Comedy in Magic

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Quote:
Technical proficiency has no causal link to enjoyability for an audience.

This is the best advice (er uh) statement made in this thread.

If comedy/magic or magic /comedy doesn't appeal or work for you then don't use it for now. I think it's kinda harsh for you to come down on those who do use comedy in their magic as a means to an end.

You should ask yourself "What kind of magic do I want to do that people want to see and be entertained ( or rather be entertained to see..)?" Then find YOUR means to an end.

Hope that made sense to you.
~poof~

Ke

 

[BrianationX]

'Why cant there be more oF these out there?

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Smuj3bHbkz8

"Takes too much time and practice
I rather pick up some jokes from Seinfeld"

This Is Magic
Pure...... MouthGarbageLess
It doesn't need any "help" to have an impact on the "audience"
Comedy takes Away from the Magic
Make no mistake about it

 

[MitchellStafiej]

I didn't read many of the replies but the first post is a completely pile of bull. To answer your question, YES, I would much rather watch someone perform a comedy sponge ball routine then watch someone with absolutely ZERO presentation skill perform his latest control behind a webcam.

You're basically asking whether we'd like a comedian or someone who just talks about nonsense.

I could go on forever but I feel like I'll just be repeating what other people must have said...

Mitch

 

[Steerpike]

Comedy takes Away from the Magic
Make no mistake about it

It takes away from magic if the magic in question is boring, dull, and pointless.

There's already a medium for people who want to watch people who are only interested in gratifying themselves. It's called pornography.

 

[visualartist]

'Why cant there be more oF these out there?

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Smuj3bHbkz8

"Takes too much time and practice
I rather pick up some jokes from Seinfeld"

This Is Magic
Pure...... MouthGarbageLess
It doesn't need any "help" to have an impact on the "audience"
Comedy takes Away from the Magic
Make no mistake about it

It doesnt even really look like magic.it just looks like eye candy and pure sleight of hand.A few of my laymen friends who saw one of these videos before just said "eh,hes just good with cards,thats not magic"
I was wondering where i had seen this before.(ive never shown them videos of these guys myselelf,theyre just interested in watching magic being perfrormed)
and about the comedy thing.
not all comedy magicians are wacky and over the top.just check out david stone.
and patter is one of the most important parts of magic.that doesnt mean you have to say something funny.but you have to tell them a story or why something is or about to happen.
nobody gives a rats ass about your sleight of hand.they dont.
Its like saying to someone about what kind of shading or brushstrokes you used to make a painting when all they wanna do is just see the art.

 

[FOO:L]

Brian,
Personally I'm a BIG fan of tudors work. his sleight of hand is incredible.
but somehow, I think that in making a performance too centered around sleight of hand, the magic is lost to the audience. Instead, it becomes something the spectator can do with enough practise.

But yes, by all means, practice sleight of hand techniques as much as you want, heck, routine the whole performance on silence and sleight of hand, but please, respect the way other magicians go about presenting their routines, be it comedy or whatever else.
Its highly unethical to go on about how your style is DEFINATELY better than theirs.
cheers.

 

[ThrallMind]

Brian,
Its highly unethical to go on about how your style is DEFINATELY better than theirs.
cheers.

It's not unethical, just ignorant. In art, there is no such thing as one style being better than another. It's all opinion.

-ThrallMind

 

[FOO:L]

It's not unethical, just ignorant. In art, there is no such thing as one style being better than another. It's all opinion.

-ThrallMind

yea i guess so, but still, youve to admit its pretty rude i.e unethical.

 

[ThrallMind]

yea i guess so, but still, youve to admit its pretty rude i.e unethical.

I do admit it. As magicians, we shouldn't be trying to exclude certain magicians from being able to perform, or calling their approach wrong. It would be like high school all over again, but with an entire art. That's not progression of the art, that would be regression. We don't want this. I can't understand why people have to try and say they are better than others, instead of being kind and open to accepting other peoples style. I. HATE. Elitism.

-ThrallMind

 

[BrianationX]

Unethical,What are you guys doing?
Are you not saying that Pure magic is crap without MouthGarbage
Is it too hard to master sleights that you need to use some form of cheap entertainment to cover your low skill.

