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I have Healed and Resealed by Anders Moden. Does anyone have any tips for performing this trick better? For one thing, my can always cracks when I go to restore it (will I get an edit for that?). Also just general patter tips would be good since I'm not fond of what's in the book. As a general rule, how do you guys come up with and test good patter for any given trick?

Any help is appreciated,
JAlexBrown

JAlexBrown wrote:I have Healed and Resealed by Anders Moden. Does anyone have any tips for performing this trick better? For one thing, my can always cracks when I go to restore it (will I get an edit for that?). Also just general patter tips would be good since I'm not fond of what's in the book. As a general rule, how do you guys come up with and test good patter for any given trick?

Any help is appreciated,
JAlexBrown

Re-read the book. It explains how to prepare it correctly so it doesnt crack.

To test patter, you make some up... try it out on a living audience, if it doesnt work well... you re-work it... etc... and you keep doing so until you get it right. You really should come up with your patter, and not use some one elses. That very unoriginal and just not cool. What patter will work for me just might not work for you. So its just best to make your own. I do for 90% of all my effects that I perform.

For the last 7 months I have been working on an effect. I created the method and ending in a month or two. The thing that took the longest was creating the right patter and presentation. It had to be just right, had to be dare I say perfect.

Okay...I re-read the book and found the part about the can cracking. Thanks. I do agree that presentation goes a long way towards the audience's enjoyment of your demonstration, and patter is the most significant part of the presentation. A good talk in magic just may be as important as a good walk. I am working on some new patter for the trick now (the one in the book, even if it was okay to use, is increadibly cheesy in my opinion). But when you're working out patter do you script it or just memorize it or have you ever just made your patter impromptu? I think the impromptu route would look the best, especially with this effect.

JAlexBrown

JAlexBrown wrote:Okay...I re-read the book and found the part about the can cracking. Thanks. I do agree that presentation goes a long way But when you're working out patter do you script it or just memorize it or have you ever just made your patter impromptu? I think the impromptu route would look the best, especially with this effect.
JAlexBrown

I some times script it, like with my last effect... as it was quite long. And just too good, I couldnt risk forgetting it.

I also do impromtu, actually alot of my patter changes from day to day, some times in a big way, other times in a large way.

And for some tricks I have just memeorized a patter, becuase it was so good.

If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.

Don't you think a lot of that issue depends on the effect? A largely impromptu trick such as Healed and Resealed Can would benefit from equally impromptu patter. A levitation, on the other hand, wouldn't benefit at all from impromptu patter since levitations are hardly impromptu. I can never perform Balducci well enough for people to buy it as a levitation because it's way too angle-sensitive. I got the book for Zero Gravity, but the gimmick is way too hard to make and it's totally impractical.

JAlexBrown

JAlexBrown wrote:Don't you think a lot of that issue depends on the effect? A largely impromptu trick such as Healed and Resealed Can would benefit from equally impromptu patter. A levitation, on the other hand, wouldn't benefit at all from impromptu patter since levitations are hardly impromptu. I can never perform Balducci well enough for people to buy it as a levitation because it's way too angle-sensitive. I got the book for Zero Gravity, but the gimmick is way too hard to make and it's totally impractical.

JAlexBrown

What? The patter... well its different for everyone. Some people have all the patter written down to the T, with a few back up lines for hecklers and such.
Others go in with a rough patter... meaning they have a few lines and wing the rest.
Then there are the people that go in only with an idea, and basically wing the patter.

The effect itself I dont really think matters that much, as to whether the patter is memorized or winged. As long as you are entertaining, and givng the effect its due presentation.

Meaning dont go trying to wing a patter, and end up with a lot of "ums" "huh" "oh", and dont explain what your doing as a patter either.

You mention levitations (personally not a big fan). When you see Criss perform his levitation his patter really isnt that deep. Granted his is a tv show.
But even when I used to perform levitations, I really never went that deep. I would get their attention, misdirect when needed, and then allow them to focus on the levitation rather than my words.
You really shouldnt have to build up a levitation or fluff it up, it pulled off well. Let it speak for itself. This also goes for certain effects in magic.

Now a patter for H&S, I would perform as the second type of patter- half memorized, half winged. As I would perform it in different places and situations, so tha patter wouldnt work every where.

I will go into more if I need to.

Whenever you watch Criss do a raw street trick, his patter is amazing. I don't care if you love him or hate him as a magician (I personally enjoy his work), you have to admit his presentation is top-notch. Now if you're turned off by his visual style is another matter, but I'm not. He has occasionally used a cheesy line or two (I always hate it when he mentions soft spots on tables, because it sounds cheesy, but I guess it's great for the effect he uses it with). Patter is easy at first, but as you get into it, if the person you're presenting the trick to isn't feeling it, I tend to clam up a bit. I did the "Aces on Top" trick (is that the name when four piles each have one Ace on top) for a co-worker of mine the other day, and she was impressed, but not really too much. Maybe that's just the effect, I'm not sure. I gave her a line about her being a good poker dealer and not even knowing it. After hearing myself say it, it probably does sound a bit corny.

JAlexBrown

Is there a question in there... or do you still have a question.

Maybe an idea on the aces effect?

Criss has decent patter... I much prefer his stage show over his tv show.
his stage shows are just amazing.