Post by Christopher J Gould on Dec 4, 2013 6:31:02 GMT -5
We hear a lot about audiences getting their mobile phones out and googleling props used in an act - presumably the performers says 'This ancient artefacts was handed down to me by my deranged great uncle' then some smartarse (trans - smartass) shouts out; 'no he didn't, you bought it from (insert favourite magic dealer)'.
Enough sensible people have been telling me that this is enough of a problem for me to start taking it seriously with the stuff I put out for sale. (Devil's Library being case in point).
However, what of the positive side to this coin?
Some time ago I was performing Cuss Cards, and looked up to see one of the audience frantically tapping away at some sort of electronic device. I got quite upset, thinking that my performance was so lacking in suspense that members of the audience were starting to look elsewhere for their entertainment. What was happening, was that the person was interested enough in my story that they wanted to research it there and then! I told the story of an Alchemist (I just pulled a name out of a bag - cannot remember who I said) and the guy shouted out triumphantly - 'I have just looked it up and it is true!' Instantly validating the *whole* performance.
This got me thinking - and I started off a fake Blog caled the 'Weirdipedia'. The aim was expressly this - a facility for performers and creators to put up fake articles to 'validate' the 'authenticity' of what they were doing. A few people saw the potential of this and got involved. A few people (including myself) just got off on the idea of writing fake articles and perpetuating hoaxes. It was a lot of fun. Then disaster struck - without any warning the company hosting the blog just disappeared - the Weirdipedia along with them. Alas, I did not have a back up. Disheartened - I just left the idea and walked away.
However, I am working on something at the moment that could really use such an online authorisation.
And I want to throw the idea out here, to see if anyone else would find this a useful or entertaining prospect.
So, the basic idea is a blog or fake articles mixed in with authentic ones.
this can be used to give some 'background research' to either a performance or to something that you are thinking of marketing.
As well as this, you may want to join in for the fun of it - spinning hoaxes is a lot of fun!
Here is an example of a fake blog I set up years ago to validate my routine 'A Death in the Family'. Actually, rather than sending you a direct link - do what I tell my audiences to do - look up the strange and forgotten psychic-photography technique of 'photomorphic resonance'!!!
I am thinking this - if there are a few people here who think this is a useful facility to have or at least a fun one and I have a few people saying - 'sure I will contribute an article or two - let's do it!' I will start the whole ball rolling again (with a back up this time!)
The responses to this thread will establish it's validity as an idea.
Enough sensible people have been telling me that this is enough of a problem for me to start taking it seriously with the stuff I put out for sale. (Devil's Library being case in point).
However, what of the positive side to this coin?
Some time ago I was performing Cuss Cards, and looked up to see one of the audience frantically tapping away at some sort of electronic device. I got quite upset, thinking that my performance was so lacking in suspense that members of the audience were starting to look elsewhere for their entertainment. What was happening, was that the person was interested enough in my story that they wanted to research it there and then! I told the story of an Alchemist (I just pulled a name out of a bag - cannot remember who I said) and the guy shouted out triumphantly - 'I have just looked it up and it is true!' Instantly validating the *whole* performance.
This got me thinking - and I started off a fake Blog caled the 'Weirdipedia'. The aim was expressly this - a facility for performers and creators to put up fake articles to 'validate' the 'authenticity' of what they were doing. A few people saw the potential of this and got involved. A few people (including myself) just got off on the idea of writing fake articles and perpetuating hoaxes. It was a lot of fun. Then disaster struck - without any warning the company hosting the blog just disappeared - the Weirdipedia along with them. Alas, I did not have a back up. Disheartened - I just left the idea and walked away.
However, I am working on something at the moment that could really use such an online authorisation.
And I want to throw the idea out here, to see if anyone else would find this a useful or entertaining prospect.
So, the basic idea is a blog or fake articles mixed in with authentic ones.
this can be used to give some 'background research' to either a performance or to something that you are thinking of marketing.
As well as this, you may want to join in for the fun of it - spinning hoaxes is a lot of fun!
Here is an example of a fake blog I set up years ago to validate my routine 'A Death in the Family'. Actually, rather than sending you a direct link - do what I tell my audiences to do - look up the strange and forgotten psychic-photography technique of 'photomorphic resonance'!!!
I am thinking this - if there are a few people here who think this is a useful facility to have or at least a fun one and I have a few people saying - 'sure I will contribute an article or two - let's do it!' I will start the whole ball rolling again (with a back up this time!)
The responses to this thread will establish it's validity as an idea.