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alexhui Inner circle Hong Kong 1956 Posts 
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After I performed some card tricks, someone came to me with a rope (to my surprise, a magician's bright white rope!) and sincerely asked
'Can you show me a rope magic??' I looked at her and thought, 'I never learn rope and I don't even tie a false knot...God...' She looked at me and said again, 'Please...' I almost wanted to say, 'I only do card and I am a card magician.' But I know it is ridiculous because in magicdom we have card magicians, coin magicians, rope magicians, illusion magicians, thimble magicians....but in laymen eyes (or in real world), only one kind of magicians exist, it's Magician. So, should we be an all-round magician at certain extent and be able to show the laymen you are really a magician when you face the scenario above? We know many experts in magicdom only concentrate on certain areas and they acheive great success. But if you face the scenario above, what wil you do??Perform another card effect to satisfy the audience member? Or just kick that audience out of your sight?? (I think no magician will do that though....) Alex Hui
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Niko Special user England 599 Posts
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What did you end up doing???
-Niko
When you do something right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all.
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Paul Sherman Inner circle Arlington, VA 1511 Posts
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You could present the spectator with an analogy that might explain it.
Music is a language of broad utility. Some people learn to play many instruments and others choose to focus on perfecting their technique with one. A spectator could ask Itzhak Perlman to play a tune on the accordian, but he'd be denying himself the truly amazing performance he could witness on the violin. Magic is your language; cards are your instrument of choice. Just don't sound hoighty-toighty when you say it. People hate that. Paul
"The finished card expert considers nothing too trivial that in any way contributes to his success..." Erdnase
some youtube videos |
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alexhui Inner circle Hong Kong 1956 Posts
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Paul,
I agree with you points and think the analogy is very good in reliefing some of my concerns. But as a magician, we proceed certain kind of 'magical power', or in Derren's words, we are the mediums who connect with the mysterious world. So if we really have this 'power', it is hardly to convince the audience that we have 'power' over cards but no 'power' over coins, because they don't understand our world much. We magicians understand our world, but sometimes it's hard (though it's not necessary) to explain to audiences the construction of our magicdom. If I say to my audience my profession is only on cards, or whatever. In their unconscious mind they will probably say 'I know it because you can only use sleight-of-hands/methods on cards. So if I know I can do as well'. Alex Hui
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prettylady1990 Loyal user 206 Posts
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No, I don't think you have to be an all rounder
But it would help if you new a trick or two in other feilds of magic. I learn a bit of everything so I'm prepared for most cases |
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alexhui Inner circle Hong Kong 1956 Posts
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Prettylady1990,
I agree with you. So I am also learning other areas of magic. But just curious to know how many of my fellows have encountered the case above and lost the way suddenly. Alex Hui
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For BRUTALLY HONEST consultation for your upcoming projects, PM me. YouTube: Alex Magic Review YouTube: Themis Magic World Instagram: @AlexMagicReview Instagram: @ThemisMagic |
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Werner G. Seitz Inner circle 3131 Posts
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Quote: I can't answer your question, but I have a suggestion in the case you mentioned..
On 2004-10-06 22:04, alexhui wrote: Simply learn G.W. Hunters *knot* (can't remember how it's called correctly..) You can entertain an entire party for a couple of mins by just using that, and it is easy to learn..the description is everywhere..IIRC also in Lew Gansons *The Art of Close-up Magic* If there are 2 equally long ropes available you can expand entertainment, but even with one rope you can entertain 'em... It's really easy to do... PS. I do a very few roperoutines, but IF it ever happens -luckily so far it didn't - I flop and do anything wrong not being able to go through my roperoutine, I have a fallback using the above mentioned routine.. Learn it..you'll not regeret it and it is dead easy.. I do have a couple of follow-ups, similars to the original, but with quite a diff. handling, but G.W. Hunters is all you need to know about ropemagic, whenever the described situation pops up again, my guess is, it wil not..and that would be a pitty, now you can be prepared and that little, simple roperoutine WILL probably entertain and hit 'em harder then the cardwork you did.. 
Learn a few things well.....this life is not long enough to do everything.....
( Words of wisdom from Albert Goshman ...it paid off for him - it might as well for YOU!!!- My own magic is styled after that motto... )
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jcards01 Inner circle Waterloo, IL 1438 Posts
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The trouble may start with how you market yourself. I do strictly cards and have done so for decades but I market myself as a Sleight-of-Hand expert with cards, not a Magician. If you market yourself as a magician, then locically, it shouldn't matter what object you pick up or work with.
Just my opinion.
Jimmy 'Cards' Molinari
www.jimmycards.com |
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drwilson Inner circle Bar Harbor, ME 2191 Posts
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I'd say read Tarbell and figure out a few easy things to do with any "instrument." This should not prevent you from pursuing with passion your chosen instrument. Once you have done the "request," do some of your strongest material in order to deliver the message that you are, for example, the card guy.
Yours, Paul |
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Werner G. Seitz Inner circle 3131 Posts
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Quote: Sorry, by a quick glanze through that book I couldn't find it..but it is in f.ex. Enough Ropepublished by Harry Stanley on page 68, as well as it surely is in Mark Wilsons *Complete Course in Magic* and Martin Gardeners *Encyclopedia of Impromptu Magic*, though I haven't checked the 2 last mentioned..
