talkmagic.co.uk

Having been trawling aroung the talk magic pages I have come to the conclusion that an essential element is missing from so many peoples' magic.

I have read of so many who complain that friends spot the key to the trick they're doing and that they aren't received well and think that this might have the same root, namely the urge to buy a trick, open the envelope and get out and do it.

The key is more than just practice, practice, practice (although you can never do enough - the more familiar, the easier it is to do a trick and talk your way out of problems) it is learning the patter (books and DVD's mighe be useful here, but only if you want to be a clone of the person you're studying!).

Get yourself into a club, get the advice of peers, watch them, modify what they do - adapting it to fit your own personality (don't have one, then become and accountant ) and then watch as you do a trick that everyone knows and see those around you stop and enjoy it.

Please, please stop doing magic on your own in your bedroom, magic is a communal and community thing - be a part, not apart.

Sorry if this offends - it's not meant to, but the answer seems so simple.

That said - how do those who know better than me practice and develop their routines (process rather than stuff to copy)?
Thanks,

Vic

Very well spoken.

I sell magic on a market stall and use this as an opportunity to practise any new trick that I may want to use in my act. It gives me leads of people that I can practise on, with no pressure at all. Pretty much perfect I'd say.

Oooh,

where do you do that? I notice that your not far from me (in fact I'm in the wolverhamptom part of the Lichfield diocese - so come in to Wolverhampton from time to time) and might be nice to actually get another face for my collection.

Vic

Does anybody know of an active club in Reading? I'd love to join if there is.

Thanks

Hi,

Regarding a club in the Reading area, the link below (courtesy bananfish and Ipswich Society) might be helpful.

Hope this helps,

Vic

Magical Societies in the South East: http://www.ipswichmagicalsociety.co.uk/ ... East#00048

Thanks!

vic_vdb wrote: might be nice to actually get another face for my collection.

You mean Vic, that you actually collect peoples faces.......how do you do that....I mean people wear their faces on their heads.... it sounds like a trick to me!....... Sorry Vic, I couldn't resist that one.....

To get back to your original post....very relevant and well said....joining a magic club for me was a turning point....I joined at 21 and I wouldn't know as much as I know now if it wasn't for the help and advice of my fellow club members.

I would highly recommend joining a magic club for all magicians starting out and as early as possible in their magic career, whether the aim is to just be a hobbyist or if you want to actually make a living at magic.

Just noticed your post Vic, well we used to do around 5 a week but due to so many gigs ( we currently have 6 residencies ) plus one off gigs, our current most prestigious one is at Harrods. Anyway as a result it leaves us little time for the markets. I think the next one looks like a week wednesday at West Brom.
If you were considering coming over then PM me and we can exchange phone numbers so that I will be able to let you know if any plans are changed.

I agree with some comments from both sides of the argument but my own view is this.

I think that it is equally important to have a critical view from time to time on your technique and this does tend to be more appreciated when received from somone who knows what they're talking about. I think that most magicians will give constructive feedback for the right reasons, which in the end will only improve your performance for the lay person which, as you correctly state is what it's all about.

I think that the video clips posted elsewhere on this site serve a good example. Those posts asking for advice and then receiving it will no doubt improve if that advice is considered and / or put into practice. You can only get that critique from fellow magicians and if at times you just went out and performed then you'll get caught out more often than not. in such circumstances, most lay people will not tell you that they think that you're a bad magician (as they see it) which leaves you wondering where to go to next.

In relation to finding an objective audience that are not magicians, I do agree that there are other areas of the arts that can help you with the delivery of your performance but you've got to get the trick right. It's no good having people think 'yeah he got the wrong card but he was a good actor'. Where your magic is concerned, actors etc. are just as much lay people than any other members of an audience.

in my view, this is where a magic club fits the bill as you not only get the technical assistance or critique, but also the collective experiences of other members who have been out there and performed for real audiences.

You also need to remember that in general, an actor is far more detached from their audience when stood up on a stage whereas a magician is usually a part of the audience in that the audience are in front of and around the performance and are more often than not, part of the perforamcne as well.

Dear oh dear. It's an old chestnut that magicians will generally give you constructive criticism on your routine. 95% will tell you how THEY would do it and this is THEIR routine which is very often far from what you want or indeed need. Try to read my advice in Abra (Dear Magician, No. 7) about showing it to others. The 5% left are usually either seasoned professional peformers or performers with theatrical experience. Your main check is; are their standards & performances, respected.
And no!, Senior member. actors are never detatched from their audiences. We have to feel the pulse of the House all through a performance. Comedic lines may not be thrown direct in their faces but have(like all dialogue) to be constantly played TO them. And what about actors in pantomime? The whole essence of panto is audience participation by the actors involved. No actor can ever really relax. it only has to look that way. Total concentration on his /her material and the audience is vital to control and success. This applies to ALL performers be they presenting the linking Rings or playing Romeo & Juliet
Allen Tipton

Fair point about actors and their audience and I for one stand corrected - certainly has given me a different line of thought on the matter.

I recall reading Paul Daniels who was suggesting not joining a magic club but rather your local drama school. There is someone that understands presentation.

Good point, Happy Toad - I'm sure it's in either Paul Curry's 'Magician's Magic' or Henning Nelms' 'Magic and Showmanship' that joining your local amateur theatre group is beneficial in so many ways.

Thats why Tommy Wonder is so good at what he does