|
|
munkywrench Loyal user Conway, SC 298 Posts |
I'm back to attending the monthly ring meetings. I would like ideas that I can share with my ring to help exspose many of the old timers (no offense) to cutting edge modern magic. I think that some of the guys are set in their ways and that is fine. I noticed that the younger guys were having a hard time staying awake and even staying in the lecture room. Inorder for our organization to grow we need to bring our teaching and history lessons to the front with modern twists. I have a hard time listening to guys complain about too many card effects and pushing antiquated effects that just don't fit in todays world. I don't mean this as a disrespect. I just think that the youth would grow in the organization if we had a balance in the old and new. Basicaly, open your mind to more than Stars of Magic and the like. Great books, great magi...but we're missing out on a lot of talent in todays world. I'm done now, got to go, I'm listening to Burt Bacharach and fixing my sock garters.
Family Biz. https://www.facebook.com/dreamweaverconway/
Disciple of the Close-Up Kinda Guy PH. Balloon Blast Video Show junkie. Supporter of http://www.myrtlebeachmagician.com/ Retired Demo Dude IBM #334 supporter |
Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
We host two sessions each month. The first Saturday of each month is the regular Ring gathering. Our M.Y.I. youth group meets an hour before the Ring to have time to show off their newest skills and focus on their younger interests. Those who excel in an effect are usually invited to perform before the full Ring...as did one 7-year-old recently with a flawless 4-coin assembly.
Business meetings are kept extremely short so as not to dampen the fun. We follow this with an educational and, most importantly, entertaining theme or challenge. Keeping the meetings light and fun is extremely important. If a single member is bored or losing interest, there is a problem. After each meeting we pretty much take over a local IHOP for a little late night fellowship and good-natured one-up-manship. The Third Thursday is an informal magic jam for the finger flickers, theorists and knuckle busters. Everyone gets what they want and our Ring prospers. Many thanks to men like Mike Gorman, Tom Beaman and Danny Reeves (to name a few of Many) for blazing these paths for us.
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
Here is a partial list of suggested Meeting Themes compiled by IBM member Tom Smith:
Some of these could be the only subject for a meeting while others would work together for a single meeting. Some might also work as topics for joint Youth/Merlin panel discussions, workshops or lectures.
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
Sal Amangka Special user Manila, Philippines 712 Posts |
Hey Skip,
Thanks for sharing those suggestions! |
amshake Regular user 164 Posts |
If you go to http://www.peoriamagicians.com, on the meetings page is a list of our meeting topics for the rest of the year.
_________________________________________
Adam Shake Vice President of the Peoria Magicians Assembly IBM and SAM Member Magic Geek |
munkywrench Loyal user Conway, SC 298 Posts |
Thanks, lots of good stuff that I will bring up at the next meeting. I didn't want to ruffle feathers only help our art grow.
Family Biz. https://www.facebook.com/dreamweaverconway/
Disciple of the Close-Up Kinda Guy PH. Balloon Blast Video Show junkie. Supporter of http://www.myrtlebeachmagician.com/ Retired Demo Dude IBM #334 supporter |
drwilson Inner circle Bar Harbor, ME 2191 Posts |
Thank you Skip!
Here is our Ring's up-to-date page on themes. This year, we are introducing our fourth contest. Yes, we now have four contests a year! Please see the rules for: Dr. James William Elliott Card Challenge Chung Ling Soo Stage Magic Competition Max Malini Parlor Magic Contest Nate Leipzig Close_Up Magic Contest Yours, Paul |
geemack Loyal user Greg McNeil Peoria,Illinois 296 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-02-17 12:28, amshake wrote... Adam developed those meeting topics so they would suit almost any particular interest our members might have. We're a smallish club with about 40 paid members, so we get 15 or a few more at most meetings. There are a couple full time pros in the group, some old timers, several younger members, a ventriloquist or two, a few active women members, a real wide variety. And we try to make the meetings interesting for everyone. We can't expect a lot of participation if we make topics too narrow. Like if we have an "Escapes" night, out of 15 people attending only one or two might care to bring something to share. So we broaden the topic like this... Quote:
