If there is one thing I see a lot of the neo-magi doing on youtube videos nowadays, it's wasted movements.
Don't give me that RCA dog look. You know what I am talking about. Doing in three moves what one could accomplish. (I'm looking, nay glaring at you double undercut using mofos) Stop learning all of the new shiny stuff that comes down the pike and look at the pre-existing routines you already do. See if there is a way to trim away the excess fat from them. Just because YOU can't shed a few pounds doesn't mean your magic can't.
Maybe even take a look at routines you always wanted to do, but shied away because of their abundance of moves. Do what the rest of us lazy bastards do and re-work them to fit your style, handling, and accomplished in as few moves as possible.
Remember what Uncle Bizzaro always sez: "Peanut butter sticks to the roof of your dad's car"... er... I mean, "Magic doesn't have to be hard".
Always make the magic to you, not the other way around. Besides magic instructions aren't rules written in stone...
They're more like guidelines.
Bizzaro.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Darkness, all around me...
I would like to take this moment to talk to my brethren who do Illusions.
I know you want to look cool. I know you want to make a flashy entrance or make something appear somehow or another. However, I would like to point out: Shooting bright lights at yer audience from a darkened stage then turning them on quickly to make something appear... ISN'T MAGIC!!
Maybe now that someone told you, cuz' obviously no one has yet, you can open yer eyes, save some cash, and do something interesting.
Thanx,
The Mngmnt.
I know you want to look cool. I know you want to make a flashy entrance or make something appear somehow or another. However, I would like to point out: Shooting bright lights at yer audience from a darkened stage then turning them on quickly to make something appear... ISN'T MAGIC!!
Maybe now that someone told you, cuz' obviously no one has yet, you can open yer eyes, save some cash, and do something interesting.
Thanx,
The Mngmnt.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
What did you do Ray?
I was flipping thru the old Tarbell books, (full of hidden knowledge, everyone should own them, yadda yadda, etc etc), and in volume two there is a line I couldn't help but love.
"People judge their gods by the miracles they perform."
Man oh man. Let THAT ONE sink in a bit. When you see someone do the 21 card trick, are you impressed? Hell no. Is anyone? Maybe. Then you see someone levitate, turn 360 degrees in the air, explode and reappear elsewhere... well hell, let's start us a religion and go to Waco!
If you want to be perceived as a powerful figure, do powerful magic. If you want to be seen as Fondles the Clown or someone's creepy uncle, then do shitty pasteboard trickery.
Now I obviously don't mean to be taken a deity literally. (unless you want people to go for that) I just mean to be looked upon as someone who might be cooler than them in some way. It's not just your magic either. It's your personality, dress, character, the whole package. (not YOUR whole package. Save that for "private time")
A good example is a recent contestant on America's Got What the Producers Perceive as Talent. His choice of magic was lackluster. His persona was egotistical and uppity. His dress was alright, but a tad common. No one looked upon him as a higher power at all. His miracles... were all store bought.
So remember: When someone asks you if you are a god....
YOU SAY YES!
Bizzaro.
"People judge their gods by the miracles they perform."
Man oh man. Let THAT ONE sink in a bit. When you see someone do the 21 card trick, are you impressed? Hell no. Is anyone? Maybe. Then you see someone levitate, turn 360 degrees in the air, explode and reappear elsewhere... well hell, let's start us a religion and go to Waco!
If you want to be perceived as a powerful figure, do powerful magic. If you want to be seen as Fondles the Clown or someone's creepy uncle, then do shitty pasteboard trickery.
Now I obviously don't mean to be taken a deity literally. (unless you want people to go for that) I just mean to be looked upon as someone who might be cooler than them in some way. It's not just your magic either. It's your personality, dress, character, the whole package. (not YOUR whole package. Save that for "private time")
A good example is a recent contestant on America's Got What the Producers Perceive as Talent. His choice of magic was lackluster. His persona was egotistical and uppity. His dress was alright, but a tad common. No one looked upon him as a higher power at all. His miracles... were all store bought.
So remember: When someone asks you if you are a god....
YOU SAY YES!
Bizzaro.
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Death drop soup...
This Shit just irritates me like wet under wear.
When did the idea of "magical escapes" seem like a good idea. If you scroll down about halfway of that story above you will see an account of Steve Wyrick's supposed "Death Drop". Not only did he FAIL to do what he has been advertising for weeks, he pretty much just insulted the intelligence of an entire crowd of people. We don't live in the dark ages anymore. Most educated people (more than we think believe it or not) know that magic isn't real. They take it for what it is. Entertainment... more or less.
By appearing somewhere else TOTALLY out of congruency with your intended outcome, they KNOW you snookered them and will feel cheated. Not only have you made yourself look like a tool, but ALL magicians.
The sad part is most high profile magic guys have done this lame crap. Lance Burton did it. Criss Fishing Rod LOVES to do it. The only person who hasn't done some totally idiotic escape is David Copperfield. Don't get me wrong; David did do the Imploding building stunt, BUT he didn't just appear on the roof of another building after the building fell. He actually made his appearance magical and interesting. Does that make it necessarily right? No, but it does make it seem interesting and impressive. To make up for it he did an ACTUAL escape from a strait jacket over spikes. Despite how more or less safe it was, that did take some balls.
Appearing at the back of a theater from a flaming or exploding box is feasible. It's theatrics. However, when you come in from a helicopter or appear on a high up building yelling like an idiot, it falls under the too perfect theory and isn't magical at all. You are just showing off and you might as well give the entire audience the finger and yell, "HA HA I FOOLED YOU!! YER ALL IDIOTS!"
I think it's high time to stop these foolish magical escapes and focus on something else.. like I dunno.. MAKING BETTER MAGIC!! It's shake and bake...
and I helped.
Bizzaro.
When did the idea of "magical escapes" seem like a good idea. If you scroll down about halfway of that story above you will see an account of Steve Wyrick's supposed "Death Drop". Not only did he FAIL to do what he has been advertising for weeks, he pretty much just insulted the intelligence of an entire crowd of people. We don't live in the dark ages anymore. Most educated people (more than we think believe it or not) know that magic isn't real. They take it for what it is. Entertainment... more or less.
By appearing somewhere else TOTALLY out of congruency with your intended outcome, they KNOW you snookered them and will feel cheated. Not only have you made yourself look like a tool, but ALL magicians.
The sad part is most high profile magic guys have done this lame crap. Lance Burton did it. Criss Fishing Rod LOVES to do it. The only person who hasn't done some totally idiotic escape is David Copperfield. Don't get me wrong; David did do the Imploding building stunt, BUT he didn't just appear on the roof of another building after the building fell. He actually made his appearance magical and interesting. Does that make it necessarily right? No, but it does make it seem interesting and impressive. To make up for it he did an ACTUAL escape from a strait jacket over spikes. Despite how more or less safe it was, that did take some balls.
Appearing at the back of a theater from a flaming or exploding box is feasible. It's theatrics. However, when you come in from a helicopter or appear on a high up building yelling like an idiot, it falls under the too perfect theory and isn't magical at all. You are just showing off and you might as well give the entire audience the finger and yell, "HA HA I FOOLED YOU!! YER ALL IDIOTS!"
I think it's high time to stop these foolish magical escapes and focus on something else.. like I dunno.. MAKING BETTER MAGIC!! It's shake and bake...
and I helped.
Bizzaro.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Sorry I haven't been rant-tastic lately. Been busy working and stuff. So to amuse you, click Here.
Tis' Funny!
Bizzaro.
Tis' Funny!
Bizzaro.
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