Why do you want to see magic?

[drop]

Steerpike;

Good thought on the ghosts of people who get caught, I've never though of that, and I really like the idea. I just might put some effort into that one.

As far as researching goes, I'm just honestly not sure if that would actually help me in my performances. The truth is, nearly everyone I will ever do magic for will not know the difference between historical cheats and the ones I've made up. With the ones I've made up, I can say anything about them, any stories I want. On the other hand, if I mention a name and someone does recognize it, it would make it that much better, and I would still be able to twist the story.

Some of the stories I have come up with have fictonal characters that were known to hang out with Al Capone, or gamble with Billy The Kid.

Now, I do a lot of free walkaround for local churches and whatnot, and because of that I often have people approach me and ask about the characters, the history, hell, I even had a guy ask me if I could predict the outcome to horseraces inthe same way I cheat with cards. Anyway, it would be nice to just be able to tell some history, and it would do a lot to give me credibility as a skilled card man.

I think you've just given me some of the most useful advice in my history of magic, and sincerely, thanks!

 

[Randy]

Yeah knowing the history of something will make you look like and expert in it an will also make what you say sound more believable. It's been something I have been thinking about as well.

 

[nexusmagic]

Well I really didn't fully think out my horror movie analogy, but here it is.

A good magic set or routine is like a good movie. Now this may very from person to person but I personally found Suspiria, a great horror movie and I remember scenes in it. The first death sequence, the use of lighting, the music and the acting. A performers you have to be a good actor and/or storyteller, you can't get away with watch, look, watch all the time. David Blaine can get away with it but you can't. Well you can but it will only be a trick to your audience.

Your music is your patter or lack of it. The music matches or compliments what is going on. In the beginning of suspiria you get a brief introduction with pounding music, this is like when you first walk up to someone you start out with a casual conversation and become friends with everyone you are performing for. I think once you connect at a friend level they will remember you more readily then just a mere trickster who says "Hey you want to see a magic trick?" to me that line kind of shoots you in the foot because you are referring to your magic as trickery.
If you were to strike up a conversation and become friends then you could pitch a line like this, "Hey do you mind if I show you something? You do! But you seem a bit skeptical.... don't worry it involves this deck of cards." or whatever.

Now the first death sequence was great because it took all the above and smashed in some surprises. There were Startle effects, otherwise known to magicians as slam bams, there was suspense and psychological terror. This is you doing maybe an interactive trick or a more personal trick. The more you connect with them the better, plus it should be easy for you since you have already created a rapport with them and you know a little about them.

Now if I was going to try and get a job and the interviewer asked the question why should I hire you?
I would answer:
The reason I should be hired is for this reason I take the time to make every performance memorable. When I perform it is not only for myself but for all who wants to see it. I love working with people and getting to know them to make their experience in your establishment even better. If your guest leave with only one memory I will make sure it was of me and the establishment I work for.

More free flow thought I apologize if it is a hard read do to grammar and scattered thought.

 

[drop]

Maybe you want to re-read that and think it through nexus, because I think I somewhat understand what you're saying, but the way you wrote it, it's just really difficult to understand.

What I'm getting is that magic is like a movie in the sense that there are many elements that need to appeal to the audience. A movie needs a moving soundtrack, with music that compliments the scene; just like a trick needs words or a story that add to the effect. A movie can also have a compelling storyline, but with poor acting it will just be a joke, just like a magician's presentation in magic. Lastly, a movie can have amazing scenes with epic moments and stellar special effects, but without a good plot all of that is easily forgetable. Just as a magician can have perfect technique, and killer slieghts, but without the other elements, it doesn't matter, it becomes forgetable.

Is that along the lines of what you are saying?

 

[nexusmagic]

Maybe you want to re-read that and think it through nexus, because I think I somewhat understand what you're saying, but the way you wrote it, it's just really difficult to understand.

What I'm getting is that magic is like a movie in the sense that there are many elements that need to appeal to the audience. A movie needs a moving soundtrack, with music that compliments the scene; just like a trick needs words or a story that add to the effect. A movie can also have a compelling storyline, but with poor acting it will just be a joke, just like a magician's presentation in magic. Lastly, a movie can have amazing scenes with epic moments and stellar special effects, but without a good plot all of that is easily forgetable. Just as a magician can have perfect technique, and killer slieghts, but without the other elements, it doesn't matter, it becomes forgetable.

Is that along the lines of what you are saying?

Yes and thank you.

 

[aaron08]

you know i have been think about postin a topic like this for sometime now.just have got too it.i have been think the same thing why do people like magic?because everyone know there is a secert to it so why like something that they know is not real or there is a gimmick or secret?but ppl still like it that might be a question will never have answerd.