Let's See You Get Out of This! - Here's one for you guys who get all tied up in your magic. Escapes have been a mainstay of our art for generations. So come show us your favorite escape from handcuffs, ropes, chains, or a straitjacket. And even if you don't do the usual escape tricks, you're still locked in. Have a trick where an Ace vanishes from between two Jacks, a block drops free from a metal rod, a sponge ball is magically released from the clutches of a spectator's hand? You get the idea. Anything that escapes some sort of confinement will fit the topic. So there's no getting away this time. That way everyone can come share something within their own range of their interest, and still have the guideline of a general topic. We get a lot of participation this way. Here are many of the topics we used over the past couple of years... Quote: 'Round and 'Round We Go - The theme for this month is "Round Things". In magic we use a lot of round things. This is your chance to show us your favorite trick with coins, billiard balls, linking rings, sponge balls, rings and ropes, loops, etc. Don't forget your Square-Circle or Circle-to-Square. Even an egg, while it may be oval from the side, from the end it is indeed round. So look around your collection, come up with something round, and bring it along to share with the group. Let's Roll! Quote: Cool, Calm, and Collected - Most of us have at least one or two old, rare, or collectible items in our pile of magic stuff. Some of these things may be valuable, like antique apparatus or books. Some might just be valuable to you, like that original Color Vision Box you got as a kid. Do you have a one-of-a-kind hand made prop or wand, P&L Cups and Balls, an old magic kit by Gilbert or Mysto, Merv Taylor Linking Rings, an autographed Doug Henning photo or lobby poster? Gather up your collectibles and bring them in for a magical show-and-tell! Quote: Danger, Will Robinson! - Warning, warning. We've all seen the type of trick where it appears the magician is putting himself in some sort of peril. The risk of injury, or worse, can be a very strong force for capturing the attention of your audience. Do you have a way to slide a sword through your neck without pain or blood? Can you swallow a handful of razor blades then cough them up all neatly tied on a string? Are you willing to stick your hand in a genuine animal trap? That's the kind of thing we want to see at this meeting. There's no risk in attending... or is there? Quote: Science Fair - Many magicians' effects are based on principles of physics, electronics, or chemistry. Do you perform Sands of the Desert? Can you show us a Water to Wine effect? Maybe you have a favorite Rising Card deck with a nifty remote control or clockwork mechanism. Gravity and pulleys in your Chinese Sticks? A giant spring like a Walsh Cane? Leverage, hydraulics, servo motors, air pressure, batteries, chemical reactions? There are an awful lot of effects to work with here. But just so we don't burn down the place, let's avoid real fire, smoke, and the dangerous stuff from your chemistry set! Quote: Not Magic - Comedy, juggling, fire-eating, sword swallowing, ventriloquism, chalk talks, geek stunts, there are so many things that aren't usually thought of as magic, but come under the category of allied arts. We have a long history of spicing up our magic performances by adding some of these other types of entertainment to our shows. So come to the meeting and teach us how to juggle. Show us your vent routine. Do a chalk talk. Leave the tricks aside and tell a couple jokes. Or maybe demonstrate some entertaining paper folding. Whatever it is, if it's not magic, we want to see it. Quote: On the Table - Close-up magic is perhaps the most style of performing for most magicians. It's easy to carry the smaller props like coins, cups and balls, rings, strings, rubber bands, sponge balls, thimbles, and cards. The tricks we do close up, on the table or in the spectator's own hands, can be some of the most amazing effects to perform. Even the most notable stage magicians have been known to show an occasional pocket trick or close-up effect when they're off duty. And some magicians have made close-up magic their specialty. So put a cool trick or two in your pockets, come to the meeting, and let is see what you've got. Quote: Etc. - This is your chance to share any trick or routine, even if it doesn't seem to fit into any of the other themes. Maybe you've looked over the list and your favorite trick just can't be put into any of these categories. But, this also means you don't have any excuses. This absence of a topic allows you to perform anything, regardless of whether it is or is not described in any other topic. Everyone should come to the meeting prepared to perform one type of effect or another. Yes, no matter who you are or what kind of magic you like, it's your turn and everything. Quote: Just for Kids - Entertaining children, and doing it well, can require some expertise beyond the simple ability to perform a few tricks. Kids present particular challenges to the performer, challenges like the child with a short attention span, the timid child, the obnoxious child, the overly helpful child, and the list goes on. Let us know how you handle these very special situations. Bring in some of your kid-show material. Explain why this stuff works for kids, and maybe tell us about what you've found that doesn't work. This should prove to be a valuable meeting. And I'm not kidding. Quote: In Black and White or Living Color - Do you perform the black and white Metamorpho Spots, a brightly colored Blendo, maybe What's Next in black and white, or a colorful Sands of the Desert? How about a combination of the two, like the Magic Coloring Book? Does your favoritet card trick use the drab, colorless Three of Clubs or does it use the flashy Queen of Hearts? Come to the meeting and show us something where the color, or lack of color, is an important element of the effect or presentation. Because what we do is visual by its nature, there is a lot of material that fits this category. Now it's all here in black and white, so let's see how you paint it. Quote: Very Scary - It's getting near Halloween, one of the popular holidays among magicians. How about you think of spiders and snakes and ghosts and such, and bring in your scariest trick. Can you make a big hairy bug suddenly appear in someone's hand? Is the old Can of Peanuts gag more your style? How about an envelope full of Rattlesnake Eggs? Maybe chop off a finger or toe, or even another limb? Or did you cut off someone's finger yesterday and today you keep it still alive in a box? Blood, surprises, gross things? Certainly some scary ideas are just for fun, but some are a little more startling. Come to the next meeting and don't be scared to show us your favorites. Quote:
