theory11 — Magic Tricks & the World's Finest Playing Cards
Go.Out.Perform.
- Thread starter RDChopper
- Start date
i dont always film while out doing magic but if you do have a camera i suggest going to younger people. Older people think its going on youtube and they hate it. But younger people think there gonna be like famous lol
-Jake
p.s. I mean like teenagers to like 30 year olds
one more thing,
as i said i dont always film while out on streets but since i did the snc i decided to film. So if anyone didn't see my vid pleasse do and give me some advice. That would be awesome!
here's the link:
http://vimeo.com/5158773
-Jake
as i said i dont always film while out on streets but since i did the snc i decided to film. So if anyone didn't see my vid pleasse do and give me some advice. That would be awesome!
here's the link:http://vimeo.com/5158773
-Jake
one more thing,
as i said i dont always film while out on streets but since i did the snc i decided to film. So if anyone didn't see my vid pleasse do and give me some advice. That would be awesome!
http://vimeo.com/5158773
-Jake
Could you please make the little debriefing? it would help a lot, thanks
.
Could you please make the little debriefing? it would help a lot, thanks
debriefing? ive never heard of the word lol
debriefing? ive never heard of the word lol
See the other member's posts in here so you can know how the debriefing it's made, thanks for contributing
See the other member's posts in here so you can know how the debriefing it's made, thanks for contributing
oo ok sorry man
http://vimeo.com/5264250
Effect: Momento Direct
Audience: Two young adults who were enjoying there time at the Graffiti Exibition. Saw them wandering around when i was performing for the first group (the first vid i shared on the topic). They instantly agreed to show them some stuff when i told them what i was doing there; everyone was conditioned to have a great time, so it wasn't hard for me to end up showing magic. Two really nice dudes.
It was my first time performing Momento Direct. During the performance, executing the sleights and all were not a problem. The only problem i remembered having was on the patter and presentation. Even though Momento Direct is a direct effect, i wasn't satisfied with what i came up with (if any at all - real shameful). Also, now that i have watched myself perform this in third person, again i should learn to speak louder, i cannot blame the wind. One more thing is the end part where my right hand is motionless while im holding the cards - to me it looks awkward. I should ease up a little bit.
Even though they didn't stay to chat, after the performance they saw, they kept noticing us (me and friend) perform around to other groups, so they were one of our "guaranteed spectators".
Really enjoy performing that effect.
Effect: Momento Direct
Audience: Two young adults who were enjoying there time at the Graffiti Exibition. Saw them wandering around when i was performing for the first group (the first vid i shared on the topic). They instantly agreed to show them some stuff when i told them what i was doing there; everyone was conditioned to have a great time, so it wasn't hard for me to end up showing magic. Two really nice dudes.
It was my first time performing Momento Direct. During the performance, executing the sleights and all were not a problem. The only problem i remembered having was on the patter and presentation. Even though Momento Direct is a direct effect, i wasn't satisfied with what i came up with (if any at all - real shameful). Also, now that i have watched myself perform this in third person, again i should learn to speak louder, i cannot blame the wind. One more thing is the end part where my right hand is motionless while im holding the cards - to me it looks awkward. I should ease up a little bit.
Even though they didn't stay to chat, after the performance they saw, they kept noticing us (me and friend) perform around to other groups, so they were one of our "guaranteed spectators".
Really enjoy performing that effect.
That was cool. You have already stated the criticism I would say. Speak up and relax. Also, I would try to build the ending up more and get more tension into it. Its not that you did a bad job, I think you did a great one and your spectators seem to love it(I enjoyed watching as well) but it is just that there is always room for improvement in everyone. Keep it up.
Now, I really liked that, the problem it's that I would have liked to hear your patter around the trick, there was too much ambiental noise I only catched tidbits of what you were saying..
But that's not that important, because I could see that your audience was paying attention at all times, and there were signs telling that they were interested in what you were doing, wich proves that you had a pretty good patter surrounding the trick.
Now, another thing that I likem it's eye contact, I mean, I have seen way too much people performing just staring at the deck, not at the people they are performing for, so that's another thing that I liked form your presentation, they were interested because you were interested in it too.
Something that also shows in your performance it's your confidence, you didnt shake and you didnt hesitated during the performance, you practiced the trick and the patter to the point where you can focus all your attention in the spectators.
