But in the end it depends what your after. Skill or Magic....
Cheers, Tom
As Tumble alluded to - aren't we performing magic?
But in the end it depends what your after. Skill or Magic....
Cheers, Tom
As Tumble alluded to - aren't we performing magic?
Picture two performers.
One has you select a card and return it to the deck. He place it in the box, which he holds up. He just stares at the box and your card rises up out of it.
The other has you select your card, return it to the deck, and places it in a wineglass instead of the box. The glass is placed on the table. He asks you to clear your mind and think only of your card. He stares into your eyes a moment before pursing his lips slightly in thought and nods. He turns to the glass and holds his open hand out. For a moment nothing happens. But as he begins to gesture slowly as if pulling something up, your card starts to rise out of the deck until it reaches the top of the glass and falls out.
Which one is more interesting?
Picture two performers.
One has you select a card and return it to the deck. He place it in the box, which he holds up. He just stares at the box and your card rises up out of it.
The other has you select your card, return it to the deck, and places it in a wineglass instead of the box. The glass is placed on the table. He asks you to clear your mind and think only of your card. He stares into your eyes a moment before pursing his lips slightly in thought and nods. He turns to the glass and holds his open hand out. For a moment nothing happens. But as he begins to gesture slowly as if pulling something up, your card starts to rise out of the deck until it reaches the top of the glass and falls out.
Which one is more interesting?
In all fairness, there is more going on in the second scenario that has nothing to do with magical gestures. Performance, of course, is always important. But whether you choose to specifically use a magical gesture or not is a focused issue. Not using magical gestures when you perform does not mean you can not present your effects.Picture two performers.
One has you select a card and return it to the deck. He place it in the box, which he holds up. He just stares at the box and your card rises up out of it.
The other has you select your card, return it to the deck, and places it in a wineglass instead of the box. The glass is placed on the table. He asks you to clear your mind and think only of your card. He stares into your eyes a moment before pursing his lips slightly in thought and nods. He turns to the glass and holds his open hand out. For a moment nothing happens. But as he begins to gesture slowly as if pulling something up, your card starts to rise out of the deck until it reaches the top of the glass and falls out.
Which one is more interesting?
The point of all this being what Derren was saying, you need to show the magic is happening other then standing by while it happens then pointing it out. But that's not enough - you also need to find a logical way to do that.
Not using magical gestures when you perform does not mean you can not present your effects.
A bit too vague on making your point then, although it is a good one with which I agree.Which is part of the reason some of it comes across as cheesy. The move is just too contrived.
Never said that. Merely making a point that magic is theater. Treat it as such.