talkmagic.co.uk

Lord Freddie wrote:I spoke to Dynamo yesterday and he told me it was heavily edited and his slot and interview were a lot longer.

His phone was off yesterday afternoon, but after the PM he sent on Saturday, I thought I should explain myself. I ended up sending a long and rambling text on the way to play a barbecue. Basically, it boils down to learning to fill the screen. Prime time's a type of gig, like being on stage or any other type of gig. You have to give 100% "t*ts and teeth".

freddie, were you in covent garden yesterday?
I was chatting to him for a bit down there. He seemed happy enough and back performing, apparently unfazed by Friday's show.

I was in Surrey, but we chatted by phone.
He's a nice chap., I hope he comes across better next time on Wossy.

I thought it was terrifyingly cringeworthy to watch the Dynamo slot.

The wife turned to me and said ' Is this what you're aspiring to be ' and such comments as ' Is this guy making money from this? Why are you spending all this money on this and bringing nothing in from it? '

I have not seen any of Dynamo's other stuff except a few clips a while ago on youtube which to be honest, presentationwise, were no better.

Of course, there is a possibility of the show being edited out to make him look bad.. but whos to say that the the edited out bits were not worse than what was shown?

Nerves aside, where was the presentation with any effects televised? I.D.. bad idea, very bad.. Saw.. looked as gruesome as it should.. presented rather poorly... and dropping the card.. ouch!!

I dont know.. the more I read and study magic, the more I realise its all in the presentation.. just the other day I was watching a short clip from Dai Vernon's revelations ( volume 1 ) and featued on it was Michael Ammar, Steve Freeman and Gary Oullet. Michael Ammar was discussing his presentation of Vernons Cutting the Aces and Vernon cut in ' No.. The story makes the magic, otherwise your just a guy who does tricks, a guy skilled with a deck and nobody wants to see that.. they get jealous in fact '

Its true. If you just do tricks, laypeople will only be trying to catch you out, I found out the hard way. Now.. when you introduce some kind of plot.. not necessarily a long winded one.. but give the effect a meaning.. laypeople get drawn into the story, they try and follow the story and watch what happens as opposed to trying to see where your hands go etc, then get pi**ed off when they cant figure it out.

I dont see Dynamo introducing any kind of plot for his effects, no reason behind what he is doing, so in effect it reduces his magic to eye candy which people will either be jealous of or just congratulate him for having 'quick hands' or whatever.. thats not the kind of reactions we should aim for, agreed?

I only have what I have seen to base my opinion on, but if you watch interviews with lets say Michael Ammar when he was younger.. theres a vast difference and that is one of personality. Its one thing trying to appeal to 'the street' but come on.. I dress pretty smart when I do walk around.. I can attract the rough and ready crowd without having to 'be street' and yes I know that Dynamo genuinely has that dress sense and is pretty much street in his attitude but as a performer, you need to appeal to the masses and I think that someone who comes across as middle class has more chance of appealing to a wider audience, which is what as performers we need to be able to do surely?

im going off at a tangent again but my point has been made somewhere in there

Not putting Dynamo down, but this is a performance we can all aspire to: http://www.zooweekly.co.uk/needtoknow/a ... office.htm

Even if it had been rehearsed to bits and edited to cor blimey, Wossy would still never have known how it's done.

Tomo wrote:Not putting Dynamo down, but this is a performance we can all aspire to: http://www.zooweekly.co.uk/needtoknow/a ... office.htm

Even if it had been rehearsed to bits and edited to cor blimey, Wossy would still never have known how it's done.

Excellent. That's a professional right there.

Tomo wrote:Not putting Dynamo down, but this is a performance we can all aspire to: http://www.zooweekly.co.uk/needtoknow/a ... office.htm

Even if it had been rehearsed to bits and edited to cor blimey, Wossy would still never have known how it's done.

In the words of the man himself "Now that's magic!"

Oh yes, Paul is one of the greats. So slick and very natural.
It's a shame he's not on the tv anymore and even sadder that his classic series is not on DVD for us to cherish and be amazed by.

S. Lea wrote:Coaching is standard, people sent on talk shows to plug something, have the answer down pat.... A literary agent friend of my assures me that all his authors are coached in exactly what to say, how to say it and how to bring their book into the answer.

That's a rarity, in my experience. The publicist might often make a point of hassling the producer to ensure that the host has a copy of the book and will display it, but author coaching isn't 'standard', I don't think: you're just left to get on with it. I've only heard of one author being giving proper 'lessons', and I've personally certainly never had anything beyond a hissed, 'Remember to mention your book at some point this time, you idiot,' as I walked to some sofa or other. I mention all of that only because authors should probably get coaching - there's no reason someone who writes for a living should be expected to be able to speak. But they generally aren't. So, I don't think we can be too harsh on Dynamo's management - when his job is performing - for not having him in a special preparing booth for two days beforehand.

