KidAloha
Patter Count:16
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| 03/07/2008 3:16 AM |
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| I am fairly new to the magic game focusing mainly on cards. My biggest setback has not been the card manipulation, rather it is my patter. I am neither comedian nor am I a great story teller or actor. My patter mostly involves me narrating "exactly" what I am doing. (i.e. I am going to place this card in the middle of the deck...now watch). I have found that this takes away from the magic of the performance. Instead, it seems as though I am just showing off my skills of as a card mechanic . Any suggestions on how I can bring "magic" into my routine through the use of patter? |
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Night
Forum Moderator
Ace of Spades
Patter Count:156
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| 03/08/2008 12:10 PM |
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I think it will come in time... you have to find what you like and feel good doing.
Not everyone can be the funny guy or the great story teller, but you might have something in the middle. You can always work up a story about how you seen a magician do this trick and talk about it as you perform it... then say how you wish you know how he did it. But that will only work with one effect. There are some I have stories for - some more jokes and some I do the trick and let the trick tell teh story. Just keep working on it and it will come...
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KidAloha
Patter Count:16
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| 03/08/2008 8:50 PM |
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| Thanks for the insight. Where did you find your stories and/or jokes? Did you make them up? Were you inspired by other people's presentations? |
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Night
Forum Moderator
Ace of Spades
Patter Count:156
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| 03/10/2008 8:36 PM |
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Every place... Some might be takin from the basic routine, some I work up myself. Lot depends on the trick... I have a couple tricks that I do in family shows and I also do in my comedy club hypnosis show... same trick but WAS different patter.
Just try and be you, make it about stuff you know.
Have fun with it.
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KidAloha
Patter Count:16
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| 03/11/2008 1:55 AM |
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| Cool, maybe I'll just try to work in being a nervous, bumbling fool who doesn't really know what the heck he's doing so is kind of at a loss for words and doesn't know what to say and is as surprised that the trick work as the crowd. I DEFINITELY know that! haha |
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Night
Forum Moderator
Ace of Spades
Patter Count:156
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| 03/11/2008 12:29 PM |
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LOl
Yea that could work~
But don't worrie the more you get infront of people the better you get and the better you feel. Just make sure you did your homework before you show it.
(Make sure you have practiced - practiced and then when you feel ready practice more...)
Break a leg!
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KidAloha
Patter Count:16
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| 03/11/2008 10:49 PM |
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| Yeah, I guess I have time to work on and practice the patter portion of the presentation. I am stuck out here in the desert and on patrol in a vehicle 16 hours a day. Besides, most of the locals here don't speak english but they all love magic (it really helps ease the tension)...if only I could make myself disappear and reappear back home. |
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Night
Forum Moderator
Ace of Spades
Patter Count:156
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| 03/11/2008 11:39 PM |
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Well - if I ever get pulled over in the desert I hope it's by you!
Make my ticket... (you can finish the best of the bad joke~)
Reminds when I had a cop come into my magic shop and we where joking and doing a couple tricks and I picked his wallet. Made a joke out of it and he pulled his gun out of the holster laid it on the glass case and said try it again. I said no thanks - we laughed he left. About an hour or more later I walk back into my pro. magiciain's room and here is his GUN!!!!!! I did not have a way to contact him and I was hoping he would remember that he left it at the shop before he needed it! Turn's out he pulled someone over and I guess he would always adjust the gun & belt when he got out of the car... he did and about s#*t himself! After he was done with the ticket he rushed back over to he shop. Looked at me and I just smiled... "Did you forget something?" as he walked out of the shop I asked if he had everything... (Yes I got his wallet again!)
Come to think about it I have not seen that cop in years...
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KidAloha
Patter Count:16
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| 03/12/2008 12:32 AM |
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That's really funny!
Although, if that happened here...
I could just imagine the headlines all over the world: "U.S. Troop Supplies Weapons To Iraqi Children". You know how the media is...
So, I've been finding that what I say doesn't really mean as much as my body language (especially since I don't speak arabic). If I act just as amazed as they do, they are more apt to trust me and be a little more open to the "magical experience". Making a person smile here means so much in a place where there is little to smile about. I've got to learn more and get better.
If I ever get to your magic shop, I have to remember to leave with more than an empty pocket... |
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Night
Forum Moderator
Ace of Spades
Patter Count:156
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| 03/12/2008 12:54 AM |
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Lol yea that would not be good at all!
I tip my top hat to all of you over there!
As far as it goes - people can tell if your worried or scared. it shows in body and even in your eyes let alone shaking hands.
I think if you can get the moves down, just smile, point, give a wink and do the magic. Just think about what magic looks like to someone that has never seen it and have fun with it. Look at Jeff McBride, I have seen him do the same tricks over and over again, but each time he shows that he cares not only about the magic but that he cares about the people watching. He does not want to fool them, he wants to put some sort of "magic" into their world. That's why he is so good (and a little practice) and that's why people love to watch him.
Most of Jeff's stage magic he does not talk... but he can still pull you and and amaze you.
You will also. I hope you can shot some video for us to see. Love to see how it looks when your ready!
Stay save brother! ps I will be in my chat room for a few if you want to chat http://www.michaelnight.com/chat |
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KidAloha
Patter Count:16
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| 03/12/2008 1:16 AM |
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Thank you for the support. It means a lot to all of us.
Here I have kind of built up a small reputation in the towns/villages that I patrol, but I am quickly running out of material even though I limit myself to one or two tricks everytime I'm asked! What I do, I can do well (I wouldn't do it otherwise), but like I said earlier, I'm kinda new to this game. I think that's the main reason I would like to get my patter down. That way I can use the same sleights/tricks and just put them into a different context making it seem like a whole new trick.
Would love to chat, but now I am on a government computer...they are pretty strict about what sites we can get access to. Especially, chat rooms. They are worried about how secure the communication is; Maybe when I get back to base... |
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st0rm
Two of Hearts
Patter Count:21
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| 03/12/2008 11:57 PM |
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| You a Scout, MP, or Inf? Just wonderin' Spent 8 years playing that routine. Thank you for your service! |
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You are the weapon, anything you use is only a tool.
http://www.radio.brainst0rm.com |
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KidAloha
Patter Count:16
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| 03/13/2008 12:31 AM |
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| Actually, I am none of the above. I am an AMMO troop. (The Air Force version of Ordnance) I am working the Security Forces and EOD. I am guessing that you were probably Army. Who did you serve with? |
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Cardin
Five of Clubs
Patter Count:27
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| 03/14/2008 8:52 PM |
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Hate to disrupt your conversation, but getting back on topic-
Most of the patter I say I usually take straight from the source, with a few tweaks here and there. In cases when there's lack of patter, I usually say what seems to fit the trick. Most of the time it's 'explanations' of exactly what's going on. If you can ever find footage of Dai Vernon's Cups and Balls (there's one on Youtube, but it's pretty poor quality), you'll find he's 'explaining' everything, yet still keeps everyone entertained and fooled. There is the occasional trick that the whole pretense of it is based on something scientific, and thus explaining more about that science and how it works can be the patter.
Basically, it all depends on the effect and what seems to work best for it. And that's something only actual performance can tell you (of what works and what doesn't) |
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KidAloha
Patter Count:16
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| 03/15/2008 3:19 AM |
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| Yeah, I see what you're saying. I am trying to move away from the "I put the coin, in my left hand..." style of presentation. The audience can "see" that for themselves. Other than playing music and not talking at all, I can't seem to find any other way. I will definitely be roaming the streets, parlors and stages trying to find myself though. I bet it will be easier to find out what NOT to do though, as sure the audience will tell me. |
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