Performing Magic
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Performing Magic: A Handbook on Performance for Magicians"I've been reading magic books for almost 50 years, and I can categorically state that Performing Magic by Tony Middleton is the most important magical publication of them all to date. It's a masterpiece, and long, long overdue. Congratulations to Tony Middleton and all who made this great book possible. It's a real treasure!"- Steve Cook - author of Legend: An anecdotal tribute to Ken BrookeThis is a book for those who want to perform magic successfully in the real world.It is the only magic book in history that teaches you, step-by-step, how to create a magic act from start to finish: from initial conception to walking out in front of an audience. The book is heavily focused on performance techniques, and performing successfully for the public. It is like having your very own director and magic mentor working with you - teaching you the real secrets about performance.There is no formal training for magicians in the art and craft of performing in the real world, and this is an extensive, thorough handbook, that will guide you each step of the way.The secrets in this book have been discovered by top working magicians through years of performance for the public, many of whom have kept this information to themselves because it has set them apart in the business. In these pages you will discover how to make yourself more unique and memorable that any other magician, create original magic, gain incredible stage presence and gain ten times the reaction you ever thought possible from your audience.As Paul Daniels says in his foreword: if you get one good idea from a book then you should be well satisfied with your investment. But in this book you will get not one, not two, but dozens of presentational thoughts, ideas and tips that will improve your performance. David Berglas says that 'if you are serious about performing magic, you cannot afford not to have this on your shelf' and Kevin James comments that 'this is one of the best books I have ever read'. These top professionals know the importance of learning and perfecting the craft of performing for the public.So should you.Whether you are just starting, or have been performing magic for years, there is guaranteed to be something in this book that will take your magic to the next level."That is quite a textbook of magic theater training! I don't believe I ever read a book with more essential information to the performing magician. Your book should sit on every magicians' shelf next to the rest of the classics. Well done!- Jeff Hobson"If you are serious about performing magic, you cannot afford to not have this book on your shelf"- David Berglas "This is one of THE BEST books I have ever read. This is bound to become a modern classic..."- Kevin James "Very few performers are born with 'IT'. 'IT' takes years to perfect. This book tells you and shows you how to do 'IT'."- Michael Finney "Whether you are a close-up magician, stage magician or cabaret magician, if you apply the techniques and information in these pages, your performance of magic will improve."- Jeff McBride "I highly recommend that all those who perform magic be strapped down and force-fed the information in these pages" - Paul Daniels Pages: 283 - 7" x 9.5" - Hardcover - Dust jacket
Performing Magic by Tony Middleton, B.A. Hons., MFA, 283 pages, hardback. Published by Zebra Magic.If you're reading this, you need this book. I cannot imagine a performer reading this and not profiting from the material contained in it wether they are a seasoned professional or a neophyte. The scope and detail contained here is considerable. Many years ago Eugene Burger postulated that we already know enough magic tricks. How then, do we take those tricks and transform them into a performance? This is the book that can answer that question and many more you haven't asked yet. The information contained here is applicable to both the close-up worker as well as the stage performer with multiple examples throughout. Magicians find themselves in the unenviable position of being the performer, director, costumer, technical director, publicity and marketing director etc. One feels that they are at the bottom of Niagara Falls attempting to drink it all. In a word it can be an overwhelming endeavor. The information contained here will ease the burden if applied by the reader. The book consists of three parts: Part 1:Foundation, Part 2 Structure & Detail and Part 3 :Performance. If you believe as M. Houdin proposed, that a magician is indeed an actor playing the part of a magician, then this book is the natural progression of that quote. It treats magic as an endeavor that places demands on the magician that he or she may never have considered unless they already have a background in acting and theatre. Subjects such as circumstance, character, objective movement, themes, prop management and tempo are but a few of the subjects discussed. Mr. Middleton gives examples of his own work as well as those of his colleagues in order to illustrate his points. There is quite simply, no other book like it. Failing the assistance of a trained theatre director this is the next best thing. The only experience that comes close from a personal perspective would be when I attended Jeff McBrides' Mystery School. In the interest of full disclosure there are no panaceas in this book. It will take work and lots of it to reap the full benefits of the tuition contained herein. It is definitely a book that needs re-reading on a frequent basis due to the amount of information it contains. But if the reader perseveres he or she will take the road "less traveled". And that will make all the difference (with apologies to Robert Frost). Highest recommendation.
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