talkmagic.co.uk

So recently on here (TM) there has been alot of laughing at shoddy youtube 'magicians'.
Leaves me wondering;
Magic isnt all about tricks, its a big part of it. But when you see these kids perform its all trick but no MAGIC.
Y'know what Im saying!
I think i've just matured!

When my friend, who shall remain nameless, tries to tell a Roy 'Chubby' Brown joke, it just doesn't work. He's just not funny, bless him. Unlike 'Chubby', who, in my opinion, is just hilarious when he tells the same joke.

My mate = rubbish at telling jokes
Roy = magic!

My point is I do believe it's all in the presentation.

You are indeed 100% correct. It's the difference between a technically brilliant singer with no charisma doing things robotically and a true showman who entertains.
Some of the most entertaining (and most popular) magicians use the least complicated material as they are there to solely put on a show for people to enjoy, not to prove they can do something that others can't. Na na na-na nah!

These freaky youtube kids are your typical friendless, bullied, over-pampered oiks who want to do something to make them feel good about themselves and superior to others. Sadly they have taken the route of magic to do this. Others will become politicians.

Lord Freddie wrote: These freaky youtube kids are your typical friendless, bullied, over-pampered oiks who want to do something to make them feel good about themselves and superior to others. Sadly they have taken the route of magic to do this. Others will become politicians.

Lord Freddie wrote: These freaky youtube kids are your typical friendless, bullied, over-pampered oiks who want to do something to make them feel good about themselves and superior to others.

Whatever you do, Lord Freddie, if the entertainment industry dries up onya, please don't become a child-counsellor!

VoodooMick wrote:

Lord Freddie wrote: These freaky youtube kids are your typical friendless, bullied, over-pampered oiks who want to do something to make them feel good about themselves and superior to others.

Whatever you do, Lord Freddie, if the entertainment industry dries up onya, please don't become a child-counsellor!

These sort of children are bullied for a reason - they deserve it!

I'd be a good child counsellor:

Fat kids: Eat less and get more exercise
Spotty kids: Wash your face more often and eat less chocolate
Bedwetters: Wanna go back to wearing a nappy?


See? Right-on people like to refer to my approach as "tough love".
I see it as a progression of Arthur Janov's 'Primal Scream' therapy.

A good example of this is perhaps Mel Mellers.

His magic is basic, isn't over complicated and there are many technically better magicians out there. Mel however has a unique blend of humour and charisma that turns this tricks into something more magical and at the same time he thoroughly entertains his audience.

If you've seen Mel perform live then you'll know exactly what I mean

Anyone who thinks the magic is in the equipment would take a piano apart to find the music!

Magic is all about the performance, having a good trick is only a small part of it. The biggest and most important part of magic is the presentation.

What's going to be more entertaining, someone who looks at the floor, shuffles their feet, says nothing and performs a technically very difficult effect.

Or someone who's dynamic, fun, engages with their audience and performs a simple trick well enough.

It'll be the second magician anytime I'd think. He's maybe not the technically best of the two but he's got the presentation which makes he 'lesser' trick appear so much more.

A great entertainer can make a mediocre effect fantastic. I think that far too little emphasis is put upon the presentation side these days, particularly in these monotone instructional DVD's so many youngsters watch. They copy the monotone performance and add nothing themself and think it's all in the sleights.
I have seen some amazingly entertaining magicians who have told me they just use a couple of forces and a few basic sleights, yet can entertain people and hold their attention for an hour or two whereas more technical but dull people will lose the attention of an audience once they have been initially impressed by flashy flourishes.

It depends what you want to be thought of as. A great entertainer who can mystify people and leave them with a sense of wonder, or a smartar$e showoff kid who is good with his hands and spends all his spare time practicing.

So true, Freddie. I've seen a magician entertain a group for over half an hour with nothing more than a few simple self working card tricks, a slip cut and a cross cut force. He was just brilliant to watch.

Some of the effects which I have entertained people with the most are some of the ones which are simple to do.
Presentation and a context for the events that happen do add a lot to the performance. If you just perform and basically say 'here's a trick - watch' they are more likely to see it as a puzzle. But if you start a conversation such as "Do you think it's possible to influence someone's decisions without them knowing?" and lead into a conversation, the mind will be connecting it with the theory you put forward rather than try to work out a riddle.
Also, entering into a dialogue with somebody and asking their views on things gets you into a rapport with them and makes the magic a more personal thing. The reason why people like tarot readings and the like is because it's completely personal to them and that's what people like the most.
When there is no personal interaction, the whole event becomes rather cold, which is why you hear some brat with a batch of Ellusionist DVD's and a flash deck moaning that they performed an effect and people weren't impressed or grabbed the cards off them. To approach someone and not in so many words say you are going to show them something that you can do but they can't is confrontational in nature and seen as a challenge, but if you are sharing the wonder with them you will get a much more positive response.

The material in beginners books such as RRTCM is as good as any if presented well. I personally avoid gambling demonstration effects because many of the people I perform for know nothing about poker and the like and are more impressed with 'magical' effects. I would certainly feel proud of myself if I mastered some convuluted Royal Flush routine, but if people didn't enjoy it then what's the point?

I always choose effects that I feel that I can present well and fit my character rather than something that is the latest trendy thing. A simple effect such as 'Rapid Transit' from RRTCM has astonished lay people because I feel I put a presentational framework around it and made it interesting.

When you watch the videos of someone like Paul Brook, his presentation is excellent and builds up the anticipation of the effect superbly whereas if he'd just gone into the routine coldly it wouldn't have had the same impact. The back-story and build up adds interest and suspense which multiply the effect the performance has on people.

Peter Marucci wrote:Anyone who thinks the magic is in the equipment would take a piano apart to find the music!

That should be printed out, laminated, and fixed to every magician's wall - by law! Nice one Peter !

Have a little look at the clip on this thread, http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic22878.php

a brilliant example of how a good presentation can make a simple trick very entertaining.

A good way to test this is dont do any effects and just talk to people. I talk to everyone if you can hold there interest and eye contact and make them laugh or smile. Then you are entertaining.

If you are rather boring then there are a few things you can do to do sort this. Learn words big interesting words , watch comdeians that hod an audiance watch comedians that cant. And read all what you can about body langague then learn your card tricks.

To right on Freddies tough love scheme.