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The Great Smartini Inner circle 2280 Posts |
I was curious as to how people approach their entrance and would appreciate hearing from folks willing to share. I currently use Tim Hannig's CD which has a funny intro that reads "Once in a lifetime a great entertainer comes along...." it's called the Movie Trailer intro. I'm wondering how people walk, run out and so on to get out in front of their crowd.
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Tim Hannig Inner circle Chicago area 1147 Posts |
Wow, what could be better than that!
Author of PERFORM, the 2020 Magic Cafe Book of the Year
"I loved this book!" Ken Weber "4 out of 4 stars!" Nick Lewin "This will be a classic of magic!" Mark Pocan performbettershows.com |
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kenscott Inner circle 1869 Posts |
I come out and quickly open with the bowling ball. So I kindy run out to the center of stage.
ken |
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MagicSanta Inner circle Northern Nevada 5841 Posts |
I do a phony exagerated introduction of myself and let the kids catch me doing it.
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Cliff G Loyal user Madrid - Spain 297 Posts |
I use a modified version of Tim's "Introduction Family Show" - I added some music and sound effects (cheers and hand claps)
Works a treat! Thanks Tim |
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kimmo Inner circle Sheffield 1193 Posts |
My entrance is fairly low key. Five minutes before the show I just spend time chatting to the kids. I get names, talk about magicians they have seen before etc. I gather information that will be referenced later in the show for comic effect. As the time to start the show rolls round I go straight into the first effect and begin to gather momentum from there. I never discuss 'rules' or do a shouting warm up. I just try to connect a little with the audience so that they want me to succeed. I think coming in to a big fanfare and saying 'Here I am!' could turn some audience members against you. I do like Magic Santa's idea of sabotaging his own overblown introduction though! I can see how that would work!
VISIT MY ONLINE STORE!: www.kimmomagicshop.com
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Cliff G Loyal user Madrid - Spain 297 Posts |
I think it very much depends where you are peforming and the age group too
Kimmo - I do agree with what you are saying - and do find that low key is pefect for b'day shows. I wouldn't want to frighten a group of 4 - 5 year olds with a mad blast of fan fares and loud music. But for my School shows / bigger event having the intro helps create the feeling of a theatre performance Also, 90% of the school shows I perform are in Spanish schools where English is taught as a second language. My shows are done 100% in English so an intro using Tim's cd / or my modified version (simpler language) is perfect for announcing the start of the show. When I perform for 3 to 5yrs old (also 100% in English)I use soft music to try and create a non threatening atmosphere. - Joso Bozo does a nice bit on his "Milking" dvd's where he startd his shows being "scared" about coming onto the stage / thought the door to the front of the audience. This has also worked well for me. Other things I have tried are - music playing and me walking from the back of the hall meeting and greeting the audience - silent movie style with professor cheers rope to music / my silent magician in trouble routine to music I like your idea too Magicsanta Cliff |
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magicgeorge Inner circle Belfast 4299 Posts |
I agree somewhat with Kimmo. I find audio introductions, either spoken or musical, seem out of place at most of the venues I would perform.
I do do a shouty warm-up, though. George |
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
I have a short, written introduction that I usually get the MC (or Principal) to read. I got the idea from a Steve Varro book.
I usually will walk out. - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
What's been getting me a good response this season is to announce an overly-impressive intro (from offstage), the enter and say, "Welcome to my [the name of my show], the show that's so cheap I'm my own announcer." It gets a laugh ... and nothing starts a show off better than a laugh.
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johnpert Veteran user Ontario, Canada 322 Posts |
I do a variety of things depending on the setting, besides some of the standard clapping warm-up or "look don't see" ideas, here are a few others that I enjoy for various reasons:
1. I shake hands asking the names of children, after each child states their name and we shake hands, I say "My name is John". It becomes a bit of a run on gag. This needs to be done in smaller groups so that everyone hears the run-on bit. I have also coupled this with asking the same person if it is okay to start the show after every couple hand-shakes. 2. I ask the kids if they'd like to play a game. Kids love games so they say yes. I follow with, "Lets play "Library"." We all sit quietly, I twiddle my thumbs, look around. I then say nah and move on to the next game called sleeping beauty. I tell them we have to be quiet, I then fall asleep. Not too fun, lets play dead horse, pretend to be dead (easier to do this if sitting, unless you wish to fall to the floor). Not so fun, okay, lets play graveyard. Pretend to be dead by lying straight. Essentially they are all the same thing, but with a different name. For some reason, it is funny. I guess it is the physical comedy. Following this quick bit, I move into some magic. 3. 3 warm-up tricks. I mentioned this in an earlier post, but basically I say, "Warm up trick number (show one finger)" Kids yell, "one!" I do a quick trick. I follow with Warm up trick number 2.... and then 3. Great for audience interaction and some quick visual magic. j. |
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Tim Hannig Inner circle Chicago area 1147 Posts |
Of course it depends on where you are performing!
