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Mary Mowder Inner circle Sacramento / Elk Grove, CA 3659 Posts |
One time I was in a parade representing my friends local Magic Shop and wanted to do something so I would stand out. While I can walk and juggle at the same time, I wanted what I did to be more Magical.
I found that an acetate, double color changing "silk" was a great one for this because it changes one way, then changes back over and over. I suppose I could have used a silk one but I couldn't stand to use a real silk one over and over like that. Also, I think real silk would have had some back light issues that are less apparent with the acetate. If done with nice handling and a flourish, it is surprisingly effective. (Kudos to my partner Tom, who gave me some handling that plays big and gracefully, so much better than what I see around). I also did a little sewing to make it look better. does anyone else have suggestions for good Parade Magic? What do you think makes for good Parade Magic? I like quick, visual and repeatable. -Mary Mowder |
Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Yes! Quick, visual, and, repeatable! In the old "clown walk" in the circus, those were the "rules"! When circuses would have a dozen (or MORE) clowns, they would usually do a clown walk (parade) around the hippodrome track. Each clown would have a "sight gag" (Example: the clown would carry a large "book" titled: "How to Win at Cards!". The clown would open the book to reveal ONE PAGE, which read: "CHEAT!")
The first clown would get a big smile, the second' got a chuckle, the third got a laugh, the fourth , got a LAUGH! All of the gags were funny, but, the laugh had to "build". A clown friend, who was "normally" a "carpet clown" (he worked indoor "walk around" dates) was asked to work a parade. He wanted a magic trick that would "fit". Mary's suggestion is GREAT! Here's another one: POM POM STICK. He would stop, facing the curbed spectators, and do a SHORTENED pom pom routine. (no patter. he did all the moves, but It lasted about 25 seconds. He did an exaggerated "style", got applause, and moved on. It worked.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Mary Mowder Inner circle Sacramento / Elk Grove, CA 3659 Posts |
Just the kind of input I was hoping for Dick.
-Mary |
Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Cut and Restored Rope using one long rope, one short rope, and fingers as scissors (or audience fingers)
Waltzing Matilda (self-contained dancing hank) Linking Rings with just 2 or 3 rings
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
jimgerrish Inner circle East Orange, NJ 3209 Posts |
Our Wiz Kid unicycle riders have used a Waltzing Matilda to "chase a flying silk handkerchief" as they ride in parades. Our stilt walkers sometimes do a quick "Professor's Nightmare" pantomime from on high. Of course, everybody juggles and most can make a quick balloon hat to put on the head of a child as they walk by. That usually gets a line of kids following the parade to get a balloon hat from the twister. When the parade comes to a halt, which they always do every now and then, two of the Wiz Kids will "hypnotize" a third Wiz Kid, who falls back, gets lifted up and covered with a cloth so he can float around (comedy levitation). It's an old clown skit that's good for parades.
Jim Gerrish
magicnook@yahoo.com https://www.magicnook.com Home of The Wizards' Journals: https://magicnook.com/wizardsTOC.htm |
Woodfield Special user 756 Posts |
Flea Routine
Bring out Stiff Rope Introduce Flea, place him on end of rope, grab the other end and have him Tightrope walk along the rope (bowing it to make the effect) For the finale have him hold onto the end of the rope, remove hand. Have him jump into pocket as rope goes limp. No reset other than putting rope back in pocket. No angle problems and plays big. Woodfield |
Mary Mowder Inner circle Sacramento / Elk Grove, CA 3659 Posts |
Mike, I particularly like the Waltzing Matilda suggestion. My partner Tom does a great Matilda. I should get a lesson from him.
I had not thought about things that needed or would work for more than one person but in most parade situations there is a group to draw from. With some pre-planning, stop time could be more fun and less awkward. Balloons seem like they could cause slow downs and crying. How do you handle the ones you leave behind? That could be useful advice for all balloon workers. I do juggling as a parade thing and I do some contact juggling as well but I like the things that say, I'm a Magician. Woodfield, I like the flea idea, do you have other flea bits? Ring and Rope with a nice large Ring, (3" brass ring like a harness or http://www.piranhadivemfg.com/item/3-Inch-Brass-Ring-13175 works well because it is thick and visible). One off Rope tricks like Toss a Knot, Dissolving Knot, Appearing , one handed, etc... Shoe lace knot would work for a short stop along the route. Be aware that sweaty hands can change how grabby your Rope will be. Watch out for Rope burns with the sliding knot, etc... by leaving the knot larger than you usually would. Things like rope through neck (which I never do) or rope through wrist can get downright painful. LOL -Mary Mowder |
Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Some of those "rope through" tricks can be done with a large silk scarf. Thinking of that also reminded me of serpent silk, or silk through pole (using a r**l).
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
Mary Mowder Inner circle Sacramento / Elk Grove, CA 3659 Posts |
True but they have the same issues if it gets hot. They do show bigger with silk though.
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
As an old, no, ANCIENT side show magician, I should mention that WIND, could cause problems with Serpentine Silk.
"Installing" a "split shot" (fisherman's device) can help with Serp.)
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Woodfield Special user 756 Posts |
Quote:
On Apr 2, 2017, Mary Mowder wrote: No, not for a parade venue. I would just walk around with a top hat an offer to produce a rabbit. I'd make a few passes (without showing the hat empty) and take out a spring raccoon or skunk and then do the standard bits. Not really magic, but having the critter jump at people gets great reactions. I've used this in my strolling gigs at family venues. Woodfield |
jimgerrish Inner circle East Orange, NJ 3209 Posts |
Quote:
On Apr 2, 2017, Mary Mowder wrote: The Wiz Kids only do quick balloon hats while the parade stops for a delay of some kind, and then continue to make quick balloon hats once it starts up again until the kids stop following. The kids (or parents) who start to make requests for dogs and such are told where to meet us at the end of the parade for those and how much they cost (the hats cost one smile each). Crying? There's no crying at a parade! Just like Tom Hanks: "There's no crying in baseball!"
Jim Gerrish
magicnook@yahoo.com https://www.magicnook.com Home of The Wizards' Journals: https://magicnook.com/wizardsTOC.htm |
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