On Dec 26, 2020, Jonathan Townsend wrote:
Let's not sidetrack into who made the objects presented in Plato's allegorical cave or whether the depiction of dinosaurs is more historical fact or fantasy. Similarly we don't yet need to worry about those who promote art on behalf of museums or invest in artists with an eye on returns. That capital A in art is about the capitalization of art. Different market for selling supplies, lessons, kits, postcards, coffee table books...

I'm still curious about what's been observed to work well in context and what has been tried and failed in context. What bad ideas surprised by working for audiences and what fine ideas have failed due to sound or scale or visibility in the venue?

On Jan 25, 2021, Pop Haydn wrote:

Quote:

On Jan 25, 2021, tommy wrote:
And, as Ayn Rand wrote, there are no contradictions in nature.

Ayn Rand was wrong. How about the rattlesnake with poisonous fangs on one end and a warning rattle on the other?

On May 13, 2023, George Ledo wrote:
Reading this, and thinking about sitcoms over the past twenty-thirty years, I have to wonder how many people watch these travesties to say, wow, look at how dumb they are. IOW, how dumber than me they are.

So are these sitcoms funny, or are we supposed to laugh at other people?

On May 16, 2023, Jonathan Townsend wrote:

Quote:

On May 13, 2023, George Ledo wrote:
Reading this, and thinking about sitcoms over the past twenty-thirty years, I have to wonder how many people watch these travesties to say, wow, look at how dumb they are. IOW, how dumber than me they are.

So are these sitcoms funny, or are we supposed to laugh at other people?

I argue for both. The characters have patterns of behavior. And the show contrives to let the audience come to expect some of what happens.
But there are rules. Ralph never punches Alice. Lucy never divorces Ricky. Skull and Bulk don't become Power Rangers. Teller doesn't speak.

On May 16, 2023, tommy wrote:
If the rattlesnake can rattle its rattle at different frequencies to create the illusion of either being closer or further away than it is, then is the rattlesnake a magician?

On Sep 11, 2020, dustrod wrote:
I'm only 14 months into learning and studying magic so maybe this is a very naive opinion but I keep seeing the same thing in every book I open... "Give your magic meaning."
This is emphasized so many different ways with so many different examples of how just "a pick a card trick" will fall flat without some relatable storyline. Some substance. At this point in my life, I think I might disagree some. As someone who was recently a layman but watched and enjoyed many magic shows both in person and on my television over the years I can honestly say, I think a fresh perspective might not hurt.

The theory I keep reading makes it sound like magic is this delicious cheeseburger fresh off the grill but before we can serve it to the public we need to cover it with a cup of salt & pepper and every condiment we have and a story about 4 kings and a queen before we can expect a magic-seeking paying audience to force it down their throat. I just like the cheeseburger and I think that the magic just needs to speak for itself.
I think the reason that David Blaine and Shim Lin are some of the biggest recent household names is because the general public comes for the effects, just the effects, not the patter. Meanwhile others are completely turned off by much of the magic of the last few decades because they envision some geeky guy telling some cheesy story, a story they would never want to hear in real life unless they were 5 years old.. They just want to see some magic.

I've heard it said so many times that unless your audience can relate with your props(cards to gambling, Coins to slot machines, sponge objects instead of spongeballs) that your presentation will lack substance. I've also heard it said that many are against using items that aren't relatable or found in the "real world" like spongeballs because they exist only in the world of a magician (these same people often have no problem using a $300 cups & balls set or a several thousand dollar stage prop used only for cutting a lady in half). Personally, I think people want to enter the world of magic and be entertained. Not only that, I think they want to leave their normal world, escape & be entertained in the magic world with.... not some made-up storyline about how you're banned in Vegas but... Magic.

Like I mentioned, I've only been studying the craft for a tad over a year but I've been booking entertainment for a chain of casinos for a decade (still early in my career, I know) but I've hired many magicians. Some you've neverd heard of, some who have written the book on magic. I try to study what works and what doesn't before booking and re-booking. I also handle all the casino's social media and respond to every bit of feedback that comes through regarding putting on "another magic show". I've heard a lot of interesting feedback from laymen who both hate or love magic.

Don't get me wrong, some people really have it down and have brought me to tears with a great relatable storyline that actually enhances the magic rather than dilutes it but most of the time they don't, it's so cheesy that I think they should skip the patter and let the magic speak for itself. Anyway take it easy on me with your responses, I'm still learning and this is just an observation. Maybe next month I'll completely disagree with this line of thinking.

On Jun 21, 2023, Pakar Ilusi wrote:

Quote:

On Sep 11, 2020, dustrod wrote:
I'm only 14 months into learning and studying magic so maybe this is a very naive opinion but I keep seeing the same thing in every book I open... "Give your magic meaning."
This is emphasized so many different ways with so many different examples of how just "a pick a card trick" will fall flat without some relatable storyline. Some substance. At this point in my life, I think I might disagree some. As someone who was recently a layman but watched and enjoyed many magic shows both in person and on my television over the years I can honestly say, I think a fresh perspective might not hurt.

