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Lou Hilario Inner circle 2235 Posts |
I would like to know your opinion on using the Ungimmicked Axtell Magic Drawing Board. Do some of you use this or do you think it is unnecessary?
I know at times, a lot of kids run at the back to see whether you are controlling something behind the board. This is usually covered by holding the cloth eraser behind. Do you think it could be used before (have the board examined casually) or after the act (leave the board after the show, to let the smart alex examine it)? I have both the manual and remote versions.
Magic, Illusions, Juggling, Puppet & Parrot Show ^0^
http://www.louhilario.net |
magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Hi Lou,
Honestly I feel that is us thginking too much as magicians and trying to prove something we really should not have to prove at all. I only use the regular gimmicked board and that is all I have used for years and all I have ever needed. I think if you perform the drawing board and then put it away after yourroutine in a natural manner, no one suspects anything or ever will. It is about you being in charge and in control of your performance and performance area. if the children are getting up to look at the board during the routine or doing so after the show, then that is a failure in responsibility of you as an entertainer to control and handle the children. in my own performance and shows, I sset ground rules ahead of time and through the proper use of staging, I control the set up and flow of my show. I just personally think that there is no need for the ungimmicked board. I think if you do it well enough then there is really no need for it. I place mine on an easle that is always near mne and back a bit further then my table. I start the show with it so it is a suprise. Now the sign is used to state the next show time (when at festivals) or to say magic show today at a b-day party. In this way the audience assumes it is nothing more then a sign. I then go into it at the beginning of the show and when I am done it goes simply back behind my table in my ditch area. it works out well, I am in full control and I do not have to worry about anything but a great applause. This works for me. Hope it may be of help. Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
KC Cameron Inner circle Raleigh, North Carolina 1944 Posts |
I don't let kids touch anything . . . To "prove" it is normal I "flash" the back of the board (gimmick covered with the cloth). I also have a dishcloth holder on the back, and lean it up (back side out) with the cloth covering the gimmick. I don't do any of this in a manner like I am trying to prove anything. I am just as startled as the kids that it animates. I think that if one acts like it is truly magic, and not some puzzle, the other board is totally unnecessary. If anything, the other board could distract from the "magic" and make it more of a puzzle.
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axtell V.I.P. Steve Axtell 2126 Posts |
I agree that you don't want to show the board to "prove there is nothing tricky about the board". That wouldn't be good audience psychology. They would then suspect that there is. My favorite use for the ungimmicked board is to pass it around so kids can write all their names so you don't forget. Then you pretend to memorize the names and erase the board putting it away for a later switch. This or some other distracting use for the board ahead of the trick can really give more impact to the trick because they handled the board freely...nothing tricky there...must be the markers.
On the other hand you don't really need it. Happy New Year!
Axtell Expressions, Inc.
Pro Puppets, Magic & Animatronics |
Regan Inner circle U.S.A. 5726 Posts |
I have an ungimmicked board, but I don't always use it. I would never even consider handing it out for "examination". As Steve said, I think that creates suspision most of the time. I use my unngimmicked board kind of like Steve suggested, and kind of like Kyle uses his gimmicked board. I write my name and showtime on the board in plain veiw and up close to the audience and then switch it out.
Regan
Mister Mystery
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Lou Hilario Inner circle 2235 Posts |
Thank you all for your feedback. I have decided not to use an ungimmicked board for now.
Great idea Kyle for writing something beforehand to announce the show. I will write my name and showtime on it. That I will do! What other words or drawings can we put on it before the show? Good concept! Lou
Magic, Illusions, Juggling, Puppet & Parrot Show ^0^
http://www.louhilario.net |
magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Thank you Lou. It works well for me. This way I have a reason for the board to be out in plain site for the start of the show or as people come in to sit down. if I just have it up on my easle with nothing on it, it draws attention to it as if something is not quite right. Why would an empty board be on an easle empty?
