showmanship Archives

How is the Dynamo Phone in Bottle Trick Culturally Significant?

How Dynamo does the phone in bottle trick

I was recently interviewed about how:

Secular magic maintains cultural significance through technology and contemporary modes of thinking.

It’s an interesting topic, and one that I’m sure every magician contemplates before each and every practice session.

However, it relates very well to what we can learn from the dynamo phone in bottle trick. Here’s an excerpt from the interview:

Would you say tricks that involve contemporary technologies and thinking such as mobile phones have become more popular than other traditional forms of close magic?

Dominic Reyes: Although contemporary technologies have grown in popularity over the last few years, it’s still a very small niche within magic. Their main use still tends to be in the field of mentalism as that is often more information and communication focused. Sleight of hand still retains it’s core importance in most magicians acts.

However, in recent years, tricks with spectators mobile phones have become popular with ‘street magicians’ spurred on by the magic tricks of TV magicians such as Dynamo. The dominant market for tech items remains the high end working professionals that will order specific equipment for a trick. The tech is not explicit, but used as part of the method rather than a presentation or story telling tool.

Would you say their appeal is down to their ability to culturally engage with current modes of thinking in society?

Dominic Reyes: To some extend, yes. The performance of magic, or rather the good performance of magic is just as much about connecting with people as the tricks themselves. The method used is second to the effect produced and observed by the spectators. Technology gives a performer a short cut in the method, but does not help with the social element of the performance. The interaction with the spectator, the emotional context of the trick or how the spectator relates to the impossible events that are presented to them.
Within a magic trick, there are two levels of action occurring. The evident actions (The magic the spectator see’s) and the non evident actions (The secret method of the trick). Current technology is mainly used in the non evident actions of the trick, and as such, is kept secret from the spectators.

An exception to this, are tricks that use a spectators own devices. Twisting a spectators mobile phone or transforming it into another object. The device tends to be used as an object for transformation. In that sense, the magician aims to culturally engage the spectator by using an everyday object of importance to that person. It’s interesting to note that using a spectators smart phone is VERY engaging. This may suggest that the item is regarded by them as an extension of their identity.

There are some tricks that directly use the spectators device, such as making a card value appear on the screen or being able to mind read their lock pin. However, data from The Merchant of Magic suggests they are most popular with magic hobbyists rather than working professionals. Possibly this may be due to the growing understanding within spectators of the possibilities to manipulate these devices. Magicians often disregard tricks like that, as they tend to subconsciously infer the magical abilities are coming from the device rather than the magician.

In a world now increasingly mediated through the machine – our phones, the Internet etc. To what extent would you say that tricks that involve such technologies aim to play with our hopes, dreams and fears of these devices?

Dominic Reyes: People understand that tech can be manipulated and this knowledge will increase over time. A greater value for a magician is in the perceived value of the item to the owner, their reliance on it and its use as a form of communication with their social group. The most popular tricks will involve playing with those feelings, by vanishing or transforming the item that has a personal meaning to the spectator.

A good example of this is the most famous TV dynamo phone in bottle trick – Dynamo – Magician Impossible putting a borrowed phone inside a bottle. The trick is psychologically powerful. You have transformation into an impossible object as the dominant visual effect, but there is another context and meaning being expressed. The phone and by implication, the spectators contact with their social group, is removed from them, locked inside a glass bottle. Its use has been restricted by the magician using magic. Locking another persons phone in a glass bottle, could also communicate the fear of being removed from your place in society and your social group. Social exclusion a primary fear for humans, and although only expressed on a subconscious level, it’s a powerful psychological force. Dynamo increased this feeling (on purpose) during the presentation, but causing the phone to ring. The phone calls out to be answered, but the owner is powerless to answer the call. That conditioned response to your phone ringing heightens the effect. Viewers can identify with that feeling expressed in the dynamo phone in bottle trick on a subconscious level. Magic tricks that take a primal fear or desire, and manipulate it, get great reactions. Magicians can use this knowledge in many of the tricks they have already performed. A tweak to the presentation, can dramatically change the impact of the trick.

