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Jay Are Inner circle 4186 Posts |
So...
A total departure for me... but a chance to have a little fun. I have been hired to work a Harry Potter release party in July by Indigo. I will be doing a 45 minute platform act, and then 45 minutes of strolling... I want to take my existing lot of effects from my old kidshow days, and modify them to work in the world of Hogwarts... Examples... Temple Screens Disecto Wrist chopper Change bag Duck Pan Crazy Clause Take Apart Dove Vanish Linking Rings Zombie Airborne etc... These are just some off the top of my head pieces I wouldn't mind gutting and modifying... Anyone have any ideas at all? Let's brainstorm! I am also appearing in full costume -- going to go as a "hip and modern"wizzard...thoughts on costume? Any input is appreciated! Thanks! Jeff
xxx
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Slim King Eternal Order Orlando 18012 Posts |
I'm working on a Mad Eye moody character....I'll collaborate
THE MAN THE SKEPTICS REFUSE TO TEST FOR ONE MILLION DOLLARS.. The Worlds Foremost Authority on Houdini's Life after Death.....
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Gede Nibo Inner circle 2447 Posts |
FREE JEFF RICHARDS! KILL HARRY POTTER!
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Mystician Inner circle Wallachia 3485 Posts |
Hey !!
Just hanging out with the rest of my fellow dregs.
http:// www . phrets . com Visit http://www.bizarremagic.net |
ptbeast Special user Oregon 831 Posts |
Hey Myst,
Looks like I will be performing for the opening too. I have performed at one book opening and watched a couple of magicians perform at another. A few things to keep in mind... Lots of people coming, going, and standing around in groups. The magicians who I saw trying to do stage/platform effects had a lot of problem due to poor angles, sight-lines, lots of ambient noise, and little ability to control the audience. A mixture of ages. When I performed, I did close up for kids as young as 4 and people as old as 60. As many adults as kids. I would not approach this as a kids show, but as a unique venue. Party atmosphere. People were very friendly and open to being approached. However, since they are there for the book and not to see a show, you must keep them engaged. I am very open to brainstorming on this. One thing that I had great success with as an approach to walk around last time was "muggle testing." I would approach -- mainly younger kids -- and tell them that I was conducting tests to see if they had any magical powers. I did this with a feather that would stand up in their hand, haunted key, and a few other effects. The beauty of it is that the magic comes from THEM. This played very big with parents and kids alike. To add to the brainstorm list, here are a few things that I am trying to get ideas on.... Good effects using "potions" A use for my Colombian Red Tail Boa A way that my 12 year old son can participate as an apprentice wizard (an enthusiastic novice when it comes to magic). I look forward to hearing other's ideas.... Dave |
Gede Nibo Inner circle 2447 Posts |
Well, THREE MINUTES is all you will have with your "BOA."
har har har. |
Chris Henderson Special user Indiana -- Anyone w/ no life would have 563 Posts |
I did a Harry Potter themed party a few years back where I modified the old Polaroid Camera trick (I used the old marketed version called "One Night With You" where a picture of Elvis showed up next to the person as a template.) Anyway, I found a picture of Harry Potter online, and after a quick trip to Office Depot for the proper material (anyone can PM me for what it is), I had my Polaroid Camera ready to go. I would take a picture of a kid, let them remove the photo as it was ejected from the camera. As they held it and developed in their hands and before their eyes, there was a transluscent Harry Potter standing right next to them. They were thrilled to have the picture.
"I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than one closed by belief"
--Gerry Spence |
ufo Inner circle Phoenix, Arizona 1185 Posts |
This will be my third Potter event. Usually do some angle proof 'eye candy' to help gather and focus the crowd. Usually lots of kids and teens. I try to do several short sets with one 'strange mystery' effect at the end. Last year was voodoo ashes revealing a spectator's favorite Potter character. Its always fun and the room always has a lot of energy. Keep 'em comin!
"What's your drug?" she asked. "Hope" he said, "The most addicting one of all."
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yachanin Inner circle Cleveland, OH 2105 Posts |
Maybe you can show some of the muggle children how to perform a simple trick from the "Kwikspell correspondence course." Filch was a "squib" (wizard with almost not powers) and he tried to learn some magic by taking the Kwikspell course. Something like "linking paperclips" or "jumping rubber bands."
Regards, Steve
"Impossible? Your audience will think so..." TM
Thought Association Card Triangulation Word Search Detective Christmas Eve Sights - Start A Family Tradition |
Mystician Inner circle Wallachia 3485 Posts |
Dave, call your snake "Nagini" and talk to it in a hissing kind of language - y'know, Parseltongue. ;-)
As to potions.. I guess there's a way to make a milkshake "grey".. polyjuice potion! (Slip a mask over your head ? I dunno ... ) Or, any clear liquid can be veritaserum.. Ask you apprentice son what he was doing last night, all that racket coming from his room.. he says he was just in his room, practicing his transfiguration spells.. then "force" some "veritaserum" on him, and he starts spilling the beans about trying to keep a pet boggart under his bed. Not very "magical", but at least it fits the spirit.
Just hanging out with the rest of my fellow dregs.
http:// www . phrets . com Visit http://www.bizarremagic.net |
ibm_usa Special user In Your Mind, Ky, USA 722 Posts |
Mystician
we're magicians, not much acting as far as misdirection. though it might work to some degree, you don't want a whole lot of Harry Potter since Harry Potter is protected by copyright and trademark of Warner Bro. and J.K Rowling.
