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Just an often overlooked and very much misunderstood question, but to me, one of the most important questions, that every magician feels they have answered and can rationalise completely in accord with their performance.

But I feel that many magicians have failed to examine and explore the matter, leaving them just that little bit behind where their full potential rightfully sits.

We routine to give our performance meaning and purpose, even if its just something as tenuous as "an evening of mind-reading".

Without a common purpose, a magical performance simply becomes a few tricks cobbled together.

Because an act, is not a trick.


An act has a begining, a middle, and an end.

It is a semi logical journey of discovery, on which the magician takes his audience..

Its not a bunch of tricks that in no way shape or form connect with one another.

You beat me, Dale

One may as well ask why Play Writes, write?

It's a discipline that allows us to create something out of the mess we call "Magic"

I can go further.....


there is no mystery if an actor dressed in a policemans uniform walks on stage, declares " The Butler did it" Bows, and walks off.

you need to know what the butler did, and how the policeman found out.

Because if I just stand there and keep making a card appear it just gets damn boring.

funny... I can read peoples minds long distance.
Shame on you chaps!

As I suspected, a couple, or few of you have answered my question literally, and I concur with your views, but I fear you may have missed my point.

You are pigeon holing the idea of a routine, and see it as a set principle, to be passed on as 'the way' to perform magic, as in the Vaudeville method of a show- beginning, middle and ending, but just put down your reference books for a second and consider the following.

I fully understand why you might feel that a routine is needed, in order to give logic, structure and a following of a pattern or story, in a congruent sense, but there is more.

A routine is exactly that- a set, organised collective of effects that combine to create an act, performed routinely.

But it is a breeding ground for so much more. It is a magnet for stagnation, boredom and uncreative uninventiveness, and unless you can step outside the box, now and again, to see the bigger picture, you may well be unaware of this.

I actually disagree with routines, except as a starting point for novices. If somedody wanted me to teach them how to become a magician, I would firstly explain all the pros and cons of performing, and then teach effects and encourage the novice to build a routine.

Once that they have a routine formulated, performed and 'nailed', so to speak, I would then go on to offer the choice of working without a routine.

A routine is like a belief to me. Belief is a stepping stone to understanding, and once you have true knowledge of something, you do not need to believe in it any longer, because you 'know'. Routines are a stepping stone to professionalism, and once you have the professionalism, you can drop the routine.

What I am getting at, is that I 'know' that I am more entertaining that a stagnant, scripted magician, provoking reminiscence of a 1970's cheesy performance (not to be mistaken with me saying that all performers of the 1970's were cheesy), because I am an entertainer.

The scripted jokes and copycat styles make me cringe, although the audience may well be unaware that what they had just witnessed was a very poor copy of an effect performed by a magician, because they are uncreative, unimaginative and drab.

Many magicians, I feel, carry a 'look at me, I'm wonderful' air of ignorance, and rather than creating the most essential aspect of magic, and almost any interaction betwixt people, which is 'rapport', they insist of putting distance between themselves and the spectators and fail to see the relationship required to be successful in entertaining them.

If mid flow in a routine, somebody puts you off the flow, then yes, you will have outs and ways to bring things back to the routine, but why? WShy not just stop and chat a while, or actually enjoy the contact and use it.

I feel magic is let down, massively, by many magicians and their attitudes towards magic. Agents that never see the acts on their books do not help, either. But, I digress slightly.

The answers to this post, reflect the attitude of magic, in that all agree, at the very least, that a routine is required to be able to perform good magic, but I feel it is there for you to remember what you are doing, and by doing it over and over, it will become easier to do.

I do not argue with the following point, but to take a tiny step back, for a second, I am only suggesting a 'no routine' act, when one has established full confidence and competence with all of the effects that they perform.

So, from a slightly different perspective, it is the effects that need to be 'known' through learning, as well as the moves and behaviours you might adopt, and not the story that is attached to the routine.

We are not story tellers, but many of us perform as exactly that. I feel that there is less and less connection between people as time goes on, as we are becoming increasingly fearful of consequences.

We are not doing enough, to protect and try to rekindle the image of magic, so that it is back where it should be.

Anyway, I have so much more to say on this topic, but thought I would offer a foundation of thoughts, so that the topic can progress in the right direction. If you feel insulted by my lack of respect for routining, then ask yourself why you have taken this personally. It is not my intention to anger, annoy or insult, but it is my intention to prick the conscience and provoke the thoughts, as I feel this is a too often overlooked aspect of magic.

The problem, in my opinion, is that all you truly have to do, to become a magician, is send a photo of yourself to as many agents as you can, and then sit and wait, and the calls will come. This is true, but not my true, complete opinion, as, although you will get good work for good money this way, it is too common the route, so I do not wish to promote the idea.

So, routine, or no routine? Yes, it is a little cat amongst the pigeons-ish, but a topic that I feel needs to be investigated and one that I can talk about for hours. I am not talking through ignorance, and I practice what I preach, and although there are magicians whose routines look good, do what they say on the tin and are very entertaining, there is always room for improvement and learning.

I'm pretty sure that this post will be met by much discord, but I am not asking you to think out of the box, but maybe now and again, just take a look around, so that you know where the door is, in case you would like to step out for a different perspective.

As I say, there is so much more to say, so this is by no means a complete opinion, and discussion upon the points brought up would be welcomed, and hey, just for the record, I love you all- you're all magicians after all.

Interesting, but hang on though.....

A routine is exactly that- a set, organised collective of effects that combine to create an act, performed routinely.

But it is a breeding ground for so much more. It is a magnet for stagnation, boredom and uncreative uninventiveness, and unless you can step outside the box, now and again, to see the bigger picture, you may well be unaware of this.

this is only true, if the performer doesnt take a long hard look at what they do on a regular basis, and change things within that routine.

