question, they fill it in with things from their world view and I agree with them.
Using this method, I have seen people react to glasswalking with the firm conviction that I was able to temporarily open an invisible gateway and walk through it in order to escape harm. Then there is the "back story" approach. For a few people who want to talk about escapes, you explain that while Houdini certainly knew how to pick locks, sometimes the best method is to visualize the mechanism and try to influence the metal with your mind. I am not as good as he was, but here, let's try this. Then you do some PK. You tell them that you like people to think that it is about picking the locks because this method is secret. Tell them not to tell anyone. That starts some good rumors! Yours, Paul |
magicmonkeyphoto Regular user 151 Posts |
I have had a few people believe that some of what I did was real. I never claim that it is, and in fact some have gotten angry at me, saying that I was lying, by not admitting it was real. Pretty crazy!
So, I have done what was I think the only thing I could do, I have started taking their money and doing psychic surgery and exorcisms. So far I have only lost 5 patients. Of course I have only done it 5 times, but still. Seriously though, if someone wants to believe that badly, I don't argue with them. But, if I had my wish, people with be stuck thinking somewhere in the middle. You know? Kind knowing that it can't be real, but thinking, "That sure seemed real... I wonder if it could have been." Lincoln
http://www.lincolnworld.com/products -- For high end mentalist utility devices, ideas, and props for professionals and serious hobbyists. You can follow me on Instagram @Lincolnworldmagic and on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LincolnWorldWatchers
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Reis O'Brien Inner circle Seattle, WA 2467 Posts |
I use the head injury excuse too, but for differet reasons.
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Partizan Inner circle London UK 1682 Posts |
"You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus."
- Mark Twain |
Osiris Special user 610 Posts |
Well, I know of people that firmly believe that Copperfield is a highly trained Kabalist and he can really fly (wish that were the case, that stuff is very heavy to move around...) I've also found myself terrified a few times, as folks confronted me after one of my shows, seeking to make me their guru.
Certain modes of magical presentation will invoke a kind of "belief" in the surreal... it's what Rick Maue refers to as "Cerebral Magick" and, in all honesty, it is the affect I deliberately try to have on my audiences when doing Bizarre or Psychic styled work. Given that this has been my field of specialty for some time I have to admit that I like it! That is to say, I like having them uncertain as to if or not what I deliver is real or fake. I also know that in many cases, even when a performer stresses that what they do is FAKE and only an ILLUSION, people wont believe it. I've attended far too many Mentalists performances and seen how folks cry, real tears, in trying to connect and send their thoughts to the performer... then again, I've watched far too many televangelists get the same kind of investment of faith from their patrons... either case being after the same exact end result... seats in the seats and cash in the bank! If anyone is wondering, I'm headed off with Mr. Fearson to start a new cult... catch you later! |
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