#206931 - 11/03/09 09:05 AM
I am bored stiff!
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Mark.Lewis
Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 445
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This forum is so dreadfully boring that I almost wish Richard would ban me again. I am falling asleep here. Nobody posts anything interesting here and there is one new post every 5 days or something. The height of the conversation seems to be supposed witticisms about dropped colons.The only mental exercise I get here is trying to figure out what Jonathon Townsend is saying.
Richard says I am not to say anything rude about anybody and I must say that I consider this to be the end of civilisation as we know it. That means that the Goat person gets all the fun to himself. It ain't fair. But the worst part of it is that nobody wants to fight with me any more anyway. I consider this to be an unmitigated disaster.
To relieve my boredom I have decided to become an oracle of wisdom instead. I happen to know everything about magic, hypnotism, psychic readings, children's entertainment, ripping off the public with the svengali deck and much, much more.
I am going to use this thread to answer any questions you may have about these subjects. Old people like to share their knowledge to the young who most of the time don't deserve the knowledge anyway.
I have information inside of me that is worth thousands upon thousands of dollars. I am willing to share it if you but ask. I need to find some way of keeping awake on here. Seek and ye shall find. Ask and it shall be give unto you.
You are going to get it for free. Free is a good price.
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#206933 - 11/03/09 09:43 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Mark.Lewis]
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Keith Raygor
Registered: 01/17/08
Posts: 26
Loc: Naples, FL
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Since my teens, I've always had either of two visions of a magician, either a Mississippi River boat gambler-type character, like a Doc Holliday, or a Svengali pitchman. Not even sure why, but they were my fantasies as a child.
It sounds like much of your life has been lived in ways I romanticize(d).
I'd love to hear some of what I missed. What are the parts of those activities you list, that you enjoyed the most, and why?
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#206934 - 11/03/09 09:50 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Keith Raygor]
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Jonathan Townsend
Registered: 01/17/08
Posts: 3291
Loc: Westchester, NY
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The book arrived, will start on it this weekend or later this week.
In the mean time gonna post some on magic in stories - as found a whopper in Greg Egan's "The Second Coming of Jasmine Fitzgerald".
Now how about some more on how to engage an audience. How to introduce oneself to an audience? How to notice when an audience is missing something critical to a trick? ... you know, stuff people who perform might like to take from instinct into cogent discussion.
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#206936 - 11/03/09 11:06 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Jonathan Townsend]
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Mark.Lewis
Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 445
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I shall answer Keith's question first as it is the easiest. With Jonathon I shall indeed reply once I get it translated. I have no idea what book he is talking about and as far as I know I haven't sent him one. I have no idea what Greg Egan or Jasmine Fitzgerald has to do with what I posted.
I did understand Jonathon's second paragraph though (except for the word cogent) and will answer it in due course.
To answer Keith you haven't missed anything. And I didn't enjoy any of it. People often tell me that they would love to have done what I did. That always amazes me since my work has been a living hell. I think I would rather have done what Keith did.It sounds like far more fun.
As the old saying goes, "The grass is always greener on the other side"
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#206944 - 11/03/09 12:37 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Jager]
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Jonathan Townsend
Registered: 01/17/08
Posts: 3291
Loc: Westchester, NY
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Okay one more -I wanna know about goat wrangling. How do you find a goat, lure a goat, snare a goat etc?
For those who need such distractions: Friday is coming and I don't have a date yet.
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#206946 - 11/03/09 12:46 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Jonathan Townsend]
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Mark.Lewis
Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 445
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Methinks Jonathon is trying to wind me up. I expect a goat is indeed going to join this thread any minute.
I really like Kelly's question and I feel very qualified to answer it. I shall do so in detail later once I have time. For now I shall merely say that you NEED obnoxious people to improve your work. And no, for close up magic anyway being rude right back is NOT the answer. In fact it means that the loudmouth wins.
Again I have no time right now. I will come back to this later. For the moment here is one quick suggestion for dealing with challenges. I heartily recommend a little known but marvellous book which to my great joy is now back in print again.
It is called "Outs, Precautions and Challenges" by Charles Hopkins. A mere $6 in my local magic shop but the information inside is priceless.
Edited by Mark.Lewis (11/03/09 12:47 PM)
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#206963 - 11/03/09 06:58 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Mark.Lewis]
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mrgoat
Registered: 01/17/08
Posts: 1138
Loc: Brighton, UK
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Did someone call?
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#206964 - 11/03/09 07:00 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: mrgoat]
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mrgoat
Registered: 01/17/08
Posts: 1138
Loc: Brighton, UK
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I'd like to know why you ended up pitching sven decks. I sold then for a while in my youth before I even knew they were a pitch item. So I thought I was being clever working things that are in your book.
Do you think people who bulk sell the decks should also sell your book with them?
What is the ONE key thing in your book to persuade people to buy it?
x
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#206979 - 11/03/09 09:03 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: mrgoat]
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Mark.Lewis
Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 445
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I see that the goat is butting in. I am afraid that I shall have to answer his question later since a queue has formed. Jonathon was technically first but his three questions will take a while and besides haven't come back from the translator yet. I will indeed come back to him and of course the goat personage. However I think I shall deal with Kelly's question first.
First I should, however, make clear that I am dealing with close up impromptu magic when I answer this. The stage has different rules as does pitching magic as does children's shows. There are hecklers in all these areas but different techniques have to be used in those cases. I am well able to pontificate on those areas too but there is no time or space and the answers would not apply to Kelly's specific question since I am certain he is talking about close up magic.
Of course we can subdivide close up magic too. A professional performance for money may have slightly different rules than an impromptu performance for no money. However some of the techniques and philosophy I am about to spout about can indeed be used professionally close up too although perhaps in a slightly more assertive way. I am, however going to talk mainly about close up impromptu magic since the vast majority of magicians are amateurs who do it for fun and this is the type of magic they are most liable to perform.
All this reminds of the time I met grumpy old Al Goshman who was astonishingly more miserable than me. The only time I saw him brighten was when somebody told a dirty joke or when he was counting his money. He railed critically against every noted magician under the sun from David Roth to Dai Vernon. I asked him about Slydini and he merely growled, "Slydini couldn't handle trouble!" which I took to mean that he couldn't handle hecklers. Mind you I don't know what Goshman would have done either.
But I digress. My explanation is going to take a long time but I have considered this in a very thorough manner over many years and thorough thinking requires a thorough explanation. And thorough explanations take a lot of words and space. So if you want the info I am afraid you will have to put up with it.
For now I will point out a couple of provisos before I launch into my long sermon. One proviso in my advice is that my approach may not suit everyone since not everyone has my personality which has been designed by God to stave off hecklers. There may be, however some aspect of what I do that you can adapt to your own requirements.
Another proviso is that what I am about to tell you will not work with drunks. In fact nothing ever will. Mind you, the solution is easy. Don't perform. Wait until the bastard passes out and then do your stuff. If you are in an unpaid situation you can avoid the inebriated since it is all your choice.
In a paid situation it is a bit more problematic but not really. Most paid situations you can still avoid performing for drunks. You are not compelled to perform for a drunk in a restaurant for example. You can easily go to another table. A drunk can be avoided at a cocktail party if you are adept at keeping an eye out for them and disappearing when necessary. I have never seen a drunk at a trade show so that shouldn't be an issue. Perhaps you get them if you are a bar magician but I have never done that kind of work so I can't comment. On the other hand an experienced bar magician doesn't need my advice anyway.
Darwin Ortiz wrote a wonderful book called Strong Magic even though Richard Kaufmann doesn't like it. Of course it is his own publication so that is an oddity to be discussed another time. I agree with virtually everything in the Ortiz book except for his advice on hecklers where he essentially says that you should ignore them completely but if that doesn't work you are supposed to say "that is what happens when cousins marry"
Dearie me no. That is not the way to go. My method is much, much cleverer as befits my genius. Actually it is common sense. Nobody has ever mentioned the obvious solution of making friends with the heckler and getting him on your side. Sure it takes a lot more skill to do this that it does to talk about cousins marrying. But the results are FAR more profitable and the heckler will eventually become your biggest booster.
Now one more thing before I launch my sermon on this matter. A lot of what seems to he heckling isn't. It is merely INTERACTION.
Interaction can be irritating and throw you off your timing but it isn't heckling. The response isn't meant maliciously and in fact it is a sign that the person is actually having fun. If a foolish magician over reacts to this instead of taking it in good part then he is a right pillock or to put it more politely he should rethink his strategy. Defending yourself when nobody is attacking you is not the way to go.
There.The above is educational but I haven't even started yet. Shall I continue?
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#206993 - 11/03/09 11:27 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Richard Kaufman]
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Mark.Lewis
Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 445
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Jolly good. In that case here is a little more:
Unfortunately, in this sad world there are those unenlightened souls whose only pleasure in life is to wreck the magician’s performance. The will insist on loudly proclaiming that they know how the trick is done (they very rarely do) and that all magicians are fakes. The will insist on shuffling the pack at inopportune times, they will spot the palmed card in your hand and will brag that they once had a magic set.