If something fails once, o.k, you may have had an off night, twice.. somethings not quite right.. 3 times, and it's out of the act.

In fact personaly if it fails twice It's gone.

On saturday, i turned up for a gig, with a doctors bag.

inside that bag, a couple of tricks, and a load of stuff, with which i can do magic.

That collection of cards, envelopes, pens, bands, tips, silks, and lord knows what else, plus the couple of tricks, allows me to asess what the audience is like, and tailor my act accordingly.

but regardless of teh effects i do, I still hold the basics of a beginning, a middle, and an end in my head, which is the Routine..

same routine.. different tricks... and different words too. Old hackneyd gags, are not my style, because just like audiences being suited to different ricks, they also are suited do different senses of humour.

It's casual to watch. It personalizes the act to each individual audience..

yet, still holds firm to a structure that some could see as a routine.


Daniels... watch him work for lays.

his chop cup routine is honed to perfection. each move, each inflecton, there for a reason...

but it always feels fresh.

I seem to be arguing the case both for, and against routining dont I?

I guess what Im saying is, before you can argue about a routine, you need to define exacly what you mean by routine.

and it doesnt always mean..

a set, organised collective of effects

It can also mean

a set, organised collective of moves in order to create an effect.
as in the P.D chop-cup.

D.

oh.. and my solution to this.....

unless you can step outside the box, now and again, to see the bigger picture, you may well be unaware of this.

Is to simply view and construct your performance, with the audience in mind, rather than as a display of technical skills.

Nice reply, that Dale. There is a point that I would like to pick up on, though. You mention that you take the doctors bag and it has different effects and items in there, so you can mix and mingle to try to create the correct formula for the mood, atmosphere and type of people there, as berst you can ascertain.

I have an issue with that approach, in that, if you have your pocket management sorted out, then you don't need a case, really, but I recommend using one, as I do myself, but this is mainly to host the new decks I might need throughout the performance.

I do not change the tools that I use, and despise gimmicks with a passion, although they are not completely avoidable, but they remind me of stage magic and the common understanding that it is a 'trick box' or whatever is being used.

I use the tools of magic to communicate the message, but I know that most will approach and see this topic from the wrong perspective. Most magicians aim to blow minds. I aim to make friends.

My magic 'IS' strong, commercial, and very entertaining, but it is nothing to people that hate me, or magic, so my primary goal is to ensure that all are my friends and then the journey is so much more enjoyable.

I feel that routining is limiting, in that it restricts the imagination, and leaves the mind with thoughts of, "What if?......." too often, whereas, if you are a free spirit, you find there are more 'funnies' than you get from adding one-liners here and there.

Some magic routines are very good and very commercial and entertaining, and it is down to the amount of skill, professionalism and confidence as to whether the individual can actually become, or fit into, becoming a magician that needs not depend upon routines.

but all these words mean nothing to many, as most require proof, and even more prefer the comfort of the familiar and they live in fear of the unknown, and it is this unknown that 'could' be their future success.

I would beg everyone to go out for a gig, without a case, and without bulging pockets, and, leaving all gimmicks at home, whilst forgetting all routining, just have a starting point, and go with the flow.

If you perform without a set pattern, or routine, you will find, if you really do like routines, that a routine will be created for you, whilst you perform. As Dale has stated, you drop what doesn't work (funny lines included) and add what works, and it is this addition that is somewhat lacking from routined performances, because you are not allowed to stray.

About the beginning, middle and ending......... When you arrive at the table, that is the beginning, whilst you are there, that is the middle, and when you leave, that is the ending. And that is without doing a jot.

The beginning, middle and ending are not defined by your actions, which is why some people applaud mid-performance. It is defined by your arrival, stay and departure from the table, or audience.

The performance has begun before the effects have, and it ends, not when the effects end, but when you leave the table, and on occasions, later than that, maybe as you leave the building...... and, yes, sometimes later than that, depending upon when the spectator finds the business card in their pocket.

But, back to the matter in hand, oh, no, I'll stop doing that and carry on with this post..... There is much to be learned from not learning.

Well, I am not saying that routining is wrong, but am trying to open up a much bigger world for us all. Yes routines have their place in magic, as does choreography, but I denounce it's position as a staple for professional magic- it just isn't and I know, because I have been to the pointless forest, and it isn't pointless at all- all the trees and all the houses have points.

Actually routining is great. I have just thought what magicians would be like without routines, having seen how they perform with them .

overall, my pocket management skills are ok.. but this was a burlesque / caberet. hence the bag.




( It worked fine by the way)

D

Aye, horses for courses as well, for to never ever routine, would be just akin to routining constantly. Sometimes we are pushed out of our zones, but I mention this because it has been mentioned on many occasion, some occurrence where a routine was interrupted and the act suffered due to the performer losing their place.

But, I see what you mean, now, with it being a cabaret and not a close-up peformance, but for me, I would still use same effects as pocketed for a close-up. Instead of using larger items or illusions, I prefer to use people and effects that pack small, play big.

Might not use elastic bands here though.

i do a thumb tie that uses bands, which is why they were in there.
and there was a couple of steel rings in there too.... see my thread... forgive me father, for i have exposed for more details

Without a routine, the audience won't know when to applaud

I'm working on an ACR, I have the start nailed, I'm working on the middle (just need to improve my DL), but it's missing an ending. I showed what I had to a couple of guys at the last meet, and I had to say when I had reached the end. It was missing the climax so nobody knew I had finished

I agree, you shouldn't just take a routine out of a book and copy it word for word (unless you're just learning a trick), but a trick needs a routine

(To take things off topic, if anyone can come up with a good ending for me I'd be in your debt :p)

kolm, to keep this on topic....see pm..