The one phrase uttered more than "(insert name here) should be the new T11 artist!" is, "it's a great trick, but... not really my style." Such a foul, contemptible, irritating phrase (harsh feelings born from overuse) has not seen the light a day in what is surely a record-breaking number of millennia. But what is it, really? Your style? The knee-jerk response is that, of course, it's a combination of what you like and how you perform. But what about deeper, deeper still?
First and foremost, the phrase, "it's a great trick, but it's not my style" is a completely unnecessary addition to a review. It tells the forum: "I have a set style, and this trick does not fit its parameters." What does that achieve? I don't think there's that many here who are known for our magic or performance to others on the forum. Our tastes and choices don't come up too often. If you're setting a scale for us to abide by, you're failing - about as much as people who rate tricks with numbers (especially the abominable decimals, which serves no purpose other than adding a period between two numbers). When you tell me a trick doesn't fit your style, you are contributing zero. Instead, erase that sentence and go in-depth: why not? What about it doesn't fit right with you? Do you not feel the presentation can be adapted to fit your needs? Explain. Because right now, it just sounds like you want attention. It's about as useless as telling everyone what you're practicing in your signature.
It just seems so, so much like we all just want recognition of our magic. We're peddlers of a very rare form of entertainment, which naturally leads to monopolies on whatever it is we choose to display with the art. Almost everyone is bound to be unique. We're all just waiting for our soapbox. Including me: notice how this is slowly leading into a sly attempt to nab that same bit of attention but without the blatant guilt?
So, here it is: your soapbox. Talk about your style. No, this isn't a "How do you perform" thread, because style, vague as it is, is so much more than that. It's over-generalized and made a summary, but it's such a detailed look into you as a magician.
1. Trick Selection.
Do you only do impromptu card tricks and flourishes (and claim you're able to blow your spectator's mind and twist their reality with what is obviously a display of dexterity?) Why? Do you mix one or two pieces of mentalism in, and occasional flashy bit of weirdness? What is it about mentalism that drew you in, and what made you decide not to devote yourself whole-heartedly? Do you shun gimmicks because you think you have immaculate sleight of hand skills and don't know how to ditch a gimmick? How has that decision shaped the rest of your performance?
(I'm being harsh here out of parody and fun, so don't be offended. I'm sure we all have something to laugh at ourselves about.)
Point being, why do you pick the tricks you pick? What draws you to them? do you alter what you buy to suit your needs? What are the must-haves in an effect? What is worth wasting $35 on? (or pounds, or whatever freak money you British people spend). If you can't elaborate and link this answer to multiple aspects of your artistry, try thinking it over until you can. Doesn't such an important question deserve a well-thought out answer?
Do you notice an overwhelming similarity between your response and other peoples'? If so, why do you think that is?
2. Character.
Who's your character? Don't say "yourself", because that's a lie: if we all played ourselves, we'd be saying, "I'm really just doing this with the card when I get your attention up here. I bought this off the internet." No, you add something to your character, even if it's just, "I'm going to show you sleight of hand and psychology" (if ever an overused approach existed) - even if you say that, you're adding an appearance of a sly con man. Do you just do yourself? If so, are you actually interesting enough to hook the spectators in (since we should all sell ourselves before the tricks, and no that's not sarcasm)? Do you add a splash of theater and invent a character (well, we all do, but do you really get into it)? Are you David Blaine's Mysterious Stranger? Are you Criss Angel's pseudo-supernatural freak man? Are you Daniel Madison's cool and shadowy figure? Daniel Garcia's charismatic showman? Wayne Houchin's gentle display of the bizarre? You can mix the two - be yourself, but be yourself with flair. Be the only you. Be the unique you. Don't be the you that resembles all the other "you"-s out there.
Danny's a good representation of himself, mixing indulgent humor, you-and-me-inside-jokes, fun, a certain degree of kindness, and that moment of sincere concentration when he's about to show you something truly amazing. That's him, but amplified. You get the idea.
Have you invented a figure entirely? Are you a headache-prone mentalist or a Derren Brown-esque eager, this-is-so-amazing-I've-got-to-show you performer? Do you live in the moment and let it swell to astonishment? Who are you while performing? How do you sell yourself to a crowd? How has performing magic changed your character? What are your character's goals, hobbies?
3. Presentation.
What is magic, when you're presenting it to your audiences? Psychology and dexterity? Okay - do you find that a bit anticlimactic? Do you think you're spoiling the illusion and admitting it's all just tricks? Have you put a spin on it the way Derren Brown spun mentalism, and put some original thought behind it?
Is it really supernatural to you? Are you Uri Geller? Can you present anything without looking ridiculous? Do you cast aside the eye-rolling and forge ahead and change peoples' minds, maybe slightly?
How about saying nothing, and letting the spectator decide? Is that what you're all about it? Do you just shut up and stand idly by, or do you guide them towards astonishment in-between reaction and falling emotion? Do you develop any sort of connection with your spectator when you present this amazing feat of impossibility, but don't acknowledge it as if it didn't happen? Can you suspend disbelief?
Ooh! Do you blow peoples' minds? Do you make them question reality? Do send their imagination into overdrive? If so, how do you do this? We're talking the same sort of emotional state that people use to start religions, lead cults, and terrify grown, rational men - you can wield that power! Great! Let's hear about it. What material do you use, for starters, because I'd like a piece of that action. Such a state of mind needs nurturing and guidance, or else it could create spiritual, emotional, or if you're good, even mental damage. How do you do damage control? When you change someone's reality, what they hold dear, where are you taking them and what are you doing with them while they're there?
These are but a few of the qualities Style covers. If you've got a few minutes, why not think it over and answer? What are you really saying when you say, "It's not my style?" Maybe you'll find a few new things that ARE your style.
