Monday Mailbag #56
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I really like the premise you came up with in your post about the Slide Project trick. [The premise was about being able to absorb elements from a photograph into real life.] But for someone who’s so concerned with tricks being googleable, you’re doing a disservice by using terms in your post that are then used in the presentation that you’re giving us. For example, in that presentation if someone was to look up the term “photographic assimilation” it would lead back to your site and back to that trick. Maybe take pains to hide those terms, either by using non-alphabetic characters (ph0tographic a$$imilation) or by taking a picture of the phrase and using that instead. Just a thought. —ME
It’s a valid point, but my initial concern is getting the information out to you in the most readable and digestible way. If you’re concerned about a subject I bring up being googled and leading back to this site then your best bet is to just change the terminology some. Fire up a thesaurus and change one of the words. “Photographic Absorption.” Boom. You’re done. Of course, now you can’t use that one either.
Is there a common mistake you see when switching over to an Audience-Centric/Story-Centric performing style? I’ve had some successes and some failures coming up with my own presentations in this style. But the successes have led to some of my strongest reactions ever, and I definitely want to pursue this style further which is why I want to know the most common pitfall you see. —TP
Okay, here’s the thing. The magician-centric premise—”I am causing all of this to happen because I have magic powers”—is, in my opinion, not very good. But it does have the benefit that it is very simple and understandable to an audience. Why did the magician pull a rabbit out of his hat? Well, because he wanted to. He wanted to demonstrate his magic powers. So he did. That’s understandable. I don’t think audiences find it very interesting (especially not in the long term), but they at least understand the motivation.
The mistake I see people making with a premise that takes the focus off the performer’s powers is that they end up coming up with something that doesn’t make any sense. It becomes completely un-relatable to the audience.
I saw a performer recently say something like, “Did you know pennies can read your mind?” Okay, I guess that’s a premise that takes the focus off the performer, but it is so nonsensical that it will either confuse your audience or just be dismissed by them.
The premise needs to not just be about something other than your power. It has to be something that resonates with some part of their understanding of the world. “Pennies can read your mind,” is not such a premise.
(I first tackled this subject years ago in the this old Dear Jerxy post, where I suggested the question, “Is this a thing?” to identify a good premise.)
I was talking with a couple friends (fellow Jerx supporters) about what is the most pathetic line in magic. We decided it was when a stage or parlor performer will use a line to create a false standing ovation at the end of a show. “If I find his card, will you all jump to your feet and clap your hands? Okay, it’s a deal.” Is there an equally desperate line in the world of close-up magic? —BB
Yeah, there’s a similarly thirsty line used in close-up magic—or really any type of magic—and that is when the magician says something like, “How impressed would you be if….” So, for example, “How impressed would you be if that coin vanished from my left hand and appeared in my right?” The theory behind these sorts of lines is that you lock your spectator into a particular reaction. If they say they’d be “very impressed” if the coin went to your other hand, then, when the coin does go to your other hand, they have to be impressed.
First off, no, that’s not how it works. People can say they’d be impressed and still not really feel it.
Second, you sound like a total goon. You’re turning the corniest interpretation of why you’re doing magic into reality. “I’m doing this to impress you!” you’re telling them. Is this a good look with any other feat?
“How impressed would you be if I lifted this weight?”
“How impressed would you be if I hit this half-court shot?”
“How impressed would you be if I gave you an orgasm?”
Here’s the thing, the best way to make someone less impressed with what you do, is to imply that you’re doing it for the purpose of impressing them.
To make something seem more impressive, make it seem more difficult or more rare. That’s it. Then let the people feel how they’re going to feel about it. You don’t have to make them promise to be amazed, like a goof. “We had a deal! You said you would be impressed. Now be impressed by me!”