From: ken.laporte@synapse.org (Ken Laporte) 
Newsgroups: alt.magic
Subject: Re: Gimmick problems  1/2
Date: 12 Dec 92 14:38:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: SYNAPSE BBS - GATINEAU, QUEBEC - 819-561-4321
Reply-To: ken.laporte@synapse.org (Ken Laporte) 

To:  mckellar@author.ecn.purdue.edu (Michael G McKellar)
From: ken@laporte.synpase.org (Ken Laporte)



Hi Michael,


MGM[If I may make a suggestion Ken.  Instead of buying more gimmicked tricks
MGM[go buy some good magic books and learn some illusions using cards, coins,
MGM[and everyday objects.  Don't get me wrong,  I use gimmicked tricks
MGM[periodically as well and some gimmicks are quite good, but learning
MGM[from books be advantagous in many ways.


I agree theres no substitution.    Don't misunderstand my original
posting.   I have several books that range from Tarbells thru Hartman.
I personally prefer not using gimmicks,  but everyone buys them thru the
learning process.   In some cases, what may be promissed, might not be
delivered.  So opening a dialogue regarding the gimmicks is beneficial
to all that partake.


MGM[1.  If you learn sleight of hand magic, you'll spend more time
MGM[    developing the illusion and hence when performed, the illusion will
MGM[    be better.  Sometimes gimmicked tricks will be poorly performed
MGM[    because they are too easy and not enough time was spent on
MGM[    developing the performance.


Agreed.  Regardless of using gimmicks or sleights, it takes time.   I
wouldn't say that gimmicks are poorly performed because their too easy.
Poor performance is simply lazyiness and in some cases misconception
on the magicians part.   The instructions which come with (SOME)
gimmicks are worse than a poorly written book.

A good example is (line drawings) which might look alright to someone
who knows the routine, but for someone learning, their impossible to
comprehend because of the lacking 3-D view.   Plus as already mentioned,
the vast majority of the enclosed instructions are simply photo-copies
and not truly printed media.

If the gimmick suppliers put the same effort into teaching the gimmick
as developing the prop, they would probably sell more product.   As I
previously mentioned, some of the gimmicks were well explained and came
with a page of hints to make the illusion appear realistic.

My main beef was the lack of quality of (SOME) of the gimmicks being
produced and the lack of effort with regard to the instructions.


MGM[2.  Books give more detail and more routines for a particular common
MGM[    gimmick.  For instance if you buy the cups and balls, the instructions
MGM[    are usually not very detailed, but if you find a book that has
MGM[    cups and balls routines, the book tends to give more advice on
MGM[    technique as well as ideas for different routines.


Agreed.  If your going to work with cups and balls, Coins, Cards or any
number of props, purchasing additional information is a good idea.   It
doesn't make sense to put out X number of dollars for the props and then
not exploit them to the fullest.


MGM[This advice is not my own (I got it from the Amateur Magician's Handbook
MGM[by Hayes)  but I have used this advice and have seen my illusions
MGM[become 100% better.  I've also learned to make the illusions my own
MGM[in the sense that I've developed routines that fit my personality.

Developing your own routine is an integral part of the learning process.
If the routine is not within your mind set (Personality), your enjoyment
or lack of, will be reflected in your performance.   Unless your a darn
good actor/actress.


MGM[Again this is just some very friendly advice that helped me in
MGM[becoming a better magician.


Your friendly advice is welcome, and I'm sure others will benefit as
well.   Obviously there is a role for gimmicked devices, as well as
sleights, and simple everyday magic.    No "Magician" wants to even
attempt a show just using gimmicked devices.   The audience will see
through him/her in a second.

My primary interest is close up routines Cards, Coins etc.   In the
process of developing the skills, you will fool around with various
gimmicks.   (Misled, Card Warp, Vanishing nickle etc).   Opening a
dialogue which discusses the various gimmicks, pro's and con's, will
hopefully provide better information for those learning.

Think about it.   Some fifteen year old kid, wants to learn magic.
He locates a shop and then explores, reads the typical sales pitch
regarding a gimmick, buy's it, takes it home, then the gimmick sits on
the shelve because it fails to live up to his/her expectations.  Why.?
More than likely, the supplier put more effort into the written sales
pitch, than the instructions.    If he's close to the shop, the people
there would probably teach or explain the gimmick fully.   But in some
cases, the purchase is through the mail and the shops catalogue.

As for Books, I have one book which cost aproximately $80.00  it's a
card book by a big name.   It was purchased through mail order.   The
routines are described really well, but the teaching and line drawings
are for the birds.   It goes through the various counts, i.e. Jordan
etc.   The problem is that you need 2 lawyers and an accountant to
follow the instructions, simply because of the way it was written.

We discuss Books in alt.magic, lets expand the information base to
include all devices, routines, who's, what's, where's and why's.
As for revealing secrets, it's easy enough to explain something
without giving away the secret.   In most cases, the error's being
made are simply a method or technique problem related to lack of
instruction.   If the secret needs to be revealed, then the option to
leave a private message is available.

Two comments to consider.

1)  If we interchange information, as I have suggested.  We will all
become better informed and more knowledgable with regard to whats
available and how it works, without having to rely upon a sales pitch.

2)  If you have to reveal a secret in order to correct a problem with
someones routine, it can be done privately, and we all benefit.  We
benefit because we teach someone to do it properly.   If we don't
correct the problem, and that person attempts the routine, everyone he
shows will either loose interest in seeing magic "period", or will see
enough of the routine through bad handling to learn the secret.   Both
ways "Magic in general" gets hurt.

I'd much prefer teaching him or her to do the routine properly, and
having him or her learn from the experience.  Rather than have the
person perform the trick badly.

As for creating a competitor.  Unless the person has the technical
expertise and a performers persona, he's not going to be taking jobs
away from you.    Likewise, I live in Eastern Canada, if someone from
Los Angeles explains a routine too me, it's highly unlikely that I'm
going to be taking his customers from him.   So creating a competitor
is a non-issue.
>>> Continued to next message
                                                       
Newsgroups: alt.magic