talkmagic.co.uk

what do you prefer, close up street magic? or extravagant stage magic?

I'm a street guy myself. i think up-close and personal shows off the real skill.

do you think, with all the big stage magicians out there, some do street, some don't, and with of course david blaine, a well known street magician (well known to the point when you bring out a bicycle deck the person says "oh david blaine cards") there is a chance of other magicians making a decent living off of perforoming magic? what are your views?

There is always space, as long as you have something new and the public want it.

There can really be no 'better one' type of magic, you just have to do what suits your style and adapt to your environment. I personally like the cleanness of sleight of hand and close up magic, but if you get paid to perform a magic show then stage magic will obviously be your preferance.

I think that impromptu effects can really add a whole new depth as long as they are performed in the right context, which is what Blaine has nailed.

A lot of people are unnecessarily put-off sleight of hand magic for fear of getting caught, which is a real shame. I used to mainly do self-working effects but the work involved in sleight of hand really keeps you on your toes, which is good. Providing you are not losing anything presentation wise.

Equally they are afraid of saying 'wanna c sum magic' to a random person in the street. Which is fair enough I suppose

You do need to broaden the question slightly, and also try using the search function. This topic has been discussed a number of times, and usually one of the more established memberd will point out that there are far more forms of magic than street and stage, in fact, street magic is just one of many subsets of closeup.

You can make a very good living from magic, i do. People use David Blaine as an example but remember Blaine has a camera with him and people know who he is. This probably makes it easier for him to perform. To be honest the thought of street magic (and the dangers) have never really been my kind of thing. I much prefer close-up or cabaret shows at coprorates, bars, resturants etc. I agree that your question needs to be more broad as stated above. There are many more forms of magic and even those can be sub-divided.

i've only ever catergorised in those two.
what other ones are there?

do you mean like... nah. i dont get ya. lol sorry.

To name a few:

Illusions
Caberet
Mental magic
Mentalism
Childrens magic
Closeup at a table
Closeup walkaround
Restuarant magic
etc, etc

there you go, we could go on for ages bizarre close-up, bizarre static etc etc etc

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! i know what ya'll are on about.

thanks. lol.

I really like street magic alot. The only thing bad about it is when people use stooges I think there called, like what I think chris angel does. Other than that I like it alot. Now when people do stage magic which I like aswell, I don't like it when they do stuff with sords going through them. I do like though when there cool tricks. But if I had to choose between one of them I would prefer street magic. In general I think its better. I like seeing two three peoples reacations at a time. Also I think I would feel more comforable on the street then on stage.

AceOfClubs, you best run, Demitri is on his way.. you said the S word

Does anyone remember those TLA generators you used to get that would spew out a long list of plausible-sounding jargon? It occurs to me that there's scope for one that generates magical styles. Close-up cabinet walkaround bizzare escapology, anyone?

I so miss the days of my youth when we had only Stage, Grand Illusion & Escapes, Parlor, Close-up and Mentalism to contend with; you guys have over-complicated things by defining and redefining it all that it's surprising anyone knows which end it is up.

Everything else listed or discussed thus far are but sub-categories or genre of venue in which you do one of the above, that includes Street Magic.

The passion I've seen so many pour into this latter field in the past few years, amazes me, in that Street Performance is one of the hardest, most challenging and potentially dangerous venues anyone can get into. That is why it's always been a final resort for most; what to do when rent is due and the wolves are at the door. The next wrung up the ladder from this, that hosts some sense of legitimacy when it comes to having a steady gig and doing "your thing" would be the Side Show & Carnival work or maybe, if you have a gift for gab, pitch work... but that's become an art form that can demand high dollars if you're any good at it.

Street Performers do not have the kind of PR and Marketing advantages you will find in the other venues or veins of Magic. It is a trend of interest because of how the original David Blaine and Criss Angel shows were shot and how they created deliberate contrast between what they were doing and how Copperfield and magicians of his era (my era) were known to work. In other words, you guys feel for a well planned and staged marketing gimmick that's now become a kind of cult movement within magic due to inexperience and the illusion you were sold by the media vs. the reality of it all.

If you are not a self-starter or the kind of person that's readily bold, energetic and "in the face" then you will not do too terribly well as a Street Performer. Too, you need to understand that this is a field that demands hellashisly long hours (12+ a day) and is certainly not the kind of thing for the party children of the world.

Enough said...

Craig Browning wrote:Enough said...

Indeed. Immensely thick skinned is an admirable attribute for any performer too, but just soft enough to actually accept legitimate criticism.