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TrickyRicky Inner circle TrickyRicky 1653 Posts |
Anyone has ever lost a show because the client felt that you did not have large props?
Richard Lyn |
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NJJ Inner circle 6437 Posts |
Never in 20 years.
But I have raised my prices as a raised the number of props in my kid's shows. |
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Jeremy L. Special user 800 Posts |
I remember a thread I found while searching discussing something similar. It mentioned packing big and playing big and if the client feels if they are getting more with a big show. I search and see if I can find it.
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Smoke & Mirrors Special user 506 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-08-07 22:07, Richard Lyn wrote: Yes. I had a corporate gig lined up, everything was fine. Then 1 week out the CEO has the planner call me and tell me they want me to produce the CEO magically at the beginning of the show. I told her "no" right away and she said "they would be in touch". Hindsight, I could have said yes and worked something out, even something from Mark Wilson's books using simple cloth but I wasn't ready for all of this. Also, a lot of magicians locally offer the float-a-child so people are always asking me if I have that. I do now. |
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Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
This goes back to the adage that the Magician makes the show...not the magic. In my opinion, it takes an engaging personality to be able to pull off a "Packs flat" show. The Busker with a full hat, the Table Hopper with a full house and the Hands-On Kidshow Entertainer all know what I mean. Relying on props alone to carry your show is no show at all. It's an exhibit.
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
I hate for it to sound like a mutual admiration society, but once again I agree with Skip. I work out of a brief case, and if I had to rely on a van full of props I would get no self gratification. It is my over the top personality that tells the customer that they are getting a really big show.
HAVE FUN Al Angello
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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TrickyRicky Inner circle TrickyRicky 1653 Posts |
I agree with Al and Skip.
Having been in this business from 1956 I can't recall ever losing a gig because of my props were not large enough for the booker. It is the performer who is the show---people don't care about large props. They want to be entertained and have a good time. During a Canada Day celebration some years ago---I was booked to put on a show on the city hall property for a rather large siting and standing crowd. There was a line up for my card afterv the show. There was an Illusionist who came on after. Guess who got the biggest reception and was invited back the next year? Richard Lyn |
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
Yes Richard
I have seen magicians control a theater full of people with a pair of scissors, 8' of rope, and a comedy monolog. I'm not going to name any names (Bob Sanders), but I could name a few. HAVE FUN Al Angello
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooo! You named names!!!!!!
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
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Ryan Price Special user winnipeg, MB, Canada 641 Posts |
You need to be able to entertain, but I believe that having the right props can boost your show to the next level.
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Kent Wong Inner circle Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 2458 Posts |
I've never lost a show due to the size of the props. This is because I have been able to incorporate a number of illusionettes into my shows. The illusionettes pack nicely for transport, but have a visual appeal that allows them to play towards a much larger audience. For the larger performances, I also bring out the sound system and the backdrop to create the look and feel of a larger performance.
In fact, if the client wants a full scale illusion show (and is willing to pay for it), that can be put into action fairly quickly as well. From sub-trunk, to tip-over trunk, Bryce's Screen, Zig Zag and Ashrah Levitation, I can produce a show designed to fit the client's venue and budget. It's taken years and years to get to this point, but it was worth it. Having said this, I do agree with Skip. It's definitely your personality that sells the show and makes it a success. The props (no matter how big) simply come along for the ride. Kent
"Believing is Seeing"
<BR>______________________ <BR> <BR>www.kentwongmagic.com |
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TrickyRicky Inner circle TrickyRicky 1653 Posts |
Here, here.
Well said Kent. Richard Lyn. |
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Michael Messing Inner circle Knoxville, TN 1817 Posts |
I agree that great presentation is the key but I also think that, all things being equal, a performer with bigger or more props can charge more than someone who does the "packs small, plays big" concept. By that, I mean if both performers are equally entertaining, the performer with the bigger props likely will have an edge.
Sometimes, clients are looking for an act that is both entertaining and more visually exciting (i.e. more colorful and larger.) This is especially true if they have a large group. Michael |
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Kent Wong Inner circle Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 2458 Posts |
Yup,
I recently was hired to perform at a local daycare. The show would be held in a school gym with about 80 children present. I gave a detailed description of my show, including several of the illusionettes. I asked about the sound system and the availability of a stage. They didn't have either. As a result, I indicted that I would bring my own sound system and backdrop to create a more focused center of attention for the children. (For larger audiences I even bring my own stage). Other than the illusionettes, the sound system and the backdrop, this was my standard show. But the extra props allowed me to quote 4 times more than what my regular show normally dictated. The larger props with the extra staging are guaranteed to leave the client feeling like she got her money's worth. Kent
"Believing is Seeing"
<BR>______________________ <BR> <BR>www.kentwongmagic.com |
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TrickyRicky Inner circle TrickyRicky 1653 Posts |
Hi Kent.
All of that just for a Day Care? I do quite a few Day Cares in Toronto every year and never have to use Illusions. Maybe the Day Cares in your town are much larger. Yes, sometimes I will use a P/A system if the show is outside. Day Cares only have so much money to spend on entertainment. Well, at least that's how it is in Toronto. Richard Lyn. |
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Kent Wong Inner circle Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 2458 Posts |
Normally my daycare shows don't include illusionettes or the backdrop. I usually just bring me, my props and a sound system. In this case, however, the event was being held inside a school gym and the number of kids expected were significantly larger than a typical daycare show. In fact, it was described almost as a day-camp with close to 100 kids attending. Their ages ranged anywhere from 4 to 12 years old.
If I didn't try to focus the center of attention, I could see the kids running wild. Both the backdrop and the sound system help tremendously in that regard. As for the illusionettes, I included victory cubes, balloon swords through head, zombie ball, and chair suspension to the show. These are effects that I mix in to various shows from time to time, depending on the size of the show and the client's budget. For the pricing, the client had casually indicated that they had hired a band to come in and play live music for the kids in previous years. This gave me a very strong indication of their budget. So, I priced my show within the same range as what a local band would charge and she didn't have any problems with it. Kent
"Believing is Seeing"
<BR>______________________ <BR> <BR>www.kentwongmagic.com |
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kaytracy Inner circle Central California 1793 Posts |
So! What you all are saying is.....
"It is NOT the size, but how you use it!" <sorry, I could have resisted, but I din't want to!> Kay
Kay and Tory
www.Bizarremagick.com |
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Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
Quote:
sorry, I could have resisted, but I din't want to! Kay...I know the feeling! It's SO hard to resist these annoying temptations. I also have to agree with Ryan and Michael that impressive props and displays can enhance a magician's image and can advance his or her perceived value. When I first started studying stand-up comedy, I read everything I could get my hands on from professional comedian and well-known comedy coach, Judy Carter. Judy started her career as a stage magician traveling around the country with cases of props and stage gear. On one cross-country jag, She arrived at a major corporate show...her props and gear did not. She winged it with her comedy alone...and realized for the first time that people were paying top dollar to see and hear HER...not the props. She never carried another prop after that and began earning even higher paychecks. The moral: As long as your stage gear enhances your worth and performance, use them as the tools they are. But, if your props are little more than crutches to prop up a mediocre talent, it's time to consider a career change. Skip
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
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Kent Wong Inner circle Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 2458 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-08-09 10:50, kaytracy wrote: Ahh, but if you have the size AND you know how to use it, you can become the next Don Juan of Magic! Kent
"Believing is Seeing"
<BR>______________________ <BR> <BR>www.kentwongmagic.com |
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Michael Messing Inner circle Knoxville, TN 1817 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-08-09 11:53, Skip Way wrote: Very well put, Skip! Michael |
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