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Potty the Pirate Inner circle 4632 Posts |
OK, we've had a few threads recently about the merits of big and colourful props. So what about routines that don't require many props? What are you favourite routines with audience participation that require minimal props - nothing more than a piece of rope, a couple of silks, or actually no props at all?
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ralphdean Loyal user Northern Ca 300 Posts |
Hi Potty, great topic.
I just re read an interview with Joel Bauer that was in Magic magazine a couple of years ago. He said he was struggling with the props thing and his wife said that she guessed if he wanted to make bigger money, he would have to buy bigger props, not a direction he wanted to continue going in, he decided to see what he could do with what he could carry in his pockets. Now, I am a big fan of Wolf's magic, but I think a show should be balanced between some really colorful, tricks with well made props and lots of stuff using silks, ropes, coins, and a coffee can. Everyone expects a migician can pull a coin out of someone's ear. Something I like that is small, but does not fit in my pocket, is my version of "Water Monte" by Scott Guinn. I will put water in a cup, turn around while taking a drink, and make the water disappear. Next time I will pull out a straw, so they don't catch me (but they always do, somehow). Then I will go into the routine mixing the cups around. Does not take much, some dixie cups, plus I get to wet my whistle part way thru the show. |
magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
I have several routines that go over and play well that I often use that use minimal props at best.
1) Professors Nitemare but I use 2 kids and an adult to act out a story I tell as I tell it. each person is dressed up and acting the story. I only need my rope and funny hats. The costumes are totally optional as I have done it with just rope and nothing else. 2) Non-gimmicked Mental epic - My routine I do uses only a few peices of paper and a marker and a deck of cards if I choose to use one. It can last up to 10 minutes of funny comedy with a great ending and uses minimal props also. These are just two of many that I use. I will try and chime in later on others that use minimal props to great reactions and fun for my audiences. Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
Danny Hustle Inner circle Boston, MA USA 2393 Posts |
Potty,
I LOVE big colorful props that pack flat. A very good friend gave me a routine that kills with a bongo hat and a set of nesting wands. The bongo hat is a gigantic prop that is very colorful that packs into a zip-lock bag. The same is true with a colorful set of nesting wands. I agree with Chance when he says that kids are attracted to bright color (so are adults for that matter). My point has been that you do not need to lug a truckload of heavy, flying, plywood. widgets, to have not just a good but an amazing and highly entertaining kid show. My son is seven years old and one of his favorite videos is of George Carl doing a half hour set with the Moscow circus. George's entire act was with a microphone with a 50 foot cord and mic stand, a harmonica, and a hat. It is amazing, magical, and laugh till the tears run down your leg funny. George Carl is probably the greatest clown to ever grace the planet with his over-sized footstep. With a fertile, creative, and talented, mind almost anything can be a showstopper. My show packs in one small suitcase, I won't list the stuff I am doing as most of it at this point is original to me. But according to my agent, my audiences, and my paychecks, I am getting a lot more bang than the other guys. My agent is able to up-sell the customers by raving about me and not what tricks I do. As far as a straight answer to your original question my favorite routines are the ones I sat down and created out of nothing that pack flat and will play just as well for a small audience or two or three hundred. I can play on a postage stamp sized living room lounge in someone's home or an auditorium with the same act. Not only are my props scalable but so is how broad I can play my character. These are not things I have invested money in but much more, I've invested many years of my life into them. I don't know if my way is any better than anything else but I do know it is incredibly versatile. Best, Dan- BTW I loved the outline of your show that you gave in the other thread. I play the uke myself in my kid show and I think bringing in other variety skills (such as juggling, balancing, and feats of skill) along with the magic is a great way to set yourself apart from other entertainers. "MT is one of the reasons we started this board! I’m so sick of posts being deleted without any reason given, and by unknown people at that." - Steve Brooks Sep 7, 2001 8:38pm ©1999-2014 Daniel Denney all rights reserved. |
p.b.jones Inner circle Milford Haven. Pembrokeshire wales U.K. 2642 Posts |
Hi,
I like sympathetic silks, I use 6 36" silks lots of colour plays really big, borrowed watch to nest of tins (any tins that nest I like the ones you see with coffee, tea , sugar ect as they are everyday things)I have four kids up lots of bussines with wands ,glasses ect Phillip |
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