talkmagic.co.uk

Hello,

How do you cover the sound of objects falling into your lap? Perhaps I'm just a bit heavy handed at it, but even with light objects such as a deck of cards there is a noticeable noise. I haven't tried it in front of spectators, but I'm pretty sure they'd pick up on it. Can anybody think what I might be doing wrong? Do you have to have the tablecloth set up in a special way so that the object falls into the tablecloth rather than on your thighs?

Thanks, I would be very grateful for any advice on this.

cc100

don't be silly.

unless your wearing a pair of tin pants, or you have excessively bony knees, there is no noise.So don't worry.

I wasn't being silly actually, in The Devil's Picturebook Derren Brown says, at a point in the 3 card routine, 'I have the tablecloth here ready for lapping'. You don't need to be so condescending about it.

Derren's remarks were in the context of using the tablecloth as an impromptu servate but lapping can be done without one. Dale's comments are spot on and he's probably used that process more times than most of us have had hot dinners - he's not being condescending at all, just light hearted and informative.

at no point does Slydini, who lapped more than anybody in magic, mention noise.


you have to remember that there is a table between you and your audience.Seriously..... they wont hear a thing.

I'm not sure where I read it, but I remember reading about how we over think things. Like when we might splash some water on out crouch when washing our hands, we might be really embarressed (at least us guys) thinking that it's so obvious to everyone, where as the truth is, everyone else doesn't know about the accident, so unless it's really bad, you probably think there's more attention being paid to it than there really is.

The point of that little story is that with the noise being made from lapping things, it's probably only noticable to you because you know you're lapping something. To people not in the know, it might not be heard at all. If in doubt though, and you feel a little self concious about it, just think, when you actually perform the effect where you're lapping, you're not going to be in a silent room, and you're more than likely going to be speaking while you perform the move too so there should be more than enough noise pollution about to drown out and thud you might make. Another tip would be to maybe bunch up your toursers in your lap area while you're seating yourself so that you have that extra bit of padding and also to keep things like mobiles and money in other pockets or just placed on the table. A table cloth would help too, but it's not necessary.

Hopefully this helps out.

OK, perhaps I misinterpreted the tone of your comment Dale. It's always difficult to work out the tone of responses on the internet. It was a genuine question, and I didn't like to think that it was just being laughed off as an inane question by more experienced magicians. Perhaps it was a silly question, but everybody is new to magic at some stage. Anyway, I'm sure you didn't intend to come across that way. Thanks for your advice Dale and Anthony. I might just try it out and see if anyone picks up on it, which I'm hoping they won't do.

cc100

Bear in mind that you can always create some distracting noise with your patter and, depending on where you perform, there may be other noises in the room which will cover any slight noise of lapping. Suspicious specs may be on the lookout for 'moves' but not noises - unless they're essential to the routine.

Mandrake wrote:there may be other noises in the room which will cover any slight noise of lapping

I've found that talking works quite well.

I might just try it out and see if anyone picks up on it, which I'm hoping they won't do.

The only way they would pick it up, is if you look down at the thing as you Lap. Just trust to luck, and misdirection.

You are never going to know, or feel comfortable with the move until you try it in front of actual real live people.

Truth is during your routine you are going to be engaging the audience, gesturing, talking, laughing. Unless you are doing a close up routine in total silence nobody is going to notice, unless you direct them to the noise, which is entirely possible.

The best advice is to go out and try it. What is the worst possible thing that can happen. Somebody is going to say, "Oh My God what the heck is that noise? Sounds like you are dropping a deck of cards in your lap!" At which point you know that you have to work on a little presentation and then try again another time. And keep going till you get it right. It is not life altering.

However if you just go with the flow and not worry about it, your biggest worry is going to be forgetting to take the object off your lap before you stand up. In which case you have a pretty good comedy routine.

I think that's pretty a overwelming victory for the go out there and try it approach.

Just out of interest, what is it you're trying to lap? It's not something from my e-book is it? Ha!

hds02115 wrote:I think that's pretty a overwelming victory for the go out there and try it approach.

Just out of interest, what is it you're trying to lap? It's not something from my e-book is it? Ha!

Oh, you have an ebook out? I hadn't noticed

I've tried to be subtle.

Ha yes, experimenting with some of the vanishes you mentioned in the book. I haven't really tried lapping things before, so just experimenting with it really. I also wanted to try out the first part of Lennart Green's F.I.S.M. routine in Green Magic.