On 2004-10-08 03:34, Werner G. Seitz wrote: Anyway, IF you can get *Enough Rope*, you there also find an unauthorized version of George Sands Ropesational under the title of *Unique Rope Routine*, which is about the best rope routine one can do, when we forget for a moment the classical Prof. nighmare and Daryls version. Still, out of fairness to the originator, I would recommend to get George Sands booklet re Ropesational, but the G.W. Hunterknot is well explained in *Enough Rope*..any magician should be able to do it..it's a classic and it actually can create more entertainment for layppl then a lot of more complicated and *sleightfull* magic routines !
Take my word for it... 
Learn a few things well.....this life is not long enough to do everything.....
( Words of wisdom from Albert Goshman ...it paid off for him - it might as well for YOU!!!- My own magic is styled after that motto... )
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anytime New user Hong Kong 51 Posts
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It is so strange that all the Chinese Magicians treat this as a golden magician's code: NEVER teaching magic to anyone without charges. However, western magicians believe that presentation skill is the golden code of magician. Well ... I can teach you a rope routine (Magician's Nightmare) when I see you next time, but 1 kiss 1 trick ......
Just kidding
I can show you free of charge. |
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espalding New user St. Louis 59 Posts
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I agree with Paul 100%. Suppose someone went up to Celine Dion and says "I think you have a wonderful voice. Can you sing a country/western song? Pretty please?" I think the questions are equivilant.
I'm not too worried about the perception that magical powers should extend to all areas either. Why can't the Pet Psychic talk to dead people? Why can't John Edward ot Sylvia Brown talk to animals? Okay, I don't really believe any of these people can do the things they claim, but my point is that they have no problem convincing people that their powers are not all-encompassing. Eric. |
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Whit Haydn V.I.P. 5449 Posts
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If the lady brought you a piece of magic rope and asked for you to show her rope magic, she probably was an amateur magician, or a had assisted a magician in a rope routine and received the rope afterwards.
She may have hoped that you would do something that would give her a hint as to how a trick she was familiar with was done. It is usually not good to do requests. The requesting person all too often has a hidden agenda. |
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alexhui Inner circle Hong Kong 1956 Posts
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Jimmy reminds me a very good point that we have to be careful at how to market ourselves.
To be frank, I only do two kinds of things: card magic and mentalism. I never show coins, ropes or linking rings,etc. I know some routines, but am thinking those performance didn't suit me most and I am not competent in performing them well. So when I show somebody card effects, I do not show mental effects cos I don't want my audience perceive me 'wrongly'. I only want to be either card magician or mental magician depending on different circumstances. Again, I totally agree with Paul. But my only concern is if we call ourselves magicians, we definitely will face certain kinds of potential problem. It is because the word 'Magician' has so much power, so we have to ascertain if we can handle this 'power' and keep it under control at most circumstances. Take an example to clarify my points: What if a person called himself a Coin Manipulation Expert if he can only do one-coin roll and a coin vanish? And Mr. Hyydn reminds me one point as well: Know what audience think. I think if we understand the reason behind spectator's request, we can find leeway to satisfy them. And I think it's one of the crucial element inside real workers. Alex Hui
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For BRUTALLY HONEST consultation for your upcoming projects, PM me. YouTube: Alex Magic Review YouTube: Themis Magic World Instagram: @AlexMagicReview Instagram: @ThemisMagic |
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anytime New user Hong Kong 51 Posts
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As you never coin your goodself any Name in magic, never call yourself any 'Super Hands' or 'Mathematical Magic Man' or whatever, and you are a normal magician who wants to entertain only, you have your thinking and ways on magic, and I think you are comfortable on it. You have your own style. No one will force you to be an all-round magician if you were not an employee of entertainment company. However, learning more is good, just like learning foreign language, which brings you more convenience. Further to your case, I think you can utilise the rope as a "fortune teller" in mentalism, asking the rope to find a card for you, etc. However, if I were you, I will reject the lady's invitation by saying "It is the end of my show and I would like to bring you home with magic rope's help, thank you."
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anytime New user Hong Kong 51 Posts
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For your information, the above rope trick is called "misdirection". Not an excellent method to escape but you may agree that it is really a misdirection. Cheers.
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salsa_dancer Inner circle 1935 Posts
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No, stay away from ropes, they are as boring as hell
I knot it, I cut it, I move the knot, I cut it again, I restore it, I knot it, I cut it, I turn it into a handkerchiefzzzzzzzz |
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Stuart Hooper Special user Mithrandir 759 Posts
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First, I don't do any rope magic.
Second, don't stay away from anything...it ENTIRELY depends on the performer and the presentation. I can entertain as easily with a Piano or nothing at all as a deck of Cards...with practice, for the right person, a rope would be no different. |
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Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27353 Posts
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Hey! There is some wonderful magic using rope. Check out the Sawa book by Kaufman. Or some of Pavel's tricks. Grrrrr
...to all the coins I've dropped here
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francisco Loyal user Coolest guy in the café 267 Posts
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Quote:
On 2004-10-07 17:09, Niko wrote: so alex.. WHAT did you end up doing.. we're all in suspense! -Francisco
'When you steal one trick, they call it plagiarism. When you steal many - they call it research.'
[Corinda, 13 steps to mentalism] |
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Posted: Oct 7, 2004 02:04 am 
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