No disrespect to the people that actually have skill

 

[ThrallMind]

Unethical,What are you guys doing?
Are you not saying that Pure magic is crap without MouthGarbage
Is it too hard to master sleights that you need to use some form of cheap entertainment to cover your low skill.

I do agree that pure magic is beautiful when done right. However, it is 100% MOUTHGARBAGE to say that just because someone uses comedic patter, it means they lack skill.

-ThrallMind

 

[FOO:L]

Unethical,What are you guys doing?
Are you not saying that Pure magic is crap without MouthGarbage

Never said that.
Try reading and understanding. Not spewing mouth garbage.
like i said
"practice sleight of hand techniques as much as you want, heck, routine the whole performance on silence and sleight of hand, but please, respect the way other magicians go about presenting their routines, be it comedy or whatever else. " dont go saying that its totally mouthgarbage and skill-less.

 

[Morgan B]

Wow BrianationX,

You have really struck a cord. Well, I have spent time with David Williamson, and he is more than funny - he has chops brother.

From Wikapedia:

In 1981, David won first place in the International Brotherhood of Magicians' sleight of hand competition.That year he also became the first ever recipient of the prestigious Gold Cups Award of Excellence in close-up magic. David was voted "Sleight of Hand Magician of the Year" two years in a row by his peers at Hollywood's renowned Magic Castle. He was also twice awarded the "Magic Castle Lecturer of the Year" and the "Magic Castle Parlor Magician of the Year". David was voted "Most Wanted Magician" at the 2003 FISM convention in Den Haag. David has been featured on ABC's, Champions of Magic. David has also co-starred in several top-rated prime-time network specials including CBS' Magicians' Favorite Magicians, NBC's Houdini: Unlocking His Mysteries, and NBC's World's Greatest Magic III.

If I can achieve all this...then call me a clown.

David is a perfect example of the difference between being entertaining while being amazing.

I have met very talented technicians, if they do magic to music - I can watch. However, these guys are broke - as nobody wants to pay to watch.

I think why people do comedy is because of the concept of magic to audieneces:

At it's basic concept - Magician fools - Audience tries not to be fooled.

Sure, comedy can be misused - just like a pass can be done at the wrong time...as if you aren't misdirecting, your technique...not matter how good...is still visible.

The point is bro - comedy is a bitter pill to swallow - nobody likes to be fooled....but everyone loves to be entertained and surprised.

Being method focused is like being film focused in a movie - sure it makes for an artistic movie - but one that nobody wants to watch or enjoy....now imagine if film was an art people usually didn't like to watch. This is magic.

I love guys like you Brian - because you think that entertainment and technique are mutually exclusive...when they are not. Your argument is really dated - most talent realize that it takes both an entertaining presentation (that may or may not include comedy) and a solid technique. Also, any magician of merit knows that one compliments the other.

You are as bad as the guy that uses all comedy, with no skill - sad really.

Good luck with the HandGarbage

 

[Steerpike]

Unethical,What are you guys doing?
Are you not saying that Pure magic is crap without MouthGarbage

You wouldn't know what pure magic was if it kicked you in the teeth and laughed at your pain.

And that statement has nothing to do with anything they were saying. Either you're an actor putting on a vrey good act, or you're a clueless fanboy. Which is it? If this is satire, it's getting old. Make your punchline now.

Is it too hard to master sleights that you need to use some form of cheap entertainment to cover your low skill.

Oh so now comedy is cheap? Funny how people who can't do something love to tell those who can how to do their jobs.

No disrespect to the people that actually have skill

Lip service. Nothing more.

 

[Sir FansAlot]

Who would you rather pick, a funny comedy magician who sucks or a master of sleight of hand with a great presentation that doesn't advertise as 'funny.' When someone is looking for a magician for hire they would choose the funny one. Doesn't matter skill, maybe that's what the OP is talking about? People don't know what the art is because there's so many funny hacks calling themselves magicians so people think that's what is magic. Just playing devils advocate. In truth the original post was funny to me. I think brian could be considered a funny magician by some audiences.

 

[Morgan B]

Actually - I would want neither Sir.

Here is the deal:

Funny guy that sucks at magic - is just a comedian...that sucks at magic - so just do comedy.

A guy that is super skilled at magic, but is not entertaining at all or adds no fun to it...is just boring and is offering TRICKS....PUZZLES, that isn't magic either.

