The Magicanada Project

Michael Kras · Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 4:39 pm Post subject: Magic Pet Peeves

What are your pet peeves when it comes to magic? The absolute worst ones for me are:

Witnessing someone perform an effect badly!!! GRRRR

People snapping out to touch my props while I am performing!!!! GRRRRRRRRRRR

People making a stupid guess at the method of my effect and everyone believing it to be correct!!!!!!!!!!!!! GGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Ok, I need to calm down, so please, take it from here. Name off your pet peeves and let' get a healthy discussion going here!

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Daniel Steep · Joined: 07 Aug 2007 Posts: 26 Location: Clinton ON

People that wont shut up during a show...
A magician "volunteer" that screws you up when you try to force a card.
"I SEE THE STRINGS"
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BrianMillerMagic · Joined: 14 Aug 2007 Posts: 543 Location: New York State

Daniel, as a moderator I would think you have read the forum rules. How about that foul language being not permitted?

Moving on. If you're going to get upset about people seeing your "strings," stop using invisible thread. It's a risk you take with that particular prop. If you're going to use it then you have to leave yourself presentational "outs" in the likely event that someone sees it.

Michael, people should NOT be touching your props while you're performing. As you get older and more experienced you'll develop better audience management skills. Basically people should never try and touch your props because your attitude silently conveys that you do not want them to. I have my own theories on audience management, but you need not look further than Beyond Secrets by your buddy Sankey for some great thoughts on this topic.

Also about the stupid guesses at the method - get used to it! You are challenging the laws of nature and beliefs that people have based their lives on during the course of a magic performance. You have to expect people to make guesses at the method. Remember that people don't really want to know how it's done, but they want to feel reassured that it isn't something supernatural. They do this by calling out any and all possible explanations. One of the best ways to get out of this is to respond, "Yes, that would certainly be one way to do it."

Sorry for the hijacking guys, but I have realized that it is more my place on the Magicanada forums to guide than it is to participate.

I suppose after all of that I should give you a pet peeve in magic: poor presentation. See my post in the Essay section for more about presentation.
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Michael Kras · Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 5:58 am Post subject:

Taken care of. Daniel, please be more careful in the future.

Brian, you are right, and as well, I also hate bad presentation! GRRR.
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Daniel Steep · Joined: 07 Aug 2007 Posts: 26 Location: Clinton ON

sorry but didnt think that language was that bad, my fault.

Also the string thing im talking about was not ment to be strings in general but other gimicks when a kid says "I saw him put the second sponge ball in my hand.. i know where the silk went. ect.ect.

also it was in part ment as the strings... we were doing Asrah inside a very nice theatre... we were there two days before working on lighting and finally got it right..
best part was.. kid in the 5th or 6th row said"I see the strings" 2 seconds later she vanishes and appears right beside him... all i could hear from onstage was "Wholy S***!"
again sorry for my "foul language" when you live in a hick town it just comes naturally.

Daniel
www.danielsteep.com
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BrianMillerMagic · Joined: 14 Aug 2007 Posts: 543 Location: New York State

No sweat Dan, just looking out for the integrity of the forum. Most public forums go by the same "no foul language" rules. Swearing comes naturally to me as well, just not in a public forum where theoretically a six year old kid could be reading the posts.
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Ethan the Emazing · Joined: 29 Aug 2007 Posts: 160

Just like Brian said, people shouldn't be touching your props. If I am entertaining children, I use the magical line. If someone crosses the magical line there not allowed to have a chance to assist me in my show. That usually gets them to stay away from my props.
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Michael Kras · Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 1:39 am Post subject:

Regardless, they do, but that is mainly because they know me.
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BrianMillerMagic · Joined: 14 Aug 2007 Posts: 543 Location: New York State

Michael Kras · Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 8:41 pm Post subject:

Settled. Having just started my first yuear iof High School I quickly made a reputation throughout over 1250 students! At lunch I regulary entertain and KILL and, every time, pack a huge punch. A standard Triumph effect always does the trick.... it fries laymen.

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