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Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
Any ideas for ways to take advantage of parades for promotional purposes, aside from having special vehicles? I've seen the "Bunny holding magician in top hat" costume. Anything else?
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JackScratch Inner circle 2151 Posts |
There is an old effect where inflated baloons are repeatedly pulled from a 1'X1' box, that the kind of thing?
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Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
For promotional purposes, the most important things for parades are:
* Be sure that the organizers have your name and a few short, human-interest snippets about your show, character or group...and that you expect this information to be forwarded to the event MC's and announcers. This is especially true for televised events. How many times do you hear "Here come the clowns!" or "Looks like that magician is in trouble"...and nothing else. Compare that to: "Here comes Zeppo the Great and his mysterious bunny, Harpo, sponsored by Metropolis Great Magic 4 You and Mike's Bistro. Say, did you know that Harpo is a certified bunny escapologist? He's apparently known for his hare-raising shows! Kids are invited to visit with Zeppo and Harpo every Tuesday at Mike's Bistro!" * Entertain as you travel. Whether you're walking or riding, do something that demonstrates your skill. A wireless mic to a portable sound system pointing out either side of the vehicle will give you an audience...use it! What does waving get you? "Oh, look...a magician. What's next?" What you want is "Wow! He was funny! What was his name?" Unless you're a major celebrity, perform as you roll!!! * Signage! Signage! Signage! People can't hire you if they don't know who you are! If you're on a float or in a car have signs in the front, side and back with your name in easily read letters. If you're walking, take along a couple of costumed volunteers to precede and follow you with sandwich board signs. Avoid phone numbers...use your easy-to-remember website address instead. * Avoid give-a-ways such as candy or business cards and pulling kids into the parade route. Handing our business cards, candy or freebies of any kind is illegal along some parade routes and downright foolish at all of them. Police fight a constant battle to keep children pushed back beyond the path of parade vehicles. Don't disrupt that. * Have quick, fun magical bits that play BIG, require no patter and quickly resets in the open for the frequent stops along the route. One of the Axtell birds or similar puppet, juggling, a large handheld angle-free illusion would all work great here. Use your imagination. BIG because, like a circus ring, the audience is sitting at some distance from you. Card tricks ain't gonna cut it. Without patter because, like a circus ring, no one can hear you. Even with a great sound system, you may get stuck behind or, goddess forbid, in front of St. Peter's Elementary School Marching kazoo Band. Hope this helps! Skip
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
drwilson Inner circle Bar Harbor, ME 2191 Posts |
Skip has some great ideas, as usual, that apply to big parades with good press coverage. In a smaller parade you can stand out by being entirely different. I agree, one of those great Axtell birds would kill.
I marched in a small parade through a little town just before a performance with my Flea Circus. I have a painted canvas sign that hangs on the front of the table for the Flea Circus, and I wore it like a sandwich board. I carried an Anchor Minivox and did the bally as I walked. There were many more spectacular attractions in the parade (giant puppets, mermaids riding on the hood of art cars, and the like), but when it was over, some old folks came over to me and told me that I was the best thing in the parade. I think the combination of the nostalgia appeal of my act and the old-time bally really worked on these folks. Everyone else is using something flashy, visual, probably expensive. Use sound, not just music. If everyone else is going high-tech, go low. If they are doing huge floats with dozens of riders, go solo and walk. Think about the coverage of the Macys Thanksgiving Parade. The camera gets tired of shots of corporate-sponsored giant balloons designed by a committee being hauled along by dozens of marchers, then it follows a single performer, perhaps a clown or magician, as he or she interacts with individuals along the parade route. Be that human interest story! Yours, Paul |
axtell V.I.P. Steve Axtell 2126 Posts |
Many magicians, clowns and puppeteers use our birds in parades and walk arounds. Bruce "Charlie" Johnson even used the Bird Arm Illusion and one of our bird puppets in the Rose Parade.
Ax
Axtell Expressions, Inc.
Pro Puppets, Magic & Animatronics |
Magic.J.Manuel Special user I have danced upon 663 Posts |
Dave Grist has designed several 6 foot long twisted-balloon cars that you wear.
I believe his tapes are still available, it is called BALLOON MODELLING VOLUME 9 The Big Stuff - $30.00 Pub. 2003 @ 98 Min Also his big top hat looks great with black and silver balloons. Even if you don't do animals this is a great parade getup, however the balloons may interfere with large tricks like the rings. But, you can still have an Axtell bird on your arm!
Nothing would get done at all, if man waited so long that no one could find fault with it.
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
If you are constantly on the move (like Mardi Gras), use the Double 4-Color Changing Silks in the 18" size. It's magic, it resets itself, it's colorful, and it is very portable. Be kind to yourself. It's hard enough walking and chewing gum!
Remember to change props for a different set of colors when you stop. Bob Sanders Magic By Sander |
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