Sunday, January 22, 2006

Someone was recently asking for advice on stage magic on one of my fave sites: Magic Video Depot. It's nice to see people still interested in stage magic online with the upsurge of little close-up workers being created by the Asshat and websites like Ellusionist.

Anywho, this is some advice I gave him...

"Glad to hear yer interested in stage magic. Too many close-up magicians. Regardless, when it comes to stage work it helps to know about everything. Make-up, movement, and basic theater like blocking and moving. It helps to have a character or at least a "Reality bubble" to create around. In other words you need a reference as to what you or your character would do and wouldn't do. I would never do linking rings as it doesn't fit my style or stage persona.

Your first effect should establish who you are and what you do. What your motivation is and your personality. You also need to decide is it an all talking show or is there music bits or is it ALL music (Which I suggest. It takes away a lot of the facade and makes you a better performer by trying to express your feelings and self thru movement and acting.. and you can perform it in any language.)

Learn as much as possible about the world around you. Don't stay in the magic world persay but bring magic to otherwise non-magical things.. apples, baseball bats, shopping carts. Use everyday items. The less it looks like a magic prop the more effective something can be. Don't be afraid to try new things and experiment. Just because you haven't seen it doen doesn't mean it can't BE done. The best attitude to have is Nothing is Impossible. Magic itself is a puzzle for the performers of it. "I want to accomplish this.. how do I do it?" and it goes from there. It all really depends on how you want to play it. Stage magic takes time, dedication, and practice. Be prepared."


While writing this I touched one something I want to go more into on here. The "Reality Bubble" concept. It's a place where your own self-imposed reality exists. Where you create your own world and the happenings inside of it all in one nice neat little sphere you control. This bubble comes in various forms for everyone.

Dan Sylvester in his creativity lecture talks about how he has used Sylvester the Jester to create his own reality and therefore his unique magic. The living cartoon persona is HIS Reality Bubble. Everyone's is different. Mine is different from yours. Yours is different from his.. and hers.. and theirs. Just because your view of magic doesn't match up with someone else's doesn't mean it's wrong or you are right. The world is big enuff for everyone's bubbles.. just try not to pop anyone else's. That stuff has a habit to come back and bite you in the ass.

Just like the blog. hee hee.

Bizzaro.

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