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This amused me, maybe it'll amuse some of you. I participated in a magic contest recently (not last place, go me) and after the performances we were sat aside chatting to each other about our routines (the way it was arranged no participant saw Amy other participant perform.) and I mentioned my usage of a spanner as a wand for a bit of my act, along with how I introduced it and a few laughs I get from it.

And one of the guys said "That's funny, where did you get it?"
I replied "It's just a spanner, it's from B&Q."
And he said "No, the line"

Now I just watched a video called "Lines Hack Magicians Use" and it's sort of got me thinking that actually, making up ones own routine might be a much rarer activity than I had realised.

I originally got into magic as a creative outlet so it sort of confuses me but I just wondered how common it was for people to just reuse bits of the patter and theming from other peoples acts?

- Stacy

As a child I used patter from books on effects and books about patter.
Looking back I shrink from what I used to say.
Now it's always 100% original. If I am sh*t, it's my own fault and not some guy from 1964.
T.

I ought to add, I'm not necessarily saying that creating brand new routines is the best way to do things. It's how I roll, but I don't want people to think I'm calling out or shaming people who'd rather use established lines and themes.

Who am I to claim something I came up with messing around with my props in the kitchen is better than a line used through the generations, which has stood the test of time?

That's kind of why I was asking, I don't just want people agreeing. If you use a lot of established material, how do you pick what to use and make it your own?

-Stacy

"Don't clap on your own; they'll throw you a fish" - stolen from Julian Clary!

"This trick uses the four kings. That's right, folks, it's another four king card trick."

But I think the lines have to be congruent with your performance persona. As long as they're not pinched, it shouldn't be a problem whether they are "classics" or original. Aaaand the average person sees something like 0.6 live magicians in their lifetime, so originality serves the performer more than it serves their audience.

Mind you, if an annoying stranger with a deck of cards asks you to hold out your hand, you can always say, "Here's the clean one", and give him a twinkle.

Tomo wrote:Mind you, if an annoying stranger with a deck of cards asks you to hold out your hand, you can always say, "Here's the clean one", and give him a twinkle.

I usually say "I need a volunteer with at least one hand", which I made up myself to get past that 'the clean one' gag.

Does make me wonder though, even if I come up with it myself, has someone else also thought of it and uses it?

-Stacy

"A conjurer is an actor playing the part of a magician" - Robert Houdin. If that is the case you can get your script from anywhere, as long as it is entertaining. It does not have to be original. We are not all script writers!

The4thCircle wrote:

Tomo wrote:Mind you, if an annoying stranger with a deck of cards asks you to hold out your hand, you can always say, "Here's the clean one", and give him a twinkle.

I usually say "I need a volunteer with at least one hand", which I made up myself to get past that 'the clean one' gag.

Does make me wonder though, even if I come up with it myself, has someone else also thought of it and uses it?

-Stacy

I just have to say I was once showing a bunch of loggers some effects, not one of them had a full set of fingers. So you do have to be careful what you say.

As to the original question? Try and stay true to yourself, don't go for lines you don't feel comfortable saying. The rest is trial and error.

the other night i forced a selection on one of my mates, then advised that i had memorised the whole order of the deck, and by riffling the corner i would be able to see which one is missing.

after the reveal i said that the toughest memory feat ive ever done is to remember a song that includes ANY first name in its lyrics. I asked them to think of one, they replied, and then i happily sung 'Happy birthday to you.... ' etc

an old line / gag, but does get a bit of a chuckle

Saw Paul Daniels set that up, but he got through three people and came up with genuine different songs for each of them. He never got to or needed the punchline, it became a genuine part trick!

Disagree with Acolophon. Firstly, you've only part quoted Houdin and taken it completely out of context.
Secondly, we are magicians, but also producers, directors, script writers, and some of us are lighting and sound engineers too. When you're building a one person show, even close up you have to think about everything.

I would rather write my own material than just steal a hack line. It doesn't fit with your persona, and therefore it seems odd to the audience.
By the way, magicians like David Copperfield hire professional script writers, and I don't argue with success like that.

Lastly, Stacy you're right to write your own material and to be creative. The world needs more creators and less consumers.
I've seen that video and my favourite bit is when he does the fire wallet!
Interesting topic.

The thrill and ejoyment of magic for me comes from the creating of my character, routines and scripts. I can honestly say with out a shadow of a lie that excepting for the occasional Jules Verne or H.G. Wells quote, my script is 100% my own creation.

Why do people insist on trying to be someone else when people are at their best when they are truely themselves.

The4thCircle wrote:Now I just watched a video called "Lines Hack Magicians Use" and it's sort of got me thinking that actually, making up ones own routine might be a much rarer activity than I had realised.

I went and looked up the video on YouTube. It's very funny! Some of it is indeed overused jokes, and other bits are common ways of phrasing things that seem over-familiar. It's hard to find a new way to ask someone to pick a card, mind you. I wouldn't (and if I understand them correctly, the guys in the video neither) say anyone had to avoid all of them, but as a scorecard for how much you blur into others it's a fascinating exercise.