Ask Jason Palter

[NewspaperTear]

Sorry, how to be a performer.

[Jason Palter]

Hello all:

Hi Jason, I've got a few questions if you don't mind - I know we speak often enough, but we never seem to get beyond Star Wars and in to magic! (Guys, Jason's a really cool guy, very approachable, and just as big a Star Wars nerd as me
Firstly, I've got Third Degree Burn, and I've been reading about The Red Carpet, but I must admit, I've not seen anything about Flash Forward and Divine Time - seeing as you're the best person to ask, what can you tell me about them?
Secondly, I notice that you mention in the ads for The Red Carpet, that it comes with an 8 minute script, which led me to wonder how you go about scripting - it's a big bugbear of mine, and whilst I try, I don't always seem to be able to nail it, can you give any advice on this?
Lastly (with apologies for being greedy), can you tell us any stories about teaching Al Pacino magic?!?


Hey Brandon! Yeah Star Wars is one of my passions. It’s harmless, fun and it never ceases to amaze me how you can have NOTHING in common with someone—but if you both love Star Wars then it is an instant friendship, and you suddenly have tons to talk about! Crazy!
Let me answer the question first about “Divine Time”. This is a trick that actually came to me in a dream. Those of you who own it will have read this story in the “introduction” portion, and let me tell you that every word of it is true. The trick is really all about the presentation, and it basically revolves around energy, vibrations and frequencies in the universe. The performer then has a spectator choose a watch from a bag of watches (after showing they display different times). The frequencies from that watch’s quartz crystal are theoretically vibrating through the spectator’s body, and using a really funky presentation you DIVINE the TIME on their chosen watch! It is a real, running watch, and the spectator can take it home as a souvenir (they are not very expensive and you can purchase additional ones from us if you’d like). Like all of my releases, you get everything you need including a performance/instructional DVD, 20 digital watches, bag, extra batteries, and the full script. The retail is $100.00 USD. Even if you do not like the presentation, you cannot deny that for $100.00 you sure get a lot of stuff that you could use with your own patter, right? lol Anyhow, the trick got quite good reviews and has been selling well, but not as well as I would have thought. I honestly think this is because it did not receive a lot of publicity. Oh well! I have some in stock and you can see the promo video and get further information on our web site. Of course, contact me if you have other questions.
“Flash Forward” has been out for about 1 month. It is a new take on the “Svengali Deck”, but uses picture cards (sometimes called “Alphabet” or “Flash Cards”). The trick is perfect for children and it works very well for them if they do not know their cards from a standard deck. However, I mostly do this trick during walk-around gigs for adults. Many adults are aware of the secret of the Svengali Deck (from seeing them pitched at fairs, shopping malls, etc.). But by doing the trick with picture cards just seems to fool the socks off of them. They never even suspect the deck is gimmicked, because they look at them and say, “Oh yes, my children use those cards in school”, etc. “Flash Forward” comes with a full routine, instructions, and 2 decks—one is gimmicked and the other is not. The cards are over-sized, and while they are perfect for close-up, they also work really well for a parlor and/or party show as they can be seen from a distance. I would say the cards are very close to the quality of Bicycle stock in terms of durability, and the stock is coated on both sides. They are "children's" cards, so they are meant to take a bit of a beating, and are on a MUCH better quality stock than anything I have seen before in Educational Stores, Dollar Stores, etc. As I say, I do the supplied routine for adults at corporate events and KILL with it. I'm serious! It's just something about the picture cards that just throws them off from the Svengali secret that so many are familiar with!
Okay…now on to scripting. Well, that is a tough thing, and I rely a lot on trial and error. Because I am a full time performer, I am fortunate to get a fair amount of time to actually “work” my routines. There is no better way to practice a magic trick then by doing it in front of a live audience. I would also say that the fact that I am an actor and have done some script classes also aids in my process (see posts above). Another thing that I do is ask other performers that I am close to for their opinions on the scripts that I am developing. While their styles may be different than mine and/or from the presentation I’m working on for a particular trick, their input can be invaluable and give me real perspective. However, I think that I’ll stick with what I said above as being probably the best way to script something: just keep trying the routine/trick over and over again in front of real people. You’ll quickly learn what parts are working, what parts are too boring and drawn-out, etc. Also remember that a script, like a trick, a painting, a novel, etc. is ART. And if you ask any artist, they’ll tell you that a piece of art is truly never finished—but hopefully you can get it to the point where you are ready to show it to people and/or sell it!
Finally, I can’t really go into details about the teaching of some celebrities, but let’s just say that it is very interesting to do. Some of these people are really great to work with (as they truly want to learn the magic for the scene they are working on), and others are really spoiled artists that make life difficult for everyone around them (including me!). It’s those people that you sometimes wish you could pull a “Harry Potter” on them and really make them DISAPPEAR! (sorry! Lol)

Jason

[Jason Palter]

Hello all:

Also I was wondering if you have any tips on how to become a better magician (a performer)!