You could also argue that smart phones, can be used as a social aid for a performer. A popular trend at the moment is for close-up magicians to ask spectators to pull out their phones and video the magic he or she is showing. This often gets posted to YouTube and is great publicity for the magician. In this way the magician is using the social power of the device and the spectators social network.

Do you think tricks that involve cutting edge technology that suspend belief and unsettle ones general understanding of the real help society define an understanding of the boundaries of the reality?

Dominic Reyes: There are many sources for this in popular culture. Since the stone age, man has used storytelling to challenge what people believe to be the boundaries of reality. Technology is really just another word for tools that are new. The cave men had their own technology, in the form of 2 dimensional drawings and the use of pigments in cave paintings. The latest tech became the written word, now we use film and video. It’s all group communication, wrapped up in the trappings of the times. Magic is simply another form of story telling. Just like the special effects of a movie or a theatre play, but presented as reality. I think by the time people watch a magic performance, they have already been socialized in many respects. TV and bedtime stories have already tackled that role during childhood development.

However, it may be interesting to research studies performed on first contact tribes in Africa, and their experiences with photography and radios. There are some very interesting results..

What do you think the future holds for magic and magicians particularly in relation to how they might adapt to create tricks that reflect this change in society? Whats next after mobile phone tricks?

Dominic Reyes: In magic, the same tricks repeat over and over again through the centuries, the props used to dress them up change and adapt, but the magic remains constant. Magicians will simply adapt the same effects to suit the objects their spectators find commonplace yet value greatly.

The dynamo phone in bottle trick will soon become obsolete. I would say that mobile phones already have their writing on the wall. As we move towards technologies such AR and VR, the concept of a personal phone as a distinct object, will be regarded as historical. Technology is always becoming smaller and smaller, and as it does this, it seems to be moving closer to the skin. One reason for this, is the slow merge of function away from individual devices.

My watch, camera, PDA, walkman and phone all become one item. The goal seems to be to reduce the need to switch attention between multiple devices as much as possible. The natural progression of this is, in my opinion, moving access to data directly to the eye. Google glass may only be a transition device, but I think a technology like it, will be the next step and presents magicians with a great opportunity. Augmented reality = controllable perception, a magicians dream come true!

In magic, the same tricks repeat over and over again through the centuries, the props used to dress them up change and adapt, but the magic remains constant. Magicians will simply adapt the same effects to suit the objects their spectators value and find commonplace.

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How to Connect with Your Audience When You Perform Magic

by Merchant of Magic 2 Comments

Rapport is essentially one of the biggest things that will distinguish between a great, memorable performer, and a person who does a few magic tricks. It’s about learning how to connect with your audience. Think of a couple of your favorite magicians. Odds are that they have great people skills, the ability to draw the audience in. How many magicians can you think of that lack this skill? Personally, I can’t remember any. And why can’t I remember them? Because there was no human or emotional connection. It’s not really surprising though, as we have been brought up never to talk to strangers. How do we break this and why is it important?

Emotional connection.
When we talk about emotional connection, it is immediately assumed too often that we are referring to the art of attraction, or upset. Emotional connection covers all areas of humanity, and the secret to gaining a connection with your audience is actually easier than you may think. Essentially, you need the audience to like you. Fortunately, you are already half way there as the audience wants to like you. People naturally want to be relaxed. So, smile!

Happy, smiley people.
The first step to establishing rapport is a simple smile. A smile travels miles. And as a bonus, they are free and require very little practice. A person smiling shows confidence, positivity and requires no words. It is universal and inviting. It shows you are relaxed, and in turn this gives the audience confidence in you, so smile as much and as often as you like. You’ll be surprised how many smiles you receive in return. I find it really helps before I start to have a glass of water at the bar, and strike up a chat with the bar staff, then crack a silly joke. They may not find it funny, but it makes me smile, which is a great head start for your first audience.

