How to Outwit the Copycats
Some magicians in the Philippines who rue being copied by Xerox magicians have to do more than not showing their pet tricks and routines on YouTube. They should also resist showing off to fellow magicians who have a penchant for being mirror images.
For example, if you have a bill switch you have been keeping to yourself for years, then don’t do it in a show where a magician is in the audience. Use a Change Bag to switch the bill instead of showing off your “thumb-tipless, gaffless, pure sleight of hand, fingers wide apart, slow-motion, in-your-face bill switch.” If the magician in the audience is a copycat, believe me he is going to figure out the method of your bill switch and perform it in his next show.
Here are some more ways to discourage copycats from stealing your act:
1) Perform something technically difficulty. It must be difficult enough (a la Tom Mullica’s cigarette swallowing act) to deter even the most ardent, technically skillful imitator. Tom Mullica teaches his cigarette routine on video. The last time I checked, magicians in the world, specially in the Philippines, are not rushing to add the routine in their shows. The darned routine is just so difficult to do that even if Mullica teaches it, no one is in a hurry to learn it.
2) Use a unique performing personality (say, Sylvester the Jester’s cartoon character) that will discourage even an award-winning Shakespearean actor or a talented impersonator from appropriating it.
3) Break out the expensive props (as in David Copperfield’s Flying Illusion) that will send the copycats to the poor house if they invest on a reproduction. The rigging plan for the Flying Illusion is published on the US Patent website, but one copycat has yet built it for his next kid’s birthday party show.
In addition to the above, you must have a fat bank account to intimidate the knock-off artists who are salivating at your act. You must also have the willingness to adopt the Disney or Sony policy of suing the copycats to the ends of the world if they as much as cast an envious eye on your creation.
Stay magical,
Leodini
Kuya Leo,
I come up with the “Di ako bakla” routine for the fun of our competition, not only am I the first magician to wear “tangga” for a magic act it is also virtually impossible to show that in a children’s party.
But I heard, that a magician in Tondo, Manila copied the act and went uncomfortable with the character and failed to execute thoroughly.
Wow the idea really works. he he.
Thanks
Slydon
There are magicians who play gay characters when they perform. Two of the most successful performers are Jeff Hobson and Mel Mellers. They get lots of shows as corporate magicians. However, they don’t cross dress. They just assume a campy character.
Fielding West, though, ends his Sub Trunk routine in black stockings, but he does it only as a gag.
Overall, I think a gay character has a place in magic performances, as long as no cross-dressing is employed. Otherwise the performance will look cheesy or out-and-out silly and not appropriate for most corporate events.
Certainly, birthday moms will frown on cross-dressing and will not be inclined to have a performer doing that at her child’s birthday party.
Stay magical,
Leodinil
Kuya Leo,
A guy copied the act in Talentadong Pinoy. The music, and the whole idea,even parts of the routine.
The judges said a lot about his inappropriateness.. That’s the reason why I haven’t attempted to perform the act on that show.
For a while there watching the show made me mad at first, but now I felt proud ’cause somebody’s copying an act of mine.
Maybe next time he’ll have to learn to know his audience.
Thanks.
Slydon
Slydon,
The best form of flattery is imitation.
Stay magical,
Leodini