Hey Newspapertear, thank you for the clarification……Whoa! Where to start!.....Okay, here are some thoughts (and some things may echo what I have been posting above). First, decide whether or not this is something that you really want to do (whether as a hobby, semi-pro, or pro). If it is, then do everything that you can to further yourself in this area. Read books on magic and watch videos on it. Watch other performers—do this a lot! See what works, see what doesn’t work (in your opinion), and without being catty, evaluate why or why not. Go to some conventions and lectures—they’re tons of fun and you meet a lot of people. Take some acting and voice classes (see post above for more details). Also, be patient with it. Rome was not built in a day, and nor will your magic career. Just remember that some “performing artists” (actors, magicians, dancers, etc.) don’t “hit” until they are much older—and some of course find success right away. There is no magic formula to this, but I always say be good to your craft, and no matter what you do always take the high road (even though it might feel much sweeter in some cases to take the low road, if you catch my drift). That way, no one can EVER accuse you of not being a gentleman/woman and taking the high road, right?
Along this idea, be sure to develop your OWN style. Imitating someone is in some ways flattering to them, but can also get you a bad reputation for ripping off people. All I am saying is to try as hard as you can to not slip into that realm where you are doing other peoples’ lines, tricks, etc. It is so difficult sometimes not to do this, especially when you are new to magic. But I really encourage you not to. It is a slippery slope to go down, and trust me it will bite you eventually (and also make you about as popular as a puppy strangler with the other magicians, if you catch my drift). You want others in magic to like and respect you—not dislike you and be afraid to perform in front of you for fear that you’ll be doing the exact same effect/jokes/routine one week later. Resist this temptation my friends, and trust me you will be rewarded! And if you fall victim to this temptation…just don’t ever say that I didn’t warn you about the consequences. If you want more info and/or help, there are lots of resources and people to help point you in the right direction…
Above all, be good to your craft, and perform as much as you can for as many people that you can. However, make sure that you are not annoying during this process. I mean, remember the old adage that LESS is MORE….In other words, don’t forget to always leave them wanting MORE! You want them to say, “Wow, where did this guy come from? I want to see another trick!”. You don’t want them to say, “How the heck do you turn him off and get him to stop?!” And so through this process of performing, you are constantly working your “machine” and staying oiled.
Also, be fair to yourself and to the art. Magic is so much about entertainment, and not just about “fooling” people. As I mentioned in above posts, I’ve seen a lot of magicians that are really great at fooling people, but they truly have no idea how to entertain them and connect with them. Usually this reason is because they still are working their “machine” and trying to get it to run smoothly. That’s fine, and to that group I say “keep on going!”. But sometimes it is because they really have no place in entertaining people. Do you know what I mean? It’s that they just aren’t being fair to themselves or to magic, and admitting that this is something that maybe they shouldn’t be doing.
Anyhow as I say, be patient and above all have fun! We are so lucky to do something as fun as “magic” for a hobby, living, etc. Enjoy it!
Please let me know if you have any other questions!

Jason

[Michael Kras]

Hello Jason,

Michael Kras here... Want to let you know how much I enjoyed your lecture at our club in May and seeing you at the CAM Convention. A few questions.

1) How did you stumble upon Ari and The Red Carpet? What happened at first?

2) At the CAM Convention, you and Richard Sanders has a merged booth in the dealer room. Are you two partnering as of now?

Thank you Mr. Palter!

Michael Kras

[Jason Palter]

Hello all:

1) How did you stumble upon Ari and The Red Carpet? What happened at first?
2) At the CAM Convention, you and Richard Sanders has a merged booth in the dealer room. Are you two partnering as of now?

Hey Michael, thank you for your comments as well. The CAM convention was a blast and I had a really great time!
In a nutshell, the story of The Red Carpet and Ari Soroka goes like this: Ari invented the original effect and routine back in 1983—long before I had even met him. As you’ll read on the ad copy for the trick, he performed it 2 years later for the local IBM ring in Toronto. During that performance the entire room—including Sid Lorraine, Howard Lyons, Norm Houghton and Bruce Posgate—gave him a standing ovation. Now I wasn’t there, but I have spoken to a couple of people who were there. When I described the original effect and Ari doing it for the group, they both remembered it and said that it simply “brought the house down”. Also without a doubt they remember the entire group (including the above mentioned magic icons) giving Ari a standing ovation. I met Ari in 1992, and we became friends. About 10 years ago he showed me the routine and I instantly fell in love with the effect and presentation—the incredible entertainment and commercial potential for this effect was mind-boggling! Because he wasn’t performing that much anymore, he gave me permission to start using the trick in my shows. I started doing the trick (often as a closer) and the response was INCREDIBLE! I kept telling Ari that he had to market it. He’s a busy man, and although I have no doubt that he wanted to start selling it, I knew deep down that he simply didn’t have the time. After I started Paltergeist Unlimited last year, and was receiving some positive feedback from my effects (and also inquiries from others to market their ideas for them), I decided to approach Ari as I wanted to sell the trick. I told him that while I knew how solid the effect and routine was, I felt that it needed some tweaking. After we worked out our agreement, I took his trick and built on his original idea and presentation, enhanced parts of it to make it even more marketable, and changed the name. After about a year of work, “The Red Carpet” was born!
In regards to Richard Sanders: I am very lucky to have a close friend and colleague in magic like Richard. He is a great guy, very brilliant and thinks about magic and life the way that I do (I think that is why we get along so well). The CAM convention was our first venture together and it was a smashing success. We are currently in discussions to do more of this stuff, but I can’t discuss too much now (who knows, maybe we’ll merge together and do a release entitled “Third Degree Interlace”! lol)

Jason

[EddWithers]

Thank you Jason for spending your time on The Magic Woods. It is clear you have a bright future ahead of you in the world of magic creation and writing. Please keep TMW updated on your work!

//Edd