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When you really think about it. There is no fear in the RR routine. Because you KNOW the guy isn't going to accidentally kill himself or end his career. Tho I have seen clips of guys who failed horribly at the smash n stab and had a nail driven through their hand or had the spectator get injured from it.

Randy wrote:When you really think about it. There is no fear in the RR routine. Because you KNOW the guy isn't going to accidentally kill himself or end his career. Tho I have seen clips of guys who failed horribly at the smash n stab and had a nail driven through their hand or had the spectator get injured from it.

Escapist face this same problem as do those that do Bullet Catch type routines, which is why such things are exceptionally difficult to "sell" to the public as being "genuine"; especially given the lack of acting skill and willingness to take direction the majority of magic enthusiast tend to represent (not all, but most). The other thing most fear leaning on when it comes to building in this fear, for something like Smash & Stab for example, is to offer a bit of background regarding the danger. In today's world having access to a view screen and video is not major issue even when it comes to costs, so pulling together a trailer showing the stunt going wrong over and over and over and letting the gore gain a bit of accent WILL condition your audience with the idea that this isn't some petty "Magic Trick".

I know this seems macabre but when doing the Bullet Catch 99.9% of those that have the most success in convincing the public that it's genuine preface things with the list of those killed or injured attempting the same.

I'm a major fan of the idea of Preconditioning one's audience and in some instances, start that process long before the show/engagement by way of the advertising & marketing materials used. Scott McClellan up in Canada does the same thing, selling his amazing Paranormal Shows as the "real deal" in much the same way and style as the traveling Medicine & Revival shows of yesteryear were marketed. Part of this action centers on the idea of selling an EXPERIENCE and not just a show, the former making what you do far bigger than the latter when it comes to how the public digests things.

Part of this effort also means being willing to step back a few paces and look at yourself as both, the performer as well as a mere mortal and ask some tough question such as "would I believe a 19 year old kid on stage if I were seeing him do this kind of bit for the first time?" (I say this for example only)

Someone exceptionally young, especially if cursed with a cherubim face, will not be able to sell such a piece as readily as someone in their 30's and obviously more "seasoned" in life, let alone the stage.

All of this thinking process is where you find the real secrets of magic vs. the "method". You don't see it mentioned much in the books but it is a vital part of the overall process.