Maintain eye contact.
Picture yourself sat in an audience, and the performer glances across the audience, and then makes eye contact directly with you. How do you feel? One thing for sure, you will feel more involved in the act than you did moments before. Now imagine your seated at a table, and a magician approaches the table and begins his act. He spends most of his time looking at his hands, and when he does look up, he looks at everyone at the table other than you. How do you feel? Isolated and uninvolved.

Here, are 3 simple ways to ensure your eye contact is drawing the spectators in:

Every time you are speaking make sure you are making eye contact.
Mentally take turns with who you look at. I personally begin making eye contact with the person furthest away from me, opposite side of the table. This then involves the whole table. Then I mentally take turns as to whom to look towards next time.
Talk to the people, not your props. Your props are purely that, props. You are the magic, not the props.

React and respond.
I think it’s important to ask the audience questions, as soon as possible. Involve them.

“Hello there. How are you all this evening?”

They have to respond. If there is music playing, or they have had a meal, ask them how it was. Let them know you are not there purely showing magic. You are a person, part of the entire event, and you want to hear about their evening. They are investing their time in you. Invest some of your time with them. It will be appreciated. If they like you, they will like what you do. But first they need to know that you like them. Also, react and respond not only to the audience, but your surroundings. If something occurs in the background, for example, a waiter drops a plate, comment on it. Involve the surroundings. Turn these possible disruptions into advantages. This will convey to the audience that you are not scripted, you are human.

Be emotional.
Reveal your humanity with emotions. You need to reveal a part of you, and you do that by letting us glimpse your innards, your emotions. To show a passion for something is to show humanity. To show humanity makes you instantly likeable and encourages connectivity, which is a natural, human desire in all of us. So, show emotions, be as surprised as the audience, be as disappointed you didn’t find that playing card as the audience is. And should any mistakes occur, mock it with the spectators! Share the emotions of your act.

Leave them wanting more.
Always leave the audience with a smile and a laugh. It’s true that if you leave them smiling and laughing this will be the lasting memory of you. This is also the ideal time to remind them who you are.

“Thank you so much for your time. I’ve had such a great time. Have a few more drinks and I will pop back and show you the same tricks again. I have been (insert name here). Have a lovely evening all.”

Smile, make eye contact, and shake their hands.

Follow these simple guidelines on how to connect with your audience, and you will find your reactions to be much stronger, and most importantly, the audience will enjoy you and your time ten times more, which in turn means they will remember you as a person.

Doing Card Tricks – Do Not Use These Words

by Merchant of Magic 7 Comments

I want to talk you to about language. The words you use when you perform your magic tricks, and how you can improve them to get a better reaction from your audience. It’s specifically about using the wrong words.

What are the wrong words?

Every word that you use, when you perform a magic trick, counts. It sets the stage for the magic, defined your character, moves the action forward, and ensures the spectator understands what should happen, and what did actually happen. It also signals to the spectator, how they should react to the trick. Any words that don’t perform these actions are clutter and should be removed from your script as much as possible.

Magicians Instructions.

As magicians, we are so used to reading about magic tricks, going through the instructions and talking with other magicians, that we forget our spectators are not the same. They aren’t immersed in the language of magic.

Approach a spectator, pull out your Bicycle playing cards and tell them:.

“Say ‘stop’ as I riffle through the deck.”

What on earth is a “riffle”? The spectator never uses that word, and probably has no inclination to do so. Swap it for something like this..

“As I go through the playing cards, say ‘stop’ at any time”

That’s a much better line. It doesn’t assume any previous knowledge of magic from the audience.

Asking a spectator to “Cut the top half of the deck please.” Again, what exactly is a ‘cut’ and what’s the top half of the deck? It’s clear to us as magicians, but these assumptions of prior knowledge in your patter, cause the spectator to pause for just a moment, to check internally that they understand what you are asking of them. Simplifying the language you use in your instructions will improve the pace and flow of your magic and the clarity of the trick for spectator.

