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The Art of Performance: CLARITY

Published: 11 Jul 2012 by Lenny | Comments: 9

There is nothing worse than watching a performance and not knowing whether the performer was trying to be funny or whether it was simply a bad performance.... NOTHING!

You just squirm and you just feel ill for this performer because you just feel bad for them.

Let’s learn from these people and not let it happen to us. I want to share with you guys a very important aspect of performing, something called....CLARITY!

There is something absolutely beautiful about the look on a spectator's face when they are amazed by magic. In my opinion, that is why all magicians should be doing magic...and that’s to put a smile on someone’s face. It is a unique ability that most people don’t have.

But if you are not CLEAR, and your audience cannot follow your routine, the less likely they will be enjoying your performance. Don’t get me wrong...complicated themes and storylines have their place, but simplicity is recommended especially for short pieces.

Sometimes Vinh, Jeff and myself would come up with the most twisted and complex storylines but we found that the most simple stories are the most effective. Mind you, it’s hilarious seeing Vinh trying to pull off the most crazy stories and if you watch our earlier Youtube videos, you’ll know exactly what I mean =D

Anyways, when it comes to performing a routine, it is very important that all the elements of the performance complement each other creating a stronger result, never distracting from the main focus.         
For example, Siegfried & Roy are world recognised magicians who have a gracious and grand style with the use of exotic and beautiful animals. Their speech, magic, presentation and production are also grand! Everything just shouts GRAND!!!

But you’re probably thinking... “I’m just doing close up magic...I’m just performing to people not thousands of people on a stage” ...to that I say.... good point ;)

But you know what, clarity also improves single routines. Imagine all the possible ways to perform the trick and add your flavour to it. If you are naturally funny or just idiotic like we are =P then make sure that shines through. Choose a presentation style and that you feel will help the magic shine to its fullest potential. This is something we also discuss about when we design our performances here at EOM.

“For us, we randomly find inspiration in a piece of music or a specific idea for a script but we always ensure that whatever we add into the trick, that it only enhances and contributes to the final outcome of the performance and that everything fits together stylistically” - Vinh 
                       
So here’s the TOP 5 THINGS TO CHECK WHEN YOU DESIGN YOUR PERFORMANCE:

  • Is the style obvious? The audience should never be confused as to whether it’s meant to be funny or serious.
  • Does the story flow? When you perform you are telling a story. and so clarity in story telling means you should be telling it both verbally and physically. The script should be easy to follow and just long enough to say what you need to communicate.
  • Are there lines that aren’t required? do you have lines in your performance that aren’t relevant and necessary? These lines can slow down a routine and the audience can get lost in the confusion. Stick to the story and stay on track. Keep the focus sharp and the intent clear.
  • Is it entertaining? hahaha this is something we love personally =D of course, a funny line or two and something that serves to make the routine more entertaining is important. Be cautious because you do not want to veer off track and lose your momentum.
  • What is the effect you are performing? Is it dangerous? Is it humourous? What type of routining works with it?

These are questions we always ask ourselves at EOM when we construct one of our performances. Do you guys have any other ideas or questions you ask yourselves? How do guys ensure there is no confusion so that your performances are more enjoyable?

Also, let me know in the comments below if you found this helpful =)

Lenny
Encyclopedia of Magic

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By DNgui94
12-07-2012

Beautiful Piece, I love especially how you’ve given us the pointers to help kickstart our performances well and not go off on a tangent like I’m sure some of us have already done. Lenny, this is awesome, Thanks for putting this up :)

- David :)

By Zingo
12-07-2012

So true that you have to add your own flavour to a trick, when I just started out I took scripts from other people and I think people felt that I wasn’t comfortable in the situation but as understood I had to add my own personality people felt a heavier bond to me and felt the magic was more “real”, it’s so true and keep those blogs up they are awsome LOVE ‘EM =)

THANKS

-Markus

By Kalinel
13-07-2012

Hi!
That’s sth I wanted to read about! Thank you.
I also noticed that, when I speak too fast or my story is too complicated, they are lost and don’t know what’s going on. Their reactions aren’t the same, when I do everything slowly and clearly. The worst is when they ask me to do sth once again, beacuse they haven’t seen sth or weren’t sure about it, and I couldn’t do this, beacuse after sleight their cards wasn’t there ;p
Waitin’ for next part!

-Kalinel

By jadyck
13-07-2012

I think your site is great and have given me a lot of ideas,it is great,and everywhere i read always make the magic your own.I agree to have a story and am looking forward to your next installment.
thanks again guys
john
jonthewizard

By Lenny
16-07-2012

Thanks for the wicked comments guys. Just thought I would share our experiences with you guys. Trust me, learn from our mistake….it will save you guys loads of wasted time. Glad you guys love this…I’m in the middle of writing the next blog in this series of Art of Performance. So look out for it this Thursday ;)

By Lenny
04-09-2012

How are all of you guys? Hope my blogs are helping a bit with your performances. Feel free to post about your performance experiences. Have you performed recently? Or seen on recently? Let me know if it was any good? What did you learn?

By The Thomas
13-10-2012

Okay guys I have written down a routine but I think I still need to practice more in the streets . . .still getting that anxiety . .
I want to get better at patter talk then I think I can put a boss performance when I put a routine together for the first time . . .
Thanks for this article. . I had questions .  .i forgot them.
- First comment !

By Lenny
14-10-2012

Hi Thomas! Thanks for commenting mate! =) Glad that you are thinking about working on your patter. How you present the magic is THE MAGIC itself because if you can create the magic in the spectator’s mind, you win regardless what you do in your hands.

If you can think of your question, feel free to ask =)))))

By The Thomas
21-10-2012

Okay guys heres my question, soz for the late reply. Well I have been doing my magic more neat and tight and out of the people I have showed I have had some positive responses. Now some people since like last month or so have been saying that I must start performing shows at places around. Now some of the things that have been holding me back is that . . Okay so basically I don’t really know where to go from where I am because I don’t know if I am “professional” enough to be performing yet I mean how does when really know when you can start doing shows . . .and another thing is that the last time I saw some magicians at local event , I realized that yes they were pretty skilled but I didn’t really like the performances styles and yesterday when I was looking on the net for some local magicians circles (which I couldn’t find) I saw some of the magicians that where at the event I saw .  .and the one who’s performance I didn’t really like . .one of them had won an award for some magicians thing .It was on a book-a-professional-magician website and these guys where there. . so I know that I can deliver and add value with and to magic with some of the (awesome) ideas I have . . .so can you guys please shed some light on how you moved from knowing some magic to actually performing for people at places .  .  . Oh and when you guys are busking what suggestions do you have for street performances because I want find some sort of framework to use do street performances. And just get used to performing routines and not just effects.
- Yesterday I did the 2 card monte for the first time in the streets and it was boss. I was nervous as hell because more and more people came about starting from 2 people ,went up to like 9 people quickly . . and Even though the participant I chose was staring hard at my hands hard I managed to improvise and ended up being a great experience . .just had to put that out there.

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