talkmagic.co.uk

Hey all,

Looking for a few magic items that'll really make me look the part when performing. Half toyed with the idea of making a mask for performances - great for misdirection, but find them extremely uncomfortable. Then, today, thought of arty contact lenses! People will stare at them for ages! Ive seen some funky designs out there, but I wondered if anyone had come across any magic/mystical/card related designs?

Also, Id love to get a magic related belt buckle - any ideas anyone?

Cheers,

A

Contact lenses as used by Hollywood productions......they don't come cheap though!

The Card Collection have a section on their site called 'Clothin, Jewellery etc' it might be what you're looking for, but, then again, it might not.

A question of personal taste, I suppose...

I dunno if they still do them, or the fact that it's in Cambridge will be any good for you... but there's a piercing shop called "Tattoo Crazy" (yeah they do tattoo's too...) that used to sell Ace of Spades contact lenses.

If you've never worn contact lenses before, prepare to look like you've been crying all day before you can wear them for any reasonable amount of time. Also, never wash contact lenses with water. Lotsof nasty stories about bugs that live in water eatng peoples eyes and the like. not nice.

As for belt buckles, try here: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ace-and-Jack-of-S ... dZViewItem

and here...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ACE-OF-SPADES-BEL ... dZViewItem

and even here...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BELT-BUCKLE-ACE-K ... dZViewItem


Hope that's helpful!

Try out your local Boots Opticians, I know they used to do all sorts of interesting contact lenses.

Did I miss something or is there something wrong with simply being yourself?

Kirby Vanbirch when and dropped a few thousand bucks a few years ago to have his ears bobbed so he could look like an elf... he now has to hear his hair a bit longer than normal to hide them because he's no longer doing that act... an act that died a horrid death on the Las Vegas strip!

Costumes are great IF YOU ARE AN ACTOR and capable of living up to the image and entity you are thinking of projecting but, 95% of the magic buffs I know HAVE NO ACTING EXPERIENCE e.g. they end up flopping, getting frustrated and developing the opinion that "that don't work..." when, if they did it right in the first place, it probably could... I know a certain Mr. Goldstein that's come a very long way as the result of his acting and make-up classes long ago; his character has gone from being seen as some kind of B-Rate Movie fright-drag clown to being an actual personality people want to be allied with (a.k.a. Max Maven). So consider these things as you play with the idea of image and character.

Talk to PROFESSIONALS that work in both, the business world as well as theater and get alternate opinions... work with what seems to be the more common scenario of what works rather than trying to find only those that co-sign your own vision.

Given the number of young guys/gals now wearing masks, make-up, special contacts, and outrageous costumes (as well as the street urchant look) just being a normal clean-cut kid with nice clothes & good diction might prove the novelty you need for getting work... god knows it will place you into a much higher income bearing set of opportunities than all the drag ideas being batted around...

I was going to ask the same question Craig. People will always warm to a person who is acting naturally and not trying to be something they are not!

I couldn't imagine sticking something in my eyes on a permanent basis. Lucky I'm the only one in my family who doesn't need contact lenses.
Back to looking the part - it all depends on what sort of image you're going for but as people have said before just be yourself rather than put on some fake persona thats not you.

Looks like you got some feedback on the lenses.

part 2:

belt buckles?

lot of places have cards style ones.. 4 aces, jokers, etc..

I myself, have one that holds a zippo lighter in it. If you do any flash paper stuff, it's nice to have at easy access.

I have noticed recently, that there is plenty of designs out there now days that also hold a zippo.

Just a thought.

yeah, i would say steer clear of the obvious...

though you could just get a t-shirt with the word "MAGICIAN" printed on it, that might work out as a challenge to anyone who read it and was suficiently drunk/interested...

i would say base what you wear on the image you wish to portray, but even so, don't pick anything that could be deemed as cheesey-looking...

if you walked about in a top hat and a cape with white linen-gloves i would absolutely applaud you though..that would definately create attention...if you wore a monocle i would definately ask to see some magic and offer to buy you a pint...

i would recommend a nice jacket of some kind, i recently bought (against my better judgement at first) a rather nice black cord blazer/jacket that is kinda 60s mod cut...smart yet sits well on a decent shirt, pair of jeans and smart shoes...makes me feel somehow more like a performer for some reason dunno why...but i like it...

Craig Browning wrote:Kirby Vanbirch when and dropped a few thousand bucks a few years ago to have his ears bobbed so he could look like an elf... he now has to hear his hair a bit longer than normal to hide them because he's no longer doing that act... an act that died a horrid death on the Las Vegas strip!

Costumes are great IF YOU ARE AN ACTOR and capable of living up to the image and entity you are thinking of projecting but, 95% of the magic buffs I know HAVE NO ACTING EXPERIENCE

Thanks for your comment Craig. Completly see where your coming from, and I totally agree about letting your own personality shine through.

As for costumes, thats understandable - you dress the part, your gna' have to act the part. But I can't see the problem in wearing a themed belt buckle/tie/cuff links/whatever-else-magic-themed-clothes, simply to complement your act. An army of magicans do it at my local club when their out table hopping at a few charity gigs ive been to. The whole contact lense is going a little further then an Ace of spades tie, but I think its going to attract attention the right way. And theres no acting involved instead of playing the part of the magician (which is pretty tough enough!)

Just my view,

A

About contact lenses
Q. I don't see the style of FX eyes theatrical special effect contact lenses that I like. Is it possible to have custom lenses created for me?
A. Yes! FXeyes will be happy to custom make almost any unique lens design for you.

How about making a contact lense with e.g. ( 3 of spade) written on it. That could be a great climax for a trick

I've seen Penn & Teller do that in a TV show when they went over to (I think) China. It thoroughly weirded them out!

I don't think you should do anything to look the part. Be yourself. It's easier and comes across as natural. Unless you're prepared to live the character, I don't think you'll be convincing trying to play a part.

Swest wrote:I've seen Penn & Teller do that in a TV show when they went over to (I think) China. It thoroughly weirded them out!

Yes on their 'Magic and Mystery Tour' they did that revelation with the cntacts in a magic school in China. Theyve also used it in a segment of their tv show 'the Unpleasent World of Penn and Teller' . The spectator they used was Dawn French and she got to suck the contacts off Tellers eyes with a pipette afterwards lol:) she loved it!