The only part that I quite didnt like that much was were you said " I didnt influenced you in any way right?" I mean, if I were the spectator the first thing that I would have thought would be "wait, you can do that?" most of them are not aware that such things can happen, so it can take a little bit from the experience, besides saying such things makes the spectator doubt and he even starts to think if there are ways for someone to influence someone thoughts.
Any way it played right and they got astonished, looks like you had a pretty good time also.
Looking forward to see more clips from you performing
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I actually was concious of myself spitting out that line when i was performing. In my head i was like "Now wth happen there!?".
Kind words RD. Kind words.
And in terms of eye contact, until i learnt about it, i didnt know it was such a powerful tool. The use of eye contact and literally render someone buck naked before your eyes. I used to get people forgetting my name, that was due to limited eye contact and virtually no rapport build up. Nowadays, its different. They feel a sense of commitment, involvement, importance, now that you actually value them within your eyes.
Powerful stuff man.
Kind words RD. Kind words.
And in terms of eye contact, until i learnt about it, i didnt know it was such a powerful tool. The use of eye contact and literally render someone buck naked before your eyes. I used to get people forgetting my name, that was due to limited eye contact and virtually no rapport build up. Nowadays, its different. They feel a sense of commitment, involvement, importance, now that you actually value them within your eyes.
Powerful stuff man.
hey guys, Im happy to say that me and DaveyG started a battle based on this thread, in other words, we both went outside and performed .
so the thread for the battle it's right here:
http://forums.theory11.com/showthread.php?p=238785#post238785
In a short while we will both write the debriefings for the videos, and expect a lot of stuff from me this summer.
Take your time to either comment on your vote on the battle thread or criticise our performances in here.
.so the thread for the battle it's right here:
http://forums.theory11.com/showthread.php?p=238785#post238785
In a short while we will both write the debriefings for the videos, and expect a lot of stuff from me this summer.
Take your time to either comment on your vote on the battle thread or criticise our performances in here.
Tittle: "Being nice"
Effects performed: 2CM and the Biddle trick
Audience: A group of kids walking around, they were pretty nice since the beggining, then I noticed that a couple with a kid was watching so I performed for them as well.
The Performance: It went good, I kinda doubted at the beggining, but it flowed nice, i thought that the girl in purple actually saw that I wasn't giving the other girl a king, but I didnt said nothing, I continue nevertheless and just when I watched the video I saw that the girl laughed because she actually belived what I was saying, that the card was actually changing that fast, good reactions from them, I love how the girl holding the cards just takes her hand to her mouth.
Now, while I was performing I noiced that a couple was actually watching, so I invited them to get closer and I actually performed for them, the things that I watched that I mess up, was that I took a loooong time finding their card to cull it ( I actually like them to shuffle the cards first, so it's a little more convincing that I really lost their card) funny thing, and believe it or not, their card was just second from the top, right were I needed it, so I started doing the trick from there, looks like the mister enjoyed the trick as well.
Any criticism is well received .
Effects performed: 2CM and the Biddle trick
Audience: A group of kids walking around, they were pretty nice since the beggining, then I noticed that a couple with a kid was watching so I performed for them as well
.The Performance: It went good, I kinda doubted at the beggining, but it flowed nice, i thought that the girl in purple actually saw that I wasn't giving the other girl a king, but I didnt said nothing, I continue nevertheless and just when I watched the video I saw that the girl laughed because she actually belived what I was saying, that the card was actually changing that fast, good reactions from them, I love how the girl holding the cards just takes her hand to her mouth
.Now, while I was performing I noiced that a couple was actually watching, so I invited them to get closer and I actually performed for them, the things that I watched that I mess up, was that I took a loooong time finding their card to cull it ( I actually like them to shuffle the cards first, so it's a little more convincing that I really lost their card) funny thing, and believe it or not, their card was just second from the top, right were I needed it, so I started doing the trick from there, looks like the mister enjoyed the trick as well
.Any criticism is well received .
