That's a complicated answer because it really depends on the kind of magician you want to be.
I believe effects should fit us like a custom-tailored suit. Sometimes we get caught up trying to copy effects and/or presentations because we like them, but they just don't align with who we are as magicians, our circumstances, etc. It might be the greatest presentation in history, one that's stood the test of time for two centuries, but if it doesn't resonate with you, it'll never feel right, no matter how hard you try.
Some effects, we just won't be able to make our own. Others (a small handful) will be a perfect fit, and most will require us to adapt them to feel comfortable. A change in the counting, a tweak to the patter,...
And you don't necessarily have to create your own effects for them to feel like yours. Fred Kaps is a prime example of an interpretive magician, and Ascanio considered him one of the greats, no less.
By the way, at first, it's completely natural (and good!) to copy (as in all arts). We're in the process of developing our magical persona. We don't yet know what suits us and what doesn't, so we're searching for our magical identity.
It all comes down to what you're comfortable with. Obviously, a presentation you don't truly believe in won't have the same impact as one you're totally sold on.
Yigal Mesika often repeats that for a levitation and/or suspension to be believable, the magician has to believe (and be amazed themselves) that the object is truly levitating or moving by itself. The same goes for the Haunted Key (which has no gimmick, just the magician's will), the Blow de Capilla, etc. Amazing things happen at the magician's will; the magician uses their "powers." Isn't that incredible?
So, how would you tailor a presentation based on those premises? I think it's perfectly fine to literally copy a presentation that works, especially if it includes jokes or more universal situations, though everyone should always add their personal touch. Professor's Nightmare or Wild Cards offer few options to shift from a descriptive script to a fictional one.
But hey, as I've argued in another article, nothing is set in stone (especially not in magic), and you can draw from many literary resources beyond the typical descriptive, representational, or fictional ones: storytelling, metaphors, similes, fables, anecdotes, history, etc. The key is to experiment, vary things up, keep it interesting, and have fun.
If you want more information on narrative, I recommend reading: Morfología de los cuentos by Vladimir Propp and El Viaje del Héroe by Joseph Campbell.
More specifically, regarding the structure of a literary script in magic, La Magia del guión by Pete McCabe or El discurso con método by Armando de Miguel.
I believe that a magician's patter is what truly defines them and sets them apart. Of course, it's inevitable to use a gag, a joke, or even a full narrative element in a routine because it might have resonated with us and aligns with our understanding of magic and our 'persona.' However, copying an entire presentation undermines our purpose, especially since you risk someone having seen that exact same show, copied verbatim, elsewhere, and feeling completely disappointed. The same trick, with the routine copied verbatim, can seem like a completely different trick if you change the patter. Conversely, a different trick, if you present it like another, can seem repetitive... Maybe I put too much emphasis on narrative, as I come from the world of storytelling and oral tradition. But I truly believe that the essence of any successful show relies heavily on how we tell the story, how original we can be, and how we adapt all of that to our persona.
Hey everyone, and thanks a lot for your messages! I actually brought this topic up because I think there are so many different angles to consider, and I love hearing everyone's thoughts. Personally, I'd say that when you're first starting out, all you can really do is copy the trick, the patter, and so on. Then, with experience and performing time, you gradually adapt it to your own style, eventually putting your own stamp on it or even giving it a different ending.
I was a DJ for many years, and I always used to say that a good DJ, no matter what, has to keep the dance floor packed. And you can't get people dancing and having fun if you're not enjoying yourself.
Here in Mexico, we have an expression that roughly translates to, "you tailor your approach to the situation."
If you're a professional magician and you charge for your magic, you're expected to develop new presentations. You can't just copy; you need to be original. Even the effects themselves should be tweaked a bit, and especially the presentation.
But if you're a hobbyist magician who just performs effects for family and friends, it's perfectly fine to use the classic presentations.
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That's a complicated answer because it really depends on the kind of magician you want to be.