"You may think that i only talk of things from the past, you know, history, well magic is history"
-Guy Jarrett "Curiosity isn't a sin Harry, but it should be exorcised with great caution." -Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) http://www.jordanallen-mentalist.webs.com/ |
Jim-Callahan V.I.P. 5018 Posts |
I would offer in my opinion to become conversant in the book speek.
I'v read them all a couple of times and if you have also you should have no problems.(Rereading the second yet again) Remember these people want the story to be real. So do just that. But remember one can only do so much for muggles without the Ministry coming down on you. J ack H.o.A-X
“I can make Satan’s devils dance like fine gentlemen across the stage of reality”.
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Payne Inner circle Seattle 4571 Posts |
Fortunately the bookstore I do my release party at has a full working stage complete with lights, curtains and sound. This makes it a lot easier to develop a show for as I don't have any limitations with angles or audience control. It's sort of sad that this will be the last HP book release party that I'll get to do but then there are still three more movies left to do.
"America's Foremost Satirical Magician" -- Jeff McBride.
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Mystician Inner circle Wallachia 3485 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-03-31 18:57, ibm_usa wrote: IBM, magicians are first and foremost actors, (IMO), but you're right about the copyright thing. I forgot that Rowling won't even allow ebooks to be created/published, which is pretty medieval, I think. So who knows.. but personally, I think the book store would sell even more copies if someone was all into character like that. It would surely generate interest, even from the ..er.. "muggles" (meaning non-Harry Potter saavy folk). (To get really crazy would be to dress as Arthur Weasley and proudly display your electric plug collection. ) In that vein.. have a stooge "shoplift" a copy of the book, and as he/she is running out the store, point your wand and shout "Petrificus Totalus !" or "Stupefy!".. (but that requires a red beam or sparks).. or "Impedimenta !" She can't copyright words, English, Latin, or otherwise ! I wonder if Alivans.com pays any licensing ? For the more magical end of things, the books tend to be heavy on transfiguration and levitation spells, I guess, so effects with those general themes would seem fitting.
Just hanging out with the rest of my fellow dregs.
http:// www . phrets . com Visit http://www.bizarremagic.net |
ptbeast Special user Oregon 831 Posts |
I agree, magicians, especially bizarrists, are most certainly actors. We are not planning to infringe on Ms. Rowling's copyright, but we will be inhabiting what amounts to the same wizarding world. While we will not be representing Hogwarts and none of the names of the characters from the books will be used, we will refer to "muggles", "parseltongue", and most likely borrow the names from her spell book.
The way that we are going to approach this is as a recruiting trip for our wizard school. The walk around will be primarily "muggle testing." There will short presentations for groups which will use parlour type magic to do classroom style demonstrations of subjects taught as our school. My son will be playing a second year student who is accompanying me to rave about the school. The magic he does should be very simple and my have unintended consequences -- much like often happens to younger students in the Potter series. We would like to have demonstrations from some of the following classes (note not an exhaustive list of courses offered at either our school or at Hogwarts): Ancient Runes Arithmancy Care of Magical Creatures (I have several snakes and reptiles I might be able to use Charms Defence Against the Dark Arts Divination Herbology Potions Transfiguration Mystician, speaking to my snake in parseltongue seems to be a no brainer. Since I don't think I can get Bella (my snake) to take direction, I suppose that I will have to have her relay information to me. Trying to come up with a good mentalism effect for her. The audience members show her something which she communicates to me perhaps? Anyway, anyone else willing to share what you are doing for the opening? Ideas on effect or vignettes for mine? Let's keep this going. Dave |
yachanin Inner circle Cleveland, OH 2105 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-04-02 20:04, Mystician wrote: Hi IBM_USA and Mystician, I've wondered about your comments regarding the copyrights of Harry Potter. I'm not a copyright lawyer (or any kind of lawyer for that matter) , but I was under the impression (perhaps misguided) that you could use any of the names, spells, references, etc. in the Harry Potter series so long as you don't portray one of the copyrighted characters. That is, if one were to create an original character (e.g., Professor Rabbitinhat), you could, as part of your performance, refer to your time spent as a student at Hogwarts and the people you knew (e.g., Snape), use spells mentioned in the books, etc. I've read other discussions regarding copyrighted material in the Café, but have often wondered what is the "real" story. Are there any copyright lawyers in the Café who could shed some light on this? Regards, Steve
"Impossible? Your audience will think so..." TM
Thought Association Card Triangulation Word Search Detective Christmas Eve Sights - Start A Family Tradition |
Jay Are Inner circle 4186 Posts |
I am also interested in what others have to say about this...
xxx
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videokideo Special user 895 Posts |
Do the Andrew Mayne Floating Broomstick.... impromptu and done anywhere. Ive fooled thousands with this. You show a broom and a towel..you drape the towel over the broom the stradle. You then lift one leg at a time into air and are seen floating up an down in the air until you come back down for landing. This is a bad bad pic, but gives you an idea of what it looks like. Fools all laymen.. most magicians are smart enough to work it out. Mayne is a genius.
Presentation is key.. if presented correctly, they wont have a clue. http://www.hollywebvideo.com/harrypotter.jpg |
Mystician Inner circle Wallachia 3485 Posts |
For that matter, almost anything out of Wizard School could work.
I prefer DVD 1 to 2, however..
Just hanging out with the rest of my fellow dregs.
http:// www . phrets . com Visit http://www.bizarremagic.net |
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