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One of the frequently asked questions by beginning magicians is how to routine one’s magic act.
Let me answer it with an extended metaphor.
Julie Andrews (playing the character Maria in the movie The Sound of Music) said that if you learn the seven notes “that happen to be”, you can use them to write an entire song.
In the same manner, if you know your alphabet, you can write words. If you can write words, you can write sentences, then paragraphs, then a novel.
To take the analogy farther, if you learn the basics of performing magic, you can build not only routines but probably also a whole evening show.
Now I like to think that performing magic is a good training ground for self-sufficiency. While other performing artists need a half-dozen people (such as a writer, director, choreographer, etc.) to stage a show, a magician building an ambitious card routine is his own writer (he comes up with his own patter), director (he watches himself in the mirror and tries to judge how he should look in the eyes of his audience), choreographer (he learns to make hand movements and gestures).
This being the case, someone doing magic for a couple of years will be grounded on these aspects of the performing arts through experience. A stage actor, on the other hand, performing for the same number of years, will probably still need a writer, director, choreographer, etc., to be able to perform.
Now I’m mentioning all this because, first, I’m biased for magic. Second, because I want to emphasize the importance of grounding oneself in the “basic notes” or “the alphabet” of magic—-namely, the basics of sleights, misdirection, psychology of deception, movement, music, staging, acting, and speech.
One need not be outstanding in each, just well grounded. Once a magician becomes proficient in them, one day, like an Epiphany, he will get “it”. He will know how to routine his tricks just like a grade one pupil will one day discover he can combine different letters of the alphabet to form a word. Also, the magician will know what tricks to choose to please his audience, just like a student musician will one day learn which notes to combine together to create pleasant sounds.
Stay magical,
Leodini
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Brother Bear said:
wow sir ang dami kong natututunan dito sa blog niyo..as a beginning magician my love is into magic.. gusto ko talagang mahasa pa ng mahasa ang aking skill. ang dami ko pong videos about magic tutorials sir but yun nga lang po kulang sa gamit or supplies.. malayo po kasi talaga kami sa city. the closest is Davao City around 3 hours of travel.. and mahirap po o baka nga wala talagang mahanapan dun. haha…
ang sarap po ng feeling na pati yung mga matatanda sobrang naaappreciate nila yung magic trick mo tapos sasabihin nila nakakaamaze raw na bumabalik sila sa pagkabata nila.. haha
Loving Magic,
Brother`Bear
“Jake”
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leodini said:
Doc Moraleta is our official magic supplier. He is also a member of IMC
Leodini
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ReyM said:
Hi Leo,
I really appreciate your taking the time to create articles for the benefit of our fellow magicians. Please write other informative articles like the one above. It’s not only inspiring, it helps both beginners and (old)timers alike – the beginners to learn how and where to start, the oldies not to forget the basics.
Just from nowhere,
dynamicsphere
P.S. Does Doc Moraleta supply magic items outside Manila? I’m looking for a regular supplier for my SM magic store, somebody who can give me a good price 🙂
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leodini said:
I’ll post new entries to this blog as often as I could.
Yes, Doc Moraleta, supplies magicians outside Metro Manila.
I’ll email you something that may be helpful as regards magic suppliers. Watch for it in your mail box. I’ll send it when I get back home tonight.
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ernest said:
Good day Sir Leo! Thanks for this article of yours. Surely it will help every magicians who have read this like me. Just like to request if you can write or make an article on the “basic notes or alphabet of magic”? Thanks again Sir Leo! Waiting for more articles that will help magicians like me.
By the way, is it ok if I can share this to fellow TSC members?
Magically,
ernest (The Story Circle)
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leodini said:
Hi Ernest,
I’m glad you found the article helpful. By all means, share it to other magicians. I wrote it for everyone who cares about magic.
Thanks for suggesting a topic. I will write about “the basic notes or alphabet of magic” as soon as I can conquer my bouts of laziness to write.
If there are other topics you are interested in, don’t hesitate to tell me. I will write about them. I don’t know everything, but there’s always Google to help me.
Stay magical,
Leodini
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Matt said:
Thanks for this post. Wonderfully worded and exactly the information I needed. I just picked magic up again and am building some routines. Good luck in your endeavors.
Matt
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leodini said:
Matt, good luck also in yours.
Stay magical,
Leodini
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