sam_mccully
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Personal ImageFirstly I would like to say sorry that I have put this here, since it is mainly to do with magic, However, it is not directly linked to any form of magic thus I shall post it here as it can also be used in everyday life.
I have had this debate on many forums including my old forum. But is personal image important? in my opinion yes. It is. Many people say no its not and that it is about the effect its self. However, in my mind its not just about the effect its about the performer. Its like a singer, you might like the lyrics but think the voice is like a cat scratching on a chalk board. but then is it still a good song? well yes the songs good but will you enjoy it? No.
I personally am casual but smart. Informal but Formal, shirt, trousers and shoes, cufflinks no tie. I think that this makes believe the magic more then if I just turned up in a hoody and jeans. I also think that it has something to do with the venue. For instance for a street magician I wouldn’t want to see him/her in a suit, bow tie etc.
Also is personality a factor of how people see the effect? I am a magician who insults people - not in a malicious way in a friendly, ill buy you a drink for being a good sport kinda way. People find it funny, they people I do it too can handle it and it helps my routines run better.
What are your views? do you think personal image and personality have anything to do with a good performance? I cant wait to hear your views.
Sam
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BrianMillerMagic
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Your personal image is of course whatever it is, but you ought to step it up a notch while performing. You should be well-dressed, ideally better dressed than the attendees of the event. The audience's first impression of you is your introduction line and your image. Remember the old cliche, "You don't get a second chance to make a first impression." If you lose the audience in the first ten seconds of your performance, forget it - they're gone for good.
I believe the heart of a good performance lies in your personality, and in using that personality to create presentations that are believable and coherent with whatever your personality may be.
So in effect, yes. Personal image and personality have everything to do with a good performance.
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sam_mccully
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glade to hear that you agree with me, some peoples views do differ though. But is that due to lack of knowledge in performing? or due to real views?
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Michael Kras
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I'm always well dressed becuase I am always performing. What I wear has sort orf an air of mystery to it... I am always fully clothed in nothing but black. My outfits are so mysterious, in fact, that whenever I pull out cards in public the firsdt thought that pops into onlookers' heads is "He's a magician."
I also try my best to keep mny hands in good condition for obvious reasons.
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BrianMillerMagic
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First, not everyone has to agree about this stuff. Second though, I don't think most magicians bother to take the time to think deeply about anything really. Ultimately the difference between a guy who does magic tricks and a magician is how coherent his performances are with his personality. The audience can tell the difference, and it does matter. Incidentally there are plenty of guys who do magic tricks making a full time living doing so. Your income has very little to do with how great a magician you are.
It would make me so happy to see magicians spend a few weeks, months, or years thinking deeply about some of the important questions:
"What does magic mean to me?"
"Who am I as a performer?"
"What do I want to accomplish as a magician?"
"Is this effect psychologically satisfying (as in you're not just getting away with it)?"
etc...
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BrianMillerMagic
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I forgot a big one:
"Why magic?"
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Michael Kras
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Why Magic?????
Why sports? Why television shows? Why movies?
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sam_mccully
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but the difference between, them questions is micheal anyone can kick a ball around but it takes an artist, time delcation and effort to do what we do
every one has played football or rugby but not every one has had people truely amazed by what they can do
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Michael Kras
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Oh yes.
Why Magic? Well, simply, magic is just so gratifying. Knowing you can do something nobody else can do then continuing to work your way up the ladder, there's nothing better for me. I love the feeling when I nail that Pass, that Retention Vanish, that Diagonal Palm Shift, because I think about how much work went into such a tiny thing, one that will not even be seen by laypeople.
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BrianMillerMagic
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"Why magic?" as in, why not entertain with something else? I mean heck, I can entertain a table by talking to them for 5 minutes without ever performing any magic. So the question is, Why is magic your chosen medium of entertainment?
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BrianMillerMagic
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| Michael Kras wrote: | Oh yes.
Why Magic? Well, simply, magic is just so gratifying. Knowing you can do something nobody else can do then continuing to work your way up the ladder, there's nothing better for me. I love the feeling when I nail that Pass, that Retention Vanish, that Diagonal Palm Shift, because I think about how much work went into such a tiny thing, one that will not even be seen by laypeople. |
If I read that correctly, you perform magic because it makes you feel good? What about your audience then? It seems as though they get left out of the mix and are made to be fools when you perform. (I don't believe this is really what you do, but I'm simply making a case based on what you've said)
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Michael Kras
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WOW no sorry about that, that was not my intention. Sure magic feels great, but allowing to show laypeople the impossible and invoking that hint of belief, that's what's so gratifying.
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BrianMillerMagic
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I hardly thought so 
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Michael Kras
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You're always ready to pounce there, Brian! I like that!  
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BrianMillerMagic
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It's what I do. The only way to make the community of magicians better as a whole is to serve out the hard truths. Danny Doyle is a prime example of it - people hate him, but he's almost always right because he speaks the truth.
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sam_mccully
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true say, like... Simon Cowell (i think that's spelt right) of the music industry
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Michael Kras
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Danny Doyle is a hard egg to crack, but really, when you speak to him in private he is a very sweet guy. A the Cafe you see him treat me like dirt, but via Yahoo Instant Messenger he's a softee who's always there to help.
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Dbaker
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Image:
Does image improve or wiegh down a show?
Certainly, but it needs to be a REALLY bad image to effect the show negativly. When I was younger, I regularly performed in a t-shirt, slacks, and skate shoes - people thought the effects where good. Now I perform in more business attire - people still think the effects are good.
Frankly, you need to wear what suits your performance style (I couldn't see Gazzo in a tux) as well as the venue (if it's really hot, you shouldn't wear a jacket).
A side question:
When does the magician persona' stop?
Do you stop when the show is over?
When you're at school?
When you're at home?
I wear basically the same thing everywhere (black slacks, black undershirt, some overshirt, black dress shoes) so should my persona leave when I leave the venue? No. It takes too much effort to get in and out of character, so just leave your character on all the time. Make it part of you. Example: Several people that work at a store I frequent have told me that I have an air of mystery about me "Even the way you walk seems magic-ish."
I'll try to do an essay on this in the next few days.
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