 

[Steerpike]

As far as researching goes, I'm just honestly not sure if that would actually help me in my performances. The truth is, nearly everyone I will ever do magic for will not know the difference between historical cheats and the ones I've made up. With the ones I've made up, I can say anything about them, any stories I want. On the other hand, if I mention a name and someone does recognize it, it would make it that much better, and I would still be able to twist the story.

If we set aside the issue of lying to people who actually do know the history of the subject (and it will come up), writing a complete mythos grounded in reality is a significant help.

As an example, look at some of the movies from the 1950's pretending to understand science. One such movie about time travel actually suggested that radiometric dating could produce a negative number. A statue sent back from the future was dated to be made in the year 5200. Anyone with even a rough understanding of carbon-14 dating is will tell you that's physically impossible. The screenwriter was making it up.

You don't want to get caught in such a situation.

Knowledge of actual historical figures like Al Capone and actual fraudsters like The Yellow Kid and Titanic Thompson will make it much easier to construct fictional stories that sound real.

 

[visualartist]

Is this supposed to be funny?
If your not going to say write something worth reading dont post at all.
Dont be thick around me.

 

[toyrobot]

Is this supposed to be funny?
If your not going to say write something worth reading dont post at all.
Dont be thick around me.

Actually, that's hilarious. I remember when that was first posted. It was awesome then, too.

 

[nexusmagic]

Who is Sean_Raf?

 

[toyrobot]

Sean_raf

 

[Steerpike]

Actually, that's hilarious. I remember when that was first posted. It was awesome then, too.

It's funny, but not for the reasons Likenthrope thinks it is.

 

[nexusmagic]

Note to self be more specific.

Edit

I now know who Sean_raf is, the search tool is wonderful. Sigh to bad I can't spread the joy of using the search bar.

 

[Likenthrope]

It's funny, but not for the reasons Likenthrope thinks it is.

Drats! Now Steerpike knows what I am thinking! Now where did I put my tinfoil hat?

 

[Randy]

Who's Steerpike? Sounds like a lame Mega man villain.

 

[Steerpike]

Who's Steerpike? Sounds like a lame Mega man villain.

A Mega Man villain of me would be Obscure Literary References Man. He throws flowery language and the names of little-known authors at you until you're bored into a coma.

Nah, I'm kidding. The Mega Man version of me is Stud Man.

 

[Shakutau]

Now im beginning to feel you have a sense of coolness in you Pikey.

On the same lines on this newfound discovery of using story/history to create a sense of quality magic, do you think there are other ways that it can be implied? Like a different theme or something? Say instead of the old prediction theme, we tweek that and talk bout horoscopes, or i-ching to futher improve that prediction thing.

(I think Medabots had better "villains")

 

[Randy]

A Mega Man villain of me would be Obscure Literary References Man. He throws flowery language and the names of little-known authors at you until you're bored into a coma.

Nah, I'm kidding. The Mega Man version of me is Stud Man.

Sorry. that roles already taken.. Proto Man.

 

[Randy]

Now im beginning to feel you have a sense of coolness in you Pikey.

On the same lines on this newfound discovery of using story/history to create a sense of quality magic, do you think there are other ways that it can be implied? Like a different theme or something? Say instead of the old prediction theme, we tweek that and talk bout horoscopes, or i-ching to futher improve that prediction thing.

(I think Medabots had better "villains")

One of the thing I think you should study is Psychology and maybe you can present what you do in a psychological sense, and explain how and why this and that work (Psychologically). While mixing that with magic and whatever else you want.

It works for Penn and Teller, Derren Brown and I think a few other mentalists/magicians use that as well. Plus having a back ground in Psychology would most likely cause people to take you more seriously.

Knowing is half the battle.

 

[Shakutau]

One of the thing I think you should study is Psychology and maybe you can present what you do in a psychological sense, and explain how and why this and that work (Psychologically). While mixing that with magic and whatever else you want.

From the moment i concluded my soul searching, i have wanted to lean towards that way. Firstly because if you go up to someone saying you do magic, either they think you're nuts, that you take them for a bag of nuts, and just brush you off with razor blades and lemon juice. I remember back in the early days when the last resort of asking people to see my magic was by adding the word "trick" to it.

I use that word no more.

So Psychology is a good aspect to work on, but the point where you try and connect psychology with magic, is a newer journey for me. One where i might need help on. So - you've sucessfully explained and convinced that magic is psychology, yet it is also something beyond that, after you step onto the stone. How will you go about getting them to step onto the stone instead of just seeing it?