There are three solutions to the above problem:-
1. Curl up and die (for the timid among you).
2. Punch your tormentor on the nose (for the not so timid among you).
3. Read on and peruse my advice.
Now let’s see. We do not recommend the first solution on the grounds of bad showmanship. Neither do we particularly get excited over the second option. It will distract from the performance and besides, our heckler friend (?) may be bigger than you.
That leaves us with the third solution. Read on, read on.
You must first realise that you are there to entertain people, even the nasty heckler. Tempting though it is to retaliate and be rude right back it is wise not to lose your temper. If you are quick witted and have a little bit of cunning about you it is possible to turn the pest into an asset, or at least quieten him down.
Would you like to know how?
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#206998 - 11/04/09 05:40 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Mark.Lewis]
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mrgoat
Registered: 01/17/08
Posts: 1138
Loc: Brighton, UK
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I would.
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#207000 - 11/04/09 06:44 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: mrgoat]
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Mark.Lewis
Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 445
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Jolly good. Here is the answer:
Let me back up for a moment. In the last post I mentioned that you should not retaliate and be rude right back. If, on the other hand, you go against this and you do try to answer him back the performance could easily deteriorate into a slanging match which is not quite what you originally intended. Besides, the more you argue the more he’ll persist in wrecking the show. You will also find that by resisting him you may alienate the rest of the audience because you are attacking one of their number. We find that people are perverse and although some of the spectators will be annoyed by the pest, others for some psychological reason will tend to side with him, especially if he is not TOO obnoxious. This is probably because people have a subconscious resentment against being fooled. They feel somehow inferior to this sharp trickster who is deceiving them so convincingly and they react with delight when the clever so and so runs into trouble. This being so, they may identify with the heckler especially if the magician has a smart alec see-how-clever-I-am air about him.
One other reason not to trade words with the bore is that if destroys what actors call the “suspension of disbelief”. To explain this, when you watch a movie or theatre play you are absorbed completely; you know in your heart of hearts that the actors are only playing a part, that what is going on is not real, but for the moment while you are watching you SUSPEND your disbelief momentarily reveling in the illusion that everything is really happening. However, if a piece of scenery drops backstage or the movie projector breaks down you are quickly brought back to reality and the “suspension of disbelief” starts to disintegrate. Similarly with our magician; he creates the illusion that what he does is magic; of course, at the back of their minds the spectators (unless they are extremely gullible) know that it is not magic, but for the moment while they are enjoying the performance they are willing to “suspend disbelief”. However, let the performer start arguing with the heckler or tell him to shut up and the whole process will disintegrate very rapidly. Our magician is no longer superman; he actually does mundane things like get annoyed. This maker of miracles is just an ordinary mortal after all,-well, what an anti-climax! Our hero who was dazzling everyone a moment ago with feats of astonishment now shows himself to be just a normal human being who demeans himself by arguing with the lower orders. After all, if he was a real magician, he wouldn’t waste time in conversation-he would simply make the heckler disappear!
You cannot ignore the heckler either as Darwin Ortiz recommends because as the presentation section of Expert Card Technique indicates if you ignore him he will persist. You need to shut him up and get him on your side which won't happen if you ignore him.
No,ignoring him or answering back is not the solution to our problem. A better plan is to try and be nice to the nuisance! This will take the wind out of his sails and might make him feel guilty! Of course you might say, “Love thine enemy” is easier said than done. Well, persevere, persevere. Try and get on his side, even flatter him a tiny bit. You can even let him bully you a little for you have a trump card. I’ll tell you about it soon.
Here’s more advice: try and make capital out of the situation, look for some amusing remark that won’t give offence (do NOT say, “We all make mistakes, your mother made one”) humour him, laugh with him and try to turn things to your advantage. Oh, and don’t worry-we have a trump card. Patience, patience-I’ll tell you about it eventually.
More advice: if he says, I know how that’s done!” you reply, “That’s strange, I know how it’s done too!” It is essential that you furrow your brows as you do this.If he then tells everyone the secret and he is right you deflate him by asking, “What do you want, --magic?” If his antics become TOO irritating I suggest you threaten to turn him into a frog. No doubt this will make him quail with fear and he will immediately go as quiet as a mouse and treat you with the respect you deserve. If for some reason even this master stroke doesn’t completely succeed, well, you have the trump card to fall back on. All right, all right. We’re coming to it, I promise. But first, a little more advice on this subject.
Probably the best protection against the heckler is your own competence. After all, if you do your stuff well there is less opportunity for interruption. If you perform fluently and as if you know what you are doing it will tend to dissuade the pest from tormenting you. Everyone likes to watch a master at work, even the heckler. If you are exciting and entertaining this will often be enough to quell mutinous spectators. On the other hand, if you are ill at ease and awkward, not only will you cause the audience to experience the same feelings, you will be inviting trouble, as sure as the sun rises in the east. Your attitude is all-important; if you are humble you will tend to make people like you, and the more people like you the less heckling you will experience. Conversely, if you are arrogant and superior when you work, you will attract confrontation like a magnet, and well you will deserve it. Contrary to what you might expect, a little heckling is good for you. It keeps you alert, on your toes and teaches you not to be too complacent. It will encourage you to practice; when the loudmouth says, “I saw you switch that card!” he’s actually doing you a favour. Maybe you’ll practice so hard that next time he won’t see you switch it.
Oh, I mentioned a trump card if all else fails. Would you like to know what it is?
Edited by Mark.Lewis (11/04/09 06:45 AM)
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#207001 - 11/04/09 07:21 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Mark.Lewis]
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Joe Pecore
Registered: 01/17/08
Posts: 511
Loc: Northern Virginia
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Sure
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#207002 - 11/04/09 07:58 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Joe Pecore]
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Mark.Lewis
Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 445
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Anybody else?
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#207004 - 11/04/09 08:18 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Mark.Lewis]
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Bob Coyne
Registered: 01/26/08
Posts: 140
Loc: Montclair, NJ
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On the hunch that in addition to imparting the information, you are presenting this in a self-referential manner, I'd say the trump card is to ask the heckler a question...just like you're doing now. It seems to be working here. Am I not right?
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#207007 - 11/04/09 08:34 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Mark.Lewis]
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Jonathan Townsend
Registered: 01/17/08
Posts: 3291
Loc: Westchester, NY
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Please continue instructing.
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#207013 - 11/04/09 10:08 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Jonathan Townsend]
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Mark.Lewis
Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 445
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Asking questions has nothing to do with it. I am merely asking questions to gauge interest and to break up the long sermon somewhat.
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#207024 - 11/04/09 12:36 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Mark.Lewis]
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Keith Raygor
Registered: 01/17/08
Posts: 26
Loc: Naples, FL
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Please describe your trump card.
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#207027 - 11/04/09 01:18 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Keith Raygor]
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Mark.Lewis
Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 445
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Oh, I completely forgot-the trump card! Well it’s called a SUCKER TRICK. There are a number of them around and using any one of them at the right time is the surest way not only to deflate your tormentor but often to make him your biggest booster. These are tricks which look as if they’ve gone badly wrong, but at the last minute the poor magician extricates himself from his dilemna, and turns the tables on everybody by amazing them after all! This type of trick is especially effective for hecklers because they fall into a trap; at first they are delighted that the magician has had his comeuppance, they are flushed with triumph and often loudly mock the performer for his incompetence. However, when suddenly everything turns out right in the end, the gales of laughter from the crowd are usually directed against the heckler who then after his initial surprise and embarrassment, usually admits defeat and nurses his bruised ego by strangely praising you to the skies and becoming one of your biggest fans. In my experience, I have often found these former opponents have spread my reputation far and wide, they get their feelings of importance now, not by heckling but by bragging that they know me, and most incredible of all, get loudly indignant if anyone else dares to heckle me if they happen to be watching!
That’s my advice on hecklers; it has taken up a lot of space but I think it’s useful advice since amateurs probably get more heckling, especially from family and friends than anyone else when performing in an impromptu close up situation. But this advice may be useful for professional magicians too.
And talking about professional magicians let me remind you all what I said in my very first post concerning this matter. The above sermon does not necessarily apply to stand up magic situations or kid shows or where pitching magic is concerned.
However, if you perform close up intimate card magic in social and business situations, all you need to know about handling hecklers is the advice I’ve given you and the knowledge you’ll get from experience.
One more thing I should mention. I earlier said that I had a personality that God designed to ward off hecklers. Some people might say that it was the Devil rather than God that designed it but whoever or whatever designed it made things easier for me. It isn't my doing that I am made this way but I may as well take advantage of it. The secret is that I am able to charm the heckler. This, of course is a gift from the Gods and not everyone is naturally going to be able to do this. However they will be able to adapt some of the philosophy to their own personality and hopefully make good and effective use of it.
And now one more question. Has all this been helpful to anyone?
Edited by Mark.Lewis (11/04/09 01:25 PM)
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#207032 - 11/04/09 01:52 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Mark.Lewis]
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Jager
Registered: 07/24/09
Posts: 20
Loc: L.A. California
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And now one more question. Has all this been helpful to anyone?
Thank you Mark, you have answered my question above and beyond my expectations.
What are your favorite sucker tricks that you use in close up situations?
_________________________
Kelly Smith
Jager
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#207033 - 11/04/09 01:59 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Jager]
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Mark Collier
Registered: 01/18/08
Posts: 35
Loc: Santa Barbara, Ca
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If you can maintain enough control over the spectator (and the audience), over the head is a great trick to do on know-it-alls.
