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Potty the Pirate Inner circle 4632 Posts |
As we draw near to Christmas, I wondered what you folks have found is your favourite Christmas routine this year? Although I have several new routines in my Christmas show, I realised earlier that for several reasons, my favourite this year is an old chestnut - "Santa's Suit".
In the past I've neglected this little gem, because it seems rather "ordinary" - after all, it's just a silk picture of Santa with no suit, which changes to Santa in a Stripey suit, finally becoming a picture of Santa with his traditional suit, and a big bag of prezzies. Nothing very exciting there. (Although the pictures ARE funny, and get a laugh on their own). But this year, I decided to use Jef Eaton's (Kandu's) "Comedy Carton" to start off the routine, switching half way to a christmas stocking change bag. It's the first routine with kid helpers in my show. I've found the addition of "Comedy Carton" has made this into a riot! Of course, I give my assistants silly hats, use various comedy wands, and have all the usual banter before we get going. But the extra comedy of the silks flying back into the box, falling through it, then jumping out of the box, make the routine very well rounded. It plays so well, and is a joy to perform. In fact, I've never had so much fun with "Comedy Carton" before. Would anyone else care to share their fave Christmas routine this year? Potty |
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Mumblemore Inner circle 1429 Posts |
I have been using the Cellulator to "light up" Santa's nose (reindeer light-up nose attached to nerd glasses) after doing Sammy Smith's Rudoloph trick and the Forgetful Rudolph to get the red nose back, but saying to the kids, "What use is it if it won't light up?" Santa's got to light his own nose, as Rudolph doesn't want to mess with the Cellulator, and after all the Wiz Kote byplay, the kid volunteering as Santa gets the light up nose and nerd glasses restored via stocking change bag. This has been a good one and an answer to the failure of any prior Rudolph tricks to actually light up the nose (could've used D'lites, I suppose, but this is a fun excuse for involving the Cellulator).
Also, I did a Hannukah lota bowl which filled eight times with the magical candle oil which miraculously appeared, according to the story, but then continued filling through the rest of the show. This was the best use I've found yet for the lota bowl, although Chris Capehart has another great, and painfully obvious to anyone named Potty the Pirate, no doubt. I'm going to adapt Capehart's Matilda doll use to my Rocky Racoon and have it perched on the lota bowl for much of the show . . . Not very Christmas-y, but graphic . . . |
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Sal Amangka Special user Manila, Philippines 712 Posts |
My favorite this year is an effect called "Christmas Light". I think this is also from Practical Magic. I start off by singing a few line from the song "Oh Christmas Tree", a bit of a storyline and the magic time! Although the effect is called "Christmas Light", I built the effect with the use of a Christmas Tree.
Sal |
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Sal Amangka Special user Manila, Philippines 712 Posts |
This year, I was looking to purchase Santa's Suit but was not able to find one in time...
Sal |
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Spellbinder Inner circle The Holy City of East Orange, NJ 6438 Posts |
The best time to look for the materials to make a Santa's Costume Bag for NEXT year is during the after Christmas sales. The same is true for a lot of stuff you didn't have this year in time for your show. Do it while it's fresh in your mind and the prices are as low as they are likely to get!
Professor Spellbinder
Professor Emeritus at the Turkey Buzzard Academy of Magik, Witchcraft and Wizardry http://www.magicnook.com Publisher of The Wizards' Journals |
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Regan Inner circle U.S.A. 5726 Posts |
MY favorite is an original routine based around a modified version of "The Night Before Christmas". It involves Santa, Mr. Claus, Rudolph, and an Elf. A die box and a square circle with added Christmas decorations are the main magic props I use.
Potty, I thought I had found a set of Santa's Suit silks. I could only find one magic shop that had it in stock. It was an online shop and I ordered it right away. Over a week went by and I was beginning to wonder if the place was legit. Then I got an email stating that they were out of stock. Regan
Mister Mystery
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Mumblemore Inner circle 1429 Posts |
I second Spellbinder's encouragement to buy stuff for next year right after Christmas. I try to go to Party City, A.C. Moore, etc. in early Jan and get great holiday clearance stuff at 70-80 percent off . . .
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Regan Inner circle U.S.A. 5726 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-12-20 11:59, Mumblemore wrote: After Halloween is the best way to buy Haloween props too!
Mister Mystery
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Brian Lehr Inner circle Edmonton, Canada 1605 Posts |
My two favorites were Mark the Elf (Axtell Board) and Color Changing Wreaths.
This year I got a Santa Hat Change Bag, which I used for the Christmas Tree silks routine; however, the white brim of the hat has started to come apart already. Will have to sew it up again for next Christmas. Brian |
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RJE Inner circle 1848 Posts |
Our favourite is decorating the Christmas tree using magic. Basically the routine is like this.
