Performance Theory

[worldwideme]

any body have any recommendations for books/DVDs on performance theory? Ive come to realize that Ive got plenty of great effects at my disposal and i just need to enhance my presentation or audience control?

dont hold anything back, any suggestions from anywhere is welcome.

 

[visualartist]

An Actor Prepares by Constantin Stanislavski .

 

[kevin]

Magic and Showmanship by Henning Nelms
Strong Magic by Darwin Ortiz
Absolute Magic and Pure Effect both by Derren Brown (if you can find them)

kevin

 

[MagicShadow9]

Strong Magic by Darwin Ortiz is the best book on presentation ever. It's more geared towards reworking your effects to make them stronger and the psychological aspects of magic. It also has some presentation techniques and ideas.

But if you just wanna focus on presentation and not the effect, you can get Maximum Entertainment by Ken Weber. I do not have this book but i have heard good things about it.

 

[Steerpike]

An Actor Prepares by Constantin Stanislavski .

Since no one else is going to say it I'm going to back this.

Eugene Burger has a rather compelling DVD out called Exploring Magical Presentations.

Kenton Knepper's Mystery by Association is also one of my personal favorites.

 

[Randy]

Maximum Entertainment

 

[lilstunna]

Beyond secrets by jay sankey is all about presentation and theory, there is not one trick in the book.

 

[MitchellStafiej]

Someone's probably going to punch me in the mouth but am I the only one who thinks that learning how to present YOURSELF from someone else's book is rather... foolish? I mean, if one wants to learn how to overcome shyness perhaps they can learn wonderful techniques to do so from books then all the better.

But personally, I believe presentation and performance comes from within. It comes from how much heart you put into each performance. Not from a 50$ book but from the sheer will and effort that goes into the astonishment of your spectators.

Mitch

 

[James Smith]

I've heard that maximum entertainment is good, but I don't own it so I wouldn't know.

Well, actually I did skim it once and I thought it might be a good read.

 

[RikAllen]

Someone's probably going to punch me in the mouth but am I the only one who thinks that learning how to present YOURSELF from someone else's book is rather... foolish? I mean, if one wants to learn how to overcome shyness perhaps they can learn wonderful techniques to do so from books then all the better.

But personally, I believe presentation and performance comes from within. It comes from how much heart you put into each performance. Not from a 50$ book but from the sheer will and effort that goes into the astonishment of your spectators.

Mitch

Yes and no.

Your character and who you are should be from within. but just because you can be yourself doesn't mean you know how to structure/routine effects for maximum amazement or entertainment. Hell, 2,000 kids on youtube are pouring their hearts out as we speak...they still suck, but they got a lotta heart.

I'll second Mystery by Association by Kenton Knepper as well as Strong Magic (so cliche though, everyone is going to be doing the same things to change their magic )
-thinks- The Art of Krowd Keeping deserves a look, if you're looking to busk at all.

 

[praetoritevong]

To name some that haven't been named...

Transformations
Five Points of Magic
The Empty Space
Sleight of Mouth

 

[Steerpike]

But personally, I believe presentation and performance comes from within. It comes from how much heart you put into each performance. Not from a 50$ book but from the sheer will and effort that goes into the astonishment of your spectators.

This is one of the infuriating things about humans. We think we're so damn special that there is no way to quantify us in concepts that we believe to be ephemeral. We have books about everything. Archery, surfing, biochemistry, black holes, motorcycles, cooking, urban legends, mythology, historical time lines, biographies, nutrition, why industry X is ripping us off, how much of a dick a dead politician was, the Loch Ness Monster, heavy metal, martial arts, meditation, theology, philosophy, serial killers, how to raise and train Boston terrier puppies, Goth arts and crafts, how to podcast, Leonard Maltin's dangerously gigantic video guide...

But the instant you try to make books about artistry or interacting with people, screw... you! We need to make those concepts even more ephemeral by talking about vague constructs like souls and having heart.