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Hi everyone,

I have been thinking about this for a while and i think some of the classics of magic have become out of date such as the linking rings.I love most of the classics such as zombie,ambitious card,etc but I think some of them have run there course and unless they are updated,I don't think they fit modern audiences.What do you guys think?

I think that you are going to generate some irate responses by your question, and I think that this is what you intended.

That's what I think.

(Also, I think that these effects still work - but you knew that.)

T.

As has been said many times, it's all in the presentation. Props and ideas can, and will, be as old as the hills but the trully inovative performer will find a way to make them appear fresh and even cutting edge if required.

Most modern audiences will not have seen many magicians in there lifetime, specially in person. So any effect you do (as long as it's not too corny), will seem new and entertaining to them.

The effects you named may be old in the Magician standard, but I doubt many non magicians have seen it done live for them, and really if it was so bad, I doubt that many paid performers would continue to use it.

And if you think Linking Rings is dated then try and see Roy Davenport's routine. Manic as hell and done to an up-tempo Flamenco beat - not yer average, common or garden Linking Rings by any means - but uses the same props!

Ted wrote:I think that you are going to generate some irate responses by your question, and I think that this is what you intended.

That's what I think.

(Also, I think that these effects still work - but you knew that.)

T.

I knew that,but I was to hear other peoples opinions and views.

Randy wrote:Most modern audiences will not have seen many magicians in there lifetime, specially in person. So any effect you do (as long as it's not too corny), will seem new and entertaining to them.

The effects you named may be old in the Magician standard, but I doubt many non magicians have seen it done live for them, and really if it was so bad, I doubt that many paid performers would continue to use it.

Great point,thank you.

Mandrake wrote:As has been said many times, it's all in the presentation. Props and ideas can, and will, be as old as the hills but the trully inovative performer will find a way to make them appear fresh and even cutting edge if required.

Thank you.

What has become obsolete, is the belligerent, insulting or conversly dull, unimaginative, condescending and drab performance.
I lost faith ACRs after the tenth 'and with a shake of the deck the car..' NO! I don't care, and I refuse to participate in this nonsensical childish game with you, where we both know that you're tricking me and you shaking the deck has nothing to do with it (Maybe this is acceptable more, if the person was remotley entertaining).
But I still am amazed my Tommy Wonder's performance, even when I know what he's doing but moreso by his brilliance. There is none of that arkwardness, he is entertaining and whilst suspending disbelief, he also somehow doing it all tongue in cheek- it quite ineffible, but he was one of my favourite magicians and a very clever man.
No trick was out of date for Tommy.
If only every magician was as thoughtful and considerate as him.. but unfortunatley I have had the displeasure of being in that horrible position of the spectator for magicians. And they are not.
The thing is, the best pieces of magic are timeless. Linking rings could have been performed to the Aztecs, or in a hundred years from now. It's our job to make sure it is still relevant to the audience, not the effects.

SamGurney wrote:What has become obsolete, is the belligerent, insulting or conversly dull, unimaginative, condescending and drab performance.
I lost faith ACRs after the tenth 'and with a shake of the deck the car..' NO! I don't care, and I refuse to participate in this nonsensical childish game with you, where we both know that you're tricking me and you shaking the deck has nothing to do with it (Maybe this is acceptable more, if the person was remotley entertaining).
But I still am amazed my Tommy Wonder's performance, even when I know what he's doing but moreso by his brilliance. There is none of that arkwardness, he is entertaining and whilst suspending disbelief, he also somehow doing it all tongue in cheek- it quite ineffible, but he was one of my favourite magicians and a very clever man.
No trick was out of date for Tommy.
If only every magician was as thoughtful and considerate as him.. but unfortunatley I have had the displeasure of being in that horrible position of the spectator for magicians. And they are not.
The thing is, the best pieces of magic are timeless. Linking rings could have been performed to the Aztecs, or in a hundred years from now. It's our job to make sure it is still relevant to the audience, not the effects.

I think that has to do with the Challenge attitude that some magicians might have. It's the "try and catch me" type deal. The reason Tommy's stuff works is because he's not trying to trick people, he's performing everything in slow and casual way. Also I personally believe that the ACR can get a bit boring after awhile. I know this has been argued to death, but my opinion is that it's like a plot twist in a book or a film. After so many times, it's no longer fun and no longer a plot twist.

Mandrake wrote:And if you think Linking Rings is dated then try and see Roy Davenport's routine. Manic as hell and done to an up-tempo Flamenco beat - not yer average, common or garden Linking Rings by any means - but uses the same props!

And if you think Zombie Ball is dated then try and see Lossander's routine.


Also, if you think the ACR is dated then check out ellusionist; they've put an X in the name!

Lawrence wrote:if you think the ACR is dated then check out ellusionist; they've put an X in the name!

CUPS!

Ted wrote:

Lawrence wrote:if you think the ACR is dated then check out ellusionist; they've put an X in the name!

CUPS!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.....

Also, Cups and Balls could be added to the "dated" list.

Mandrake wrote:And if you think Linking Rings is dated then try and see Roy Davenport's routine. Manic as hell and done to an up-tempo Flamenco beat - not yer average, common or garden Linking Rings by any means - but uses the same props!

I did enjoy his linking ring sculptures when I saw him.

As is often said, the classics are classics for a good reason. I don't think that anything's dated, it all depends on how it's presented. I personally love those old classics, they've got a lovely charm about them.