|
|
JohnCressman Special user Allentown, PA 903 Posts |
Ok... so I'm adding putting together a dangerous Monte routine for a club routine I was recently lucky to get. I think the broken bottles will fit right into the club atmosphere and are something the club goers can relate to. I actually plan to close my club act with this.
But... now I'm considering adding this to my regular act... but the question is... where. I think this routine builds a lot of tension but... I normally close with my headline prediction (sent to the client a week in advance). Which do you think would make the better closer? I'm almost thinking the Dangerous monte first, then to releive the tension, do the headline prediction... Any suggestions or comments? Thanks! |
mrunge Inner circle Charleston, SC 3716 Posts |
I like that idea a lot. Hit them with danger and tension first and then send them home in total amazement, scratching their head and wondering about all the magic they just saw. The headline prediction is a fantastic effect and not something people see very often. That's a great closer.
Mark. |
davidlai308 Veteran user Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia 376 Posts |
Do whatever you have to do to grab the audience's attention in the 1st 30seconds .
Harry Anderson , played with a flute,ping pong ball and an apple . I think for you , a dangerous monte will do fine .=)
An entrepreneur by day , a magician by night . Satiate my mind & you've won my heart .
www.superhumanz.online |
JohnCressman Special user Allentown, PA 903 Posts |
David, actually... it was the ending I was more worried about. I usually start off with a tossed out deck.
|
cupsandballsmagic Inner circle 2705 Posts |
If you have a break in your set, finish with the monte and then finish the act with the headline perhaps....
I have thought long and hard about most "Russian Roulette" type effects as the big finish... the final pay off is that n-o-t-h-i-n-g hapens! |
Chris K Inner circle 2544 Posts |
Took the words right out of my mouth, gambituk1.
An alternative is to smash a melon or something else onto the bottle (or whatever is remaining) but, again, it isn't the performer. I prefer endings that frame the performer clearly and need no additional exposition. However, John, I think somebody COULD end with it, I just couldn't, not with my style or performance persona. I'd tend to recommend against it and go with something after, like what you mentioned. |
cupsandballsmagic Inner circle 2705 Posts |
Lemiscate,
Good idea with the melon etc, I used to work the Dynamite Illusion quite a lot and this was he exception to the rule because there was a clear aplause cue when the last stick goes B-A-N-G and also a kineasthetic sensation rattling around the chests of the fisrt few rows to boot as the gerb exploded! However, Larry Becker kills with his Russian Roulette.... the silence with a - - - - click... So I guess, as you say it is all down to the performer... |
mesmer Inner circle 1186 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-10-25 23:47, JohnCressman wrote: I think your Audience Reaction will judge wich one is the Best Closer, since there is some effect that has a personality that suitable if it is be used as a closer but in the end it will be the Audinece Response or Reaction that will determine if that piece is Strong Enough as a closer or Not |
Chris K Inner circle 2544 Posts |
Good point gambit. I think the strength of the Becker ending is tied to how convincing earlier parts of the effect are. Otherwise, what is to keep people from thinking that the bullet is just a dud? By the way, that is a rhetorical question. I've only read about it but Becker's routine seems to be dynamite (never seen him in person at all, to be honest, my loss).
One of the stand-bys in places I have seen magic/mentalism performed is bottle-in-bag. While nobody may know the secret, or even if could be applied to whatever effect that may be done, it's something to think about. IMO, effects such as this rely on the belief that everything is on the up and up. The strongest effects are those that would seem to preclude any tomfoolery. Any lack of belief kills the effect. The bear trap on the television show Phenomenon is a great example. The trap was never actually shown to be dangerous in any way, it didn't look dangerous closing, and it didn't look "realistic" on the hand. Imagine, instead, that he had tested it with a melon or side of ham before (or after, I suppose, different for that presentation). I think it would have been much more interesting and riveting. Again, IMHO. |
cupsandballsmagic Inner circle 2705 Posts |
I have not seen any of the Phenomenon series so I can't comment on those.. (any good?)
Larry sells his Russian Roulette wonderfully and it's very dramatic and believable live. Mesmer, great point and something which I think we can tend t ooverlook, I have often thought something would kill only to find that the weakest (in my opinion) routine would steal the show. Pertaining to this I read on magicweek that Fay Presto is performing a lecture in a restaurant setting to 6 people (laymen) sat at the table with the lecture audience stood around. After the performance she will ask the 6 people to leave so that she can continue with the lecture. I don't know if any other performers take this wonderful approach but I have never been to such a lecture. I think it serves to remind us all (and I often get bogged down in what I *believe* is interesting or entertains *me*) that it is the public we are performing for.... |
MagicDog Regular user Michigan 175 Posts |
Which do you think would make the better closer? I'm almost thinking the Dangerous monte first, then to releive the tension, do the headline prediction...
That is the way I would go, depending on the headline prediction you are using and the build up to it. Both effects done well, will be remembered. John
Make Everyday Magical
|
entity Inner circle Canada 5060 Posts |
I'd think that a headline prediction would be too slow, and also too serious, for a club-type show.
There are so many other types of effects available that would be more involving for an audience. Why a headline prediction? The smash and stab type effect, while I hate the entire concept, will get a reaction in that type of club. I'd suggest, if you have to do it, use it as your closer. It will get a strong audible reaction which will be hard to follow, and if you manage to actually stab yourself, at least the audience will have had most of the show by then. (I'm joking... I realize you're using the "broken bottle" version.) - entity
email: tomebaxter@icloud.com
|
cupsandballsmagic Inner circle 2705 Posts |
Quote:
if you manage to actually stab yourself, at least the audience will have had most of the show by then. Sorry but that's really funny! IT's also very logical if you think about it! Entity - I think that's a very good point. Examining my nightclub / cabaret act... I *have* finished on a headline *type* prediciton but always come back on with my version of Eric Meade's Night at the Improv. Most of the comments I have had (sometimes a looooong time after a performance) were about "the thing where you made up a story from the cards..." I seem to be examining my own performances here a lot more than the original post (which can only be a good thing!) |
JohnCressman Special user Allentown, PA 903 Posts |
Sorry for the confusion... my regular act is almost exclusively fundraisers, corporate events and company parties... hence the headline prediction, since I can send it to the person who booked me ahead of time.
|
JohnWells Inner circle The Southern Wild 1791 Posts |
Something frequently overlooked by magicians and mentalists is the value in a soft close. In both movies and plays, the tendency is to have the climax, the big ending, five minutes before the thing is actually over. The danger of a bang finish is the state of tension the audience is left in; a final quieter moment is very effective.
|
entity Inner circle Canada 5060 Posts |
For the Mentalist, I'd suggest that closing remarks, well thought out and delivered, will effectively achieve the 'soft closing' you mention.
- entity
email: tomebaxter@icloud.com
|
Chris K Inner circle 2544 Posts |
The close of the show allows the performer to put a frame of reference around everything that has happened. This can be something that ties into the emotions of the audience or some sort of message. One could even use it to offer true "proof" of what has transpired in order to drum up some post-show readings.
I have seen them all and have seen good and bad versions of both. My opinion is that the ending needs to be tied to the show. If ending soft works with the rest of it, great. If smashing an empty cup then dropping a melon onto an upturned bottle then walking off the stage works better, then do that. It's hard to offer concrete advice on stuff like this, IMO, but keep everything consistent to whatever it is that your "theme" is. |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Penny for your thoughts » » Advice on Closer (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.02 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |