talkmagic.co.uk

There is an interesting thread about cold reading based on people's names. ( ftopic41952.php )

But it made me think, what funny one-liner responses/reactions do you have to specific names ?

Neil - I kneal down ask him his name again.
Victoria - "what's your secret ?"
Lucy - I reach for my phil plus deck.
Nick - ask the next person, "is you name also nick, we might have found a 'pair of nicks' ?"

Really?

Do you not think people will have heard all those jokes (and I use the word loosely) since the playground and be sick of them?

Your spectator is an unpaid part of your act. Treat them with respect, don't take the mickey out of their names.

Unless your character is a 50s working man's club magician doing all the standard c*** (not the best) jokes magicians do "hold out your hand, no the clean one". Then it would fit in perfectly.

Seriously though, don't mock someone kind enough to help you.

oh come on mate, Its hardly non pc to use these standard lines in order to remember a spectators name. And that is basicaly why these lines were developed. The trick is, dont over use them. And do try to avoid the extra cheesy ones. Neil, i wouldnt use, because i remember that name as itrs the name of one of my best friends. If i had an Iain up, I would remember, because its my middle name.. If i have an asian up with an unusual name.. as i have had many times, I will play word ascociation, and if their name sounded like teh word Sausages for example, i would play on me mishearing it.. main reason being they tend to repeat their name clearer, and i get it. I might continue to call them sausages too... just for cheap laughs and my own amusement. But i would make sure that if it annoyed them.. i stop.

and please, please never underestimate the clean hand gag. Ask Voodoo Mick when you next see him.
Its a game for me to get that line in, in some unusual places... even in the seance room.

daleshrimpton wrote:oh come on mate, Its hardly non pc to use these standard lines in order to remember a spectators name.

I didn't mention political correctness. I said that it wasn't funny, was disrespectful to your spec and was very very old fashioned way to get a cheap laugh at someone else's expense.

If it works for you, great. I just prefer not to take the * out of my volunteers.

I don't do stage so there are no volunteers.
It is only with close-up and mostly in pubs where I would use these lines.
I judge every situation carefully and only use comedy material that is appropriate to that situation.

molesworth wrote:Do you not think people will have heard all those jokes (and I use the word loosely) since the playground and be sick of them?

I find that lots of stuff that we used to laugh at as kids becomes new and funny to the next generation. It goes in cycles.

There's one gag I've heard unexpectedly often from magicians.

The first time I heard it, it was used in the context of someone saying it's an overused line. Then I heard it used in the acts of two magicians in Vegas. It's usually used by male magicians with female spectators, and after asking their name and getting a response they say "Really? That was my name when I was a girl!"

Somehow I think used in the opposite context (female magician, male spectator) carries different connotations. But if you're looking for well worn name jokes I think that may be a classic.

-Stacy

The4thCircle wrote:"Really? That was my name when I was a girl!"

A close runner up to that is when the magish asks how old a child is and responds, 'Nine? Funny that, when I was your age I was nine as well'.... OK, I didn't say it was good but it has worked very well for me!

I really wish there was a book with all of these bits of business available (even the corny oldies) - we tend to dismiss them, because we've heard them so often, sometimes forgetting that our punters haven't

One of my faves, when having a card selected is: "Do you want that one, or are you going to change your mind?" If they say 'keep', just follow-up with, "Oh, so you're happy with the mind you've got?!"

I have a soft spot for say stop when you get the urge.

daleshrimpton wrote:I have a soft spot for say stop when you get the urge.

But if you had the urge why would you say stop??

....it just gets worse

Discombobulator wrote:I don't do stage so there are no volunteers.
It is only with close-up and mostly in pubs where I would use these lines.

I view anyone that helps out with a trick as part of the act. I view doing close up as an act. I view a close up performance on the same level as a stage performance. I am glad it works for you though

Discombobulator wrote:

molesworth wrote:Do you not think people will have heard all those jokes (and I use the word loosely) since the playground and be sick of them?

I find that lots of stuff that we used to laugh at as kids becomes new and funny to the next generation. It goes in cycles.

I promise you, as someone that used to date a girl called Friday, that if it is YOUR NAME, you do not ever find someone making the same jokes you have had for 30 years funny. It's not cyclical. It's just not funny. It's lazy comedy based on insulting your spec.

I am sure people in the audience would be amused, but at the expense of the person kind enough to help you out.

However, if it works for you, great. Lots of comedians make a living insulting their audiences in one way or another. I just prefer to treat them with respect and thanks for being an unpaid part of my act.

If you can pull that off, great. It's not an avenue I wish to explore.

magicrob wrote:I really wish there was a book with all of these bits of business available (even the corny oldies) - we tend to dismiss them, because we've heard them so often, sometimes forgetting that our punters haven't

One of my faves, when having a card selected is: "Do you want that one, or are you going to change your mind?" If they say 'keep', just follow-up with, "Oh, so you're happy with the mind you've got?!"

Make your mind a blank...that was quick!

There was a good thread on another forum with all these as lines to avoid. I will PM you the link if it is material you actually want to use!

molesworth wrote:

magicrob wrote:I really wish there was a book with all of these bits of business available (even the corny oldies) - we tend to dismiss them, because we've heard them so often, sometimes forgetting that our punters haven't

One of my faves, when having a card selected is: "Do you want that one, or are you going to change your mind?" If they say 'keep', just follow-up with, "Oh, so you're happy with the mind you've got?!"

Make your mind a blank...that was quick!

There was a good thread on another forum with all these as lines to avoid. I will PM you the link if it is material you actually want to use!

Go for it, Moley; I love vintage Cheese

magicrob wrote:Go for it, Moley; I love vintage Cheese

and me too please Mr. Molesworth !

I see this sort of material as a springboard to help create new comedy moments.

In a sense it is like watching a magic DVD. It is never a good idea to just lift someone elses routine word for word but by adapting it to your own style or adding twists you can create something new and fresh out of old ideas.

..and sometimes the old material is so old we forget that there are some people have never heard it before.

If you are not a comedy magic performer, I personally would suggest you do any joke you like, as long as the person is not offended. Stay away from offending jokes.

If you are a comedy magic performer, it is a natural part of your personality on stage to keep the mocking up, and even if you did insult someone, everyone knows you did because this is how you act on stage. Its more acceptable that way.

Its about how you actually say it.