Old School Magic vs Visual/Flashy Magic

[Harsh007]

Hi everyone. I was a fan of flashy/visual card magic few months ago. Then I came across David Williamson's 'Ridiculous' DVD set where I saw the confessions part of last DVD. What Dave says really makes sense to me. His thoughts summed up in one sentence : 'More flashy stuff you would do, less mysterious your magic will be'. This is where I realized the importance of presentation. On the other hand, I also dont like those 'deal down uncle charlie' type of tricks. I want to find a way to combine these both.
What are your thoughts on this? Which one is better? Is there a way to combine the both without compromising much on presentation?

 

[AmberGraci]

Neither one is certainly better than the other, it all comes down to your own style of character. There's also definitely room for both in a routine. Check out Shin Lim. He performs a very flashy and visual type of magic, but his persona and pantomiming sell the mysterious aura of his magic.

In Card College Volume 2, Roberto Giobbi talks about the two types of effects: suspense and surprise. In an ideal routine, you'd like to have both. You want to lead the audience into anticipating a certain outcome, this builds that suspense and mystery, then at the climax you perform something visually shocking or unexpected. A great example of this is the Ambitious Card Routine, typically the first few phases will be the same effect more or less. Then it gradually gets more extreme and impossible, and when you're ready for the final phase, the audience should be on the edge of their seats thinking how it could become more impossible. Then with any good routine, there'll be an absolutely extreme "kicker" (pun intended) ending. In the routine I perform, I kick the deck and the signed selection ends up in my shoe.

 

[obrienmagic]

Depends on the end effect you want to accomplish. Take this basic effect in magic, the "Ambitious Card."

If I lose the card into the deck, shuffle the deck and after performing a few flashy cuts, the card is now on top. It is impressive. The magician was able to find the spectator's card and demonstrate some level of skill.

If I take that same card, and slowly lose it into the deck. Then snap my fingers and suddenly it is on top. It is magic. The magician didn't do anything and the card suddenly is now on top. This actually makes the magician appear to have less skill which raises the level of wonder.

Here are two of my effects that incorporate both of these ideas.

Lets talk about the first 3 phases of my routine "Ambitious Ink."

Phase 1: I do some flashy cuts to demonstrate that I could be using skill to find the card, but I immediately squash that idea by making a joke saying "but I am not going to do that. I will go VERY SLOW"

Phase 2: I have the card signed and squash the idea that I have a bunch of the same card in the deck. I then slowly push the card in and very slowly show it is not on top yet. Then when I reveal the card it makes it even more impossible.

Phase 3: I tell the spectator that they can do it too and give them the cards. Now the magic happens in their hands, squashing the idea that I am using sleight of hand. How could I if I wasn't holding the cards?

You see how each phase builds on itself and each card reveal becomes more and more impossible? This is a demonstration of a more classical feel and making it about the magic and not necessarily the skill.

Now let us look at my routine "Tu Tu Transpo."

This effect actually has the opposite feeling. I present it as using "skill" to find the card. Howver you will notice, it still maintains a magical aspect in the final reveal.

Phase 1: The first card is found by cutting to it (demonstration of skill.)

Phase 2: Second card cannot be found the same way (magician messed up.) To make things better the card will shoot out of the deck (again, showing off more skills.) Ultimately the magician fails again and the spectator's expectations are lowered even more.

Phase 3: The magician realizes he cannot really find the cards using skill, so he finds them in a more magical way, causing the two cards to transpose.

You see how this routine was a demonstration of skill, however there is still a magical element? And the same for "Ambitious ink." That routine is very magical, however you still have a little bit of room to be flashy and in fact add to the magic in doing so (by showing you can use skill, however you will not in this case and infact do the opposite. You will do nothing...)

These ideas can both be used in conjunction to create some fun effects that the audience will enjoy. It just depends on how you want them to feel at the end.

 

[mclintock]

Depends on the end effect you want to accomplish. Take this basic effect in magic, the "Ambitious Card."

If I lose the card into the deck, shuffle the deck and after performing a few flashy cuts, the card is now on top. It is impressive. The magician was able to find the spectator's card and demonstrate some level of skill.

If I take that same card, and slowly lose it into the deck. Then snap my fingers and suddenly it is on top. It is magic. The magician didn't do anything and the card suddenly is now on top. This actually makes the magician appear to have less skill which raises the level of wonder.

Here are two of my effects that incorporate both of these ideas.

Lets talk about the first 3 phases of my routine "Ambitious Ink."

Phase 1: I do some flashy cuts to demonstrate that I could be using skill to find the card, but I immediately squash that idea by making a joke saying "but I am not going to do that. I will go VERY SLOW"

Phase 2: I have the card signed and squash the idea that I have a bunch of the same card in the deck. I then slowly push the card in and very slowly show it is not on top yet. Then when I reveal the card it makes it even more impossible.

Phase 3: I tell the spectator that they can do it too and give them the cards. Now the magic happens in their hands, squashing the idea that I am using sleight of hand. How could I if I wasn't holding the cards?

You see how each phase builds on itself and each card reveal becomes more and more impossible? This is a demonstration of a more classical feel and making it about the magic and not necessarily the skill.

Now let us look at my routine "Tu Tu Transpo."

This effect actually has the opposite feeling. I present it as using "skill" to find the card. Howver you will notice, it still maintains a magical aspect in the final reveal.

Phase 1: The first card is found by cutting to it (demonstration of skill.)

Phase 2: Second card cannot be found the same way (magician messed up.) To make things better the card will shoot out of the deck (again, showing off more skills.) Ultimately the magician fails again and the spectator's expectations are lowered even more.

Phase 3: The magician realizes he cannot really find the cards using skill, so he finds them in a more magical way, causing the two cards to transpose.

You see how this routine was a demonstration of skill, however there is still a magical element? And the same for "Ambitious ink." That routine is very magical, however you still have a little bit of room to be flashy and in fact add to the magic in doing so (by showing you can use skill, however you will not in this case and infact do the opposite. You will do nothing...)

These ideas can both be used in conjunction to create some fun effects that the audience will enjoy. It just depends on how you want them to feel at the end.

Just a heads up. One of the links in the description of the first video is broken.

 

[Mr.Book]

If I were you, I would sit down and go through your list on paper. Decide which are flashy and which are not. Use one to lead into the other, following the "laws" of drama. This approach may well lead you to wonderful routines. Just my opinion, but it works for me.


Book

 

[obrienmagic]

Just a heads up. One of the links in the description of the first video is broken.

Interresting. it works on my end... ill see if I can fix it