Creating Real Magic

[mattjones]

Doing magic for people is one thing. Captivating your audience and creating a moment where all is forgotten but what is happening right then and there is a completely different thing.

I've been doing magic since July of '06 and I'm ready to take it to the next level. What can I do to take my performances and move from average to riveting? What do you do/say that really captures your spectator's attention and keeps them wanting more? What is truely entertaining? To be able to take an average card trick and make it an experience someone will carry with them for years to come is something I'm very interested in.

Any opinions/suggestions would be great.

Thanks,

-Matt

 

[The Dark Angel]

Do every single show naked. That will capture your spectators attention, leave them wanting more, and it certainly is interesting.

 

[MitchellStafiej]

Doing magic for people is one thing. Captivating your audience and creating a moment where all is forgotten but what is happening right then and there is a completely different thing.

I've been doing magic since July of '06 and I'm ready to take it to the next level. What can I do to take my performances and move from average to riveting? What do you do/say that really captures your spectator's attention and keeps them wanting more? What is truely entertaining? To be able to take an average card trick and make it an experience someone will carry with them for years to come is something I'm very interested in.

Any opinions/suggestions would be great.

Thanks,

-Matt

Once a magician comes to this question, they are ready to move away from being a traditional performer. What you truly have to do is look within. I know that sounds extremely corny, but sit down on your couch or lie down on your bed and just think. Think about what you want to achieve out of your magic. Then change your performance to adapt to what you really want out of your magic. Don't change yourself, but change your performance and presentation style.

This really isn't something you can learn out of a book or something that we can help with immediately. This really has to come from YOU.

Mitchell

 

[DavidMisner]

Do every single show naked. That will capture your spectators attention, leave them wanting more, and it certainly is interesting.

But on a more serious note, improving your presentations will help a lot. Experiment with different ways to present the same effect. It could change the way the spectator sees it. Also, I've found that people like slower effects, as they look more magical. Things such as Distortion, Factory Sealed, and some slow color changes look much more magical to the spectator than a quick effect that happens before the spectator can react. Just a few things for you to think about.

//David.Misner::

 

[Krash]

Once a magician comes to this question, they are ready to move away from being a traditional performer. What you truly have to do is look within. I know that sounds extremely corny, but sit down on your couch or lie down on your bed and just think. Think about what you want to achieve out of your magic. Then change your performance to adapt to what you really want out of your magic. Don't change yourself, but change your performance and presentation style.

This really isn't something you can learn out of a book or something that we can help with immediately. This really has to come from YOU.

Mitchell

Those sound like truly wise words. I could take a page out of your book, that's for sure.

Shane K.

 

[lachomagician]

I've been doing magic since July of '06 and I'm ready to take it to the next level. What can I do to take my performances and move from average to riveting? What do you do/say that really captures your spectator's attention and keeps them wanting more? What is truely entertaining? To be able to take an average card trick and make it an experience someone will carry with them for years to come is something I'm very interested in.

Well, I do like some of the answers above. I have to say that there are several small things that you can do. Always, always respect your audience, introduce yourself, as them how they are doing, how their day is going, if they are enjoying themselves (at an event). When you perform, try to smile, project your voice so you can have engaging conversation and so everyone can hear you without you having to yell. Make sure your audience participates in the trick, even it if is kind of a solo trick like "The Queens", ask them questions, engage them in conversation. That is the way I view magic, as a conversation you have with your audience, with the effect being only a medium, a "bonus" sort of speak, to your presentation. Again, as mentioned, what you have to do is make the audience like YOU. Put yourself in every trick you do. If you are a serious guy, then tell a story, if you are a funny guy, make quick cracks. If you are mysterious guy, shape what you say and how you say it to add some mystery to your tricks. That is why tricks are just tricks, just a secret and some moves, where as true magic comes from the relationship you form with your audience through your performance. Don't forget, we are not magicians without an audience willing to watch us (that means hecklers don't count).

Hope this helps.