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#207043 - 11/04/09 04:17 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Mark Collier]
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Mark.Lewis
Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 445
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There is a ton of sucker tricks. Off the top of my head is Design for laughter or it's ancestor Dunbury Delusion, Three and a Half of clubs, Now you See it, etc;
To this day I still remember a loud mouthed heckler (I even remember his name was Morris and this was around 40 years ago)yelling "I'm Sorry! You've got it wrong" when I apparently placed the correct card down on the table in the Design for Laughter trick in the Royal Road to Card Magic. He grabbed the card and when he turned it over it was no longer there. The yells of derision from the crowd and the look on his face stick with me to this day.
I just appeared humble and innocent as always and he knew he had been had. My style has always been for them to underestimate me. That guy became a fan of mine from that moment on. What else could he do? The only way he could placate his own injured ego was to thenceforth praise me to the skies on the old principle that "if you can't beat 'em then join 'em"
And the above scenario has happened countless times. The heckler turns into a fan instead of a pest.
Far better than using heckler stoppers I would have thought. I bet you don't turn too many hecklers in your favour saying "that's what happens when cousins marry"
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#207063 - 11/04/09 06:55 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Mark.Lewis]
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Dave Mithaca
Registered: 10/23/08
Posts: 38
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Great stuff, Mr. Lewis. A lot of this philosophy could be used by teachers (such as myself) to good effect in a classroom. I especially like your explanation of "suspension of disbelief." Thanks for sharing!
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#207078 - 11/04/09 08:14 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Dave Mithaca]
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Mark.Lewis
Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 445
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You are of course welcome.
I suppose I had better answer Jonathon's questions now. The problem is that I understand the first one but not the second. I shall have to wait until that comes back from the translater.
He asks how you introduce yourself to an audience. I am of the opinion that you should get straight to the point and not yap too much under the delusion that you are gaining "rapport" when you are probably inducing boredom instead. Mentalists are particularly guilty of this.
You need to get started within 30 seconds of coming out on that stage. Don't waste time. Performers who talk interminably without any action happening put me to sleep and of course mentalists again are the chief sinners in this regard.
I come from the hard school of London night clubs and British working mens clubs where you would not survive if you did all that interminable yapping that goes on nowadays. In London you were given no chance at all and in fact not only were the entire audience drunk they had their backs to you when you first came out on stage. The working mens clubs were much fairer. They would give you a whole minute before ignoring you. And you had to prove yourself in that first minute otherwise you were toast. After that if they didn't like you then a buzz of conversation would go round the room and that would be the end of you.
I learned then to get that first bloody trick started and not waste time. Do your rapport building during that trick not with a whole load of waffle beforehand.
And THAT is how you introduce yourself to an audience.
Edited by Mark.Lewis (11/04/09 08:41 PM)
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#207079 - 11/04/09 08:16 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: mrgoat]
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Mark.Lewis
Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 445
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I'd like to know why you ended up pitching sven decks. I sold then for a while in my youth before I even knew they were a pitch item. So I thought I was being clever working things that are in your book.
Do you think people who bulk sell the decks should also sell your book with them?
What is the ONE key thing in your book to persuade people to buy it?
x
Miracle of miracles. I think I have actually mastered this quote thing.
Edited by Mark.Lewis (11/04/09 08:17 PM)
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#207080 - 11/04/09 08:26 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Mark.Lewis]
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Mark.Lewis
Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 445
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I shall now ponder the goat's questions. I wish he hadn't asked so many but then he has always been irritating.
I ended up selling svengali decks because I overheard Ron Macmillan offering Val Andrews a massive percentage of sales to sell them at an exhibition. I then made the fatal error of going down to Ron MacMillan's magic studio the next day to offer my services. I wish now that I bloody hadn't. I made so much money selling them for Ron Macmillan that I could never escape from the damn things. I eventually went on my own and sold them all over the world and ended up married to the bloody things.
As to the second question people who bulk sell svengali decks have managed quite well without my book and no doubt will continue to do so. However it would certainly be a good book for a magic shop to carry since if they sell a svengali deck they may as well upsell my book also.
And the one key thing in my book is that it is written by MARK LEWIS. I would have thought this was perfectly obvious.
Edited by Mark.Lewis (11/04/09 08:29 PM)
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#207110 - 11/05/09 08:55 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Mark.Lewis]
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Silly Walter
Registered: 03/16/08
Posts: 91
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Mr. Lewis,
We appreciate you taking time out of your very busy schedule to answer such questions. I thank you in advance.
1. Besides Randy Wakeman, David Acer and Paul Harris, who do you think are the funniest and best comedy close up magic guys?
2. Richard Osterlind finally broke his 3 weeks of silence and released another DVD series - this time on 13 Steps To Mentalism. How awesome is that for mentalists?
3. Marshall Brodein also used to pitch the Svengali deck. I believe it was advertised as TV Magic Cards. Was this an inspiration for you to follow in his footsteps?
4. What is Theory 11?
5. When you hand out your business card, do you do something magical with the card like show it blank on both sides, magically print it and then give it to the client, or do you think magicians that do that should be punched in the face?
Once again Mr. Lewis, on behalf of the entire magic community, we thank you.
SW
_________________________
Silly Walter The Polar Bear
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#207112 - 11/05/09 09:24 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Silly Walter]
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Glenn Bishop
Registered: 03/14/08
Posts: 419
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Mr. Lewis,
We appreciate you taking time out of your very busy schedule to answer such questions. I thank you in advance.
SW
I am not Mr. Lewis however I will be glad to answer your questions - just to help you out silly Walter.
1. Besides Randy Wakeman, David Acer and Paul Harris, who do you think are the funniest and best comedy close up magic guys?
SW
Bill Malone, Tom Ogden, and Ricky Jay
2. Richard Osterlind finally broke his 3 weeks of silence and released another DVD series - this time on 13 Steps To Mentalism. How awesome is that for mentalists?
SW
Very awesome.
3. Marshall Brodein also used to pitch the Svengali deck. I believe it was advertised as TV Magic Cards. Was this an inspiration for you to follow in his footsteps?
SW
Having worked for Marshall Brodien in his Marshall Brodien Magic shop before it became Bishop's Magic shop. Back at the Old Chicago Amusement park. Marshall was known for doing the Svengali deck pitch on television. He also pitched TV Magic cards, TV Mystery cards, TV Miracle cards and the TV magic card box.
Along with lots of different magic sets.
Marshall Brodien also was a night club Hypnotist and close up magician in Chicago. Performing hypnotism at the Ciro club and close up magic at the Johnny Paul Magic Lounge.
Later he owned his own night club and went on to inventing WIZO the magic clown for the WGN bozo circus television program.
Yes Marshall Brodien has inspired me in both hypnotism and magic. He did a great svengali deck pitch and used to pitch the deck at Walgreens when the pitch was running on TV. I was also shown how to pitch svengali decks by Eddie Fields. And through the magic shop through the years sold quite a lot of them.
Theory after Theory 10 and before Theory 12.
5. When you hand out your business card, do you do something magical with the card like show it blank on both sides, magically print it and then give it to the client, or do you think magicians that do that should be punched in the face?
SW
I just hand out a business card when an audience member of a client asks for it. And if the client asks for a business card and I am booked at the gig by an agent I hand out the agents business card.
I hope this helps.
_________________________
Bish The Magish
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#207115 - 11/05/09 10:20 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Glenn Bishop]
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mrgoat
Registered: 01/17/08
Posts: 1138
Loc: Brighton, UK
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I doubt it, because he didn't ask for your opinion, he asked for someone else's opinion.
Just my opinion.
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#207118 - 11/05/09 10:58 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Glenn Bishop]
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Mark.Lewis
Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 445
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I say Bishop old chap. You are interrupting the class. Go and stand in the corner. Silly Walter was asking me not you.
I set up this thread so that I could relieve my boredom and pontificate here without getting into too much trouble. If I am not pontificating that means I go on the other threads and get tempted to say rude things about Jim Sisti who has actually got his revenge without knowing that he got it. And I am not going to tell him either. I don't want him gloating.
Anyway I set this thread up so that I could pontificate not Glenn Bishop. I do recognise that poor Glenn is misunderstood in the same way I am and his wise contributions are not acknowledged as much as they should be. However he should do as I do and set up his own pontification thread rather than ride on my coat tails and hijack my own recognised genius just because I get more attention than he does.
Besides it distracts me from answering Silly Walter's questions. What is the point of me answering them when another person comes along and deputises for me without having received formal permission to do so?
I shall now look at them closely and see what I have to say.
With regard to his first question I don't like anybody doing close up magic today. I think they are all crap but some are lesser crap than others. I think the best ones are dead and I am nearly there myself.
But it is an odd question. It mentions comedy close up magicians. I don't think a close up magician has to be funny to be effective. It doesn't hurt but it isn't essential. Just being funny per se isn't the be all and end all of a good performer. In fact you can be so funny that you kill the magic which does deserve some attention after all.
