Try This: The Silent Treatment

[Ben Long]

I tried this today on some people. I did PH's Interlaced Vanish without talking at all. I went really slowly and used body language and facial expressions to drive the effect. That stuff really works.

One guy thought it was real magic. He stuck around afterwards to talk to me. Turns out he was an actor. He told me that he thought my performance was very beautiful and he saw no way that I could have done it.

It made me feel really good to know that people are paying attention to my performances and taking them seriously. Try it with at least one effect. Just go very slowly, showing what you are doing every step of the way. Include all the little, subtle things. It will really add to the overall effect. Don't talk.

If you're worried about hecklers, don't. If you do this just right, people won't interrupt you. It's kind of like at a tennis match, where nobody says anything. They're just watching the beauty and skill displayed.

I'd recommend trying this with PH's Illusion, Interlaced Vansih, any sandwich effect, Dream of Aces, Hoffzy Osbourne, The Queens, etc. Something with a few stages.

See how it works for you.

Let me know.

 

[Sean.Cinco]

Teller is the best example of doing magic without saying a word. From what I've heard, he doesn't talk while he does magic because for him it was the best way to deal with hecklers when he was performing in his college days.

 

[Ben Long]

Teller is the best example of doing magic without saying a word. From what I've heard, he doesn't talk while he does magic because for him it was the best way to deal with hecklers when he was performing in his college days.

No kidding?

That's pretty cool. I always figured it was because he was a mellow-dramatic teenager and it carried over into his magic. Huh. I learned several new things today.

It definitely makes sense.

It works...

 

[remy]

I actually did Hoffzy Osbourne like that today, oddly enough. It's gotten the best reaction I've ever seen.

Regards
remy

 

[thecharmingrascal]

I feel silence works well with many effects. Perhaps it eliminates a spectators belief that there is trickery to what your saying, trying to mislead them.

 

[Chicken]

Wonder's cups and balls to music was the BEST performance I have ever seen in my life. No words... just music and magic.
He greatly accents the little details, adds comical moments with all the little touches... but he uses body language to convey everything. It was beautiful.

-Chicken

 

[joshua barrett]

check out jon allens "the silent treatment" for a FANTASTIC silent routine. a favoritate for stand up openers

 

[clllllust]

I've never really done a routine without talking.....I'll have to try it out, I think communication is key to work with your audience but, silence does have the eerie "I'm a crazy good magician" factor to it.

-RA69

 

[dasuprememep]

I think that a lot of tricks on the Trilogy were designed for Silence. I'll try out submarine like that.

 

[Close-Up Expert]

check out jon allens "the silent treatment" for a FANTASTIC silent routine. a favoritate for stand up openers

Hey Josh...don't you perform that??

How's it been man?? Give me a call sometime...don't be a stranger! hahaha....