'Line Theory' by Mystery Mark (lesson)

Fin · 04-22-2012, 06:46 AM

Essential viewing for the serious, thinking magician. Mark's Line Theory is incredible food for thought that has changed the way I think about my magic performances dramatically; the thinking here is a real eye opener!

There are many routines I have worked on which seem to physically flow so much better than others. For example, Ambitious Card routines that I have experimented with over and over with different sleights being used at different points. Trying to pin down why one "feels" better than another has been something I've found quite tough as it involves several different factors, and with so much to think about it can also sometimes be tough just to sort through all the various "performance options" when one is planning a routine. Mark's theory has managed to put into words very concisely a very large part of this puzzle of why some magic performances look truly magical and "clean" in appearance, and why some just look dirty, misleading or confusing.

Applying it to the way I think about my routines has made it so much easier to plan, visualize, and better understand the hows, the when's, and the why's of the all-important physical component of my performance of any given piece of magic. For anyone who really thinks about their magic in any real depth, and wants their act to look as meaningful, magical and as clean as possible, this is an invaluable and vital tool.

04-22-2012, 06:46 AM	#2
Fin Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 530	Essential viewing for the serious, thinking magician. Mark's Line Theory is incredible food for thought that has changed the way I think about my magic performances dramatically; the thinking here is a real eye opener! There are many routines I have worked on which seem to physically flow so much better than others. For example, Ambitious Card routines that I have experimented with over and over with different sleights being used at different points. Trying to pin down why one "feels" better than another has been something I've found quite tough as it involves several different factors, and with so much to think about it can also sometimes be tough just to sort through all the various "performance options" when one is planning a routine. Mark's theory has managed to put into words very concisely a very large part of this puzzle of why some magic performances look truly magical and "clean" in appearance, and why some just look dirty, misleading or confusing. Applying it to the way I think about my routines has made it so much easier to plan, visualize, and better understand the hows, the when's, and the why's of the all-important physical component of my performance of any given piece of magic. For anyone who really thinks about their magic in any real depth, and wants their act to look as meaningful, magical and as clean as possible, this is an invaluable and vital tool.