Call a spade a spade.

As much as possible, check that you are not referring to items by their magic names. Let’s say the magician is about to perform some card tricks. He asks the spectator to sign a card and wrap the playing cards up in a silk:.

“Please pick up the Sharpie, sign the front of the deck and then wrap it up in the silk.”

For just a second, these questions jump into the spectators mind:

1) What’s a Sharpie? —– Oh, he meant the pen!

2) Sign? —— He wants me to write on the playing card?

3) Front of the deck? —— Is that the top card? But where on the card?

4) What is a Silk? Does he mean that piece of cloth on the table?

The spectator how has 4 questions to process, and confusion can jump in at any step.

Introducing a magic trick.

“OK, here’s a bit of magic for you”

Using the word bit, makes the trick sound like something less that awesome. It’s dismissive and almost apologetic. Instead, say something like “Here’s something very strange, for you.” or “Let me show you something, I think you will really like.”

Another common mistake is to use the word effect.

“Let me show you this magic effect.”

Nobody, other than magicians, call magic tricks ‘effects’. Save that, for when you are talking to other magicians. Instead, refer to the trick as “magic” or “magic trick”.

Patronising

“Please, sign your name here. Brilliant!”

“Please take a card, great job!”

Brilliant, Fantastic, Amazing, Great!

It’s so tempting to add this, as some kind of little reward for the spectator after every action they do.

“You put the lid back on the pen! AWESOME!!!”

This is simply clutter and adds nothing to the presentation. Unless you are specifically trying to be funny, this gives a message to the spectator that you thought he or she was incapable of performing these simple tasks. Instead, just say “Thanks” and move on with the trick.

It’s likely that you may now notice that you use these words when performing. Filming your magic performances can help you identify these habits, so you can work to remove them.

Redundant sentences and cliches.

We all do it. We all use the same stock lines, when talking to spectators. After all, we grew up watching magic and learning the way a magician acts. However, taking a moment to study what you say, and choosing alternatives to these common phrases, will dramatically chance how you are perceived by your audience.

Here, are some of the most popular cliches that should be avoided:

“And now, for my next trick..” Just get on with it. When you end a trick and start another, it’s obvious to everyone. There is no need to tell everyone that you are starting a new trick.

“And with luck…” Telling a spectator that the trick requires luck to end correctly, is a huge fat signal that you are not confident with your technique. The trick works because of magic, not luck.

“Are you sure?” This is common. You ask them to pick a card then ask them if they want to chance their mind. Why? As a magician, you want to let them know that they could have picked ANY card. But they already know that, as you asked them to do just that, a moment ago.

Just accept their first decision and move on with the trick. Adding doubt in the spectators mind, that they picked the right card is a distraction from the card trick. Unless your card tricks are specifically about the nature of free will or influence, making the spectator question each of their choices serves no real purpose and adds nothing but fluff.

“So, now I am going to…” Don’t introduce each of your actions. Just do them. The spectators don’t need a running commentary about your future actions. They are there in front of you to experience the trick for themselves.

“Is that fair?” By asking a spectator to judge, what should be a simply innocent action you create doubt and a challenge mentality. The spectator is invited to think:.

Why wouldn’t the action be fair?
Did I just miss something sneaky?
Should I care at all?

These common mistakes that magicians make, often just spring from assuming the spectator has prior knowledge of magic. That’s often fine if you perform mainly to other magicians, but even magicians will appreciate good language. In fact, they will probably notice it just as much, as they compare your presentation to their own.

DO THIS:

It’s very hard to remove these negative words from your presentation, if you don’t script your magic. Watch some performances of magicians who favor the ‘ad-lib’, jazz style of magic and you will often find their patter is full of these lines. We highly recommend that you start creating a script for each of your tricks. As you become aware of mistakes like these, you can remove them. Scripting your magic down to only what is essential for the trick to work. Once you have this habit, you will find that you can ad-lib in a more powerful and meaningful way.

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