Payne's Lecture

Saturday afternoon Buster and I were entertained and enlightened at Payne's lecture. Well attended by around 50 local magicians we were given the opportunity to see and hear a bit of Payne's creative process.

He started out by performing a routine called the Gift from the Magi (a variation of David Parr's "Dinner with Bourgies"). After doing this prediction effect and teaching the method, Payne showed us how he was able to take the same trick and apply it to many different themes. For his Harry Potter Show he put the prediction in a large Jelly Bean. Other themes included Life/Death, Audience/Magician, and a Bank Night Theme with play money and a real bill.




He emphasised the idea of taking standard effects and performing them NOT in the standard way. Talking about the way he had modified many tricks to suit his Rennisance Festival Act, he shared with us his "What's Next" routine. He had modified the prop by covering it in parchment paper and converting the spots to X's and talked about making his mark on the paper.

He outlined his ideas on Theme Magic and made a point to say it wasn't what (tricks) he was doing but how he did it. He used different language that made us think outside the box. Payne showed us that the prop doesn't have to be what it is, It can be whatever YOU want it to be, or can imagine it being.



He illustrated this by showing us how he had modified a die box to look like something very different. The routine had the same structure but now he had a reason for having the box.

Payne then preached the gospel of magicians asking themselves


WHO - Who am I? What kind of character are you trying to portray?
What - are you doing?
Where - will you be doing it?
When
Why? That's a big one. And finally
How - Will you accomplish all of the proceeding?



Payne always cracks me up! He has, as unique a sense of humor as he does a perspective on magic. Payne drove the point home, that even if you are using a standard magic prop; that you should strive to create unique magical presentations that are YOURS.

He talked about the challenges he faced when working on his Checkers, Rice & Orange routine (a routine I've been lucky enough to see him perform before a lay audience that loved it as much as I did.



As the winner of many magic contests Payne is qualified to give some excellent advice on competing. He explained how close up contests are really parlour contests, I couldn't agree more.

He performed his variation of Penello a card routine he modified to use coasters, he calls it Coasterello. After that he performed his "Pet Flute" routine that used the added sense of sound. I saw him perform this routine at the last Magic Monday at Third Place Books.

Next he performed a mental routine themed around a Thai Food restaurant called "Thai Wan On"

If you can't tell by now I am a big Payne fan! Here is a guy who is who has great balance in his life. A good job, a beautiful wife who loves him, a charming home, the respect and admiration of his peers and talent oozing out of every pour.

Payned finished his lecture with his homage to Tommy Wonder. He broke down the thought process for several Nest of Boxes that he has made and performed over the years.

A great afternoon of LegerdaPayne!