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Matt Graves Special user Huntsville, Alabama (USA) 504 Posts |
LOL Michael . . . but stop, you're making me want to drive down to Subway when I should be getting to bed . . .
David, I had no idea you invented the SHortschanged trick for that certain other "David". Wow! I must say that is an incredible trick. I saw Bob Arno steal a guy's underwear one time, but that's taking it to a whole new level. Great to see you at the Café'! I'm glad I checked who was on the menu this month . . . I think I may have seen you when I was about four years old - which would have been about 1988 or so - in the Smoky Mountains. I remember a crazy guy with a raccoon and a magic coloring book and so on. And my Mom says all she remembers is that "the guy was really really goofy". Could it have possibly been you? That's been eating at me for years now, ever since I saw your act on World's Greatest Magic. |
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David Williamson V.I.P. 190 Posts |
No, I don't think so. Lots of people wiggled raccoons before I picked one up. Jeff Justice was the first I saw.
By any chance was this at Dollywood? There was a guy who would dress as an old miner and pitch raccoons to people at the train station. |
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David Williamson V.I.P. 190 Posts |
Quote:
Dear David: Mark, There are so many people in the business that I admire. Too many to name. I hope it doesn't seem like a cop out, but the list is so long, from Bill Malone to Ricky Jay. Juan Tamirez, Michael Weber, John Carney, Luis DeMatos, Mike Caveney, Mac King, Eric Mead and on and on. I loved watching Michael Skinner, Goshman, Slydini and Mullica ( I know he's still with us, but he's stepped out of magic for the time being) As far as rehersal...what's that? Just kidding. I know what rehersal is, I'm just allergic to it. I'm sure that I'd be a much better magician if I would take rehersal seriously, but the fact is I'm lazy and I'd much rather play with my kids. Years ago I had a very strict rehersal schedule with mirrors and video. I would pretend that there was a real audience in front of me and I even had a metronome clicking a steady beat to get me to slow down. That was always a problem for me, I would tend to fly through routines. Too fast. I hate to admit it but the best rehersal was in front of real people. Dinner theatre and table-hopping taught me to slow down and consider the audience. After a few weeks of performing a new trick, it would look completely different from the original form. The one thing that I did have going for me was I had the ability to adapt. I didn't fall in love with any of my tricks-it was all about the audience reaction to what I was doing. If something didn't work I'd change it...if it still didn't ge the reaction I wanted, I'd toss it. I had an art teacher in college who had us work hard on a painting and then expect us to paint white over the finished product and do another. It was very difficult for some of the students who considered everything that came from their hands a Masterpiece. I learned to let go. If you could do it once, you could do it again. So the years I spent table hopping in bars and restaraunts was really a great training ground for theings I would do later on. My advice to young magicians is to work for as many people as you can. Do free shows, school shows, birthday parties, street fairs anything! Senior centers would love to have a young magician come and entertain- you just have to get out there and do it. You'll quickly find out what works for real people and what's fluff. More importantly, you'll hone your performing persona. I have a feeling I'm preaching to the choir around here. |
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saxmangeoff Veteran user Moscow, ID, USA 353 Posts |
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On 2005-01-02 01:14, David Williamson wrote: I'm currently reading a book called "Successful Stand-Up Comedy" by Gene Perret. Though the title is about stand-up comedy, it's really a book about performing. He has many tales about how rutheless Bob Hope (for whom Perret was a writer) was about perfecting his jokes and his routines, and audience reaction was the barometer. If it worked, it stayed. If it sort of worked, it got improved. If it didn't work, it was gone. And rumor has it that that Bob Hope guy was pretty successful with that strategy. Quote:
I have a feeling I'm preaching to the choir around here. Maybe, but the choir always gives you the loudest "Amen"s. Geoff
"You must practice your material until it becomes boring, then practice it until it becomes beautiful." -- Bill Palmer
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Jon Allen V.I.P. England 1771 Posts |
Hi David,
You've got me off my sick bed to post something here. I mentioned it in another area in the Café but your lecture video for International Magic (1988?) is still, for me, the most influential video of all time. It was the first time I had ever seen a magician who I thought had actually performed the tricks out in the real world. As well as the methods explained, there was so much to learn that was never explained like timing, use of the offbeat and audience interaction. That tape changed my whole outlook, peforming style and thinking on magic. I will always remember buying it on a Thursday and perfroming Bending Spoon, T & R Transpo, 51 Cards to Pocket and Ring on Rope at my Sunday residency. It was good to see you at Ron's Day. I'll have to pull out all the stops to try and get you back to the UK again! We've got great sandwiches and cold beer over here and you can have as much as you like which could be a start. I''ve now coughed and spluttered over this keybiard so I can't see thje lettrs anymirw so it#s ogg to bed fir ne niw.
Creator of iconic magic that you will want to perform.
The Silent Treatment, The Pain Game, Paragon 3D, Double Back, Destination Box and more. Available at www.onlinemagicshop.co.uk |
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Matt Graves Special user Huntsville, Alabama (USA) 504 Posts |
I think it was at Dollywood. Oh, well . . . I'll just have to make up for it by really catching your act some day.
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niva Inner circle Malta (Europe) 2970 Posts |
Oh gee!! I thought you were going to be at the next FISM as well.
Yours,
Ivan |
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David Williamson V.I.P. 190 Posts |
I think I've worn out my welcome at FISM. I've worked 4 out of the past 5. Time for some new blood.
Jon- You're hacking up all over your keyboard and you want me to come over for sandwiches?? |
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Jon Allen V.I.P. England 1771 Posts |
The mayo was out of date.
I'll buy some tomorrow for your visit so I know it's fresh.
Creator of iconic magic that you will want to perform.
The Silent Treatment, The Pain Game, Paragon 3D, Double Back, Destination Box and more. Available at www.onlinemagicshop.co.uk |
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RonCalhoun Special user Independence, KY USA 599 Posts |
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David Williamson wrote: David, I have to say this is a real eye-opener for me. It's so easy to fall in love with an idea or a routine. My problem is habit and security. I get in the habit of doing a routine one way and even if a routine is not great at least I have a sence of security thinking I know what comes next. Do you have any advice on how to “let go.” Ron Calhoun
Founder Heroin Doesn't Care. Find us on https://www.facebook.com/heroindoesntcare
www.heroindoesntcare.com |
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David Williamson V.I.P. 190 Posts |
You just have to take the leap. It's kind of liberating.
I learned that from Oprah. |
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Matt Graves Special user Huntsville, Alabama (USA) 504 Posts |
LOL
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The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The January 2005 entrée: David Williamson » » Welcome to The Magic Café Dave! » » TOPIC IS LOCKED (0 Likes) | ||||||||||
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