The theory I keep reading makes it sound like magic is this delicious cheeseburger fresh off the grill but before we can serve it to the public we need to cover it with a cup of salt & pepper and every condiment we have and a story about 4 kings and a queen before we can expect a magic-seeking paying audience to force it down their throat. I just like the cheeseburger and I think that the magic just needs to speak for itself.
I think the reason that David Blaine and Shim Lin are some of the biggest recent household names is because the general public comes for the effects, just the effects, not the patter. Meanwhile others are completely turned off by much of the magic of the last few decades because they envision some geeky guy telling some cheesy story, a story they would never want to hear in real life unless they were 5 years old.. They just want to see some magic.

I've heard it said so many times that unless your audience can relate with your props(cards to gambling, Coins to slot machines, sponge objects instead of spongeballs) that your presentation will lack substance. I've also heard it said that many are against using items that aren't relatable or found in the "real world" like spongeballs because they exist only in the world of a magician (these same people often have no problem using a $300 cups & balls set or a several thousand dollar stage prop used only for cutting a lady in half). Personally, I think people want to enter the world of magic and be entertained. Not only that, I think they want to leave their normal world, escape & be entertained in the magic world with.... not some made-up storyline about how you're banned in Vegas but... Magic.

Like I mentioned, I've only been studying the craft for a tad over a year but I've been booking entertainment for a chain of casinos for a decade (still early in my career, I know) but I've hired many magicians. Some you've neverd heard of, some who have written the book on magic. I try to study what works and what doesn't before booking and re-booking. I also handle all the casino's social media and respond to every bit of feedback that comes through regarding putting on "another magic show". I've heard a lot of interesting feedback from laymen who both hate or love magic.

Don't get me wrong, some people really have it down and have brought me to tears with a great relatable storyline that actually enhances the magic rather than dilutes it but most of the time they don't, it's so cheesy that I think they should skip the patter and let the magic speak for itself. Anyway take it easy on me with your responses, I'm still learning and this is just an observation. Maybe next month I'll completely disagree with this line of thinking.

David Copperfield would beg to differ, I'm sure.

On Jun 22, 2023, Pop Haydn wrote:

Quote:

On Jun 21, 2023, Pakar Ilusi wrote:

Quote:

On Sep 11, 2020, dustrod wrote:
I'm only 14 months into learning and studying magic so maybe this is a very naive opinion but I keep seeing the same thing in every book I open... "Give your magic meaning."
This is emphasized so many different ways with so many different examples of how just "a pick a card trick" will fall flat without some relatable storyline. Some substance. At this point in my life, I think I might disagree some. As someone who was recently a layman but watched and enjoyed many magic shows both in person and on my television over the years I can honestly say, I think a fresh perspective might not hurt.

The theory I keep reading makes it sound like magic is this delicious cheeseburger fresh off the grill but before we can serve it to the public we need to cover it with a cup of salt & pepper and every condiment we have and a story about 4 kings and a queen before we can expect a magic-seeking paying audience to force it down their throat. I just like the cheeseburger and I think that the magic just needs to speak for itself.
I think the reason that David Blaine and Shim Lin are some of the biggest recent household names is because the general public comes for the effects, just the effects, not the patter. Meanwhile others are completely turned off by much of the magic of the last few decades because they envision some geeky guy telling some cheesy story, a story they would never want to hear in real life unless they were 5 years old.. They just want to see some magic.

I've heard it said so many times that unless your audience can relate with your props(cards to gambling, Coins to slot machines, sponge objects instead of spongeballs) that your presentation will lack substance. I've also heard it said that many are against using items that aren't relatable or found in the "real world" like spongeballs because they exist only in the world of a magician (these same people often have no problem using a $300 cups & balls set or a several thousand dollar stage prop used only for cutting a lady in half). Personally, I think people want to enter the world of magic and be entertained. Not only that, I think they want to leave their normal world, escape & be entertained in the magic world with.... not some made-up storyline about how you're banned in Vegas but... Magic.

Like I mentioned, I've only been studying the craft for a tad over a year but I've been booking entertainment for a chain of casinos for a decade (still early in my career, I know) but I've hired many magicians. Some you've neverd heard of, some who have written the book on magic. I try to study what works and what doesn't before booking and re-booking. I also handle all the casino's social media and respond to every bit of feedback that comes through regarding putting on "another magic show". I've heard a lot of interesting feedback from laymen who both hate or love magic.

Don't get me wrong, some people really have it down and have brought me to tears with a great relatable storyline that actually enhances the magic rather than dilutes it but most of the time they don't, it's so cheesy that I think they should skip the patter and let the magic speak for itself. Anyway take it easy on me with your responses, I'm still learning and this is just an observation. Maybe next month I'll completely disagree with this line of thinking.

David Copperfield would beg to differ, I'm sure.

David would differ with what?