AGAIN - MAGIC and ENTERTAINMENT are NOT mutually exclusive.

Sir FansAlot said:

I think brian could be considered a funny magician by some audiences.

also retarded...now that is COMEDY!

 

[Steerpike]

When someone is looking for a magician for hire they would choose the funny one. Doesn't matter skill, maybe that's what the OP is talking about?

Which mean it's up to the individual to create value in what he does and that he must consider his target audience.

I made that mistake earlier this year and lost a school show because the schoolboard turned out to be extremely religious and when they saw my logo, they were terrified that I was going to corrupt their children with demons or some such nonsense.

 

[Mr.MadMan]

This thread just makes my day! I laughed(sorry) my ass off when reading this

Brian do you have any respect for the art. What you are saying right now is that some of the great minds of magic ( the ones who made your sleights, you teenager) are idiots and should be exgruded from magic. Now thats disrespect...
I thought youd be putten straight by now but like i can see you are the kind whos word should stay on top and no other exists.
And did you know that presentation is 90% of the trick? If you dont know how to present it than its not cool to watch. I could stare at you the whole show as you throw cards etc. but if you cant act it out, do a presentation for it you would just throw cards etc and i would be bored to death and leave. I work twise as hard to get my sleights perfect because if the audience laughs i have to carrie on from that point,(its even harder if i laugh too ) and i always have a backup plan if something goes wrong, a funny sentence to take theyre mind off that i ever screwed up. Presenting magic on stage is difficult even if your just standing there doing nothing you should be enertaining. And making odd but funny gestures makes a card sining more entertaining. Yeah if you like being quiet every show then let it be, i just feel sorry if you were not asked to come again.

I hope you change your mind because this is not a sing of a properly woking human brain...

(sorry for the bad english but i wrote this laughing and hating, and english isnt my mother language...)

Mikk Pärg (pronounce that Brian i would love to see that i would laugh to the next century)

 

[Medifro]

Let me get this, the reason comedy magic is so popular, is because its the easiest?

Sorry, but what the heck are saying?

You may mean this: the reason comedy magic is so COMMON, is becauase its the easiest.

Even this, I'm not sure if I can agree, because honestly
A) Anything wrong with choosing an easy path?
B) Who the heck said GOOD comedy magic is easy? Have you tried it?
C) Comedy can be used super effectivly in magic, and this one big reason why its so POPULAR among laymen, they LOVE IT, proof? they do book comdey magicians.

Mind you, I'm not what you call comdey magician, I do use comdey as part of my personality but not that much for me to be called comedy magician. You have to know this: Some people like horror movies, and some like drama. Different tastes, different people like different kind of magicians. Some might love comdey much more than a mystic, and vice versa. Simply saying "horror movies are bad, drama are the correct way of doing movies" is pure ignorance and don't expect anyone to take your opinion seriously, because it simply shows no knowledge in what you'er saying.

Just read the comdey chapter in Card College.

The fact that you think doing difficult magic is better than comdey easy magic simply doesn't make any sense, anyone knows that the spectators since they don't know how tricks are done, can't tell if the method is difficult or not. Also, if you're using difficult methods for the sake of impressing an audience, then you simply got the wrong idea.

And by the way, for the record, I'm a guy who likes knuckle busting stuff, so I think I'm a bit knowledgble when it comes to this.

 

[williamlitzler]

Be Simple and Funny to Make Lots of Money!

Magic - entertainment = a puzzle.

A bad magician doing bad comedy does not equal a good Comedy Magician. I consider myself a comedy magician and I love showing off sleights with my fellow performers.

But to do the same sleight-of-hand for a lay audience would bore them to tears.

Which remindes me of a story Jim Sommers told years ago.

Sommers could not do a booked close-up gig. So he got his friend Ed Marlo to cover for him.

The next day the manager of the event called Jim and said, "Never send that guy again. He put my room to sleep!"

I'm not a big Paul Daniels Fan, but his Chop Cup Routine is one of the most perfect combinations of magic and comedy.

Comedy Magicians are Clowns? I don't think so.

That's where the money is my friend.

I really don't like The Amazing Johanathon's Act. But, hey, he's getting rich in Las Vegas and I'm still doing company picnics in Wisconsin!

Bottom line, if your working, your a success. If you're not working, you're just full of bull.