Anyway - eerily - I actually agree with a lot of what Copyright said. Dynamo was nervous and it was a less than great performance from him, but he was never going to have much of a chance. How often on this forum do we talk about the magic being in the presentation and the atmos you create? Well, it's uphill to do that when you're in another room and Woss says, 'Right. Do a trick now.' - and you're cramped between people, performing to a camera, and you have about seven seconds. (Oh, and you've been given a roll-of-the-eyes sarky, 'This is obviously what I want on the show,' introduction just moments previously.) If there's a criticism to be made there, it's that Dynamo should probably have said, 'No.'

I find Woss very watchable, and he can sometimes drag along an interview with someone who's terrible by practically doing all the talking himself. The downside of that is, of course, that he never shuts up. For comparison, I recall seeing a clip of Ammar on (I think) Letterman - doing the Bill Switch. Here's the thing: Letterman lets him get on with it. He makes one of two comments, but basically Ammar gets to perform it exactly how he always does, and at exactly his own pace.

Recently I saw a magician do a trick on the local news magazine programme. He did that ACR/Glass Deck effect. He was a seasoned performer and executed the thing very well. But the reaction was still sort of, 'Tss. Well, fancy that. Now, Louise with the weather...' because he had to rush it, the you're never going to have the hosts' full attention because it's split between you, the autocue and their earpieces. In fact, I recall seeing Derren Brown on a chat type show too. He did (Show us something, Brown) a nice little thing with Zener cards. But even then - with his nous and performing ability/care - you didn't remotely get the usual This Man Was Born To Prickle Hairs feeling; just, 'Oh. Derren's done a card trick.'

I think what I'm trying to say is that magicians should probably not go on chat-style TV shows at all, ever, unless it's Letterman. (Hmmm... isn't Letterman a bit of a magic hobbyist himself? Maybe that's it: only go on shows where the host knows a bit about, and loves, magic.)

Dynamo is only young and not used to being on shows like this, so Woss, the seasoned professional, should be able to put his guests at ease.
He wanted him on the show and to give him a break, so why not just sit back and let the bloke peform?
Dynamo's patter (or lack of it) sometimes lets him down, but he is remarkable at card flourishes and knows his stuff. It's a shame as he could have shone much brighter.

I like Dynamo's magic, but the image (hip-hop, street, etc) puts me off a bit as I'm not part of that and don't like all this 'urban' posturing. If that side was dropped more, the magic could take centre place and he could be himself a bit.

I feel an image has been created which has to be lived up to. Despite the image portrayed, he's quite an articulate chap and does know his stuff.
I've seen clips of the Richard & Judy show and he seemed more relaxed on there and they weren't so condescending in their introduction.

Still, anyone who can get magic on the telly, sparking the layman's interest, must be commended to some degree, whether you like them or not.

Lord Freddie wrote: Dynamo's patter (or lack of it) sometimes lets him down, but he is remarkable at card flourishes and knows his stuff. It's a shame as he could have shone much brighter.

Aye. His skill might have got him 3rd place at the International Convention, but It's time to stop relying on technical skill alone and start building bags of showbiz personality.

Tomo wrote:

Lord Freddie wrote: Dynamo's patter (or lack of it) sometimes lets him down, but he is remarkable at card flourishes and knows his stuff. It's a shame as he could have shone much brighter.

Aye. His skill might have got him 3rd place at the International Convention, but It's time to stop relying on technical skill alone and start building bags of showbiz personality.

Calling Mr Brown......

Lawrence wrote:

Tomo wrote:

Lord Freddie wrote: Dynamo's patter (or lack of it) sometimes lets him down, but he is remarkable at card flourishes and knows his stuff. It's a shame as he could have shone much brighter.

Aye. His skill might have got him 3rd place at the International Convention, but It's time to stop relying on technical skill alone and start building bags of showbiz personality.

Calling Mr Brown......

Absolute Magic?

Tomo wrote:Not putting Dynamo down, but this is a performance we can all aspire to: http://www.zooweekly.co.uk/needtoknow/a ... office.htm

Even if it had been rehearsed to bits and edited to cor blimey, Wossy would still never have known how it's done.

So thats what Paul Daniels is about - quality!! I never was allowed to watch him as a kid..

WOW! What a disturbing thread to have read through! I never realised there were so much prejudice against people simply because of how they dress speak etc! I spose I should considering I am white Irish decent, born in Canada lived in Jamaica got a good south London/Jamaican accent, spent the majority of my life growing up in Peckham. Yeah, council estates. I hate the word Chav, dont ever call me it. Wigger is highly offencive only a FOOL would replace the N from a seriously racist word and put a W in its place because they are white. I know this thread has moved on from this talk, but I cant join in without addressing it first. Not impressed.
I saw Dynamos myspace page and was blown away by his you tube clips, street magic in the streets. performing to the kind of people that will examine your props etc. I think he is kinda frail due to his battle with Crones desease but that adds to his performance. He is amongst people that would not pay him any attention in the street and he has total respect and lets his magic do the talking. Love this kid, I wish more young people would get into magic and other hobbies instead of the foolishnes going on nowadays.