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I'll occasionally read a method that declares itself as being bold, and wonder what all the fuss is about. Boldness can carry with it great rewards. I quite enjoy, for instance, handing a particular gimmicked deck to a spectator for an effect that is quite improbable. This is something that I have few qualms about but I know from experience that others don't entertain the thought.

I guess really my question is, what are your boundaries? What methods are you not brave enough for?

EDIT: one drink and I'm all apostrophes!

getting away with murder is what i live for.
No method is to bold,and brassy.

I much prefer to work without the use of gimmicks, so I tend to be involved with ungimmicked seances, ungimmicked mind-reading etc. Obviously I have used, for instance, a TT many many times - but I don't like it. I'm terrified someone is going to shout "Oy! Plastic thumb!" or similar. Therefore by working ungimmicked I appear to be bolder than most. The truth however is that I work ungimmicked because the props that others may rely on actually terrify me!

One effect requires great boldness, and I have used it rarely. Every time I have got away with it, but it has not made its way into my repetoir yet. It is the secret cueing method used for effects like pseudo-hypnosis and the electric chairs.
I am working on an entire hypno-show using these methods, and the initial trials have worked well.
When you see Paul Daniels doing his electric chairs you are seeing boldness at its best.

themagicwand wrote:I much prefer to work without the use of gimmicks, so I tend to be involved with ungimmicked seances, ungimmicked mind-reading etc. Obviously I have used, for instance, a TT many many times - but I don't like it. I'm terrified someone is going to shout "Oy! Plastic thumb!" or similar. Therefore by working ungimmicked I appear to be bolder than most. The truth however is that I work ungimmicked because the props that others may rely on actually terrify me!

Gimmick-phobia. Most likely the cause of a traumatic child hood event. Like a Magician saying "Got your ear!" and then showing you a rubber ear. Thus traumatizing you for life.

I'll use gimmicks if I have to, but I often prefer not to use them for the very important reason.. I am Lazy. I don't like the idea of having to haul around a lot of things in my pocket and trying to remember which is where.

Randy wrote: I don't like the idea of having to haul around a lot of things in my pocket and trying to remember which is where.

Absolutely. The thought that I could turn up at a booking and have forgotten my case of goodies but still be able to work with absolutely no props whatsoever is a thought that makes me feel warm & fuzzy inside. Some magi you see turning up at gigs look more like a mobile branch of B&Q than a purveyor of mystery entertainment.

Yeah that's always bothered me. Plus I'd hate to be a party or something and when somebody says 'Hey, So & So do something." and end up going "Sorry, I don't have my stuff on me." I've a read a few books and many of them always say "Rehearse where everything is." Plus I always have this feeling if you show up to a gig with pockets that look loaded. You could tempting people to reach in your pockets or do other things. Even magicians who say to wear fanny packs. I find a bit silly.

I'm with Dr. David Hoy on all this...

At the moment, hypnotism is a little outside my comfort zone. I'm fine with pickpocketing, because after spending about two years living in fear of it, I just said to hell with it and started going for it when I didn't have to (nicking wallets then putting them back in the wrong pocket etc.) and of course once you stop caring about being caught, you stop being caught. I'm not sure what puts me off hypnotism, all I know is it's going to take me a while to sort out.

daleshrimpton wrote:No method is to bold,and brassy.

Actually quite the opposite. Smaller lies are much more likely to be detected because they are more believable as a lie than a truth, huge great storming bold as nails, in your face lies are much more believable as a truth and less likely to be questioned because people doubt you could ever be so downright obvious and audacious.

Aye. I'm always impressed by a good bluff. There's a headline prediction in PS3 that employs a bluff, and it's an astounding bit of work.