Hey guys, I have a few shows coming up where I am only doing my 10 minute dove act. There are like 7 other performers and I am most likely on in the middle. I was just wondering if anyone would have any advise on how far in advanced to load the doves. The one thing I am worried about is not being ready when Im supposed to be on stage.
Any help is appreciated!

Darcy

Darcy,

I can only give you my normal "ready" time. I try to be loaded and ready to go on stage seven minutes before time. Then I try to watch the audience from backstage. It tells me where the best "reactors" are for early applause and where the dead spots are. (Never play to the dead spots.)

Good Luck!

Bob
Illusions@magicbysander.com

That is a tough situation.
Whenever I get put there I try to get a feel for what others are doing, and usually they should know how long there act is and then try to time it so that your doves are loaded 5-7 minutes prior to your appearance. So basically I am usually ready as the other fellow in front of me is starting or in the middle of there act, pending how long it is of coarse.

Hey darcy, when I've worked the castle or a convention/revue and people can sometimes run longer I just load my coat hanging up. My doves have been chilling out in there for as much as up to 30 minutes before the show, I'm just farting around loading other stuff like matches or whatever and they just sit in there. They kind of peek out once in awhile but it's like being in a hammock for them.

sperris

Hey Dan,

I have often thought about doing that but wasn't sure if they would fly away or get restless. Have you ever had a problem before, like when it comes time to put your jacket on, I would like to try that but would be too afraid having one squirm out at one point or while I am putting my jacket on. Any tips or ideas.

The 7 minute rule is a good idea. The problem is body heat. Once you put on your jacket, your body heat combines with the doves and it can get very warm for them.

When you practice, pretend you are at the show. Set up you act and time it so you know exactly how long it takes to set up. Use that as a guide to when you should start getting ready at the actual event.

If you don't want to load the birds in your jacket as Dan suggests, you can put them in their harness or bags and just let them sit on a table until you're ready to load. Saves a few minutes. Of course if you're using invisible harnesses, it doesn't matter.

I do exactly as Dan suggests, but instead of having the pockets in my jacket, they are in a dove vest. This allows me to load all my silk and other stuff into my jacket without disturbding the doves.
Kyle

Personally I have a jacket that I have modified dove pockets and modified “dove retainers” from Ice McDonald, my machine-special effects guy rigged me a fail-safe locking system brackets so I don’t produce the dove and the retainer together. They are small, not bulky and lock in a split second.

Saves me time since I do mostly invisible dove productions. But I only have one jacket rigged with them. I just have been too busy to convert the rest.

I recommend Sperris loop holders if you don’t have them.

G0THIKE

I think it all depends on your jacket and how many doves you're loading. I can load 9 doves into my jacket, although I only load 8, it takes a lot of time to load it and I want to take it slow on them so I load it way ahead of time. The invisible harness birds, like I had mentioned, just sit there and chill out. My dove holders, since they cover the dove, I load later on and my sleeves last, usually right as they're introducing me so I know there won't be a delay. Like Dave said you have to be careful of body heat that can cause the doves to overheat. Which is also why I don't load it while wearing my jacket eitehr and then pace around.

sperris

Since I have had the questions about body heat asked many times and knew what I do but not what is correct, I finally asked our veterinarian. She said that the body temperature of a male human is 98.6 and lower for a female. The body temperature for a dove is 105. Guess who is the warmest? Do not confuse perspiring with body heat. That is stress related.

Oxygen is important to both the bird and the magician. There is usually plenty.

Under stress we often major in the minors and minor in the majors. I'm really good at it. On to the next fixation. Should we paint the safety pins black or flat black?

Bob
Illusions@MagicBySander.com