I love this question. If you've ever seen my manipulation act, it's a very music driven manipulation act where I manipulate CDs and iPods. I make them multiply, vanish, appear, and explode. I'll drop the link at the end of the article in case you want to watch it. That act started as magic, then I found music that fit the magic moments. Magic, then music.
In 2007, I went to the World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas, and I asked this exact question to Jeff McBride. I asked him "Jeff, when it comes to making original magic routines, do you start with music, or do you start with a magic effect." Jeff replied with three words that changed my life: "It all depends." My initial thought was "WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?!?!?" How can it depend? Depend on what?? I was more confused than when I had asked the question. So, I let it sink in, and didn't think about it for a long while.
Let's fast forward to March of 2011. My girlfriend at the time had told me that we needed a break. I was, needless to say, down in the dumps. A friend of mine at school, Steve Tuplin, says to me "hey, have you ever heard the Joshua Radin version of Sesame Street? I listen to it any time I'm having a bad day, and it makes me feel better." After a brief YouTube search, I found the Scrubs episode where it was featured. Instantly, I knew that I needed to create a magic trick around it. That was the "AHA!" moment. For years now, I have created magic effects, and then scoured through my music libraries (yes, plural) looking for music that would work perfectly. For the first time, however, I had found a song that spoke to me. It said "you need to use me, and I will be wonderful."
Fast forward again to September 7, 2011. For the first time, I performed what I lovingly call "The Balloon" at Magic Chicago. (For those of you in the know, it's Tony Clark's Gypsy Balloon, but now I'm just getting technical...) I wrote an original script, and I had recorded my own version of Sesame Street in the style of Joshua Radin. In the end, three audience members were in tears. I had created something beautiful that brought members of the audience to tears. Music, then magic.
Looking back, I have learned to understand what Jeff had simply put to me. It truly does depend. In 2007, I wasn't prepared to know what he was saying, but four years later, I can look back and realize two things. I realized that Jeff was, and still is a genius, and I was naive. With time comes knowledge, and although the knowledge was imparted onto me in 2007, I wasn't prepared for it then.
Go with what your gut tells you about your magic. If you find that a linking rings routine done to a Yiddish techno beat strikes your fancy, do it. If you find that Oops I did it again works with your five-card-repeat, use it. An original twist on a classic plot makes the magic your own. Do what feels right.
Oh yeah, Here's the link to my act. Enjoy!
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