I will revise my statement that I don't particularly like any of the present crop of living incompetents. There is one chap in Ireland who is little known among magicians and likes to keep it that way. His name is Daniel 0'Donoghue and he is one of the greatest I have ever seen. He isn't particularly funny but as I stated you don't have to be. He is certainly entertaining though and you can certainly be entertaining without getting belly laughs. Smiles and amusement are sufficient.
A few months ago I saw Julie Eng perform and I was far more impressed than I thought I would be. It wasn't so much the magic which was excellent but the charm with which she put it across. Her smile alone would charm the most difficult of spectators. I saw her work to senior citizens who are not the greatest audiences for close up magic but they loved her. The secret is that she sells herself whether she knows it or not. And so does Dan in Ireland. The tricks don't really matter that much. As I keep saying they are only pegs that you hang your personality on.
I am hesitant to mention her here because I am in enough trouble with her already because of the lamentable Sisti person but that is another story altogether and even Sisti doesn't know what it is all about. Still Silly Walter asked the question and I feel duty bound to give a truthful answer. Mind you I haven't really answered the question because Julie isn't a comedy performer either. But then as I stated you don't have to be.
Walter has asked other questions and I will get to them in due course. I am still sulking because of the impertinence of the Bishop person in interruping the class.
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#207124 - 11/05/09 11:15 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Mark.Lewis]
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Glenn Bishop
Registered: 03/14/08
Posts: 419
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Sorry for interrupting the class Mark. I very much enjoyed the class talk on what to do about hecklers when performing. And the class way that you spoke about it "wit and wisdom" as I once said.
I also think that there are even more problems with hecklers today in the real world of performing. Just because of the secrets are easy to get today. With DVDs and youtube. If one is performing today with the exposure - it seems to me that there are more problems with hecklers today in the real world of doing shows.
So in my opinion your advice on hecklers was and is much needed.
Thanks again.
Oh yes I forgot to say "Just My Opinion"!
_________________________
Bish The Magish
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#207126 - 11/05/09 11:17 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Glenn Bishop]
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Jonathan Townsend
Registered: 01/17/08
Posts: 3291
Loc: Westchester, NY
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I'm watching the way you handle the heckler - trying to learn.
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#207127 - 11/05/09 11:29 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Jonathan Townsend]
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mai-ling
Registered: 05/10/08
Posts: 326
Loc: 60081
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me too!
_________________________
you will remember my namewww.mai-ling.net world's youngest illusionista
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#207128 - 11/05/09 11:38 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Jonathan Townsend]
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Mark.Lewis
Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 445
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Dunno Glenn. You may be right. I haven't noticed any particular difference but I suppose you may have a point that more people know the secrets so there may be more blurting out those secrets when a magician does his thing. I dunno. Where close up magic is concerned you may have a point although as I have said I haven't seen much trouble yet although I did notice Lee Darrow say much the same as you since people were beginning to know all the gimmicks he used.
Where the stage is concerned though I don't believe for one moment that there is more heckling now than there used to be. I think in fact there is far less. In the old days there were some very rough venues around and if you used the mamby-pamby technique that I described above you would not survive. I emphasis again that my sermon was for close up impromptu magic and sometimes even paid close up magic but not for stand up venues.
I got heckled mercilessly for months on end in London night clubs where the entire audience was drunk and I was a very new performer at the time. I had no idea how to handle it.
Nope. It is a lot easier nowadays with regard to stand up work at any rate. I hardly get any heckling at all nowadays in the venues I work and I must say that I don't miss it either.
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#207130 - 11/05/09 12:02 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Mark.Lewis]
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James Munton
Registered: 05/30/08
Posts: 95
Loc: Dallas, TX
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Doing sucker tricks for difficult punters is a horrible idea. There are far better ways to deal with them. I'd go into more detail, but I have to pop out for a while. I think it is outrageous that you would give these poor people such bad advice. I will take over the class when I return.
James
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#207132 - 11/05/09 12:06 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: James Munton]
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Mark.Lewis
Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 445
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Munton. You have no idea what you are talking about. You obviously missed the point I made that my advice is for close up magic situations rather than stand up performances. I know your style well. When you are being heckled you immediately get on your high horse and start to reprimand the heckler. Very silly way of proceeding if I may say so and is a common fault of the less experienced or the more experienced who are less astute.
Here is the very proof of my contention. It is well known that I do not approve of Quentin Reynolds and he does not approve of me in return but this is what he said about my work:
"I have no hesitation, nor have I ever had any hesitation or reluctance in acknowledging you as the finest card magician I have ever seen performing for laymen in an impromptu situation.
At conventions I have seen magicians, hailed as some of the world's best by their peers who I know would die a thousand painful deaths in the venues I have seen you perform. Venues where I have seen tough and hostile groups intrigued, tamed and turned into cheering fans in minutes and left shouting for more."
Note the words "tough and hostile" especially the word "hostile"
If Munton were working they would STILL be hostile even if he were able to quieten them down. With me they no longer remain hostile and in fact become "cheering fans". That is because I am MARK LEWIS and Munton is merely Munton.
How can anyone that decries my wonderful choo-choo train trick have any credibility?
Edited by Mark.Lewis (11/05/09 12:16 PM)
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#207133 - 11/05/09 12:12 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Mark.Lewis]
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Jager
Registered: 07/24/09
Posts: 20
Loc: L.A. California
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I am going to use this thread to answer any questions you may have about these subjects. Old people like to share their knowledge to the young who most of the time don't deserve the knowledge anyway.
Mark, I really appreciate your detailed answers to all my questions and I apologize if I am asking too many. I don’t get many opportunities to talk with seasoned working magicians so I am going to take advantage of your generosity.
Do you have any suggestions on selecting assistants from the audience? How do you spot the ones that will be most cooperative? I am amazed at how poorly most young people are able to follow even the simplest of instructions. And when an assistant is just not working out is it okay to politely dismiss them and select another?
_________________________
Kelly Smith
Jager
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#207135 - 11/05/09 12:21 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Jager]
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Mark.Lewis
Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 445
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I can certainly advise on Kelly's question and I shall do so in due course. Munton however has tired me out so I shall have to return to it later.
One question though. Is Kelly referring to a children's show (I notice he mentions young people) or an adult show? I can pontificate about both but the approaches are different.
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#207137 - 11/05/09 01:23 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Mark.Lewis]
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Jager
Registered: 07/24/09
Posts: 20
Loc: L.A. California
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One question though. Is Kelly referring to a children's show (I notice he mentions young people) or an adult show? I can pontificate about both but the approaches are different.
Mark, my question pertains to close up and parlour magic. By young people I meant 16-30 year olds.
_________________________
Kelly Smith
Jager
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#207138 - 11/05/09 01:38 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Jager]
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Mark.Lewis
Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 445
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I didn't realise that it was for close up magic. That makes it slightly more complicated but it is indeed an important question. I have often said and it bears repeating even if people are sick of me saying it that any fool can learn to manipulate cards, coins etc; however the secret to becoming a great close up magician is learning how to manipulate the PEOPLE. I remember one incompetent magician in Ireland once telling me that it is not possible to manipulate the people.
He was wrong. You HAVE to manipulate the people if you are going to be any good. And your question addresses that issue. I am still tired out so will answer it later. It is actually a very important question.
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#207154 - 11/05/09 03:20 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Mark.Lewis]
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Mark.Lewis
Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 445
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I will just touch on one aspect of Kelly's question and come back to the main thrust of it later. Again I am only referring to close up impromptu magic here rather than a parlour magic show or a more formal structure. I will try to cover these scenarios later.
Who do you use to help? You use EVERYBODY. Obviously there is going to be a bias towards the more receptive people and if you need to classic force a card then use that person.However even though the temptation will be to work to someone that reacts well don't work to them exclusively. Perhaps more than anyone else but not exclusively. YOu should work to everyone even if it just means somebody assists by doing something minor such as blowing on a card or saying a magic word.
You are there to entertain everybody so focus on everybody and make every person there feel important in some way. Try to BRING THEM INTO IT. Make it personal. If you focus on one person you are not spreading the magic. Spread your talent and charisma around to everyone whether they be miserable and grumpy, or an obnoxious heckler. EVERYONE should be attended to in some way. Impromptu close up audiences are usually very small so you should be able to use everyone.
Now you know. I shall expand on Kelly's questions later.
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#207155 - 11/05/09 03:29 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Mark.Lewis]
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Glenn Bishop
Registered: 03/14/08
Posts: 419
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I have often said and it bears repeating even if people are sick of me saying it that any fool can learn to manipulate cards, coins etc; however the secret to becoming a great close up magician is learning how to manipulate the PEOPLE.
Standing Ovation! Well said! I have very much enjoyed reading this thread - thanks again Mark.
Just my opinion.
_________________________
Bish The Magish
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#207156 - 11/05/09 03:37 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Glenn Bishop]
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James Munton
Registered: 05/30/08
Posts: 95
Loc: Dallas, TX
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Mark,
I did not miss your point. Using a sucker trick for a Difficult Audience Member - let's call them a DAM - is a bad idea especially in a close-up situation.
And you are completely wrong about how I handle the situation. I would never reprimand a heckler. That's an even worse suggestion.
I've now read that bloody quote from Quentin about 2,400 times. You are very fond of posting it, sometimes several times a day. However, when considering your advice we should also take into account the fact that your close-up repertoire includes the most awful dice trick in the world (are there any other kind?) and the horrific Choo Choo Train trick. By the way, I notice that your Choo Choo Train thread is dying a miserable death. The only person to have any response to that big bag of bollocks is your silly shill Jolly Roger.
