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Craig Dickens Veteran user 376 Posts |
A pro pyro technician was brought in to augment a show in Reno several years ago that hired me as a consultant. This "pro" was placing wireless pyro cannons everywhere including 2 feet in front of me when I am onstage in a black art suit and basically invisible. I balked and he said he wouldn't set it off until I was clear! Mind you--I am practically invisible. I pointed out my monoscopic vision and told him what I ( and if need be, my family) would physically do to him if it went wrong. The cannons were moved. But he did overfill the show opening cannons and all on stage spent the next 10 minutes coughing. I HATE pyro. I feel it is used by the talent anemic to try and fill in for their inabilities.
That said--I once owned a flash portal. We used a co2 fire extinguisher to create the cover. It is loud, provides great cover and is safe ( just don't fire it at your face!).
e-mail at:magicaldickens@aol.com
website: www.dickensmagic.com |
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JVHarrison Regular user 105 Posts |
BYUDAD,
I have been responsible for making company executive appear and dissapear, and I have never met one that I thought I could shove into a set of d*******e s***s. The general rule is that you will have very, very little time to work with such a person, and if it involves little more than the ability to stand, it's probably not a good idea. Have you actually had success with executives that are willing and able to do this? I think that, even if I found someone willing to do it, it would make me too nervous to present, given the little rehearsal time generally available in these situations. That being said, I do have a friend who successfully produced an executive out of a suitcase using a sphinx table, so I guess one can pull it off -- I just don't think I would have the nerve to do it. |
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Ray Pierce Inner circle Los Angeles, CA 2607 Posts |
Patrick...
The prop looks great and for a magician, dancer or assistant it would be a great choice. In fact I had a step style shadow box for my first Canadian tour (sadly it didn't look as good as yours!) where I produced the girl (via shadow), then got in the box, vanished and reappeared in the house. The "effect" is perfect for this type of event, I'm just not sure if it is the safest method. Like JV, I've worked with a lot of Executives/VIP's and his points are exactly right. Captains of Industry frequently turn into morons when attempting something this far out of their comfort zone. I have had one particular executive who was a magic fan that REALLY wanted to be involved. He actually came out to our studio and rehearsed 2 different times in preparation for the show but that is VERY unusual. Even in these extreme cases I still try and limit their potential for disaster by creating a clear path for success including (but not limited to) having handlers "walk" them through the show, having a path marked by large arrows leading them to their appearance, using a prop that is "automated" (doors that open by themselves and move them into their final position, etc. The only props I really recommend for executives are ones where they have NO role other than standing (so their suit stays nice) or walking when pushed in the proper direction. To reinforce JV's comments most executives I've worked with are ALWAYS bigger than most load spaces will tolerate, so plan ahead! We used to have a few modern cabinets specifically for these situations, that were a lot bigger with "doors" that are opened from the outside via pull lines. There was a walkie talkie in the top of the cabinet so we could talk to them and reassure them that things were ok (most people are really not used to being stuffed in a restrictive, dark chamber and told to wait for several minutes). We had a printed card we give him as he goes in to the lit interior that says "When the doors open, step forward, smile and be ready for the applause when the curtains open!"... and some of them STILL messed it up! In my later years (lol... wow, does that make me sound old!) I always opted for something where they could just be walked through an "opening" or something simple as it gave us full control over their actions and eliminated any potential for failure. This also included our people holding their arms as they step up and down any stairs or over any trip hazards. Things we take for granted as performers are potentially hazardous obstacles for others. Most executives/VIP's are focused on giving their speech and what they're going to say to their employees, not making the trick work. They are distracted at the very least and even though they want the trick to work, they don't always have the skill set to be helpful in making that happen. Plan ahead and keep it simple.
Ray Pierce
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Magic Patrick Inner circle Minnesota 1591 Posts |
Great feedback. I built this for my appearance but I have had success making VIPs appear. The city of Goodyear, AZ Mayor was one noteable ones as he was a magic fan and not overweight. I will have to dig up the video of it. Thanks again for your input.
Patrick |
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Ray Pierce Inner circle Los Angeles, CA 2607 Posts |
...anytime! Again, if the VIP fits... use it! It's just the luck of the draw as most of my guys have always been a little on the large size and decidedly not the most agile of participants.
It's a great looking prop, just a matter of selecting the right volunteer for the appearence!
Ray Pierce
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videoman Inner circle 6732 Posts |
I just can't imagine explaining to an Executive (who may not be crazy about being involved at all, or perhaps was just informed that he would be) "Okay, now after that I need you to open this small door and then crawl down inside these steps".
I'd be afraid that is as far as I would get before he said "yeah, right, in the $2500.00 Armani I'll be wearing". Not to mention the size and space factor. I think any steps that can COMFORTABLY hold the average Exec are going to look too big, and I would want him to be comfortable as after all I would like to be asked back. Who was it that said in regards to assistants hiding in illusions, that if they're comfortable, it's too big. Bill |
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Spellbinder Inner circle The Holy City of East Orange, NJ 6438 Posts |
You can always make the boss vanish "in effigy." It's just as much fun and more professionally managed. You have a "boss mask" made from a life-sized photo of his/her face. The boss is brought up as planned, and told that his employees have asked you to make him disappear. Since he is boss, he can always delegate someone else to take his place (you secretly suggest your assistant). You take out the boss mask and put it on the person he designates before you make him or her vanish with the boss "pulling the lever" or some such contraption that supposedly operates the vanish.
When the person reappears, still wearing the mask, they take it off and give it to the boss as a souvineer and memento of the occasion. You might put it on the boss backwards so that he always has "eyes in the back of his head," etc. You can have a lot of fun with a "boss mask," the that's the whole idea...entertainment!
Professor Spellbinder
Professor Emeritus at the Turkey Buzzard Academy of Magik, Witchcraft and Wizardry http://www.magicnook.com Publisher of The Wizards' Journals |
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Christopher Starr Inner circle Heart of America 1850 Posts |
Great real world advice, Ray. Thanks!
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Aaron Smith Magic Inner circle Portland, OR 1447 Posts |
Tim Clothier has a wonderful idea in his "Advance Illusion Projects" Book. It's basically a modern looking Proteus cabinet. It's designed to use an audience member, so literally no preperation on the volunteers part is necessary. It also has "pyro" built into the cabinet. The pyro is not real, so you get the effect of it, without any real danger! The illusion also is used for a vanish/transposition, which I believe fits your criteria. The effect is as follows; You invite an audience member (Or CEO) onstage. Your assistants roll out a menacing looking cabinet which is covered in a cloth. You have the CEO enter the cabinet, and you close it. You then grab a step ladder along with a large can of "gasoline". You make your way up the steps and procced to dump the "gas" into the top of the cabinet! You light a match and toss it into the top of the cabinet. Just then, smoke starts billowing out of the cabinet, and you open the front door, revealing a charred CEO skeleton still on flames and smoking! I think it's a wonderful effect. There is absolutely no real danger to the CEO at all. No rehearsal is necessary (Though it wouldn't hurt to rehearse it anyway) and you get the effect of pyro without the added danger. And to top it off, the Illusion is very, very simple to construct. If your not handy yourself, any cabinet maker, or carpenter could bust this one out for you in a few days. What more could you ask for? Hopefully that is a decent idea for your consideration. Good luck!
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