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BradleyNott Veteran user Westwood, CA (UCLA) 351 Posts 
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I want everyone's thoughts on gestures that are commonly used to create the magic moment.
I'll first list some examples... Coin workers often snap their fingers to imply an empty hand AND to create the magic moment. Some wiggle their thumbs or rub their fingers. There is the always popular hand wave. You can use a spin and a tap of a wand. Magic words are great too. One that I find peculiar is blowing, which McBride loves to use especially in his rope routine. What are all your thoughts on good magical gestures? What do you think of getting spectator's to participate by asking them to participate in the magic moment by getting them to blow, snap, etc.? Just curious since I never really gave the issue much attention. -Brad
If you were a hotdog, and you were starving...would you eat yourself? I know I would!
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JimMaloney Inner circle 1184 Posts
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The kind of magic gesture you use will depend, in part, on the source of your character's powers.
-Jim
Books and Magazines for sale -- more than 200 items (Last updated January 17th, 2014. Link goes to public Google Doc.)
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Mike Wild Inner circle NY, PA, TX, MA, FL, NC 1290 Posts
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A wave of the hand
A squeeze A light touch with the fingertips Eye contact at the moment of revelation I'm working on a new one where I spasm violently while screaming bloody murder... but that one's having mixed reactions and is still in the development stages 
Best, Mike |
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Eight Spades Elite user Ohio (northwest) 482 Posts
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I never liked hand waving (it seems too cliche and corny), so instead I'll sometimes just rest my hand over top of the deck and silence myself both audibly and visually. Absolutely no movement or noise creates such a powerful tension that it really calls the attention of the audience.
-Christian
"Tricks are only the crude residue from which the lifeblood of magic has been drained." -S.H. Sharpe
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EvanSparts Veteran user Michigan 333 Posts
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Quote:
On 2004-09-03 13:08, Eight Spades wrote: That's so right on the money with my thinking. The kind of gesture really can almost define your character. |
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Dan LeFay Inner circle Holland 1371 Posts
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I like the delayed reveal of an effect.
For instance, you do a false transfer and knead your ahnd to make it vanish. You open your hand slightly and look, "nothing has happened", start kneading again, look...ah...NOW it's gone! Works also well when rubbing the face of a card to make it change into the selection.
"Things need not have happened to be true.
Tales and dreams are the shadow-truths, that will endure when mere facts are dust and ashes, and forgot." Neil Gaiman |
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Laughing Otter Loyal user Behind you! 205 Posts
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I have a favorite that fits my character. I will lightly touch the object/subject of the magic, pause, smile and give a small sigh, as if I have just confirmed, "Yes, it worked", then comes the revelation.
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MinnesotaChef Regular user Minneapolis,MN 176 Posts
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I throw out the wink sometimes. Or smile like you're onto something. Not on something. Also in regards to the "blow" I do use it. I think it gives the impression of actually blowing away some kind of trace evidence of the object. If you're curious to see an odd example of it that works really well, watch "The Usual Suspects" the character Verbal does it in the last scene and it's down right spooky.
"Great restaurants are, of course, nothing but brothels.There is no point in going into them if one intends to keep one's belt buckled."- Fredric Raphael
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BradleyNott Veteran user Westwood, CA (UCLA) 351 Posts
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Thanks for the responses everyone! You've given me a lot to think about.
If you were a hotdog, and you were starving...would you eat yourself? I know I would!
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Hideo Kato Inner circle Tokyo 5649 Posts
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Please add to the list a style in which you show the result without any magical gesture.
For example : Speactator deals cards and stops. If you give a magical gesture over the last dealt card and turn it face up, it would not be a good presentation. In this case, verbal method of focusing on the stopped card would be stronger. In Japan, magic is getting more and more popular as an entertainment. So presenting magic as a real magician (Wizard) is dying. Hideo Kato |
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Eight Spades Elite user Ohio (northwest) 482 Posts
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Quote:
On 2004-09-06 05:15, Hideo Kato wrote: Not to get off subject, but I really don't understand this quote. Just because this form of entertainment is becoming more popular, does that really mean you can't present it as real? I truly do not understand why you would limit the most powerful aspect of magic. -Christian
"Tricks are only the crude residue from which the lifeblood of magic has been drained." -S.H. Sharpe
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Hideo Kato Inner circle Tokyo 5649 Posts
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Yes, I believe it is foolish today to perform magic presenting it as a real magic in Japan. Magic appears on TV almost every day and maybe 99% of Japanese people are fully aware magic is depending upon secret methods, devices and presentations.
In a sense, Japanese people are much familiar with magic. Does this mean we are limiting the most powerful aspect of magic. I don't think so. Nevil Maskelyn once said best audience are magicians. Japanese people are so familiar with magic that they can appreciate good magic. BTW, Tomo Maeda will have a TV program which is not a magic show, but is a program which introduce his life and success story. Magie Shirou appeared in Quiz Show. Mr.maric hosted "Adventure in the South Pole'. Many magicians appear in TV commercials. I think this has been resulted because we have not limited the most powerful aspect of Magic. Hideo Kato |
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EvanSparts Veteran user Michigan 333 Posts
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Well I'm glad Im not in Japan. If everyone looks at magic as just entertainnment that's a sad day for me in magic.
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Eight Spades Elite user Ohio (northwest) 482 Posts
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I guess that depends on what this diluted idea of the most powerful aspect of magic. Some things need to change with time but not the roots of magic. I really don't even know what to say to this.
"Tricks are only the crude residue from which the lifeblood of magic has been drained." -S.H. Sharpe
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Dr_Stephen_Midnight Inner circle SW Ohio, USA 1555 Posts
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I get a lot of mileage out of the 'Svengali stare' during moments of concentration.
Dr. Lao: "Do you know what wisdom is?"
Mike: "No." Dr. Lao: "Wise answer." |
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wsduncan Inner circle Seattle, WA 3619 Posts
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Quote:
On 2004-09-08 01:09, EvanSparts wrote: Evan, What do your audiences think magic is, if not entertainment? |
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waveman New user 78 Posts
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I like to use "Say Go." ala Goshman.
I also rub my fingers together when I make coins vanish. I snap my fingers with cards and I also riffle the deck. for kids it's always a magic word said real loud. |
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honus Veteran user 354 Posts
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Speaking purely kidshow here:
Kids love to blow on things to make them disappear. And they seem to expect magic words and wands. Snap your fingers and the show's over; the ones who can, do it the rest of the day, and the ones who can't, try to figure out how. Posted: Sep 12, 2004 1:58am ------------------------------------- Quote:
On 2004-09-06 22:52, Hideo Kato wrote: Ditto to wsduncan above . . . are there people over the age of three anywhere that think magic is real? (Setting aside John Edward fans and such.) |
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joseph Eternal Order Please ignore my 17449 Posts
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I like when Mike Skinner or Larry Jennings wave their hand over the card(s), "casting a shadow" for the magical moment.....
"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler." (Einstein)...
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Avrakdavra Loyal user The Pine Tree State, USA 224 Posts
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When I was in summer camp one year, my counselor would perform simple coin sleights for us. His "method" for effecting the dissappearances? A loud belch!
I have to say, it played great for ten-year-old boys... |
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Posted: Sep 2, 2004 05:58 pm 
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