talkmagic.co.uk

Hi,

This isn't my first post, but my e-mail's stopped working and I've forgotten my old password. That's beside the point, what I really want to bring up today is how hard it is to be a female magician!
In my opinion (and it doesn't count for much) most of the good effects and gimmicks (needle through arm, flash gun, wallets, watches, even the PK ring to an extent) are not very lady-like. What would be really good to have is a stock of gimmicks and gaffs that I can use.
Lipstick through card,
ITR in a necklace,
Maybe even a black Widow, or Raven I can use without looking like a spod in a big jacket.

Just a though...

Well, our very own Lady of Mystery seems to be doing okay and she's a girl...

pk rings are avalable in female sizes and styles but cost more than regular pk rings because pk rings are made to a set size for a set amount of pull shall we say.

watches need extra bits in them and so tend to be bigger thats a case of physics sorry.

there is plenty of coin magic that needs no suits and can be done in a dress just as easily, i belive you are limiting yourself and if mystress of magic gets to hear of this thread I'm sure you will get a sevear yet kindly rebuttle.

Well, if she were to wander this way, I'd love some tips!!

well if you feel a man can possibly give you any help then my e-mail is in my profile and you can pm if you like.
some idea of your age and what props and magic experience you have will be an advantage also what style of magic you intend on going into would slo help alot.

I too would happily give my suggestions and ideas to you.....PM if I can be of any assistance in the realm of close-up.....I do regualar restaurant work each week, speicalize in cards, and would love to banter/brainstrom some ideas with you!

Re: the lipstick through card idea, there's always Lips - usually it's the participant who blows a kiss at their card, but it could work the other way around with you blowing a kiss of yours at it to find it. In that sense I can imagine it playing just as well to men as it does to women. And it's only a fiver from MagicTricks.co.uk!

I always thought that things with silks are even better when performed by women - they can be far more graceful and artistic than many blokes who wave the darned things about like demented Morris Dancers! Thinking of female magicians seen in the past, how about stuff with fans, Snowstorm in China comes to mind, larger stuff with parasols and so on. Anything of the sort performed by Juliana Chen would be good inspiration. It doesn’t need to be all girly-girly sweet and sickly, just different from the masculine gore and muscular stuff.

Mystree1 wrote:Well, if she were to wander this way, I'd love some tips!!

Someone called?

I know exactly what you mean Mystree, when I first started out I used to think the same. Many of the gimmicks are more difficult to use but not impossible, you just need a little thought and creativity.

Alot of things is going to depend on your persona, if you're a goth or rock chick then you could easily get away with things like needle through arm or saw. It's like anything in magic, if it doesn't fit in with you, don't use it. I would look stupid doing gorey magic so I don't do it, simple.

The raven is tricky but very doable, I've managed to use it with a little, strapless dress. I've got two main ways I use it, one's with an altered dress, make a hidden opening under the arm, clip the raven to your bra strap and you're away. My other way uses an altered bag.

PK rings were one of my bug bears for quite a while but I've found ways to do most PK effects. Magnets sewn into skirts, sleves and ven slipped into a glove have all worked well for me.

Alot of the gaffs, like wallets and the like I usually buy the men's version, look at how it's put together and try to think of a way to modify something more feminine to do the same job. I've got a lovely silk purse that I've made into a great change bag.

Also remember what we have got going for us, wear a low top and you've instantly got some where to loose palmed coins and other small objects

There's so much you can do in the way of cards, coins, sponges, ropes, all sorts really. Don't feel limited to the few gimmicks and trick you see on Elluisionist. The whole, gorey street magic side of things is very popular at the moment and that's what many shops are pushing. That sort of thing doesn't suit me, as a girl so I don't using much of it.

Explore different areas, find something that fits in with your personallity and who you are. Don't be afraid to try something different.

I hope at least some of that makes sense. Feel free to drop me a PM if you want.

Tomo wrote:Well, our very own Lady of Mystery seems to be doing okay and she's a girl...

She is ?

You dont have to be a goth to do the through the arm effect. Derren brown done it on that gawd aful take that chap.

Also i think you can do these effects just by changing your patter / presentation.

"I have learnt how to do the right of walldrobe doors of wabawaba tribe of basingstoke."

I think this whole I am a girl its hard for me, is something you need to work around.

www.lauralondonmagic.co.uk she hasnt done to badly for her self over the years.

Thanks everyone for the tips (Mistress of Mystery, you're wonderful)
Will got back to you all when I get a spare minute!
Back to work now and not a lot of free time.
I'm not really a goth/rock chick (but I've always wanted to be) maybe I could pull it off with some eyeliner and a choker!
Might even buy Roth's Sinister - UK book test as I've only heard good things about it!

I'm feeling much more positive now, thanks again!

Mystree1 wrote:I'm not really a goth/rock chick (but I've always wanted to be) maybe I could pull it off with some eyeliner and a choker!

There's nothing stopping you going out in character if you want to get away with something different once in a while. It can be really good fun sometimes. I dressed up gothic at halloween and did alot more gorey magic, I wouldn't want to do it all the time but as a one off it was great fun. And if you think your costume through well, it can solve alot of the other problems you mentioned. I wore a long sleved black dress which made the raven dead easy to use and because my pink finger nails aren't very goth I wore purple velvet gloves, which with a strategically placed magnet, solved the PK ring problem.

Lady of Mystery wrote:.......nothing stopping you going out in character..........

In fact it is important to ask yourself what you can do to dress for the occasion.....I am a suit jacket kind of guy in restaurants, an actual pin-striped suit and tie for formal occasions (weddings, fancy restaurants, and cocktail parties), a casual button up for house parties, and for outdoor festivals I will take on a more street like persona.......it helps fit the performance setting/theme/style, and will also allow you (as lady of mystery said) to solve/create your own pocket, gaff, and supplie issues as you can build them around your wardrobe.