RE: Should Magicians Use a Script?

You are viewing a single comment's thread from:

Should Magicians Use a Script?

in scripts •  7 years ago 

Thanks for that input dominic!
I'm struggling with a good script for a routine I like to perform more often.
Since it's based on a trick thet John Archer performs I tend to copy him but like to avoid this. I'ts kind of hard to come up with a different script if you like to mimic his routine:)
Any advice on that?
I don't copy his effect to be clear. Actually I have no idea how he does it but I have a gimmick that achieves the same effect as his miracle.
I'm talking about his performance on Penn and Teller Fool Us with the five envelopes:) I got rid of his fifth envelope with sex on it because I usually perform this for my family. Banana seems to work just as well. But the other four are so tempting to re-use. Do you think that's uncreative or am I allowed to mimic his other four words?
Something, Nothing, yours, MINE.
Of course I translate them to my nativ language:)

Authors get paid when people like you upvote their post.
If you enjoyed what you read here, create your account today and start earning FREE STEEM!
Sort Order:  

I really like that routine Blank Night by John Archer. It's perfect for a corporate gig if you want to do a cabaret spot after a meal, or for a stage magic spot. John has released this item commercially, so you are 100% OK to perform it just as John teaches. He charges a fee to magicians for just this service when you buy it from him. So from an ethical point of view you are 100% fine to perform it just as he teaches.

I think an issue only arises when a performer tries to add an effect together with it's original presentation style even though that doesn't suit his or her persona or the rest of the material in the act/set it will be presented within. It sounds to me that you were attracted to it because it fits with your clients and your style ( Excluding the 'sex' bit) so all is good for you to use it.

Have you watched Johns performance on Penn and Teller, then realised that you have your own method for the mechanics of the routine? If so, I think you should probably buy a copy of Blank Night from John, so that you have compensated him for the idea and what you have learn't from him. That make sense?
Dominic

Thanks I didn't even know how the routine was called. I'll try to get my hands on a copy for sure. I really like to give him something back for the idea and the laughs I got out of it!

You have to know I don't really perform professional. I like to perform a small routine for just my family and friends and sometimes on our own company events.
Really not to get paid but to have fun with magic and people around me.

Some time ago I bought a lock with 7 keys that all open the lock or all do not open the lock. You probably know what kind of effect this is.

So after seeing the routine of John Archer I thought I can achieve the same goal with that gimmick. It would not need any kind of force or manipulation since I'm in control the whole time. For magicians this would be very boring but when I did a short testrun with my girlfriend and another friend they were pretty amazed.
I could change the words and even the object I put my keys in and tell a diffrent story but I just liked how he did the whole routine and like to try it out.
This is probably still violating copyright so I'll try to get his routine for my inventory.
The catch-22 is that I don't even want to know how he did it, haha.

It is kind of hard to know if something is original or not anyways.

Cheers
Eric