Now back to the important topic of handling DAMs.
Kelly does indeed raise an important point. When working in a strolling situation, you will typically have from 2 to 8 people watching. Choosing the first person to help is very important. Mark is right that you should use/include everyone, but you still need to choose someone to pick that first card.
There are many complex factors that go into this important decision which is made in an instant. If there is a DAM in the audience you can usually sense it. There is a subtle vibe when you approach the group, perhaps one person slightly bristles or you catch a certain look in their eye.
Whatever it is, you'll catch it as soon as you start speaking and as soon as you sense that you have a DAM on your hands you must determine something very quickly... what kind of DAM are you dealing with?
There are several kinds of DAMs and each type requires a different response. That is why it is ludicrous for Mark to simply tell you all to do a sucker trick which at best is ineffectual and at worst may lead to serious bodily harm.
Let's talk about the two most common types of DAM and how you might handle them.
1. The person who hates magic and magicians with a passion
2. The person who wants to be center of attention (alpha male)
Despite what the average Genii reader might think, there is a significant percentage of the population that thinks magicians are sad little losers who lack social skills and often have poor personal hygiene. And in many cases they are right.
If you meet this type of DAM in a strolling situation you either leave immediately and pass on to the next group, or you do a mercifully brief trick for the other people in the group and move on. You do not engage this type of spectator at all. You certainly do not do a sucker trick at all. If you do a sucker trick for a group that contains a Type #1 DAM, you will reinforce every negative stereotype they have about magicians. Not only that, the negative feelings will spread like a virus to the other members of the group infecting them with similar negative feelings.
No! You smile nicely and at least pretend you have a modicum of social skills and move on quickly. You may find that some of the group who are more receptive to watching some magic will leave the kill-joy and join you at another group.
The Type #2 DAM or alpha male is a fascinating type of spectator to work with.
It is true what Mark said that this type of DAM can sometimes turn into your biggest fan, but you need to have excellent skills to do this.
You must never do a sucker trick. Silly, silly advice from Mark. All that happens is the DAM thinks he has the upper hand and loves it until you smack him in the face with the sucker ending. Then he will feel the desire to literally smack you in the face in return.
The other huge mistake is to get into any kind of challenge situation.
No! Instead, you turn the Type #2 DAM into a co-conspirator. You give him some of the lime light. You let him do the magic and be the hero. You need to stoke his ego a little. Feed him some lines and let him supply the punchline.
Mark is again right that to be a successful close-up performer you need to manipulate the audience. With the Type #2 DAM, you need to first gain complete rapport before you start subtly leading him in the dance.
So in conclusion, if anyone is still reading at this point, Mark has some useful advice but he ruins everything with the nonsense about sucker tricks. Forget about the type of tricks and instead develop your observation skills. Try to determine what type of DAM you are dealing with. Think about their motivations. Close-up magic should never be a battle or challenge. It should be about everyone having fun together. Developing rapport is far more important than choosing an appropriate trick.
Best,
James
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#207167 - 11/05/09 07:22 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: James Munton]
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Tom Frame
Registered: 01/17/08
Posts: 307
Loc: San Francisco
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Permit me to give a DAM. I’m curious to hear how people deal with a third type of DAM. He neither hates magic, nor craves to be the center of attention.
This guy knows a wee bit of inferior magic. During your performance, he smiles knowingly, nods and whispers to his girlfriend. He is either explaining what he believes to be the method (and he’s probably wrong), or he’s telling his girlfriend what to look for in order to catch you doing the dirty work.
He is mildly disruptive and other audience members notice his whispering. They may ask him if he knows the method. He smugly nods and states in a low voice that he will explain or demonstrate the method to them later.
Any thoughts on dealing with this guy?
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#207168 - 11/05/09 07:32 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Tom Frame]
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James Munton
Registered: 05/30/08
Posts: 95
Loc: Dallas, TX
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Treat him exactly the same as Type 2. Give him the cards to shuffle. He will be nervous and his hands will shake. He may even start sweating. Resist the temptation to act superior towards him. Instead, compliment him saying things like, "you obviously know how to handle cards. I better watch out for you!" Give him a knowing wink to let him know you know he is part of the secret magicians' club. Boost his ego, the poor fellow needs it.
He will beam from ear to ear and after that will be your new best friend.
Best,
James
Edited by James Munton (11/05/09 07:34 PM)
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#207171 - 11/05/09 07:58 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: James Munton]
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Jolly Roger
Registered: 03/19/08
Posts: 209
Loc: Phoenix, Arizona
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I feel I really should contribute something to Mark's excellent thread, but I have little to say. However, I will tell you that I discovered today that Munton's father is the same age as me, and my birthday was the same date as the late Carl Ballantine...September 27th. However, Carl was a little older than me. Mark Lewis is much older than me! JR
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#207172 - 11/05/09 08:04 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: James Munton]
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Lee Almond
Registered: 01/17/08
Posts: 97
Loc: Wichita Ks.
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Excellent post James, I could not agree more with your statements above. I hate the damn sucker tricks, and some magi's wonder why the hell the lay people hate magic and magicians. BTW I also hate the word "fooled" use in the context of a magic effect or presentation. But understand I do not know EVERYTHING about magic and proper presentation like other's confess. Peace all.
Lee
Edited by Lee Almond (11/05/09 08:06 PM)
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#207181 - 11/05/09 11:12 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Jolly Roger]
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Mark.Lewis
Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 445
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Munton has got it wrong again. He obviously hasn't read my very first post where I explained my proviso that this approach was done in an impromptu situation usually for no money at all. Since all Moneybags Munton is interested is money and never performs impromptu I should be listened to not him. I hardly mentioned strolling magic and when I did I made plain that if the heckler was drunk as Munton often is then he can easily be avoided. And this applies to other types of hecklers too. But you don't have to if you are as good as me which James clearly isn't.
My advice to Mr Frame is just to simply read what I said before Munton interrupted the class. Since his irritant spectator is only a mild irritant it will be even easier to handle him. You must bring him into it and feed his sense of importance and you can indeed do what James said. It doesn't conflict in the slightest to what I said and you will note that he said he agreed with me except for the sucker tricks.
The sucker tricks are wonderful and I use them even when nobody is heckling. They have to be done in the correct manner and at all costs not in a smirky superior way. Some of the greatest card tricks of all time are sucker tricks such as 3 and a half of clubs, Dunbury Delusion, The long card, Matching the Cards and many, many more. If you do them in a smart alec manner then they won't work. You will of course note that Munton has a smart alec manner whereas you will also note that I am timid, quiet and humble. My style is the one to have if you do sucker tricks.
I also said that the sucker effects should be used only as a LAST RESORT. Most of the time if you follow my other suggestions you won't need it. You have to CHARM the heckler and Munton has as much charm as a poisoned rattlesnake.Anyone who performs the disgraceful bra trick and does the Hot Book at children's parties has a lot to learn. Not to say someone who denigrates the famous Dr Sacks dice trick. And of course Munton has never seen me perform it so he doesn't even know what he is
denigrating.
You can tell what a disgraceful person he is by the dreadful British profanity in his above post.
I have indeed posted the quote from Quentin Reynolds several times in order to annoy him and make him wish he hadn't said it. I shall also be shortly marketing his Punch and Judy show which I secretly taped one day when he wasn't looking. Not that it is any good anyway.
I haven't the slightest idea what DAM stands for. I do wish James would speak the Queen's English properly. I am afraid he has been in America too long.
Furthermore I must inform Mr Almond that I am MARK LEWIS and indeed know EVERYTHING about magic and it would behoove him not to question my great wisdom on these matters.
The sucker trick will work perfectly providing you come across as sweet, innocent and humble like me instead of an arrogant British ex-public schoolboy like Munton. It is part of the British Public School system (which actually means private school in the U.K) to breed students with great arrogance like James.
He is most ungrateful since if it weren't for my training he would not be a star TV hypnotist.
He really shouldn't be hijacking my thread because it delays the responses to other people since I have to waste time repling to him. I do hope he considers himself severely reprimanded.
In any case I shall have to delay my responses for a few days since in my capacity as an unholy man of the cloth I have to go on a divine mission of depriving the public of their money...erm.....I mean collecting donations from my congregation. From tomorrow my posts will decline for a few days although I may still be able to post a little. However my time will be more limited.
I do hope that Munton and others do not attempt to hijack this thread while I am otherwise occupied.
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#207188 - 11/06/09 12:21 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Mark.Lewis]
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James Munton
Registered: 05/30/08
Posts: 95
Loc: Dallas, TX
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Are you working on a book of your own James?
Has Mark been nattering on about his book again? I must say I think it will be a most excellent book and probably a best seller as long as Mark doesn't mention the horrific Choo Choo Train trick.
I am not planning to write a magic book - that seems so 1990's. Even Richard Kaufman doesn't seem to do magic books any more. I will however have a very excellent and very expensive marketing course for sale to coincide with my lecture at the Kapital Kidvention in January.