I believe effects should fit us like a custom-tailored suit. Sometimes we get caught up trying to copy effects and/or presentations because we like them, but they just don't align with who we are as magicians, our circumstances, etc. It might be the greatest presentation in history, one that's stood the test of time for two centuries, but if it doesn't resonate with you, it'll never feel right, no matter how hard you try.
Some effects, we just won't be able to make our own. Others (a small handful) will be a perfect fit, and most will require us to adapt them to feel comfortable. A change in the counting, a tweak to the patter,...
And you don't necessarily have to create your own effects for them to feel like yours. Fred Kaps is a prime example of an interpretive magician, and Ascanio considered him one of the greats, no less.
By the way, at first, it's completely natural (and good!) to copy (as in all arts). We're in the process of developing our magical persona. We don't yet know what suits us and what doesn't, so we're searching for our magical identity.
It all comes down to what you're comfortable with. Obviously, a presentation you don't truly believe in won't have the same impact as one you're totally sold on.
Yigal Mesika often repeats that for a levitation and/or suspension to be believable, the magician has to believe (and be amazed themselves) that the object is truly levitating or moving by itself. The same goes for the Haunted Key (which has no gimmick, just the magician's will), the Blow de Capilla, etc. Amazing things happen at the magician's will; the magician uses their "powers." Isn't that incredible?
So, how would you tailor a presentation based on those premises? I think it's perfectly fine to literally copy a presentation that works, especially if it includes jokes or more universal situations, though everyone should always add their personal touch. Professor's Nightmare or Wild Cards offer few options to shift from a descriptive script to a fictional one.
But hey, as I've argued in another article, nothing is set in stone (especially not in magic), and you can draw from many literary resources beyond the typical descriptive, representational, or fictional ones: storytelling, metaphors, similes, fables, anecdotes, history, etc. The key is to experiment, vary things up, keep it interesting, and have fun.
If you want more information on narrative, I recommend reading: Morfología de los cuentos by Vladimir Propp and El Viaje del Héroe by Joseph Campbell.
More specifically, regarding the structure of a literary script in magic, La Magia del guión by Pete McCabe or El discurso con método by Armando de Miguel.
I hope this was helpful, all the best!
I believe that a magician's patter is what truly defines them and sets them apart. Of course, it's inevitable to use a gag, a joke, or even a full narrative element in a routine because it might have resonated with us and aligns with our understanding of magic and our 'persona.' However, copying an entire presentation undermines our purpose, especially since you risk someone having seen that exact same show, copied verbatim, elsewhere, and feeling completely disappointed. The same trick, with the routine copied verbatim, can seem like a completely different trick if you change the patter. Conversely, a different trick, if you present it like another, can seem repetitive... Maybe I put too much emphasis on narrative, as I come from the world of storytelling and oral tradition. But I truly believe that the essence of any successful show relies heavily on how we tell the story, how original we can be, and how we adapt all of that to our persona.
Hey everyone, and thanks a lot for your messages! I actually brought this topic up because I think there are so many different angles to consider, and I love hearing everyone's thoughts. Personally, I'd say that when you're first starting out, all you can really do is copy the trick, the patter, and so on. Then, with experience and performing time, you gradually adapt it to your own style, eventually putting your own stamp on it or even giving it a different ending.
I was a DJ for many years, and I always used to say that a good DJ, no matter what, has to keep the dance floor packed. And you can't get people dancing and having fun if you're not enjoying yourself.
Best to everyone from Uruguay.
Greetings everyone.
Here in Mexico, we have an expression that roughly translates to, "you tailor your approach to the situation."
If you're a professional magician and you charge for your magic, you're expected to develop new presentations. You can't just copy; you need to be original. Even the effects themselves should be tweaked a bit, and especially the presentation.
But if you're a hobbyist magician who just performs effects for family and friends, it's perfectly fine to use the classic presentations.
All the best,