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The postings on Magic & Showmanship by Henning Nelms were most interesting. many magicians will simply gloss over his advice, which needs much study to absorb fully.Most of you will find things like the drawings for foot movement a little strange, unless you're into ballroom dancing!! My 3 copies of the book were all borrowed and never returned! If you wish to improve your artistry as amagician, then read(but ignore the out dated stage makeup chapter) Showmanship & Presentation by Ed. Maurice. Find The Stuff That's You by Chris Carey, Professional Technique for M's by James Reneaux(pub. Abbotts) The first half of Real World Magic by Jerry Mc.gregor, Shattering illusions by Jamy Ian Swiss, Showmanship for Magicians by Dariel Fitzkee and for Close Upperers then it's Strong Magic by D. Ortiz. And don't neglect the advice in The John Booth Classics compilation. Collect these and you'll have a lifetime's advice on improving yourself as a performer. When you watch a successful magician work, then look at him: his stance, his movement, his handling of the props and the audience, his delivery of patter, how he achieves a climax and his applause DON'T COPY him. Absorb his techniques and apply some of them to you and your work!
Allen Tipton

Nice post Allen.

I remember watching a Duane Lafflin lecture. He made a point about paying a lot of attention to the little things that make up each of his routines in a performance. It seems he examines everything normally taken for granted (like guestures, expressive movement's, and even how to hold a pose with his hand!) in microspcopic detail. He spends hours rehearsing not just on the actual effect, but also to get the subtle things right, which also includes how he may walk from one side of his table to the other.

He said taking the time and trouble to create the 'perfect look' for EACH of these LITTLE things is what makes the difference between a professional and an amatuer.

I am glad you liked the post puppet man. One of the biggest problems I have found with magicians, over many years, is WE are interested in tricks..the public (generally) isn't. As Goodliffe wrote in 1954 in his Abra editorial, 'The tricks are the peg to hang the entertainment on' It was this that sparked me off (just in my 20's) to complie my first magic lecture, The Actor's Box Of Tricks' And over all these years of lecturing it has been the one most asked for. As an artiste who appease in front of ANY audience, be it stage, cabaret, closeup, children's, indoors or outdoors, you need to know(and rehearse) how to stand, how and WHEN to gesture, the positions of your props when held in your hands, how to move, your voice( pace, expression, clarity..with or without a microphone. Then there's contacting, holding and controlling an audience. What you wear. And more. So although in that first lecture I demmed some tricks (for those that must have them) it was a case of 'I'm here not to teach you tricks but to teach you the Important Things. Whee. That's better off the chest. Oh and always do so many rehearsals in the shoes and clothes you will wear in the performance.
I'm always at the end of a computer if you want advice or help.
Allen Tipton

Hi Allen thanks for the advice. I am looking forward to reading future posts by you as it sounds and looks that you have a vast knowledge and one that someone like myself can only hope to gain in Magic over the years to come.