talkmagic.co.uk

Magic lies not in the technique but the performance. As such, a lot of magi--those just starting and experienced vets alike--could benefit from a place to discuss style and performance aspects.

Just a thought,
Rob

I don't think something like that is really necessary. Firstly because the only real way to learn presentation is by going out among the people and doing it. And if you're poor the first time and they think you're an idiot, so what? Go to someone else next. Obviously some tips may be useful, but just post them in the relevant existing sections.
And regarding patter, one-liners etc - that's all very well but I'm sure everyone picks up these things somewhere anyway and I wouldn't find it a good thing if soon there were a list of phrases all magicians use. In the end everyone has their own patter and style and I don't think there's need for such a section. Please feel free to disagree with me.

I tend to agree.... with both of you!

Presentation IS what the magic is about. It's not just a small part, I'd probably say it's around 90% of it!

A section devoted to presentational ideas may be overkill, as we already do have a "Support & Tips" section. It may be more appropriate to start a thread asking for presentation help there.

A whole new section could work, also. However, the best magic is when you take it and make it your own. Even some of the "hit and run" type effects can be made into a story. It's THIS that a lot of people may have trouble with.

That said, it would be a sorry state of affairs if every magi was using the same lines for each effect.

My 2 cents! (Hey, I'm in Oz now. It works!)

~Sym~

i suggested a similar thing, but more along the lines of character, framework and method...the whole explanation as to how you are able to do what you do...

only one person agreed, which makes me think that most people have proper developed characters and explanations for how they do what they show, and arent just magic-monkeys!

or, they dont really care or are bothered by it all...

so, yeah, maybe a thread in misc. might be a good 'un?

I think something like this would be a good idea. Even for someone who has developed their own character, it's always interesting to watch other people and how they present things. I'm always pinching little bits from everywhere.

firstly... GOOD TO SEE SYM BACK! Ello mate...

Magic is always about performance. It just can't exist without it.

Imagine a movie without actors?

Or imagine your favourite movie with soap-opera actors?

I don't always agree that you need a 'persona'... although many people disagree, I like magician's who are just themselves—Lennart Green, Ed Marlo, Dave Forrest et al.

A good idea!

The thing to remember is that the magic only happens inside the heads of your audience. It's your objective as a magician to provide all of the required components that make the mind see the magic instead of allowing it to see just a trick. This is the skill of performance.

However you choose to do this is irrelevant if it creates what you set out to achieve.

i think it is vitally important to have a "how" for your performance and effects...

i am doing this because i can tune in to people's thoughts...
i am doing this because im very good at reading body language signals..
i am doing this because my uncle was an old fashioned card shark...
i am psychic

and these "skills", whether real or otherwise, have got to show themselves in whatever you do in a performance...

otherwise, for me anyway, it just becomes a show 'n tell...oooh look what i can do...you cant do it, i can...

Derren Brown has a lot to say about character in Absolute Magic. He says that he tunes his magic to himself, rather then the other way around and excentuates favourable facets of his own character. Further support for Marvellian Ubiquity Theory.

Marvell wrote:Derren Brown has a lot to say about character in Absolute Magic. He says that he tunes his magic to himself, rather then the other way around and excentuates favourable facets of his own character. Further support for Marvellian Ubiquity Theory.

ah bit did your Marvellian Ubiquity Theory exist before you discovered Derren Brown?

Geist is a fantastic book, all about framework and character, they take a single base effect, then apply different dressings to it, dependant on how you want to express the effect...

abraxus wrote:ah bit did your Marvellian Ubiquity Theory exist before you discovered Derren Brown?

Oh yes, its beginnings are in one of my first few posts here, well before I got AM. I'll publish it in full one day.

Hey hey Seige.

Good to be back =o)

I've been pretty busy over here in Oz.

Should be coming home for a bit shortly. When the weather picks up =oP

~Sym~