Tittle: "Being nice"
Effects performed: 2CM and the Biddle trick
Audience: A group of kids walking around, they were pretty nice since the beggining, then I noticed that a couple with a kid was watching so I performed for them as well
The Performance: It went good, I kinda doubted at the beggining, but it flowed nice, i thought that the girl in purple actually saw that I wasn't giving the other girl a king, but I didnt said nothing, I continue nevertheless and just when I watched the video I saw that the girl laughed because she actually belived what I was saying, that the card was actually changing that fast, good reactions from them, I love how the girl holding the cards just takes her hand to her mouth
Now, while I was performing I noiced that a couple was actually watching, so I invited them to get closer and I actually performed for them, the things that I watched that I mess up, was that I took a loooong time finding their card to cull it ( I actually like them to shuffle the cards first, so it's a little more convincing that I really lost their card) funny thing, and believe it or not, their card was just second from the top, right were I needed it, so I started doing the trick from there, looks like the mister enjoyed the trick as well
Any criticism is well received .
Hey RD, man you really are hitting up the streets huh? Very good.
Im just going to not talk about all the mechanical aspects, more on presentational aspects.
First off, RD, the bad habit of walking up to someone with a pack of cards should be changed. Think about it, if you were walking on the street with a group of friends, and someone came up to you already with a pack of cards in his hand, how would you feel? No, not after when he explains what he will do, but before that, that instead moment is what i am talkin about. Would you feel uncomfortable? Would you feel irritated? Think of this as a decent human being. The reason im telling you this is because some people dont feel comfortable being approached by someone, especially being approached by someone who has already been prepared to approach them - as if they were being monitored the whole time.
Yes, you are there to perform for them (or yourself if you are a obsessed junkie), but do it in a manner of a decent human. Dont jump right into the effect. Where is the rapport? Where is the emotional connection? Ask yourself, did they get to know you? Did you get to know them? This is what performing is about, not going out there and being a robot. RD, time to level up. Place aside the skills, and work on the groove, get what i mean?
I only watched it once and i can tell you there wasnt a deep connection with you and your first group, proof of this is, when the man walked up and you shook his hand, the first group "detached" from the whole thing, in my mind i was really hoping you to involve them as well, but all i could see was nothing - as if you forgot about them, politely saying. Next time, bring them back into the stage you have created.
The pitfalls of a magician still resides in being a trick monkey. Where is the deception?
Ask yourself, why you do magic? If you want to create miracles, or to the least make people care about what you do, you should take all these points and think about it. Watch yourself, you ought to learn a load from all these videos you shared with us. I can almost be sure, the group you performed for were not dented just one bit. Dented as in, you and what you do, never sunk in their mind. It maybe for that one moment when they were astonished, but like smoke, you were gone.
Talk to them more. Hook them more. Milk them more. Make them remember you, make them emotionally care. Time to become a better magician. Actually, time to become a better performer.
Time to stop lying to yourself.
First of all, thanks for watching and taking your time to reply it means a lot.
Im not going to justify my actions, because I know I messed up, I'll try to build some rapport next time, BTW, I was wondering, is there a way to connect with the spectator during the 2CM trick? I mean the patter used doesn't reallly leaves room to connect with them, any suggestions would be great.
I'l practice the coming weeks, thinking of something to actually improve the things that you have told me thanks again.
Im not going to justify my actions, because I know I messed up, I'll try to build some rapport next time, BTW, I was wondering, is there a way to connect with the spectator during the 2CM trick? I mean the patter used doesn't reallly leaves room to connect with them, any suggestions would be great.
I'l practice the coming weeks, thinking of something to actually improve the things that you have told me thanks again.
Why do you want to connect to an audience just on a specific part of a procedure, and not the thing as a whole?
First of all, the thing you must strive to work on is to get the commited to your performance and the things you do. Like Steerpike asks, you can do magic, but why should they care? Seriously, if you wish to improve, ask yourself that question, over and over and over and over again. Every time you even think of performing any magic, be sure to ask yourself that question. Why? Because it is a great shoulder to stand on, and the first step to really improving.
For myself, when i am performing the 2CM, i make the effect really easy to follow. Nothing epic, nothing illogical, nothing "magical", just a normal everyday thing. That is why i dont use the "stabby" action.
But back on topic. Commitment. You have to get them commited to you, and your performance - which means your effect is included within this perimeter. So then how do you get them commited? Not by putting a story behind the effect you are doing, or turning it into something magical, or whatever it is that you do. Commitment means making them interested in the effect. Only this way will you be able to put a dent in their barriers, struck a chord in their core -in other words create a powerful impact for them.
You won't be able to do that if you're performing a "trick".
So then how do you make them interested in the effect? You have to ask yourself what is it that makes the spectator intersted first? Is it the cards? Your skill? Or their emotions?