After 10 years of being very successful in the Washington, DC area, I moved to Dallas, TX and literally had to build up my business from nothing. In 30 days my schedule was booked solid. I will tell you how I did it.
Best,
James
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#207190 - 11/06/09 01:04 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: James Munton]
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James Munton
Registered: 05/30/08
Posts: 95
Loc: Dallas, TX
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I haven't the slightest idea what DAM stands for. I do wish James would speak the Queen's English properly. I am afraid he has been in America too long
If Mark actually reads my post, he will see that it is an acronym for Difficult Audience Member. He's obviously been in Canada too long.
I am glad to see he is now backing away from the sucker tricks and suggests people use them as a "LAST RESORT" (his capitals).
I see no difference between performing impromptu and performing at a paid gig. It is also perfectly possible to perform for drunks using the suggestions I have outlined. If you refuse to perform for drunks, as Mark recommends, you will eliminate 70% of your audience at the typical company holiday party, which will not go down well with the person who signs your check (who usually happens to be the drunkest person at the party).
Drunks like to have their egos stroked and sucker tricks can cause them to get physically violent. But if you can get the drunk person on your side, the rest of the group will love it. Be extra careful of a drunk woman. She can be very unpredictable. However, if you can get her on your side, you have a good chance of a shag.
Best,
James
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#207196 - 11/06/09 03:32 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: James Munton]
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mrgoat
Registered: 01/17/08
Posts: 1138
Loc: Brighton, UK
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I don't think I will be buying a marketing course from a man who tries to get drunken sex from his audiences.
And boasts about it.
What next? Roofies and Magic - All you need to know to get in her knickers?
Sigh.
Leave Rev Lewis' decent thread alone. Start your own with your awesome 'bedding women' advice if you want, but you are now spoiling a decent thread with your nonsense.
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#207198 - 11/06/09 06:47 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: mrgoat]
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Mark.Lewis
Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 445
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Quite right Mr Goat. As for Munton's sudden disapproval of books
no doubt that is because he has already written one that seems to have been rejected by publishers and literary agents. I happen to know that he HAS written one although I know not what it was about. He has recently been trying to hawk it for sale to the general market but since he has quite gone off books it is a sign that the general market has shown great disinterest and quite right too. He ain't no Charles Dickens it seems.
The approach for impromptu audiences IS different than for paid gigs. I did say that a lot of the same techniques I espoused can be used for them. I have done many strolling gigs and the amount of drunks I have seen are few and far between so Munton is talking rot again. I expect the only person drunk at his gigs is himself. I happen to know that his alcohol intake is nearly as much as the Amazing Lambert that I referenced in my svengali book and he has already confessed this elsewhere. I have Jolly Roger as a witness.
Munton's suggestion for a difficult audience member is exactly the same as mine. No doubt he was copying from me. Great minds do think alike but if anyone thinks that Munton has a great mind then God may have mercy on their soul.
He agrees with every word I say except for the sucker tricks. That is because he has far too arrogant a personality to do sucker tricks successfully. And I didn't say you should do sucker tricks for drunks anyway. I said you should avoid drunks when you can.
Munton has admitted to avoiding hecklers who dislike magic but says he seeks out drunks. Hecklers who dislike magic are no different than hecklers who merely want to show off.They are still bloody hecklers. I am baffled as to why James is afraid of one but bravely engages the other. I can charm hecklers that don't like magic and make them change their minds (until they see James perform of course)and by the time I am finished they will be praising me to the skies.
Anyway Mr Goat is quite correct. Munton has been disrupting the class and has not apologised for doing so like Mr Bishop has done. If he wishes to pontificate about having sexual intercourse with drunken women and writing marketing courses to deprive magicians of their money or how to do the disgraceful bra trick or how the hot book is perfectly acceptable for children's parties or how awful Dr Sacks dice trick or how terrible Edwin's (not mine) Choo Choo trick is then he should start his own thread.
Besides hasn't he got shows this weekend?
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#207211 - 11/06/09 09:02 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Mark.Lewis]
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Glenn Bishop
Registered: 03/14/08
Posts: 419
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I have a question Mark. When doing a stand up show do you have a way of selecting people out of the audience? And when you do so how do you get them from the audience up to the stage?
I am talking about a grown up show not a kid show. In the U.S. Kids like to come up onto the stage and often many adults hesitate and are often reluctant to come up onto a stage.
Thanks in advance.
_________________________
Bish The Magish
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#207212 - 11/06/09 09:05 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Glenn Bishop]
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James Munton
Registered: 05/30/08
Posts: 95
Loc: Dallas, TX
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Mr Goat,
You are guilty of the worst of all sins... you lack a sense of humor.
Best,
James
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#207218 - 11/06/09 09:40 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Mark.Lewis]
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James Munton
Registered: 05/30/08
Posts: 95
Loc: Dallas, TX
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Mark,
With regards to books, you know full well that I am one of the most well-read people you have ever not met. I was talking specifically about magic books. You yourself are fond of saying that you don't read magic books published after 1954 (which I think is a terrible insult to Richard Kaufman who published over 27,000 magic books between 1988 and 1999).
The problem is your advice is often as dated as the magic books you read. Although perhaps it is okay, because the only people you perform for these days are the old folks in retirement homes that David organizes for you. I have no suggestions on how to deal with octogenarian hecklers. I would defer to your vast experience of that particular group.
You are correct that I recently wrote a non-magic book, but as usual wrong about the other 90%. I was actually very successful in getting a literary agent (I had several fighting over me.) But I am beginning to think it was a big mistake because my agent seems worse than David Ben and he's having me rewrite almost everything before he submits it to publishers.
Hecklers who dislike magic are no different than hecklers who merely want to show off.They are still bloody hecklers.
In all seriousness, this is very poor advice indeed. If you were a doctor, you wouldn't prescribe the same medicine for everyone who came through your door.
If you are at a party and you came across someone who just does not want to watch any magic, why on earth would you impose your awful dice tricks on her?
In an instant you have turned from a magician to an "inflictor of magic."
If you can't see the difference after all these years, Mark, you are no better than the awful teenage restaurant magicians who think you should ambush people with lines such as "Did anyone drop a knife?"
Munton's suggestion for a difficult audience member is exactly the same as mine. No doubt he was copying from me.
Yes, it is a rare talent I have of copying people before they have said something. But I am glad you admit to agreeing with my excellent advice in your own funny way.
As for shows, I do indeed have a busy weekend including a show this evening in an upscale bar for a 50th birthday party where I am quite sure I will encounter plenty of drunks and Type #1 and #2 DAMs. I am tempted to do nothing but sucker tricks all night and report back how they went. However, I would like to actually get paid at the end of the evening.
Best.
James
Edited by James Munton (11/06/09 09:41 AM)
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#207242 - 11/06/09 11:52 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: James Munton]
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Mark.Lewis
Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 445
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James. If you wish to be a blithering idiot would you kindly blither somewhere else? Start your own thread if you wish to blither. People are asking serious questions for which they require serious answers. While you are chattering here I haven't time to answer them. I shall simply say that I was doing this stuff when you were breastfeeding and I know what I am doing.
You are not saying anything different than me except for the use of sucker tricks. If you don't agree then keep your disagreement to yourself. If you don't like the Dr Sacks trick that is your pregorative. But keep it to yourself. I don't like the way you perform the hot book for children and encourage them to burn the house down and neither do I appreciate your awful bra trick which promotes magic for the lower classes. However I don't go on and on and on and on and on and on and on about it.
And I DON'T prescribe the same medicine for everyone. I play situations by ear and I am very skillful at it. I understand people inside out and I work according to what I have figured out about them as individuals.
And I NEVER inflict magic on people. This has never been my style. I believe in Leipzig's dictum of never performing unless coaxed. However I make sure they coax me. I have ways of doing this but I am not going to explain them to you since the effort would be wasted.
If people don't want to see magic they will within seconds of me working.They have no choice but again I haven't the space to explain why. But other people will coax me. I never perform unless people beg me to. I just manipulate matters so they beg-that is all.
The Dr Sacks dice trick is an absolute masterpiece if it is done in the right way and at the right time. Bob Sheets does it regularly from what I hear so why don't you go and make fun of him too while you are at it? I can assure you the reaction is tremendous.
With regard to publishers and literary agents EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM will ask for the manuscript to be rewritten. The conflict between editors and authors always results in a better book.
I really don't want to discuss this any more. This is MY thread and you are disturbing it. My time is very limited this weekend and I can't get to people's questions because of your interruptions so why don't you be a good chap and toddle off?
Edited by Mark.Lewis (11/06/09 11:54 PM)
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#207243 - 11/07/09 12:36 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Mark.Lewis]
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James Munton
Registered: 05/30/08
Posts: 95
Loc: Dallas, TX
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I don't like the way you perform the hot book for children and encourage them to burn the house down and neither do I appreciate your awful bra trick which promotes magic for the lower classes. However I don't go on and on and on and on and on and on and on about it.
Ha! Thanks for giving me a jolly good laugh. You are obsessed with my use of the Hot Book and mention it at least once a day.
I think I have actually rattled your cage. You seem to be genuinely irritated. This is indeed a great day!!! Friends of the Genii Forum, this is an historic occasion!
I know why you are so annoyed. It is because I have been giving better advice and secretly you wish you had said it first.