Unless the thread isn't your style (I'm saying it here so no one else gets to - HA!)
Dig deeper into that magical persona of yours. Who are you, really?
First and foremost, the phrase, "it's a great trick, but it's not my style" is a completely unnecessary addition to a review. It tells the forum: "I have a set style, and this trick does not fit its parameters." What does that achieve? I don't think there's that many here who are known for our magic or performance to others on the forum. Our tastes and choices don't come up too often. If you're setting a scale for us to abide by, you're failing - about as much as people who rate tricks with numbers (especially the abominable decimals, which serves no purpose other than adding a period between two numbers). When you tell me a trick doesn't fit your style, you are contributing zero. Instead, erase that sentence and go in-depth: why not? What about it doesn't fit right with you? Do you not feel the presentation can be adapted to fit your needs? Explain. Because right now, it just sounds like you want attention. It's about as useless as telling everyone what you're practicing in your signature.
It just seems so, so much like we all just want recognition of our magic. We're peddlers of a very rare form of entertainment, which naturally leads to monopolies on whatever it is we choose to display with the art. Almost everyone is bound to be unique. We're all just waiting for our soapbox. Including me: notice how this is slowly leading into a sly attempt to nab that same bit of attention but without the blatant guilt?
So, here it is: your soapbox. Talk about your style. No, this isn't a "How do you perform" thread, because style, vague as it is, is so much more than that. It's over-generalized and made a summary, but it's such a detailed look into you as a magician.
1. Trick Selection.
Do you only do impromptu card tricks and flourishes (and claim you're able to blow your spectator's mind and twist their reality with what is obviously a display of dexterity?) Why? Do you mix one or two pieces of mentalism in, and occasional flashy bit of weirdness? What is it about mentalism that drew you in, and what made you decide not to devote yourself whole-heartedly? Do you shun gimmicks because you think you have immaculate sleight of hand skills and don't know how to ditch a gimmick? How has that decision shaped the rest of your performance?
(I'm being harsh here out of parody and fun, so don't be offended. I'm sure we all have something to laugh at ourselves about.)
Point being, why do you pick the tricks you pick? What draws you to them? do you alter what you buy to suit your needs? What are the must-haves in an effect? What is worth wasting $35 on? (or pounds, or whatever freak money you British people spend). If you can't elaborate and link this answer to multiple aspects of your artistry, try thinking it over until you can. Doesn't such an important question deserve a well-thought out answer?
Do you notice an overwhelming similarity between your response and other peoples'? If so, why do you think that is?
2. Character.
Who's your character? Don't say "yourself", because that's a lie: if we all played ourselves, we'd be saying, "I'm really just doing this with the card when I get your attention up here. I bought this off the internet." No, you add something to your character, even if it's just, "I'm going to show you sleight of hand and psychology" (if ever an overused approach existed) - even if you say that, you're adding an appearance of a sly con man. Do you just do yourself? If so, are you actually interesting enough to hook the spectators in (since we should all sell ourselves before the tricks, and no that's not sarcasm)? Do you add a splash of theater and invent a character (well, we all do, but do you really get into it)? Are you David Blaine's Mysterious Stranger? Are you Criss Angel's pseudo-supernatural freak man? Are you Daniel Madison's cool and shadowy figure? Daniel Garcia's charismatic showman? Wayne Houchin's gentle display of the bizarre? You can mix the two - be yourself, but be yourself with flair. Be the only you. Be the unique you. Don't be the you that resembles all the other "you"-s out there.
Danny's a good representation of himself, mixing indulgent humor, you-and-me-inside-jokes, fun, a certain degree of kindness, and that moment of sincere concentration when he's about to show you something truly amazing. That's him, but amplified. You get the idea.
Have you invented a figure entirely? Are you a headache-prone mentalist or a Derren Brown-esque eager, this-is-so-amazing-I've-got-to-show you performer? Do you live in the moment and let it swell to astonishment? Who are you while performing? How do you sell yourself to a crowd? How has performing magic changed your character? What are your character's goals, hobbies?
3. Presentation.
What is magic, when you're presenting it to your audiences? Psychology and dexterity? Okay - do you find that a bit anticlimactic? Do you think you're spoiling the illusion and admitting it's all just tricks? Have you put a spin on it the way Derren Brown spun mentalism, and put some original thought behind it?
Is it really supernatural to you? Are you Uri Geller? Can you present anything without looking ridiculous? Do you cast aside the eye-rolling and forge ahead and change peoples' minds, maybe slightly?
How about saying nothing, and letting the spectator decide? Is that what you're all about it? Do you just shut up and stand idly by, or do you guide them towards astonishment in-between reaction and falling emotion? Do you develop any sort of connection with your spectator when you present this amazing feat of impossibility, but don't acknowledge it as if it didn't happen? Can you suspend disbelief?
Ooh! Do you blow peoples' minds? Do you make them question reality? Do send their imagination into overdrive? If so, how do you do this? We're talking the same sort of emotional state that people use to start religions, lead cults, and terrify grown, rational men - you can wield that power! Great! Let's hear about it. What material do you use, for starters, because I'd like a piece of that action. Such a state of mind needs nurturing and guidance, or else it could create spiritual, emotional, or if you're good, even mental damage. How do you do damage control? When you change someone's reality, what they hold dear, where are you taking them and what are you doing with them while they're there?
These are but a few of the qualities Style covers. If you've got a few minutes, why not think it over and answer? What are you really saying when you say, "It's not my style?" Maybe you'll find a few new things that ARE your style.
Unless the thread isn't your style (I'm saying it here so no one else gets to - HA!)
Dig deeper into that magical persona of yours. Who are you, really?
.
