Slowly getting there

Well, this blog can't entertain other people very much, but then again it's only a notepad for me, and if you want to browse the links I have accumulated down the right hand side it should keep you busy.

Hi Minnar - Derren Brown link (what's the US show called?) and also the one to Martin Taylor (who practices the style of hypnosis Derren felt inspired by - i.e. the one that doesn't think you can find a special state called 'hypnotised', just a combination of social compliance, respect for authority, etc). Heated debate continues (what about painless surgery under hypnosis?) but certainly the performing side of it seems adequately explained (to me) by:

• Suggestion: when we are told to feel something, there is a strong subconscious force which makes us really feel it.
• Social pressure: people want to behave the way their friends are behaving; if their friends appear to be under a hypnotist’s power, they will want to act the same way.
• Simple obedience: people will generally do as they are told, especially by someone in authority.

And, of course, when you pull a member of the audience into a show they get particularly co-operative (because of the stage fright!)

Ahem. I haven't started doing tricks for people again, but have determined to set aside at least a little time in the coming months. I don't socialize about this. Perhaps a magic club helps with card tricks, etc, but the 'mentalist' model seems more suited to a lone wolf (although we all need someone to practice on!) I can't even quite tell why I think this particular area of magic might suit me (not just because it is in fashion), but I have always just followed my nose. This study time may eventually lead to something else entirely.

I have some idea of the range of material I want to work through, and the style. I have ploughed through thousands of tricks to find the half dozen I want to work on and use. Still - I have no idea whether I will ever actually get to use it all...

I saw The Illusionist last night (at last) and enjoyed it. An amiable ambiguity about whether Edward Norton's character has magic powers, but they came down on the side of logical explanation (which I prefer). If I had to watch on again, however, I suspect I would have more fun with the hidden references in that other movie, oh what's its name? Aha! The Prestige. I can never remember the title first time because the magic jargon is entirely made up...When I read about magic I get Effect:Presentation:Method as a delivery system. And 'show-biz' already has lots of terms for the end point or surprise or twist - the punch-line, the pay-off, the climax, the money shot, etc!