Also, you are probably short-tempered because you spent the day pretending to be a psychic. Now that is the ultimate sucker trick.
Best,
James
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#207244 - 11/07/09 12:40 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Mark.Lewis]
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Jolly Roger
Registered: 03/19/08
Posts: 209
Loc: Phoenix, Arizona
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I think that this might be an opportune moment for me to diffuse the dissagreement between my friends Munton and Lewis, and to mention that I am near completion of my own book, which will be self published. It is called "The Spiritual Stage." Here is the link: http://www.SpiritualStage.com
The nice thing about self publishing, is that it goes to print exactly the way that you want it, and you do not have to rely on the often biased opinions of editors. However, if any of you out there are writing a book and wish to have it edited, I happen to know that Munton's wife is an expert in this field, but I suspect, being married to Munton, her services do not come cheap!! JR
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#207245 - 11/07/09 12:45 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: James Munton]
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Mark.Lewis
Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 445
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James. I take offence at your insinuation. I AM a genuine psychic and have thousands of clients who depend on my honesty over these matters. Please keep your scepticism to yourself.
You know perfectly well that I don't mind your banter but on this occasion I am indeed irritated. It is not your fault that you are irritating me and you are entirely innocent.
I have just sent you an e-mail explaing the cause of my irritation. It has nothing to do with the bloody dice trick or the hot book. It is a far more serious matter. Please check your e-mail now and talk to me privately about it.
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#207247 - 11/07/09 12:47 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Mark.Lewis]
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Mark.Lewis
Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 445
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Typical Roger making matters worse.
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#207249 - 11/07/09 01:00 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Jolly Roger]
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Mark.Lewis
Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 445
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I shall indeed
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#207318 - 11/07/09 11:26 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Mark.Lewis]
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Mark.Lewis
Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 445
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Now that Munton has finally quietened down I shall reusme answering the questions I missed. Not right now though. Counselling my congregation this weekend has been a trifle exhausing.
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#207329 - 11/08/09 12:19 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Mark.Lewis]
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Jolly Roger
Registered: 03/19/08
Posts: 209
Loc: Phoenix, Arizona
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You are obviously exhausted as you have spelt(spelled) the word "resume" in a dislexic fashion. That would not look good on your resume! JR
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#207339 - 11/08/09 06:56 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Jolly Roger]
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Mark.Lewis
Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 445
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Roger. You are obviously exhausted since you have spelt (spelled) the word "Dyslextic" in a dyslextic fashion. That would not look good on your resume! ML
Edited by Mark.Lewis (11/08/09 07:20 AM)
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#207355 - 11/08/09 12:41 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Jolly Roger]
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Matt Colman
Member
Registered: 11/06/09
Posts: 5
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Mark, I always enjoy your stories - please share you favourite...
Not a question yet, let me re-phrase. Do you have a favourite story to share?
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#207386 - 11/08/09 10:11 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Matt Colman]
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Mark.Lewis
Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 445
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I have too many stories to have a favourite. My upcoming memoirs will no doubt have a few of them.
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#207426 - 11/09/09 09:44 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Mark.Lewis]
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Mark.Lewis
Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 445
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I have now lost track of all the unanswered questions because of the interuptions from a Brit who is under the delusion that he is an American just because he now lives in Texas.
I shall however reply to Glenn because he asked an easy one that should be disposed of quickly. He asked how to get people up on stage.
I know Glenn does hypnosis and I have very good advice in this situation that I learned from Maurice Fogel which has been absolutely priceless to me. That will indeed take a bit of explanation so I shall leave it for another time.
For other situations in a regular magic show where less people are needed it is a very easy matter. Do NOT ask for a volunteer. That entails a stage wait and the person you get up might turn out to be a bloody nuisance. You could get an obnoxious show off or someone who is so dim that they can't follow directions properly.
No. Pick out who you want and bring that person up. This gives you more control since you can scan the audience and choose who you want. Ideally do this before you go on but if you have to you can make good judgements when you are on stage and can see the crowd. Pick out someone who looks cheerful and reasonably compos mentis. Avoid senior citizens. And at all costs avoid the ones who appear to be showing off. Don't get hecklers up on stage despite the daft advice you sometimes see about bringing them up on the theory that this will quieten them down. It bloody won't and in fact will make matters worse.
Now it is indeed true that many people are reluctant to come on stage as Glenn mentioned. That is probably because of natural shyness since a stage is a foreign environment for most people. I must say, however, that magicians don't help when they mistreat volunteers who arrive on stage. I see time and time again how performers abuse the people who come on stage such as feeding them "lumps of sugar" and demeaning them in suchlike ways.
I am terribly old fashioned and fuddy-duddy about this. I believe that people are your GUESTS on stage and should be treated with courtesy and not used as a human prop for other's entertainment. In a hypnosis show you have to do this otherwise there will be no show but for a magic show there is no necessity to demean people. Incompetent performers do this under the doubtful justification that the person on stage realises it is all "fun" and they are acting as good sports. Well, I think it is not "fun" in the eyes of the audience and is in fact bloody awful.
This sort of thing is bad advertising and makes it difficult to encourage people to come on stage in the first place.
Anyway you get around all this reluctance by acting in a courteous manner and generally when the audience applauds the volunteer as you say "give the gentleman (or lady) a big round of applause as he (or she) comes on stage" he or she will really have no choice in the matter as it is very difficult to buck the tide and refuse to come up if everyone is applauding you.
Now the key matter is how you approach the volunteer in the first place. There are a whole bunch of methods to do this. You should certainly speak to them while they are in the audience before you bring them up. Get them used to you before you ask them up. Get them to participate in some way from their seats before you bring them up. For example naming a card or something, even calling out a magic word. Any bloody thing.
You can do a quick gag or trick with them in the audience for example and then say, "You did that trick very well. In fact you did it so well that I wonder if you would mind helping me do another one. You would? Then come right on stage. Give him a big round of applause for helping!" As I stated earlier the round of applause is very important and stops them from saying no. I don't think I have EVER had anyone refuse to come on stage when I do this. Of course as I also said earlier I choose carefully who I pick on.
I really don't want to describe what I personally do in case everybody starts to steal my bloody act. However you can do the baby gag with someone in the audience or Danny Archer's pig trick. I also use a card trick gag with someone in the audience. Once they have assisted you with a trick where they stay in their seat then there is no problem continuing your relationship by simply bringing them up on stage.
I quite like Paul Potassy's approach with a long rope which I have also seen the late David Nixon do. Get the Potassy DVD or book to find out what it is.
This took longer to explain that I thought it would. I wish I hadn't bloody started. Anyway I hope it is a useful reply for Glenn and others anyway.
Edited by Mark.Lewis (11/09/09 09:47 AM)
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#207432 - 11/09/09 10:40 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Mark.Lewis]
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James Munton
Registered: 05/30/08
Posts: 95
Loc: Dallas, TX
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I'm almost reluctant to post anything for fear that Mother will get annoyed again. Besides, I noticed that on another thread one of my wonderful posts was deleted. I thought that sort of thing only happened on the Tragic Cafe.
Anyway, I will try to refrain from criticizing anything Mother does, because she'll get all stroppy. I agree with about 94% of what has been posted above. However, here is the most important piece of advice.
Unless you are doing a theater show (which most of us are not), you should have plenty of opportunity to talk to a few people before the show. This is an excellent time to find a few prospective helpers. For example, I do a trick where I need someone to lend me a $20 bill. I ALWAYS set this up in advance by asking two or three people if they have a bill.
Here is what I say, "I wonder if you could do me a big favor. Near the beginning of my show, I need to borrow a $20 bill from someone. Just in case nobody else has one and raises their hand, would you be my Go-To guy? I probably won't need to ask you, but do you have a bill just in case?"
I then make sure they check to see if they have one and remind them that I probably won't need to use them at all.
I think this is important, because I don't want them to sit there and start getting all nervous for the next ten minutes. Also, I might genuinely choose someone else and I don't want them to feel bad if I end up not using them.
I also ask the host if there is anyone in particular who would be fun to help me and I make sure I chat with them for a minute to make sure. Don't just take the host's suggestion without meeting the person first.
Doing a bit of mingling before the show is extremely useful because it breaks the ice a little and allows you to look out for certain faces once you start and give them a nod or smile during the first few minutes of the show. This makes a huge difference.
Best,
James
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#207442 - 11/09/09 11:54 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: James Munton]
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Glenn Bishop
Registered: 03/14/08
Posts: 419
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I just wanted to jump in here and thank Mark Lewis to thank him for answering my question with a really oustanding post.
Thanks very much Mark.
_________________________
Bish The Magish
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#207456 - 11/09/09 01:21 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Glenn Bishop]
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Mark.Lewis
Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 445
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James. You know perfectly well that I do not approve of "mingling" on the grounds that I am very shy and retiring not to say ant--social. You on the other hand are probably trying to sell them something so it doesn't surprise me that you would want to talk to them.
When some performers arrive at a venue they look as if they own the place. When I arrive it looks like I am trying to steal the silverwear.
It suits me therefore to do things the way I do them. This is why I refuse to do pre-show work as some mentalists do and years ago I used to hate finding a stooge in the Northern Clubs to wear a tie for the most wondrous tie-cutting trick. I knew that if I didn't do the trick the bloody act would die a death because of the type of audience that inhabited those dreadful places.
