Character Workshop

How many of you use a different persona when you perform? Quite a few of you, I'd guess. I myself have a different persona, but the problem I have with this persona is not that he doesn't mesh well with my normal personality (in fact he works great with it!) but that he seems to be a bit...flat. 

The suggestion came down to me that perhaps creating a background for him would help, and so I'm working on writing up a narrative of this character's past to make him a bit more three dimensional. One of the things that is helping with this is fleshing out his personality as it stands now.

So here are some good starting questions to help you flesh out your persona:

1. Name
2. Age
3. Clothing
4. What does your character smell like?
5. What are some of your character's mannerisms?
6. Their strengths and weaknesses (three each)
7. Favorite sayings?
8. Interests (aside from magic, what does this character live for?)
9. Favorite food, color, song, etc
10. Education level?
11. Favorite possessions?
12. Why do they perform (motivations)?
13. What is their philosophy?
14. Are they very formal? Somewhat mischievous? 

Take these ideas and use them to flesh out your character. Remember, time spent doing this (as opposed to money spent buying tricks) will help you more in the long run.

Want to see some finished characters? Try Whit Hayden, Richard Turner, Derren Brown, Max Maven, or even (I'm sorry in advance) Criss Angel.

~Cameron Rivers, Kings To You Magic

It's all about YOU!

One of the hardest lessons I'm learning (I won't say learned, because my ego is still bucking against it) is that, and I've said this before and even harped on it, your skill as a magician counts for next to nothing. That's right, it's insignificant. What is important is how entertaining you are.

That's one of the reasons that the story I'm about to give you is so important: it accurately demonstrates this idea. You don't need fancy props, you don't need expensive tricks, you just need to be fun, engaging, and entertaining.

Here's the article. 

Cameron Rivers, Kings To You Magic

The New Santa Monica Pier

So, as I've said, the busking rules at the Santa Monica Pier have changed (in no small part due to the fact that performers having a feud while the city is upset with you is never a good thing) so here are the updated rules:

Still need a permit and all the insanity that goes with that BUT now you have to show up at the gazebo (to the left of the walkway down to the pier behind the carousal) ten minutes before the shift begins, so no more waiting 5-8 hours a day (or 18-40 for a holiday) for a spot.

That's how it works. Unfortunately because of this, because the lottery takes away any need to get up and get out to the pier, we've started having characters out there (like the really creepy Elmo guy... seriously, this guy took a spot away from a real performer?).

In response to this, a few guys are getting together to try to re-negotiate the new rules and, if need be, sue the city of Santa Monica. Now I don't think that they want to get rid of the regulations all together (with how childish some of the buskers are, they need regulation. Not saying it makes it right, only necessary), just make sure that these half-assed "performers" have to put in some effort to be there and that they don't detract from everyone else.

So that's it! That's the new, easier Santa Monica Pier.

Oh, shifts are 1-4. 4-7, 7-10, and 10-1* (*only weekends).

Sooo....

I was going to try to come up with some bs about watching this for creative purposes, but just watch it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTO5yiN1b-I

Cameron Rivers, Kings To You Magic

Organizing creativity

Something that I've always held to be true (and I think that most of us do) is the idea that creative people are scatterbrained and disorganized. It makes sense. Creativity doesn't come from rigid structure and organization, it comes from spontaneous bursts of amazing insight, right?

Well in some cases, yes. Ideas hit us all at random times, but that doesn't mean that the ideas themselves cannot be organized and structured. Think of how many wonderful, brilliant ideas have been lost because of the artist's forgetfulness. So here are some tips on organizing your creativity so you can make the most of it:

Make a note!

You never know when you'll see something or someone that sparks an idea, so carry a small, pocket sized notebook and a pen with you everywhere. Write down every idea you have. Think that juggling flamingos and turning them into cannibalistic sand worms sounds good? Write it down! And don't forget to add a bit of detail. You want to be able to remember later what you're talking about now.


File it away

When you get back home, file the ideas away. Get a filing cabinet and put together folders for each project that you're working on. Then drop the ideas into either one of the project files or into a file labeled "Random Ideas". This way, when you work on a project, you don't have to hunt for where all your ideas are!


Make a list

Sit down and write out a list of all the projects on your plate. Make sure to include the little, tiny projects as well as the overarching, life-goal projects. Now look at look at the list and mark each project for either short-term (the next few weeks/months), long-term (six months to several years), or someday (self-explanatory). Write out each of these lists on separate pieces of paper. Now you can focus on which projects you need to work on first, which ones need the most thought, and which ones you don't need to stress about.


Tack it up

Take these lists and pin them up on your bulletin board on your wall. That way each list is visible, and you can see what projects are lined up for you as opposed to building up this horrible, daunting list in your mind. Also on your bulletin board should be a large calendar showing the current month (if not a three month spread) so that you can keep up to date on your meetings, social outings, and other things.


So try to implement these little tips, and come up with some of your own! Just because creativity is a bit messy doesn't mean you have to be! 


Cameron Rivers, Kings To You Magic