I Can Read Your Mind - Yes, I knew you wanted to discuss the topic of Mentalism. Some magicians specialize in this type of magic, but even those who don't usually have a couple routines based on mind reading. Some examples would be predicting a word found in a book, knowing in advance which card will be selected, seeing through a steel blindfold, matching a chosen color, or finding a hidden item. And if you don't do anything like that, how about showing some other paranormal tricks like spoon bending, levitating, or a spirit bell. I foresee a fun meeting. Greg |
Michael Taggert Special user Fredericksburg Virginia 656 Posts |
This is an Interesting Thread because it brings about the thought that the younger crowd has some how reinvented the wheel. what they have actually done is given magic a shot in the arm of energy. (or amp,or monster) My suggestion for themes is to have a young performers Night for the young folks to present some of thier best routines to the group. I know that one of my favorite things to watch is the youth copmpetitions. These kids are Very creative and we can all get aboost from watching them perform.
mike |
marty.sasaki Inner circle 1117 Posts |
We recently had a pair of meetings, one in February, and the other in March which was a Tarbell night. One of the members, Dan Bybell made up copies of a bunch of routines and everyone who attended the January meeting got an envelope with a routine. The result was great. Some folks used Tarbell's patter, others updated it to a more timely theme.
It is amazing how much good stuff is available in the "old" material. There is also the added advantage that many (most?) of the new folks seem to get their material from DVD's. You get more bang for your buck from books along with doing stuff that others aren't doing. When there was a New England Magic contest,, we would have a meeting where we chose our representative to the contest, that was a nice event as well. We also have a show in the late Spring and have had tryouts at an early meeting. These are all opportunities to perform, get feedback, and learn, as well as entertained.
Marty Sasaki
Arlington, Massachusetts, USA Standard disclaimer: I'm just a hobbyist who enjoys occasionally mystifying friends and family, so my opinions should be viewed with this in mind. |
ERIC Inner circle New Jersey 1188 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-04-06 01:44, marty.sasaki wrote: Sssshhhhh! Don't give THAT away. You might get some really good compitition if THAT gets out. Seriously, Classics are classics for a reason, and if you take some of "the OLD stuff", rework it, twist it around, add your own thoughts, you'll have some great material. Plus you will also have a better foundation to work your ideas from. BUILDING ON THE SHOULDERS and all that. JUST A THOUGHT. |
Lion Dope New user York PA 88 Posts |
Once a year our Ring (Ring 20, Harrisburg PA) has a "Grab Bag Challenge". One of our members owns a hardware store, and makes up 2 identical buckets of all manner of junk. We divide up into 2 teams, and come up with effects. It's absolutely hilarious, and a real ice- breaker for some of the newer members.
Mike |
Steve Hart Veteran user Cocoa, FL 388 Posts |
What a great dicussion....
The ideas for Ring meeting themes are out-standing!!! I want to attend your meetings. I suggest one other theme...."Brown Bag Night" (Lion Dope's post reminded me of this). Everyone brought a magc trick in a brown bag (so no one knew what the trick was)....the bag were numbered....numbers were drawn out of a hat...what ever your number you got that bag....and during a 15 minute break you had to learn the trick and then perform it for the Ring at that meeting. We used this theme every year in our Ring meetings.....Our Ring loved the challenge. Steve Hart
www.SteveHartSpeaks.com
www.magic2motivate.com "Motivational Magicians are some of the highest paid magicians, find out why?" |
solrak29 Special user NY Metro 936 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-04-06 01:44, marty.sasaki wrote: I think this is a fantastic idea as it help those "shy" performers to get performing more also and get a good appreciation for Tarbel and the classics...
To Find Me On The Pitch, Follow me :On Twitter
Checkout my pseudo blog : The Sidewalk Performers Forum "I intend to live forever, or die trying" - Groucho Marx |
J.Robert Loyal user Gettysburg, PA 240 Posts |
These are some great ideas! Thanks!
|
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The International Brotherhood of Magicians! » » Ideas for meetings. (1 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.11 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 < |