Juan

 

[sourboarder]

Well, I do like some of the answers above. I have to say that there are several small things that you can do. Always, always respect your audience, introduce yourself, as them how they are doing, how their day is going, if they are enjoying themselves (at an event). When you perform, try to smile, project your voice so you can have engaging conversation and so everyone can hear you without you having to yell. Make sure your audience participates in the trick, even it if is kind of a solo trick like "The Queens", ask them questions, engage them in conversation. That is the way I view magic, as a conversation you have with your audience, with the effect being only a medium, a "bonus" sort of speak, to your presentation. Again, as mentioned, what you have to do is make the audience like YOU. Put yourself in every trick you do. If you are a serious guy, then tell a story, if you are a funny guy, make quick cracks. If you are mysterious guy, shape what you say and how you say it to add some mystery to your tricks. That is why tricks are just tricks, just a secret and some moves, where as true magic comes from the relationship you form with your audience through your performance. Don't forget, we are not magicians without an audience willing to watch us (that means hecklers don't count).

Hope this helps.

Juan

amazingly well put you sir inspired me to do a whole new twist on the queens. Well see if it's possible in my hands. again all well put Juan

 

[harapanong]

I once thought of the same question and tried to move myself "to the next level". I started getting VERY serious - started playing around with many ideas and presentation plots. I wanted my audience to THINK when they watch magic and not just be amazed or entertained. I wanted to be a classy, professional performer.

I wanted to create the impossible. I wanted to create miracles in front of them, let them "forget all their problems for even just one little moment". I believed that I was looking into myself for answers. I was trying to make my magic "personalised" and "truly representing myself".

You know what? Nothing worked. Everyone began hating my magic. As in, seriously. My magic became worse instead of improving.

Now, I know what my problem was. I wasn't looking into myself. I was looking into OTHER people. You know, now my attitude towards magic is extremely lax and casual. I just have fun - forget about "riveting performances" or "making their minds suspend in disbelief". I just do my cards tricks, they are happy, I am happy. Everyone joins in the fun. Simple as that.

The point I am making is: I believe that not everyone is suited for the "make a card trick become an experience they will carry for the rest of their lives" kind of mentality. In my case, it actually backfired on me.

- harapan. magic!

 

[-Ty]

Learn from everyone and no-one.

Be yourself, but take what you can from every performer.

Be the best you can be, yet always hold the back the glimmer of something more.

Do your own thing.

Ty

 

[mattjones]

Once a magician comes to this question, they are ready to move away from being a traditional performer. What you truly have to do is look within. I know that sounds extremely corny, but sit down on your couch or lie down on your bed and just think. Think about what you want to achieve out of your magic. Then change your performance to adapt to what you really want out of your magic. Don't change yourself, but change your performance and presentation style.

This really isn't something you can learn out of a book or something that we can help with immediately. This really has to come from YOU.

Mitchell

Wow. I think you hit the nail on the head, Mitchell... I went to bed after posting this thread and didn't really plan on anything like this happening: So I'm lying in bed and I'm thinking of myself at a party or something giving a performance and imagining how it would be if I were "at the next level." Just as I'm about to fall asleep, it hits me. I have this cool, unique way to go up to someone or a group of people, introduce myself, and go straight into the Invisible Deck. (a trick that's been in my closet, gathering dust for a while) Before I would just say some bland line like, "Think of a card..." and it would reverse itself magically. Now I think I've got that "moment" that I've been looking for ways to create. A way to connect to spectators.

 

[lachomagician]

Wow. I think you hit the nail on the head, Mitchell... I went to bed after posting this thread and didn't really plan on anything like this happening: So I'm lying in bed and I'm thinking of myself at a party or something giving a performance and imagining how it would be if I were "at the next level." Just as I'm about to fall asleep, it hits me. I have this cool, unique way to go up to someone or a group of people, introduce myself, and go straight into the Invisible Deck. (a trick that's been in my closet, gathering dust for a while) Before I would just say some bland line like, "Think of a card..." and it would reverse itself magically. Now I think I've got that "moment" that I've been looking for ways to create. A way to connect to spectators.

That's the right way to think dude.

 

[KeenanG]

Doing magic for people is one thing. Captivating your audience and creating a moment where all is forgotten but what is happening right then and there is a completely different thing.

I've been doing magic since July of '06 and I'm ready to take it to the next level. What can I do to take my performances and move from average to riveting? What do you do/say that really captures your spectator's attention and keeps them wanting more? What is truely entertaining? To be able to take an average card trick and make it an experience someone will carry with them for years to come is something I'm very interested in.

Any opinions/suggestions would be great.

Thanks,

-Matt

I didn't read anyone elses reply, so I'm sorry if I say something that has already been said.


Think.

Think about what you want to do with your magic. You apparently want to take it to the next level, which is GREAT. Very happy to hear that you are thinking in this direction. But, think about the effects you do, the way you perform, the way you talk, etc. Think about everything that you do in a before, during and after a performance. What keeps you from creating real magic for the spectators? What is holding you back? Think about everything that you think is keeping you from creating real magic, and change that. Experience is most likely one of them. You said you have been doing magic just for a year now? Well, it will take 10x + that to reach this point you seek. If you want to keep going, read on.

What can I do to take my performances and move from average to riveting?

Well, what is it that is keeping your magic average? Is it the effects? Your presentation? Your patter, or lack of patter? There are so many little topics that you have to think about and change over a very long period of time to get to the destination that you want to be at. Keep on performing, take notes on what you think you did, right and wrong. Change the wrong, and keep the right. Change your effects, change your routines. Again, find out what is working and what is not working. Keep a notebook with you at alltimes and write everyone of your performances down. I don't care if it is one effect, if you screw up, or if you don't get a reaction. WRITE IT DOWN. See your mistakes, change them, fix them, and see what works in the next performance. This will change your magic drastically, as it did to mine.

What do you do/say that really captures your spectator's attention and keeps them wanting more?

I can't really answer this question, because it really depends on the person and the effect. I cannot just give you what I say or do, because that is me. We are talking about you. If you want to give a description of an effect and the way you perform, I will gladly help you through PM.

What is truely entertaining?

Hmm... What is entertaining. Well, magic is entertaining. Most will say that your job as a magician is to entertain... but that depends on the person. If you want to entertain, great. If you want to do more, great. I can't really answer this question right now... I will think more of it and try to get you an answer.

To be able to take an average card trick and make it an experience someone will carry with them for years to come is something I'm very interested in.

I think that if you can take an average card trick, and make someone experience and feel something with that trick, you have reached your level of this true magical feeling we all seek. The effect plays a huge role on your magic. Design of effect is amazing in itself. You have to have a fairly magical effect to make someone have that experience and feel something. When you say average card trick, the first thing that comes to my mind is that card effect with the rows that everyone seems to know, except for myself. If you can take that effect and make someone have an experience that they will always remember, than you are truely magical.

It will take, most likely, years to reach this point that you want to seek. It is something I work for and it is something that will take WORK. Effort is one thing that most people don't want to put into magic. Well, the hard truth is is that it takes work... effort... time... Lots of it.

Take your time, and make the time to put the effort into reaching your goal. It will not come easily.


Pick up the following books as well:

Designing Miracles

Strong Magic

Maximum Entertainment

Absolute Magic

Read them, study them, read them some more. You won't regret it.


Keenan

 

[mattjones]

Thanks Keenan. You've got some good points in there... Now I think it's just a matter of getting a good presentation and about 3 tricks that I perform the best and getting out there and seeing what works and what doesn't. Expeirience it the best teacher.

Thanks to everyone so far for their insightful posts.

 

[PatrickDonovan]

It will take, most likely, years to reach this point that you want to seek. It is something I work for and it is something that will take WORK. Effort is one thing that most people don't want to put into magic. Well, the hard truth is is that it takes work... effort... time... Lots of it.

This is absolutely right. If you want to get better, you have to work for it.

 

[KeenanG]

Thanks Keenan. You've got some good points in there... Now I think it's just a matter of getting a good presentation and about 3 tricks that I perform the best and getting out there and seeing what works and what doesn't. Expeirience it the best teacher.

Thanks to everyone so far for their insightful posts.

Just a matter of good presentation and about three tricks you perform the best?

What exactly do you mean by this? If you mean what I think you mean... Well, explain for me.



Keenan

 

[mattjones]

Just a matter of good presentation and about three tricks you perform the best?

What exactly do you mean by this? If you mean what I think you mean... Well, explain for me.



Keenan

I mean what Lee Asher means in the beginners video. The difference between an amature and a professional is that a professional does three great piece of magic and does them better than anyone else. An amature does a zillion.... but none of them well. I mean that I've purchased a lot of effects and I've tried all of them at least once, but I need to just pick three effects and get REALLY good with the handling and the presentation of them.

Sorry I was so vague.

 

[-Ty]

You might wanna find a few others after that three, if you wanna pad out a full set.

Not that the late Billy McComb did... but well, he was a legend.

Ty