Unique Personality While Performing...

Aug 15, 2017
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413
There's a small catch here...

See, we all know that magicians should develop their own unique styles and never copy anyone. But my point is that, every performer may have their own unique style, like, every comic magician might have their own favourite punchline and jokes. But won't the general concept be very similar to other comic magicians? The only differences then would be in the kinds of jokes, maybe some performer says self-deprecating jokes, maybe other performer insults the audience with a lot of charm, so that the audience still loves him, and so on. But isn't it kind of impossible to be COMPLETELY different?

For example, if anyone starts performing on the streets now, even if they themselves never watched Blaine or Dynamo, won't their style be similar to at least one of them? Like, if they are serious and talk less, it'll be like Blaine, and if they harp about how imposible and magical the world is, it will begin to look like Dynamo's. And if they do something gruesome, people will immediately think that they were copying Criss Angel.

I was just thinking about this. I mean, I do understand that some magicians copy others COMPLETELY and look like carbon copies of the other magician. Then, they become someone different, as if they were suddenly possessed by the spirit of the other magician. Also, it becomes really noticeable then, because it feels as if a switch suddenly turned on and their personality just, switched to something else JUST FOR THE DURATION OF THE PERFORMANCE. That, is blatant copying and NOT the subject of this thread.

But what if someone follows their unique persona, but STILL find that some other (probably more famous) magician has a very similar way of performing? What does one do then? Does he/she then change THEIR style and persona DELIBERATELY so as to look different?

What are your views guys?
 
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WitchDocIsIn

Elite Member
Sep 13, 2008
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If one has a unique personality (which most people do), and one allows that personality to shine through with their scripting and personality, they will appear to be unique.

Example - Derren Brown and Luke Jermay. Both are mentalists who use a lot of suggestion in their routines, they both focus on emotional based routines regularly, and they both mix bizarre magic in with their mentalism. Would you think anyone would say they are the same, though? Jermay even consulted for Brown regularly, but they have distinct styles - both borne from their own personalities.

The key there, of course, is having a unique personality and putting the work into letting that show through.

This is significantly more challenging for folks who's primary learning source is video. This is because when watching video it's more difficult to separate the method from the personality of the teacher.

Studying the theory and philosophy of magic helps significantly. You learn to separate method and presentation, and you learn to infuse your magic with your own interests and personality.
 
There's absolutely NOTHING wrong with copying Blaine or Copperfield or anyone's performing style when you're first getting into magic/ learning a new trick. It's super cringe worthy, but that's how you learn to perform, by watching your hero's. Eventually you'll realize that it isn't for you and do your own thing with it. It's a natural process and not something that has to be immediate. :)
 

JoshL8

Elite Member
Aug 5, 2017
409
393
WA state USA
I think of it like martial arts. Some styles are closer to each other than other ones, and within each style students who progress further become less and less carbon copies of their teachers while their own style comes out. Even with this happening there is still some resemblance to their teachers as well as the methods from other styles. This is because ergonomically there is limited ways to effectively land a punch without getting boxer fracture and so on.

A newer student is a carbon copy of their teacher and many people stop there. They might get really good at this level and learn enough to have a decent foundation of self defense. In this way a lot of street performers use Kozmo or Gazzo routines almost verbatim because they have a routine/patter that works for what they want. They are playing to the cheap seats so to speak. It is full of canned rhetoric and the people stopping by don't mind it for the most part.

These carbon copies are not likely to win any MMA titles or impress their peers. They are not likely to add much to the next generation in ways of innovation, boundary pushing etc.

Now apply this to people to people interactions. There will be similarities in how we interact with certain people because there is tried and true methods to interacting with certain personalities. It is likely your own personality is where the nuance shows through and people can usually see this as genuine. A person is more likely to see through a imitated personality though as canned rhetoric because unlike martial arts or magic most people generally have a great deal of experience in person to person interactions, we are for the most part within each others skill range here.

If a personality is seen to be parroting someone else they likely are to some extent. The interaction may not be a meaningful one and probably feels that way to the participant. Likely feeling superficial akin to discussing the weather or perhaps scripted (much of it will be scripted in magic but it shouldn't feel that way).

Who is liked more by people, the Gazzo clone or a person who felt more off the cuff genuine? A connection is more apparent with the genuine person. Both get a job done but one is just better at it and likely more memorable.

Think of a store clerk where a worker has a skeleton of a script to work with; greet the person, comment on a few items being purchased, ask if they want to pay with their Sears card etc. You can tell the difference between a new worker and a old worker in these interactions. You can tell when someone is just going through the motions with a fake smile etc.

A good student breaks down a technique learning why it works and then interject themselves into the technique making it their own. This includes personalities during conversations in different settings.

Hmm...maybe that was a better comparison than martial arts. Should have just went with that.

Anyway thats my rambling 2cents.
 
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