The Billet Article - Editorial

This article is taken from The Billet Issue - 358 - Jun 2001, Authored by Keith Pickles

Editorial

Now as time went on I began to deviate from the suggested patter, although even today, I have to say that I still read the suggested patter and use that as a start for the patter that I eventually end up with. Certainly in my first run-outs with the trick, I often rely heavily on the patter that I am presented with. Perhaps I am just lazy and can't be bothered thinking up my own. However, being mainly a children's entertainer, I soon find the words, and type of presentation, that I, and my audience of screaming children, are happiest with. Sometimes this may be totally different from that suggested by the dealer. However, I am always happiest with a trick that comes supplied with a suggested patter routine, as I feel that the dealer has attempted to put some thought into how the effect could be presented ~ not necessarily how it should be presented, that is up to the performer.

I am not saying that I always use the suggested patter, sometimes it is so far away from the type of presentation I use in my shows that I would look and sound stupid using it. Sometimes it is so awful that I would squirm using it. Sometimes it is so old-fashioned that I would get lynched using it. However, in all cases it does at least get me thinking as to how I could present the trick.

So for beginners and not-so-beginners, I would say to all the dealers out there, "carry on providing the suggested patter", just try and make it usable, don't just write some words to make your instructions look good.

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