|
|
Axel Elite user Berlin 451 Posts |
Hi there!
I wonder if any of you have experiences in performing together with another magician. For example at a restaurant- or bar-like environment. How can you combine your routines? What kind of routines make sense to combine? Should you perform each for his own at the same time? Suggestions are very appreciated. Thanks a lot! :) Lexa |
TonyB2009 Inner circle 5006 Posts |
In a restaurant or bar environment I would imagine that you are booked as two distinct performers. Often happens with big events. Just ignore what the other guy is doing and do your own thing. It might be a good idea to talk beforehand to him so that he does half the table, you the other half.
On the other hand if you have been hired as a double-act, then you need to have routines that work as double-handers. Two person telepathy springs to mind. But you need to rehearse carefully and decide which one of you will be the straight man. Double acts (even if they are not comedy acts) need the straight man as a foil for the more charasmatic (or funny) guy to play off. I would not even consider a double act unless you know the other performer well and work with him regularly. Without chemistry you have nothing. With chemistry you have very little until you have worked out the routines carefully and rehearsed thoroughly. Don't get suckered into a double act unless you are sure it is the way you want to go. Tony.
Check out Tony's new thriller Dead or Alive http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alive-Varrick-Bo......n+carson
http://www.PartyMagic.ie |
Chris H Inner circle Melbourne, Australia 1364 Posts |
|
Axel Elite user Berlin 451 Posts |
Two very interesting replies. Thanks a lot!
Lexa |
MarceloElGrande New user 78 Posts |
"A day without sunshine is like, you know, night." (Steve Martin)
"We are all amateurs, life is too short for us to be anything else" (Charlie Chaplin) |
Slim King Eternal Order Orlando 18012 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-09-17 04:47, Lexa wrote: I'm not sure why you are asking about performing with Magicians in a mentalism section ... BUT .. Jim Callahan and I have performed together as Paranormalists ....Is that what you are asking?
THE MAN THE SKEPTICS REFUSE TO TEST FOR ONE MILLION DOLLARS.. The Worlds Foremost Authority on Houdini's Life after Death.....
|
Slim King Eternal Order Orlando 18012 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-09-17 04:47, Lexa wrote: I'm not sure why you are asking about performing with Magicians in a mentalism section ... BUT .. Jim Callahan and I have performed together as Paranormalists ....Is that what you are asking?
THE MAN THE SKEPTICS REFUSE TO TEST FOR ONE MILLION DOLLARS.. The Worlds Foremost Authority on Houdini's Life after Death.....
|
Lord Of The Horses Inner circle 5406 Posts |
I performed with a magician, and then with a dog, my dog...
When I performed with a magician, some people in the crowd commented: "That magician is a real dog!" And, inside, I felt good ... But when I performed with my dog, some people in the crowd commented: "Wow! That dog is a real magician!" And I felt bad because he was stealing the spotlight from me... So, now I'm retired and my dog is performing worldwide as "The Amazing PK-9"... He also sends me postcards from time to time, however his calligraphy is horrible and plus I don't know how to read... so I end up just looking at the pictures. The good thing is that now he's sending me part of the money he earns and I can lazily pass my days and nights in his doghouse... ehhrrr... I meant in my house.
Then you'll rise right before my eyes, on wings that fill the sky, like a phoenix rising!
|
FairieSnuff Regular user 157 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-09-18 00:01, Lord Of The Horses wrote: Wow ..... |
Chris H Inner circle Melbourne, Australia 1364 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-09-17 21:31, MarceloElGrande wrote: THAT is how you make a promo video, my friend. Cool huh? Cheers, Chris |
Slim King Eternal Order Orlando 18012 Posts |
My question again is ... What's this got to do with Mentalism ?????... I see a lot of IT, and magicy stuff on the video with dozens of video effects. (I did see one design dupe as done by a magician) Nothing else that relates to mentalism.
This needs to be moved to one of the Magic sections.
THE MAN THE SKEPTICS REFUSE TO TEST FOR ONE MILLION DOLLARS.. The Worlds Foremost Authority on Houdini's Life after Death.....
|
Tony Iacoviello Eternal Order 13151 Posts |
In the 1990s I was associated with the Greater Boston Church of Spiritualism as was my friend and fellow performer Bill. The head of the church, Rev. Dr. Earle Myers asked the two of us to do something at the Conclave of Spiritualist Churches. It was his turn to host the event, one involving churches and leadership from around the country. He did not have a budget, so we agreed to do it for dinner, singing for our supper, so to speak.
