Feedback

[James Wise Magic]

Hey, I recently redid my video: The Invisible Palm. And I would like some feedback. What do you think of it? Was it good? What could I do better? What did you like, etc.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqM3ObK3zdQ

 

[JJM10]

Good job. The slight's were spot on and the performance flowed well. One thing to work on is when you revail the 'invisable' card on the table it could be a little smoother, a more subtle movement is better. It looks like you're wokiing on a wood table. On a cloth surface this move would look better.

Patter always makes a trick more enjoyable. It seemed a little boring to watch with just the music.

 

[James Wise Magic]

Good job. The slight's were spot on and the performance flowed well. One thing to work on is when you revail the 'invisable' card on the table it could be a little smoother, a more subtle movement is better. It looks like you're wokiing on a wood table. On a cloth surface this move would look better.

Patter always makes a trick more enjoyable. It seemed a little boring to watch with just the music.

haha I was working on a cloth surface.

My bed infact.



ps. I know this is gonna sounds so stupid, and I feel embarrassed asking, but what is patter?

 

[RDChopper]

haha I was working on a cloth surface.

My bed infact.



ps. I know this is gonna sounds so stupid, and I feel embarrassed asking, but what is patter?

Patter? I dont want to give you any bad advice on this, so I suggest that you send MORGICIAN a pm about this, it should help your magic a lot.

 

[Morgan B]

Patter is a term used for "presentation", but I am sure once I post this...there will be posts above mine stating this.

The only things I could recommend, and by the way, you did it well, but I would recommend not "sliding" your hand to the side, as that is a tell on the method. Consider doing the movement as your hand comes down on the right edge. This way, it will look as if you are only placing your hand to the side, and not sliding your hand. So, think about hitting the righrt side of your hand on the right side of the card while you are coming down and instantly move it over...rather than hand down...then over to the right.

Outside of that, it was pretty much perfect. However, I also don't think it is logical, natural or neccesary to spread at the end, but this is preference, not a do or do not.

Good work James.

 

[Morgan B]

WOW - thanks RDChopper, a very kind statement from a very kind and talented magician.

Please do PM me, if you want to learn more about presentation - I would love to share.

PS - when I wrote the above, I had NO idea that the post above mine would recommend me...haha, you never know what people are writing while you are writing.

 

[cedwards90]

Great performance, the only comment I have is that when you make the invisible cards appear on the table, try for less hand movement, it is much more magical this way.

 

[RDChopper]

WOW - thanks RDChopper, a very kind statement from a very kind and talented magician.

Please do PM me, if you want to learn more about presentation - I would love to share.

PS - when I wrote the above, I had NO idea that the post above mine would recommend me...haha, you never know what people are writing while you are writing.

jaja weird uh? Im also known by my mentalism tricks....jaja

 

[Morgan B]

To fill you in a bit more - your presentation or "patter" should give a reason for someone to see what you do as more than "a trick", it is the narration to the plot. Many young magicians start off by giving instruction patter...like, I put the cards here, these are all read - but a more intelligent, artistic and creative approach to your magic is to give reason for them to watch. Your words add more than just the obvious direction, they allow you to add your personality, and give the effect life. This is a chance for you to think about the magic, and what it represents - in your effect, are you teaching them how to cheat...using the cards to show a mock example of sleight of hand?

You can really think outside the box, but make it meanful and real. It must be grounded in reality...so don't say the aces are acrobats...or that you have a fake hand - this is a far stretch. However, saying something that is true..."some people say I hide cards so well in my hand, you can't see them...no matter how close you look". I am not saying this is what to say, but it is a more intelligent and honest approach.

So - think about what the effect is, and how you want to connect that with who you are. There is much to learn about presentation - I STRONGLY recommend the book Strong Magic by Darwin Ortiz - and I DESIGNEDLY recommend Designing Miracles by Ortiz as well...I can never say that enough.

Anyhow, feel free to PM me if you have questions, as an entire thread could be done on the subject of presentations...oh wait,. it has...haha thanks Chopper!

 

[James Wise Magic]

Thanks for all the quick feedback!!! I greatly appreciate it!!


And thanks for explaining what patter is for me!

 

[James Wise Magic]

To fill you in a bit more - your presentation or "patter" should give a reason for someone to see what you do as more than "a trick", it is the narration to the plot. Many young magicians start off by giving instruction patter...like, I put the cards here, these are all read - but a more intelligent, artistic and creative approach to your magic is to give reason for them to watch. Your words add more than just the obvious direction, they allow you to add your personality, and give the effect life. This is a chance for you to think about the magic, and what it represents - in your effect, are you teaching them how to cheat...using the cards to show a mock example of sleight of hand?

You can really think outside the box, but make it meanful and real. It must be grounded in reality...so don't say the aces are acrobats...or that you have a fake hand - this is a far stretch. However, saying something that is true..."some people say I hide cards so well in my hand, you can't see them...no matter how close you look". I am not saying this is what to say, but it is a more intelligent and honest approach.

So - think about what the effect is, and how you want to connect that with who you are. There is much to learn about presentation - I STRONGLY recommend the book Strong Magic by Darwin Ortiz - and I DESIGNEDLY recommend Designing Miracles by Ortiz as well...I can never say that enough.

Anyhow, feel free to PM me if you have questions, as an entire thread could be done on the subject of presentations...oh wait,. it has...haha thanks Chopper!

Thanks man! That reallly helps me!

 

[RDChopper]

BTW I had the opportunity of reading some of derren brown's work, and I must say that is a very nice piece of information that you can add to your perfomance work...

He even quoted darwin ortiz on this, and I agree with him in every word...

"while every trick tells a story, it's important to realise that the prime goal of magic is
not to tell a story but to create a sensation...Some of the magicians and magical writers most concerned with presentation make the mistake of thinking that the point of a magic effect is to support a dramatic premise, much like theatrical effects or film special effects do...

if, howewer, our fundamental premise is correct that the unique strenght of magic is that it gives the audience the experience of confronting the impossible, it follows that the point of a dramatic presentation is to enhance the magic. The magic is not there to validate a dramatic premise, the dramatic premise is used to add impact to the magic, to make the experience of the impossible that much more powerful."

Darwin Ortiz "strong Magic"

Read that well because it took me 5 minutes to find it in the book and writing it here