I have appeared in a charity variety show for several years now. The organization that benefits is CANPAC (Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention for Alcona County). I am in the process of putting together a full-length stage show (no big box illusions...can't afford them). I will use this show as a fundraiser for the organization and work on a 70/30 split.

This will be a one-man (no assistants) show that packs small and plays big. My hope is to be able to pack the entire show into a large rubbermaid storage tub. I intend to have a main table in the middle of the stage, and two side utility tables stage left and right. I should be able to have the entire first half of the show set, then set the second half during intermission so I never have to leave the stage.

After THIS show, I hope to market the show as a fundraiser to other groups as well. I am thinking of focusing specifically on community theatre groups, since they already have the stage, light and sound, plus the personnel that know how to run them.

I still need 3 to 5 additional effects to round out the show. Here is what I am working with thus far (in no particular order):

Zombie
Snowstorm in China
Gypsy Balloon
Silk Fountain (with other silk productions as a prelude)
D'Lites
Floating Rose
Linking Rings
Kandu Komedy Karton
Mind Reading Orange
Professor's Nightmare
Miser's Dream
Robert Baxt's mouthcoil routine
Comedy Balloon Pump

Any suggestions for other effects that would play well in a family show? I think I probably have enough stuff which requires volunteers from the audience.

Growing/Shrinking Head Illusion
Cut and Restored Rope Routine
20th Century Silks
Lotta Vase Running Gag

I love that you are using Kandu's Comedy Carton LOL, and might suggest Duke's Dye Version as a stage filling effect. If you PM or email me I will gladly share my routine for Ropes through Girl where you can get all the Guillotine lines and laughs that won't upset a family audience.
I used it in my fund raising show for years.
Good luck on the project.
Regards,
Jef

Axtell Magic Drawing Board, Cut and Restored Rope, Torn and Restored Newspaper, Cups & Balls or Chop Cup....

Mike
What is your hook? What will the people leaving your show be talking about? What is that WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE moment that you want to put in your promo literature?

What's next
pompom sticks
Some kind of large kids card trick like Spider Beside Her or twisted sister for the adults
Corn silks with two assistants
arm chopper
a sucker sliding frame
rocky raccoon routine
Strait jacket escape for the finally

These all pack flat

However. In all our fundraising work we generate more work when we have a large show including lights, sound, assistants and illusions and the difference in what is generated from a one person show to the amount of shows and the higher income more then compensates for the effort
Then again, if you can make 3500 a night just by yourself then you're a better man then I am.

That's what I was trying to say Jay.
Thanks

A Misers dream with a kid from the audience would be nice

Showmemagic: I am using Robert Baxt's routine for the Miser's Dream which does, indeed, use a kid from the audience.

Al and Jay: I agree that I could generate far more income with a large illusion show with assistants, etc. This is the kind of show I would actually prefer. However, I do not have the money to purchase the necessary equipment or pay the assistants. Secondly, I have a full time job, so trying to do enough shows to generate positive cash flow for myself would be difficult.

I had considered trying to raise the money through Kickstarter.com.

For now, I am going with what I can afford, then build up to a major production.

I may be wrong in my thinking...wouldn't be the first time!

Just food for thought. What you can do eventually is buy larger versions of similar tricks and swap them.

Example
• An arm chopper the 8th trick in the show can be replaced with a double arm chopper or a head chopper.
That could be replaced with a sword basket as the show gets bigger.
• A sucker vanishing milk or vanishing card can be replaced with a rabbit appearance & sucker rabbit vanish.
• Your Zombie can be replaced with a chair suspension then later a Broom Suspension or Asrah

So you keep the same basic format but increase the size, that way you can offer different size shows without memorizing 80 different tricks.
I have (just for floating props) Floating bill, Zombie, Astro Sphear, Wayne Ball, Floating Table, Chair Suspension, Broom Suspension, 2 Aggas, An Asrah and Something else I invented. Depending on the venue any of those can be plugged-in to the performance.

PB&J, Hippity Hop Rabbits, comedy funnel with milk pitcher,

Try Ridiculous raviloli...hilarious routine ending with a 3-snake snake-can, and the comedy rolls along as you try to put all 3 back into the can, letting one fly out every time you reach for another.

Thanks for all the ideas, folks! I do appreciate them.

JAY: That is a good idea...thank you very much.

JOE: I had forgotten that I own the Milk Pitcher already and used to do Silly Billy's routine with it. If I can get my hands on an inexpensive funnel, perhaps I can script a bit longer routine for it. Thanks for the reminder!

FOOL: I have heard of Ridiculous Ravioli but have never seen it. I will have to google it to take a look. Thanks!

You KNOW I love your stuff, Jef! In fact, I just had an email exchange with Dick Oslund regarding the Comedy Carton! I will PM you in a moment. I would very much appreciate the information you are offering!

Rope Thru Body
Bill In Lemon
A sucker trick (great reactions)
Something dealing with mentalism (pleasing to adults)
An effect dealing to the theme "child abuse prevention"
An effect that looks like you made a mistake to get audience reactions

Magic Coloring Book
8 foot Pole
Dream Bags
Sylvester's Pitch using coins

Axtell Drawing Board
Stretching the truth
Paper balls over head

I like Killer Cut by John Kaplan. It also packs flat and plays big. It is fun for both kids and adults.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdF_1qN4KuI

STEVE: LOVE Killer Cut! Going to have to look into it!

DYNAMIKE: Thanks for all the suggestions, buddy! I do the coloring book (just forgot to write it down). I had thought about the 8-foot pole, crayon, pencil, wand, or something...just trying to figure out a logical way to script it into the show, rather than just a "trick thrown in the mix". I am thinking Jef Eaton's "Ropes Through Girl" routine might fit the bill for Rope Thru Body? The Kandu Comedy Carton I think fits the bill for a sucker trick and a magician screws up trick...I have had a couple of kids dang near pee their pants when I have performed it...it can be THAT funny!

Thanks Whirlwind...will look into those effects as well!

6 - The Ultimate Effect by Soma
Russian Roulegg by Quique Marduk
Silkeny by Vernet
Walking Knot by Pavel
Payneful Card Rise from Wolf's Magic