talkmagic.co.uk

Magicians whose sole motivation is showing how clever they are and how stupid everyone is.

They're usually the same magicians who think that magic will get them laid. Silly boys. You need palm reading for that.

Demitri wrote:I can hardly put the London Cab driver sequence in the same category as performers who insult or intentionally make the person feel foolish. I can see where the line can be drawn, but it wasn't an intention of the effect to make the driver feel foolish. Had Derren been in the back screaming "come on, moron! Find the place!" THEN - I would agree...

I agree that the guy did not feel foolish at the time, as he was doing his best. If you think that he has not been laughed at by every other badgeholder in London since, ...... Jump into any cab and ask.

the 'constant over-emphasiser'. very annoying... like sports commentators. you know they have nothing to say, so theyll mention every breath thats taken.

'heres a real, genuine deck 52 cards, all different, look im shuffling them. now watch theres nothing funny about the deck, its not a trick deck, see, watch, your cards goes right in the middle watch carefully, ok now i know its definitely NOT on the top.....'

you get the picture

Not a performance issue, but "bad magician behaviour": common responses of magicians when they are on the receiving end, eg. at a wedding.

If you really want to make yourself known, buy the guy a drink and if he has a quiet moment, congratulate him on his (or her) efforts and have a friendly chat about the price of flash paper. But don't make it clear to the entire table that you know how to do what he just did, and don't make cryptic comments about sleights in front of lay people.

For some reason, even if you're a good boy and don't share the secret, sharing the fact that you *know* the secret detracts from the magic, even if you're a magician - it makes it into a riddle, something that could be common knowledge, something that lots of people can do. If I see a magician and my friends ask "hey, can you do that?" I shrug my shoulders and shake my head, even if I do. It's their performance, leave it to them and don't try and muscle in on the action.

It's just unprofessional and rude, to be honest... if I'm doing magic, and one member of the group goes "oh yeah, I do a bit of magic" (great, a bedroom hobbyist). Watches trick "Heh heh. Yeah... nice DL mate... eh! Eh! Know what I mean?! Eh! You did actually flash a bit there, you got away with it but because I know what I'm looking for..." (Bully for you. Do you want a medal...?)

Don't be that guy!

This is an ordinary deck of 52 cards, would you now please pick a card, any card. Could you now please place your card on top of the deck and cut the deck, give it a few more cuts please but don't you dare shuffle them!

I'm now just going to look through the deck here to find your card, whoops dropped a couple there. Now without any funny moves I am going to find your card. Is this your card?

How good am I? I'm the best in the world and you can never catch me out cos I know the secret.

Yeah of course I'll show you it again.............

This is a "personal flavour" thing rather than a pet peeve - but I despair when I see mentalists who don't make the most of a situation.

"So you picked this one... but you were strangely drawn to this one first yes?"

If not you still score.
If they did you score double.

Why not go for it if the time is right?

Seeing a magician handle a TT poorly

Here's my thumb - look everyone I stick it in the hole & now my hand is empty

Magicians who take themselves too seriously and forget that it's about entertaining the audience rather than stroking their own ego. You know, those who are totally inflexible in their routines and refuse to change something that's obviously not working in favour of something that the audience will enjoy.

Sparkly / "Crazy" clothing,

obviously scripted corny one liner jokes - reminds me too much of end of the pier type stuff

arrogance and self absorbed performance

Taking on another magicians personna. Be yourself!

The people who go out and film themselves doing street magic - That's a personal gripe based on the idea that too many people think that copying Blaine is the way to fame. Street magic's been done to death. the next big thing is bound to be something different.

Magicians who doe 5 mins of xcm inbetween effects

A certain magician/creator who seems recently to be releasing new "Tried and tested" routines that he has been doing in his reportoire for years, every month!

greedoniz wrote:A certain magician/creator who seems recently to be releasing new "Tried and tested" routines that he has been doing in his reportoire for years, every month!

haha - I love it when he says "I *always* take this out. If you see me, you just know I'll definately have this brand new ultra cool gimmick in my pockets"

How big his pockets are I have no idea...

He has a pouch, he's been carrying it for "ooooh, about 15 years now"

Well, about 75% of magicians that I have seen are no-nos.

Sorry about that.

I make no assertions about my level of skill: I suspect it's far lower than the standard of many. However I strive to keep my magic natural and entertaining, and I am always looking for helpful criticism.

How many times have I met a genuinely nice chap or chappesse, only for their personality to suddenly change when they perform? Either into a sarcastic, offensive demon or a humourless know-all?
Neither of these put their audience first.

And those who take it far too seriously, although I concede at times it must be difficult for the professional to retain his sense of humour.

Everything else I can forgive. Including all of the usual 'mistakes' and 'no-nos' that people mention above - you know, badly done moves, overdoing shuffles, drawing unncessary attention, all of these things.
These are mistakes that all of us have made, and are forgivable as long as a magician is prepared to take criticism and improve.

Im pretty sure that Derren Brown gets permission to use everything that they film. If someone says "No, you made me look like a muppet" then it won't make it to the final broadcast.
In all of the Trick or Treat stuff, he's always saying "You don't have to do this if you don't want to", so he's not forcing anyone into a situation where they'd be made to feel really uncomfortable or stupid
Live shows might be a different matter mind. Never actually been one, so don't know if theres a "I don't want to be picked on" option

Personally don't like:-
"Zany" magic. Don't mind a bit of humour, or something a bit unusual but "Wahay, look at me, I'm so wacky" makes me walk away

Magicians who insist on trying to do a trick for people who really aren't interested

Magicians who just can't be bothered making the effort in engaging people. You're first and foremost an entertainer. If you can only 5 simple tricks but present them wonderfully, you're a much better magician (IMHO) than someone who can classic pass in the blink of an eye but is as dull as dishwater. Inject some enthusiasm, zest or personality into your act

Magicians who only ever do the same 10 tricks. Variety is the spice of life

Magicians who can't cope when a member of the audience spots what he's done (and announces it to everyone else). Dealing with your audience is one of the pitfalls. Either get the handling / angles right, or come up with some other get out.

Anyone who defines the meaning of a choice before it's made. It puts the spec on the defensive and makes them want to mess things up for the performer.

Anyone who simply rattles through their lines.

Anyone who insults the spec for a cheap laugh.

Oh, and people who force magic on you.

greedoniz wrote:The people who go out and film themselves doing street magic - That's a personal gripe based on the idea that too many people think that copying Blaine is the way to fame. Street magic's been done to death. the next big thing is bound to be something different.

As one of those people, I'm going to defend this! (although I rarely do "street" magic, more like pub magic). Street magic (and indeed lots of magic these days) has a life of it's own on the old cybernet, but you just know that half to three quarters of people who are busy telling everyone else how to do it online have never performed for anyone who isn't their mother. Videoing yourself allows you to get the sort of feedback via the internet you wouldn't be able to get otherwise, and allows you to share magic and tips in a better way. It's also useful for judging people's level - personally, I listen a lot more and prioritise advice given by by people who I know actually go out and perform, and seeing them on video is one way of knowing that.

Also...

Trez wrote:Magicians who only ever do the same 10 tricks. Variety is the spice of life

Disagree here too! Better 10 perfected effects than a nice variety of slightly shoddy ones...!