Because of this, I started thinking of giving it a purpose for my show. Give it a reason for being there. I figured if I did this, it gives the best misdirection I can possibly give by making it common place to the audience. If the board is there as a sign, then that is a reason enough and takes the heat totally off of it. People see it as a sign and nothing more. So here are a few ideas I have used over the years for the board as a sign concept. they were used for different reasons and served me well. - "Magic Show Today" - this is just a basic sign telling people there will be a magic show. I then come out to the music playing and start dusting off things not realizing the audience is there. I then see them and start dusting them off as well to get laughs and engage the audience. I see the sign and start acting excited. I state, "wow there is a magic show here today!? really? WOAH that is SOOOOOOO cool. I can not wait till the magician gets here (as I say this I am dusting the board and erasing the sign). Man that is going to be great cause I love magic." Of course the kids correct me and this leads so logically into me drawing a pitcure and going form there. - "Magic Show at 3:30pm" - This is taking it as a show time clock. whenever I do shows for festivals or fairs or events where the people may not know when the showis, I have the board serve as a solution for me. It is now my showtime clock. People do not have to stop me to ask. The sign tells them everything they need to know. It is logical to them and they see it as nothing more then a sign telling the time. This way the board can be out there for a while and I never have a problem with it. - "Happy Birthday James" - This is my brirthday party approach I take. I have it on the sign and it makes the parents and the birthday child feel extra special. To them I am simply saying happy birthday and congratulating them as a part of my show. It is a value add to them and works great for marketing purposes. I can then start the show by asking the kids if I only knew who the b-day kid was that would make things so much easier. Is it bob? No that can not be right. Timmy? No that is not right either. What? It is James? really? You guys are good. are you all magicians too? it allows me to have fun with it before I go into the routine. - "The Magical Illusions of Kyle and Kelly" - This is more of an approach I can take for adult shows or more corporate type functions. In this manner I am using it for marketing purposes. I am letting them know who I am and establishing my name and brand before the show starts. If I am one of many performers at the event, it separates me a bit more from the rest. - "The Magic of Acme Bandages" - This is a coporate or trade show approach. yes I even use the board for events like these. Why not. It works incredibly well for it. The board is so adpatbale to anything you do. Is a a wonderful item that Steve put out that I can do anytime, anywhere for any client. In this aproach I am using it as a value ad for my client. I am getting his or her name out there to people passing by. Now when I start the trade show or coporate function I look at the sign and state there really is magic in Acme Bandages. I then start to draw a character and the character becomes my sidekick or my sales team. It is the character who tells me about the product as I ask questions about it. It goes over great and a way to get the sales team involved without putting them on stage. You use their information they provide to you for what the drawing says as it comes to life. There are others that I use but I wanted to list a few of them so you can see how this simple concept works. It is an easy way to give a logical reaosn for having the board in plain site at the start of the show and to take heat away from it by giving it a purpose. I must say that I totally LOVE Axtells drawing board and always have. It is the opne thing that has ben in my show forever it seems. I use it everywhere and every show cause it spans many markets. I can use it for adult work and coporate work and not just kid's shows. It is a universal prop to me that allows me to totally expand my creativity. There is no limits to what can be done with it if you open your mind. So Thank you Steve for putting such a greta product out on the market. I owe you one. =) Hope this information is of help to someone. Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
Lou Hilario Inner circle 2235 Posts |
Wow Kyle, thanks for the numerous ways on how to use the board before the show. Before, I just used to turn it backwards. Now, I am undecided which one to choose from. Thank You!
Magic, Illusions, Juggling, Puppet & Parrot Show ^0^
http://www.louhilario.net |
magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
You are most welcome. I hope they give you many options for what you can do with the board before the show to allow you to have it out in site and still be able to have a nice intro into the effect itself. It has worked great for me and given me also a good way to market myself and give value add to my clients I perform for.
Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
axtell V.I.P. Steve Axtell 2126 Posts |
You guys all know how to do the professional "drawing" of the eyeballs without turning the baord around right? Using the arm/hand cover technique. (I hope no one is still turning it around when drawing the eyes on).
There is another clever way of actually drawing the round pupils on first and then doing some little move.... it's really quite novel, UK magician / clown Peter Houghton dreamed it up and shared it with me. I will put up his video. Very clever. Ax
Axtell Expressions, Inc.
Pro Puppets, Magic & Animatronics |
Wanlu Inner circle Manila, Philippines 3058 Posts |
I used to open my Ventrillusion act with the remote magic drawing board by explaining what I do as a Ventrillusionist.
I write on the board the word "VENTRILLUSION" plus 2 other words...Ventriloquism and Illusions and explain what its all about...then I erase it and I start drawing the face and proceed with a look-no look routine as the eyes and mouth move. This also justifies the use of the ERASER Now I open my act with the Axtell Cry Baby
"The Old Path"
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Wanlu Inner circle Manila, Philippines 3058 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-01-02 14:43, axtell wrote: Hi Steve, This is interesting Will wait for the video Thanks Wanlu
"The Old Path"
www.angdatingdaan.org Wanlu's Affordable Puppets http://wanlu.net/ventpuppets.html Wanlu and his Puppets http://wanlu.net |
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