We have a 4' cheap tree hidden in a large cloth bag. We tell the kids we're going to show them our special magic Christmas tree and they'll all see how beautiful it is. When we pull down the bag, the tree appears to be bare (it actually has small red light strings on it and is plugged into a remote). I say we must have forgotten to decorate but maybe we can use some magic to get it done. This is the cue for some nice royalty free Christmas music to start and play through the whole effect as background. The first effect is a Christmas mouth coil that Pat then wraps around the tree like a garland. Next, I pick up a drawer box and say this is where we keep our Christmas ornaments. It's empty, so volunteer #1 is found and waves their hand over the box and voila, there's all the Christmas balls (brightly colored plastic ones that look like real glass, thank you Wal Mart). I now get 4 other volunteers to help #1 to put all the balls on the tree with Pat's help. Next, it's a change bag, empty of course, wave of a volunteer's hand and a Merry Christmas for the magic words and they reach in and grab a mini candy cane to hang on the tree. This is repeated a couple of times by the other volunteers and about 20 mini canes are taken from the change bag and placed on the tree. I ask the kids what's missing and they say something for the top. I grab a dove pan and a little pouch with sparkles in it. I pinch some sparkles and sprinkle them into the dove pan telling them it is angel dust. Voila, an angel comes from the dove pan (no fire is involved)and a child places in on the tree. Now I pick up a large clear baggie and ask them what they see inside of it. They say nothing and I say it's magic, Christmas magic inside and I'll show them what it looks like. I reach inside and D'lite for magic. I then take the light over to the tree where I throw it onto the tree ala remote to before mentioned lights transferring the "D'lite to the tree." This move always gets gasps and oohs! from the audience. We then give each of the 5 volunteers a regular sized candy cane as a reward. Merry Christmas all! Rob |
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NJJ Inner circle 6437 Posts |
Rob - That is beautiful! Every effect makes senses, the routine has a strong narrative structure and it builds in magic before what must be a really strong finale for the audience. Does each light come on one at a time?
My hat is off to you! |
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RJE Inner circle 1848 Posts |
Hi Nicholas,
Thanks for the compliment. The lights all come on at once. The effect is that as I stand next to the tree I "toss" the light from my hand at the tree and the entire tree lights up in red at once. All the best, Rob |
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Potty the Pirate Inner circle 4632 Posts |
Rob, I really like your Christmas Tree ideas. I have the Enchanted Christmas Tree from Practical Magic (a version of Forgetful Freddie, with the star atop the tree magically appearing). This has worked great for me in the past, but I find it a bit cumbersome. Also, my routine involved music (When you Wish Upon a Star) playing, requiring a tape player, a balloon fairy outfit which needed to be made before every show, and made loads of mess, as I produced snow from my bare hands (insta-snow), as well as firing off a confetti cannon behind the tree as the star appeared. The mixture of insta-snow and confetti was horrendous to clean up!
The lights start to flash on the tree when the star appears, it's a lovely prop. But I hope one day they make a 3D version, the one they currently have is a "flat" wooden prop. |
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Sal Amangka Special user Manila, Philippines 712 Posts |
I will be looking out for those post Christmas sale! Looking to invest on some of them.
Sal |
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Bill Nuvo Inner circle 3094 Posts or 2742 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-12-19 21:58, Sal Amangka wrote: It's too bad you don't live in Canada as I have one for sale. |
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kimmo Inner circle Sheffield 1193 Posts |
Bah! Humbug!
I'm not doing ANY Christmas themed tricks this year! My favourite new routine though is a new magic painting trick that I came up with. Jambo, my new Axtell gorilla is also doing very well.
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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RJE Inner circle 1848 Posts |
Doug,
The Enchanted Christmas Tree sounds like a nice bit. What is a Balloon Fairy Outfit? We will sometimes end our routine with Pat ripping a paper napkin into a snowflake and then I turn it into a Snowstorm effect. We have to be careful where and when we do it though because of complaints from the venue personal about the mess (no confetti rules). So I understand perfectly about not wanting to make a mess. Otherwise, clean up is simply pulling the cloth bag back up over the tree, decorations and all, and then stripping it and reloading either in the van on the way to the next show or back home as the case may be. Rob |
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Lou Hilario Inner circle 2235 Posts |
I love doing the Snowstorm using the the KJ Snow Animator 3.0 with the music "Let it Snow". That's my finale to my Christmas shows.
Magic, Illusions, Juggling, Puppet & Parrot Show ^0^
http://www.louhilario.net |
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Sal Amangka Special user Manila, Philippines 712 Posts |
Hi Lou,
I might buy one of those for next year's shows! Hahaha |
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Sal Amangka Special user Manila, Philippines 712 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-12-21 03:24, mrbilldentertainer wrote: Hey mrbilldentertainer, Do you still have it? Kindly send me a pm if you are willing to let go... Thanks! Sal |
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