So......when you're working out
a 'seemingly' silent, 'Manipulative' Act;
to Music;
Do you 'fit' the Music,
to your 'routined Manipulation'?

Or do you 'fit' your Manipulation,
to a musical piece?

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

How do you go about?

..do you first learn 'to move', with the music....'bodily'(?),
then add 'the Magic'?

Or, fit in 'a music',
to your seemless finished..'movement'?

...i notice, many Acts, are accompanied, with Jazz,...
While this is not so....imposing(?).

Do you develope/work on...
'body movement', as well as Manipulative movement?

Does one 'practise' Smiles,...Glances, as well?

How about..'drops'?
CAN they be 'practised', as well?

I'd appreciate any thought.
'Pipe dreams', or experience,...
I'm open!

Thanks,
gallagher

p.s.: Where does the term 'pipe dreams' come about?

Pipe dreams refers to people who would smoke Opium via an opium pipe... hence the dream!

As for the chicken / egg quandary... it can work either way , just like lyrics and melody in songwriting. I've been choreographing my magic for over 45 years and sometimes I have a piece of music that I want to fit magic to, and sometimes it is magic in search of a backing track of music.

Jazz works well for general manipulation as 'setting' a trick to it mostly means that both events (trick and melody) end at the same time. For me specifically, I prefer a tighter level of integration so that I am accenting certain beats in the music with magical action. You can check out some of my examples on youtube under Jonathan Neal.

Since, I come from an informed dance background... body movement is part of my mix, but that needn't be the same for everyone.

Here are some notes that I used when lecturing at the Magic Castle on use of music:

Click here to view/download attached file.

THAT(!).....is REALLY helpfull !

Jonathan,...I really appreciate this.
...i'm speaking about the 'pipe dream' definition, of course.

I thank you.

You lecture notes ARE really interesting.
The note of David Copperfield is great(!).
There's a lot more to the guy,
then meets the eye(!).
....especially for Magicians.

Thank you, again;
this helps.
Gallagher

p.s.: The 'nosey guy', in me,..
would actually LOVE to ask about your
'informed dance background'.....

This was a lecture that I delivered with musical examples being played during the lecture.

PS_ I studied various dance styles in college and was offered a scholarship to dance with the School's Dance Group. Later, after moving to Hollywood, I studied dance with professional teachers in Jazz Dance. I then integrated it into my magic act.