Of course I compensate myself with the wisdom that old time performers would NEVER be seen before the show. I remember working in a circus once and glimpsed out at the audience and the ringmaster and owner of the circus was most disapproving saying "You should be a surprise for them." I certainly was of course since I must have been the only performer in living memory to perform card tricks in a circus ring. I have absolutely no idea how I got away with it. Thank God it was a small circus.
Of course I know that this is great advice for circus and theatrical performers who should NOT be seen before the show. I do appreciate however that this advice is not applicable to other situations. And in fact sometimes being seen before the show actually helps.
Still, I am what I am.
I do sympathise with you about your post being deleted. I have no idea as yet which post you are referring to but I hope it is the one I expressed my concern to you privately about. I expect it is another one though and no doubt you were being very rude to somebody or other as you often are.
Still I know how you feel. I cannot reply to you on the Choo Choo train trick thread since I think Richard has done some dastardly computer thing so that I cannot respond. He has told me that I am featured on too many threads and should not be so ubiquitous. My defence is that God is supposed to be everywhere so I don't see why I can't be as well. After all I am a godlike figure in magic so I have no idea why I can't be everywhere as well. Why should God get all the fun?
Anyway the thread is now left to you and Roger. I shall merely say that the Choo Choo trick (which used to be called the Magic Menu) is a far better warm up than the hot book which is liable to warm the place up too much and burn the bloody house down.
Anyway before you distract me too much I must thank Glenn for his appreciation of my advice. I did forget to mention that this technique will also work if you want to get two people up. You have to subdivide the proceeding trick a bit though. For example if you are using the baby gag combined with the well known NO gag you ask one spectator to think of a word and the other one to think of a celebrity. Or the pig trick you ask one person to think of an animal and repeat with another person. Then you can get both of them to come up on stage.
If there are three people or more which sometimes happens then you have to use the wonderful Maurice Fogel advice regarding the help of a committee. For example I do pseudo-psychometry with six people on stage and there really is no way to do that unless you simply ask for volunteers. And of course volunteers can be slow in coming. The advice of Fogel solves that problem in a wonderful way. I shall talk about it another time providing James (who is actually a good online friend of mine) does not distract me again.
Edited by Mark.Lewis (11/09/09 01:25 PM)
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#207457 - 11/09/09 01:30 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Mark.Lewis]
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James Munton
Registered: 05/30/08
Posts: 95
Loc: Dallas, TX
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I am not familiar with Fogel's method and I would love to hear it. I promise not to interrupt.
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#207460 - 11/09/09 02:01 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: James Munton]
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Mark.Lewis
Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 445
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James. I don't trust you. Besides you don't like the Choo-Choo trick so I am in a great huff over the matter.
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#207469 - 11/09/09 02:36 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Mark.Lewis]
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James Munton
Registered: 05/30/08
Posts: 95
Loc: Dallas, TX
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Nobody likes the Choo Choo Train Wreck which is why it hasn't been performed in over 53 years.
But in any case, I have a feeling you will soon post Fogel's solution in great detail with or without any interruptions.
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#207470 - 11/09/09 02:39 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: James Munton]
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Mark.Lewis
Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 445
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You are correct. However I am far too tired. If you are in a hurry I shall merely say that I bet you have it already.
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#207474 - 11/09/09 03:20 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Richard Hart]
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Joe Pecore
Registered: 01/17/08
Posts: 511
Loc: Northern Virginia
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#207509 - 11/09/09 07:02 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Jolly Roger]
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Mark.Lewis
Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 445
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I am now as sick of the bloody Choo Choo train trick as Munton is. I shall therefore describe the Fogel thing even though I don't really want to.
This applies if you need to get a lot of people coming up. It is a godsend to me in my hypnosis show where you need to get at least 10 people on stage. In a high school where I do these shows it is no problem whatsoever getting volunteers and in fact you can end up with too many. However in corporate environmenments or in other venues where people are loath to make a fool of themselves it can be a bit slow going on occasion to get people up.
This is a mental attitude rather than a technique. Fogel advised NEVER TO PANIC. I actually enjoy it when people are slow to come on up because I always admire my own brilliance at following the Fogel advice and I always end up with the requisite amount of people anyway. You can't really point people out in the audience and ask them to volunteer in a hypnosis show since they may not make good subjects if you force them up.
Fogel advised keeping absolutely calm and light heartedly saying things like "Don't all rush at once" He said that you have to think "I am the master" and not look in the slightest bit anxious. If you do then it will make matters worse. You must never say things like "If I don't have any volunteers then I can't do the show" If you do then that will be a death knell for the performance.
I am always in a good humour when volunteers are slow to come up. I know from being a pitchman that the hardest person to get up is the very first one. Once that happens the others will follow, albeit sometimes slowly. You just keep chatting and looking relaxed. When I come up against this I am in no rush. I know perfectly well that the show won't continue without me so I just chatter amiably saying things like "You are all very slow. Do you work for the post office" or "Take your time but hurry up"
All this is said in a light hearted way without panic of any kind. The second you show anxiety is the second that people get more reluctant. Remember, as Fogel said YOU ARE THE MASTER.
I have even got it to a point where obsessive compulsive disorder sets in. If I have ten chairs on stage and only 8 people come up I could continue the show with that number quite easily. However I utterly refuse to until the last two chairs are filled. Even if I have to wait a little longer. My attitude is that I MUST fill in that spare chair even if I have to wait another 15 minutes. Of course if I did have to wait 15 minutes that would be a disaster and in actual practice it is only another minute at most. However it is my ATTITUDE that is the important thing. No panic, no nervousness, no rushing, no anxiety whatsoever. I just go into relaxation mode and sooner or later everyone arrives on stage. It doesn't take anywhere near as long as it sounds and the people are entertained by my chatter when waiting.
Another thing I do which is specifically geared to hypnosis shows is to be as easygoing and courteous as possible and this helps to entice people on stage. Before I ask for volunteers I start my show with a card trick and I need someone to come up on stage to help. By treating this person with the utmost courtesy during the card trick it encourages the volunteers to come up when they are needed for the hypnosis section. If on the other hand I treated that person roughly I would have great difficulty enticing volunteers.
This Fogel technique is fully described in the 13 Steps of Mentalism and to me it has been the best damned thing in the book. It is in the Fogel interview in the Book Tests Step. I don't do one bloody book test from that step but I got something far more valuable.
I can recommend this procedure to anyone that needs a committee on stage.
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#207526 - 11/09/09 11:29 PM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Mark.Lewis]
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Pete McCabe
Registered: 01/18/08
Posts: 1368
Loc: Woodland Hills
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I am sure that between Mark Lewis and Fogel at least one of them is a genius. But I have to say that this advice runs directly counter to the most basic principle of performing as dictated by Flash Mildew, which is: ALWAYS PANIC. Flash applied this principle to everything he did, but most particularly to getting volunteers. If you've ever seen Flash Mildew perform you should know that no one had more trouble getting people to volunteer than he did.
Mark's advice that treating your first volunteer courteously will make it easier to get volunteers for subsequent tricks may be good, but I wouldn't know because none of Flash Mildew's shows ever lasted more than one trick.
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#207532 - 11/10/09 12:17 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Pete McCabe]
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James Munton
Registered: 05/30/08
Posts: 95
Loc: Dallas, TX
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Is everyone on this forum stark raving bonkers?
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#207534 - 11/10/09 12:19 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: James Munton]
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Mark.Lewis
Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 445
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No. Only you James. And Mc'Cabe of course.
Why do you say that anyway?
Edited by Mark.Lewis (11/10/09 12:30 AM)
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#207535 - 11/10/09 12:32 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: Mark.Lewis]
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James Munton
Registered: 05/30/08
Posts: 95
Loc: Dallas, TX
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Mark,
I just read your advice, or rather Fogel's advice, and I don't think this applies very well to a magic show. It is exactly what you do for a hypnotism show when you want to fill all the seats on a stage.
In a hypnosis show there is an expectation that people will go up on stage and you reinforce this in the opening lecture. In a magic show, there is no such expectation. So if you just stand there smugly waiting for people to join you on stage, you'll be waiting all bloody night.
Plus, if you do eventually manage to get a few people up, you'll probably end up with the very worst types of volunteers.
No, no, no, the more I think about it, this is awful advice for a magician. I previously stated that I agreed with 94% of what you said. Unfortunately, that has now dropped to 72%.
I am also very upset with Glenn Bishop who complimented you, but completely neglected to thank me despite the fact that on this thread my advice has been far more useful.
James
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#207551 - 11/10/09 09:25 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: James Munton]
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Glenn Bishop
Registered: 03/14/08
Posts: 419
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Hey Mark I just would like to jump in here and thank you for such great advice. Thanks again.
Hi James - I am very sorry that your up-set. Thank you for the advice here on Marks Thread.
Just my opinion.
_________________________
Bish The Magish
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#207552 - 11/10/09 09:29 AM
Re: I am bored stiff!
[Re: James Munton]
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Jonathan Townsend
Registered: 01/17/08
Posts: 3291
Loc: Westchester, NY
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Is everyone on this forum stark raving bonkers?
Some appear less eager to learn than others.
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