Bill is much more charismatic than I, and we decided that he would be the star of the performance, and I would serve is a supporting, more minor role on stage. For a 20 minute act, two lead performers might be confusing in our minds. The act was designed to be light, tongue in cheek, but with an ending that would stun. There was a baby-gag type routine involving a shopping trip, a few other pieces, and ended with mind reading a serial number from a spectator’s bill that was in the spectator’s possession. For the last piece we used my variation of Bruce Kalver’s excellent method from his lecture notes. We worked through the material over the phone, and each worked on our individual pieces on our own. The work on the serial number routine tested our friendship and due to our mutual personality quirks resulted in us not speaking for 2 weeks prior to the event, in fact, I was not sure that we would even do the event until the day of the event. Having gone through this with a friend, I can understand and relate to what happens with those who try to work on code acts… On the way to the event, we stepped through everything again, it was smooth and invisible as far as methodology. The concern Bill had was how the group would take the act. He felt they make take offense and assume we were mocking them. So when we arrived, he found seating for us right against the emergency exit, just in case, as he put it, “we had to make a dash for it.”. We were put in the closing position of the show, as I recall, it opened with the singing of a very talented young lady whom was also a minister. She was wonderful. Following her was Rev. Myers and some fellow heads of the organization, there was a lead-in with a song from the Andrews Sisters, then they appeared, all in drag dressed as the Andrews Sisters. Earle was referred to as Maxine for rest of the evening, and this is just where the night started to become surreal. Following the girls was a lone male exotic dancer. Words cannot explain or even give the vaguest impression of this act. Eventually it was our turn. I was feeling pretty good about the act now. There were two audience member pieces, and Bill had approached 2 people prior to the show and asked if they would be willing to participate in the show, and both had agreed. Bill is a man of many talents, but finding cooperative volunteers is not one of them, and this night was no different. The first person, a woman, became argumentative when asked if she would help even though she had happily volunteered 40 minutes earlier, and it was not a fun experience with her even though the routine was successfully concluded. The next two bits were between the two of us and went over well, it was all tongue-in-cheek and appeared more comedy than mentalism or mind reading. Finally we got the finale… Bill asked for assistance from the audience member he had approached, earlier, he refused. Then I asked for anyone willing to assist, not a one. Finally the male dancer sauntered forward. He sat on a chair center stage next to me. I asked him if he had a bill we could use for the demonstration. He was reluctant, years of having bills thrust at him and slid into his G-String made him reluctant to part with the cash. He agreed when I told him it would never leave his hands. With the dollar bill in his hands, I said in a stage yell, “Bill, he has something in his hands BILL, what is it BILL?” And Bill said, “A bill.” The entire audience groaned, we had them where we wanted them. Bill then said, “look at the first digit in the serial number…” And he was off. This guy was so good on stage (a guy Bill did NOT pick) that he was hyper emotional when the numbers were called off, and I was able to very quietly say the cue, and he would echo it very loudly, himself guiding Bill. After the event, some asked how Bill did that, others were convinced he had the gift. In fact, a year later I was still being asked. That was the first, and last time Bill and I did an act together. The stress and clashes were too much and we did not want to jeopardize our friendship. I have since done an act with a partner, I used a puppet. Less ego clashes, easy to get along with (most times), rehearsal time was never a problem, and the act was well received. Working with a friend is not always easy. Tony |
Brane Loyal user Virginia, USA 272 Posts |
Tony:
Well understood. About a decade ago or more, I and a woman friend worked up a very complex duo telepathy act, involving a complete expensive sound system, music, costumes, props, hidden electronics and months of research and then the inevitable long, frustrating code practice sessions. From start to finish it took well over a year and a half to polish. We then played at a couple local large outdoor fairs with satisfyingly good success. But then some of the usual negative human emotional interactions started getting in the way. We never did the act again, and shortly thereafter I never saw her again, either. I can see why these kinds of acts almost must be based on long married or committed relationships. It's a hundred times worse than trying to teach your mate to drive a car with a manual transmission - by texting. brane |
Slim King Eternal Order Orlando 18012 Posts |
Man Tony ... What a story!!!!
Amazing
THE MAN THE SKEPTICS REFUSE TO TEST FOR ONE MILLION DOLLARS.. The Worlds Foremost Authority on Houdini's Life after Death.....
|
videokideo Special user 895 Posts |
Been some great posts here.
I assume you are a mentalist being in this section. Ive done it before and I don't recommend combining the elements of magic and mentalism. That only applies if you care about how our art is perceived with those people. People see magic and know its illusion, or a trick. We, as mentalist, can make people leave believing we have senses or powers. Mentalism is much cleaner and not so magical feeling. I think when you team up with a magician, your mentalism turns to magic in one swoop. We did a hour and half show, magician opened for me and split equal time. I did not get the usuall comments I normally get about my show. They were more "how did you do that" instead of "do you do private readings or you should work for the police". My show was seen as another magic show without all the props. Wont do it again! Just my opinion though and my one experience. |
Slim King Eternal Order Orlando 18012 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-09-18 16:42, videokideo wrote: Excellent post !!!!! IMHO
THE MAN THE SKEPTICS REFUSE TO TEST FOR ONE MILLION DOLLARS.. The Worlds Foremost Authority on Houdini's Life after Death.....
|
Axel Elite user Berlin 451 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-09-18 16:42, videokideo wrote: Yes, I understand that. I was really thinking of a mentalism-walkaround-act with two mentalists. My terminology was not correct. And to be true I find it kind of hard to imagine. Maybe walkaround is a scenario where mental-magic, as opposed to mentalism, really works better, as in the urban-magic-example. I just thought that, if there are people performing in that way, I would find them here. Thanks again for your posts. Best, Lexa |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Penny for your thoughts » » Performing as a duo (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.05 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 < |