talkmagic.co.uk

I am requesting for the creative among you to help a fellow magi in need. You are indeed half way there if you are reading this so let's get on with it.

Have you ever performed a trick, finished with the climax, only to be met with cold, long, uncomfortable silence with the spectators among you simply unimpressed? Well i haven't!

Okay maybe i have, but thats not the point!

The point is: have you ever performed the same trick BUT you left a beat before the climax and have gotten great reactions? This is rather common. It is our job as magicians to ensure that the spectator's mind does not connect the climax with the method. This is also my problem.

I have been performing a torn and restored for some time now, many of you probably know it. I have just torn two cards and could easily reveal the reconstruction of one of them, but I have realised that the reactions i would get are a bit...weak. However i think it is a very good effect and one that simply requires an injection of time to delay the climax.

Many people might use flashpaper to create the diversion, this however is not always practical and I'm still paying the bill for the Great Fire of London.
I thought about ending with the spectator holding the pieces but that also seemed so...dull.

Release your thinking doves and enlighten me fellow artists!

I'm not all that sure exactly what you're asking here. Timing is important to any part of any routine. If you just rush your way through a trick it's just going to look like you're rushing. You need to take your time and pace the effect to get the best reactions from the audience.

go on Youtube, ( or his own site) and watch Geofery Durham perform the torn and restored news paper.

watch his timing, and learn how to handle the restore.
it works with most t&r routines.

When it comes to tricks, i think sometimes a few beats are necessary, sometimes not. With an ACR sometimes i find it good to go at a frantic pace, it wows the spec and gives the impression i have no control over the card, its doing what it wants. With a T n R, i think its good to go really slow and mysterious like.

Whatever fits the trick.

Sorry about not being 100% clear.

I was just looking to use something to create a beat. There needs to be a decent time lapse before i reveal the restoration.

This beat cannot just be me waiting or talking, it needs to be an action. Sankey would bung it in some flash paper or maybe someone would do a quick transpo and as an "after effect", the card is restored.

Not sure if that makes sense.

you dont need anything other than you.


when you reach the point you want to create tension,and thats what your talking about here,

you just.................................
..................................................
.................................................
.................................................


shut the f**k up for a 3 seconds.


and on the 4th second you do the reveal.

if you add a flash, or a bang, or a blonde running around bearing her boobs, your adding to the effect, but your not creating the gap.
and its that gap that adds to the effect.

take teh example i have already given above....
Geoffery Durhams classic torn and restored paper.

he slows down, with the bits in his hand.

he says

" and the news paper is completely restored

. He pauses.

Thank you

. He pauses...1,2,3...


then restores the paper, and patters loudly and fast as he shows the inside of the newspaper.


now, the reason behind this, ( ive not read his book yet so im guessing, it definatly is the reason why i do it )

is that for that split second the audience think that its gone wrong, then they think its a gag.. then

oh my god it really has been restored!!! Id better clap that!!!

and they do.

so you see, you dont use a physical thing to time another effect. that's misdirection, no. the only way to create the state you are after is...
TIMING