There you find the key!
So how do you use it? First, you have to be interesting yourself, to interest the interested. Now this all links back to the heavy discussion topics on style, performance, approach, presentation, etc etc. And now Dee has kindly started writing up entries on PaperCrane's site about creating good, solid presentation. You ought to check out.
Now if you're still following me RD, lemme recommend you to an effect called "RPS Entity". A very good effect. Nothing to do with cards (or at least not the ones we drool over unhinderedly). It may be a small effect, nothing flashy, but it has great impact. Why? Well....don't tell me you don't like rock paper sissors? Now think about this in terms of your 2CM. Actually, do this for all your effects.
You need to start your soul searching journey man. Really think about what is it that you do. Do you want to perform miracles? Do you want your magic to mean something to people? Do you want memorable experiences for your spectators? Books like Strong Magic will help a great deal. Only thing i can say is, look deep down inside you, and find that interesting, unique you, and use it. Be sure to look at Dee's blog entries.
PS - Thanks Faust, i didn't see your reply to the performance i did. I will be sure to keep that in mind for next time.
All Im going to say is, thank you, ill stay off the streets a while and start working on the things you have told me, then put them into practice, thanks a lot for taking the time to write this useful pieces of information, I dearly hope that Im not the only one learning from them.
First of all, I dearly hope that you guys actually read the things Im just going to write and actually make a comment about it or leave a suggestion, im thinking of a interesenting project right now.
Now, before I continue, I must warn you, a lot of people are going to feel offended by this post, but please, bear with me and continue reading.
Onto the main thing, I want to ask everybody a question.....If we take magic away from you, what's left? I mean, lets be completely honest, magic is for a lot of us, the way we intend to outstand from the pack, I mean, we are humans, and as Humans we are looking fro the aprovation from others...
I mean really, take magic away from you, would you still be a interesting person?would you still be able to go to any stranger and keep them enterteined, or maintan a good conversation WITHOUTH magic? I know that magic is our way to shine, our way to attract attention ( we love it don't we?) and sadly, I feel that a lot of people here base their social status on magic only, and that it's just plain sad, take the other magician at my school for an example, everybody that I know that knows him tells me that he is a OK performer, the sad thing its when I ask about him NON magic related, the only answer that I have had is "well, I have only spoken to him when he does magic"
Shakutau leaved me thinking, so, Im starting a little project in the upcoming weeks based on what he told me... the project its this:
Ill go to strangers, and ill try to begin a conversation with them, witouth keeping them bored, AND WITHOUTH MAGIC, and let's see how that plays, then, Ill do the same thing but while recording and trying to make them to feel comfortable with it while gaining rapport, I think that will improve my magic far better than practicing a sleight like crazy..
Ill do this in the upcoming weeks, but for now I leave you guys with the question:
Withouth magic, are you still interesting? Or witouht it you are just a dork wich nobody notices?
Think about it and speak your mind.
Now, before I continue, I must warn you, a lot of people are going to feel offended by this post, but please, bear with me and continue reading.
Onto the main thing, I want to ask everybody a question.....If we take magic away from you, what's left? I mean, lets be completely honest, magic is for a lot of us, the way we intend to outstand from the pack, I mean, we are humans, and as Humans we are looking fro the aprovation from others...
I mean really, take magic away from you, would you still be a interesting person?would you still be able to go to any stranger and keep them enterteined, or maintan a good conversation WITHOUTH magic? I know that magic is our way to shine, our way to attract attention ( we love it don't we?) and sadly, I feel that a lot of people here base their social status on magic only, and that it's just plain sad, take the other magician at my school for an example, everybody that I know that knows him tells me that he is a OK performer, the sad thing its when I ask about him NON magic related, the only answer that I have had is "well, I have only spoken to him when he does magic"
Shakutau leaved me thinking, so, Im starting a little project in the upcoming weeks based on what he told me... the project its this:
Ill go to strangers, and ill try to begin a conversation with them, witouth keeping them bored, AND WITHOUTH MAGIC, and let's see how that plays, then, Ill do the same thing but while recording and trying to make them to feel comfortable with it while gaining rapport, I think that will improve my magic far better than practicing a sleight like crazy..
Ill do this in the upcoming weeks, but for now I leave you guys with the question:
Withouth magic, are you still interesting? Or witouht it you are just a dork wich nobody notices?
Think about it and speak your mind.