talkmagic.co.uk

buying a trick and finding out it's a load of S**T.
spectators that think they know everything
when a trick goes wrong

people who only concentrate on the negatives and never see the positives

I hate watching a magician that has watched so many magic DVDs that all they can do is slur out lines of patter from lots of other magicians.

Example- I saw this magician in London telling people about 'another little gem' in which he held the persons fist (because he supposedly 'just likes it' and 'it wasn't part of the trick'). And that at the climax of the trick how he told how it was 'just another miracle' despite the fact that he got no reaction from the spectators whatsoever. All in all it was a little creepy.

bet you're wondering what i originally wrote here huh! move along...nothing to read here guv'nor...

My number one pet hate goes something like this........

kid 1 - "Just bought this trick for £15 quid, watch this......"

kid 2 - "Wow quality, hows that done then?"

kid 3 - "Easy, all you do is......."

Good way to completely waste £15 if you ask me!

abraxus wrote:also - having a post of mine within this thread deleted with no explanation why...i think i know why, but the actual assumption is wrong...

shame...estimations have been severely lowered...as it wasnt actually breaking any forum rules...

see! Having hate just ends up in upset! Have love and you'll always be happy

Time to inject some pink fluffyness into the horrible hate thread, I think

nah...i am full of love too, but you have to have light and dark to maintain a balance...it's good to vent spleen...pointless keeping it in...

no, no...hate has it's place if used correctly...

abraxus wrote:hate has it's place if used correctly

Too right it does! I used hate, or more correctly, anger to help me quit smoking. Will power I don't have but focussed anger at a symbol of the tobacco industry I do have and it made quitting very much easier. It also proved that hate/anger is a very, very powerful emotion which, as events in this troubled world of ours will verify, can so easily get out of control.

PS Can I add 'Call Centres' to my list of hates please? Hours spent in queues listening to muzak, reassurances that my call is 'very important' to them and adverts for how good the supplier's services are when all I want to do is query a wrong invoice? White hot rage is only just about under the surface under those conditions !

i HATE:

pricey effects-some- i mean many - are not worth the price. it's like you get it and think...is that it.

specs who say the classic phrase...you bring out a pack of cards and you say take a card and they say "oh i know this one" I HAVEN'T EVEN F*****G STARTED THE EFFECT YET!!!!

any rope, and sponge ball-well some is cool-but it has to be special-i just find them a bit nancy.

the constant nagging of OMG do that again. and you so want to but you know they aren't init for the magic, just the method.

poor youpoo performances and youpoo tuts. but i love youubte

school is a load of S**T

and i've moved house and this house is a DUMP!

thats it for today:D

Mikey.666 wrote:i HATE:

the constant nagging of OMG do that again. and you so want to but you know they aren't init for the magic, just the method.

Funny. This was on my list of loves. I love not repeating a trick the more they ask for it. Maybe I'm sadistic.

i'll re-word my now deleted post and see where that gets me...

my latest HATE is the whole cards in mentalism yes/no arguments:

imagine a fence, and there's a guy sitting on that fence...he's listening to two other people arguing either side of it, yet they are all mentalists...

one says "ah yes, i am an amateur..i've studied alot of the recommended texts, and i've been performing them of late too...people have been entertained and disturbed by my mental shenanigans..."

his neighbour says "ah yes, i am a professional...i too have studied alot more of the recommended texts and have performed them for many a year...though you are a good lad for getting amongst it all and performing, why the dickens are you mixing cards in with mentalism? The pro's simply don't do it if they want to be taken seriously..."

the mentalist on the fence is interested and listens further whilst making notes...

the amateur says "well, in all my studies, there's always a section on cards...so to me, loving theses books as i do, have come to the view that if the professionals are kind enough to release their material and include card work in it...then...well....i've just assumed over these past 3 years of my study that if they include cards in their books..that they use them?!"

his neighbour raises a hand and says "ah, no...they only do that so that they will sell a little more..."

the amateur is shocked "so...you're telling me that...all my books released by the pro's that i own..these people that can command very large fees...put in a card section in mentalism books....for...the...money?"

he looks forlorn and disheartened...snow is falling...the mentalist on the fence has a splinter in his bottom....

his neighbour nods "yes...well...there you go..."

the amateur with tears in his eyes speaks again "but these pro's...they're supposed to have upmost respect for the art, they should want to keep mentalism for what it is then..keep it pure..isn't that their responsibility? It's from them that we amateurs follow and believe in and most importantly LEARN from...we should be able to trust what they release!"

his neighbour turns his back on the amateur and walks away...the amateur, disheartened still, looks at the mentalist on the fence who is tenderly removing the splinter from his bottom...the mentalist on the fence speaks.."ah! snowflakes...they fall only here...."

and they all go home for tea and crumpets by the fire...

this post is not meant to inflame, replicate, induce anger or argument in any way shape or form. Any resemblance to previous arguments is purely co-incidental....

this is a major bugbear for me...and ultimately, yes i do think it's the pro's responsibility to keep mentalism "pure" if that's the way it should be performed. But, i feel, like people, we're all the same yet different when placed under the microscope...which in turn should reflect in our magic...so there...

I've never seen it as quite so passionate a debate.

In my mind, the problem with cards in mentalism is the fact that the words 'card' and 'trick' are so closely intertwined, and most laymen will expect an effect with cards to involve trickery and sleight of hand.

If you're trying to suspend disbelief, that's not a helpful starting point.

But if you can do it successfully the more power to you.

Like I said, there are lots of good mentalism effects out there using cards. I just shy away from them, becaise they're too closely associated with trickery.

yeah, it's down to how you handle the cards, and if you try getting a little of the history across from tarots to playing cards that kinda thing...

but i completely agree with you, it's all down to what suits (pardon the pun) the individual...And i suppose it depends on who your heroes are too doesnt it...

i've always loved canasta and berglas, so yeah, its not a problem for me or what i tend to do...but im not labelled as a mentalist or anything else for that matter!

Ever read any Mark Edward? he's another good 'un...

Well, if Mandrake can stand up and rightly defend sponge balls then I must stand up and defend rope magic.

There's nothing 'nancy' about rope magic at all

Once again it would appear that those who knock these classics think that magic consists of cards and coins.

Whilst I appreciate that you did say 'most', there is a lot of variety out there if you do you home work and search the web. It's true that some of what you will find isn't as exciting as others but that's true with everything.

I wish magicians wouldn't be so blinkered when it comes to certain genres of magic - just because 'E' doesn't push it, doesn't make it a dud!

dat8962 wrote:There's nothing 'nancy' about rope magic at all

Once again it would appear that those who knock these classics think that magic consists of cards and coins

Too true!!!!!!

I'm working on a standup routine at the moment which opens with a silent sponge ball routine to music and then goes into a rope routine. I've always very much been a cards and coins person in the past but I'm having great fun playing and learning new things.

To all the people who are putting down sponges, ropes, routines to music or dance, have you ever tried performing these things? If not I'd really urge you to just have an open mind and give it a try. That's what I've done and have found a huge area of magic I'd never explored before.