Two weeks ago, I performed for a family audience at the largest church in the nation (Lakewood in Houston) in the former Compaq center. Even though it wasn't full, I was looking out at 16,000 seats. Chatting with the audience ahead of time would not have worked! Good thing I was on the jumbotrons. Anyway, the very next day I flew home and drove straight to downtown Chicago for a bahmitzvah. And a few days after that, some libraries, etc. When I'm at a smaller show (private event, 20 kids, etc) I'm much more likely to chat, etc before the show. However, I still like to use an "introduction" that subtlety says to the audience "it's showtime". The pre-recorded intro helps the audience to focus their attention to the front....especially those chatting adults!
Author of PERFORM, the 2020 Magic Cafe Book of the Year
"I loved this book!" Ken Weber "4 out of 4 stars!" Nick Lewin "This will be a classic of magic!" Mark Pocan performbettershows.com |
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Chad C. Inner circle 1522 Posts |
I am off-stage and ask if they are ready to see some magic, then I ask them again and they get really loud - then I start the music and walk on stage and go into my first effect which is done to the music. Simple but effective.
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The Great Smartini Inner circle 2280 Posts |
Lots of great ideas about something that seems so simple and yet so very very important...let's keep this discussion rolling.
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Tony James Inner circle Cheshire UK 1398 Posts |
I'm with Kimmo and George on this.
Anyone talking about making any sort of entrance at a domestic birthday party is looking at overkill. As for openings I've seen and watched plenty of people working children and the thickest bonehead can whip up any audience in seconds - and they usually do. What they then struggle to do is bring the audience back down again. I've seen well known names louse up on that. But, some sort of start is required and especially when faced with a few hundred children at a school or wherever. So I'd be interested to know how exactly you do it. I'm not interested in music, announcements, special effects, what you say or anything else. Just tell me where you stand off stage and how you get from where you are to where you want to be. Oh yes, and please tell me where it is you want to be, relative to the audience.
Tony James
Still A Child At Heart |
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Tim Hannig Inner circle Chicago area 1147 Posts |
To clarify:
Most of the time, I do not use a pre-recorded intro. For smaller groups, I don't need an intro. For schools, large family audiences, etc, I normally have someone read an intro. (like the principal, etc.) I use the funny announcements from my cd MUCH more often than the intros. Like Starrpower said, getting them laughing is a great start. (even in preshow) It's great to hear all of the different styles and techniques....especially from different parts of the world.
Author of PERFORM, the 2020 Magic Cafe Book of the Year
"I loved this book!" Ken Weber "4 out of 4 stars!" Nick Lewin "This will be a classic of magic!" Mark Pocan performbettershows.com |
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The Great Smartini Inner circle 2280 Posts |
It all depends upon the show size...for school or theatre shows I use Tim's comedy announcements...I sometimes use a similiar entrance to Ken's with Bowlarama which I have choreographed to music...I've just added The Lean from Doug Malloy and will likely have this for next year's shows.
Smartini ps. another fun thing I've used is the Doty Scope that I got from Ken Scott...lots of fun with this. |
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Danny Hustle Inner circle Boston, MA USA 2393 Posts |
I have an audio of Sean Connery introducing me as "A .shite. for shore eyes".
Best, Dan- "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. |
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kimmo Inner circle Sheffield 1193 Posts |
That's excellent Dan - what an applause cue! As Julian Clary would say, there is nothing better than having a nice, warm hand on your entrance.
VISIT MY ONLINE STORE!: www.kimmomagicshop.com
NEW LECTURE NOTES - SHOW US YOUR TRIX NOW AVAILABLE AS AN INSTANT DIGITAL DOWNLOAD! Kimmo DVD available Now! Watch the promo here! Order your copy NOW! CLICK HERE! ENTERTAINER,MAGICIAN AND VENTRILOQUIST'S BLOG - DON'T READ THIS... |
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Tony James Inner circle Cheshire UK 1398 Posts |
"Just tell me where you stand off stage and how you get from where you are to where you want to be. Oh yes, and please tell me where it is you want to be, relative to the audience."
Well, go on then - tell us how you do it.
Tony James
Still A Child At Heart |
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