Alright, everyone may have different opinions, but most may agree you need some appearances, some vanishes, some transpositions, a levitation, a sword basket or some other thing like that, cutting in 6ths or similar?

What else do you think every illusion show needs to be successful, and I'm talking about illusions themselves, I am sure we will all agree you need a good story, good scenery if possible, great music, a good story and script, some good humor.

I am specifically interested in what illusions you think a great illusion show needs.
I'm considering throwing my cards in the trash and building a great big illusion show. I want it to be affordable, (Build most of the illusions myself perhaps) packable in a medium size truck or big trailer, and playable in medium to larger
venues.

So, what do you think a great illusion show needs?

John

Need a masked magician

There is enough threads here discussing that. I was hoping for serious replies but thanks.

Jeff McBride may be considered a masked magician, so maybe your right though.

John

I'm not big time, but I always open my show with magically producing my assistant. I have 2 choices, either a palaquin or a doll house. I bought both of these used for about $ 250.00 each. They needed a little work, such as a new paint job, but that was about it. Something like a flash appearance to produce yourself would be nice as well.
Bob.

Watch some of the greats like Copperfield or Lance. those guys have grace and are true masters of the stage. make sure you have some small stuff you can do in front of the curtain (takes time to set up back there) audience participation is a great way to get them to like you quickly.

also choreograph everything not just dancing (if you have any) if you move around the satge or have an illusion spun around for inspection you want it to look good.

whenever you add anything to your show, take some time and try to figure out everything that could go wrong during the performance and plan ways of dealing with it. having someone else do this with you will be good because they might think of stuff you wont. you can never perpare for everything, but at least you can be ready for alot.

not going into effects because I don't know your style and you should have some ideas already if you want to do a stage show. just remember your opening and closing effects should either have something in common or be at least similar enough to tie the show together. think of them like book ends holding the rest of the show together. lots of magicians appear at the begining of the show and dissappear at the end

good luck to you

Originality!

Terry

Terry is right. It really is about creativity and originality. I think it would be safe to also say that the illusions you place in the show should be from different principles. In other words you do not want to have a show lined with too many levitations or too many suspensions or illusions that feel too similar in style. You need a good mix and pace them appropriately within he context of the show itself.

Even with the illusions, you also want to add in good audience interactive routines and other smaller vignettes that can be performed in front of the curtain while illusions are being set up in the back. The audience also must see YOU and YOUR personality. Sure you can wow them, but in the end they should remember you and the experience you gave them and not so much the props in the show.

Make sure to give that audience a part of who you are. Place in a personality piece or emotional response piece in the show in the early parts of the show and get them to see you as one of them. It helps to break down that wall between the audience and the performer and draws them inwards towards you.

Hope this helps.

Kyle

A good illusion show needs someone with a personality .. it's not about the props!

Steve

Exactly Steve. If it were abut the props, then why even go out on stage in the first place. I feel too many magicians primary focus is on he prop alone. The audience enjoys the prop but they forget who YOU are. Sell them on YOU and your personality and your personal style. Give them an EXPERIENCE and not just some wow factor alone.

Kyle

Right... a great and original personality. Look at the successful performers. None are alike.

Well, a good illusion show does NOT need:

-magicians who seem stuck in a ta-da pose
-performers who hope the props will do the work for them
-1980’s spandex costumes with sequins
-half naked assistants with stuck on smiles
-bad synthesized rock-music
-needless broadway dance routines by non-dancers
-to many twirling lights and billowing smoke everywhere
-gaudy boxes spun endlessly on caster-wheels
-cheap rip-offs of protected illusions

An involved performer with personality, charisma,
and a respect for quality entertainment would be nice,
along with a respect for magic as an artform,
and creative and original themes and style.

My thoughts,
Walt

HEYYYY... I like the 1980's spandex! Depending on who's in it

...probably Rich Thomas...

Sometimes a man needs to wear stretchy pants ...

Steve

That's exactly what I was going to say. The problem with a lot of illusion shows is that people think the illusions themselves are enough to make a good show, but the magic is second to the performer's stage presence. We have to consider ourselves entertainers first, and magicians second.

I think a good illusion show needs variety in effects, good presentation and more importantly, someone that can pull it off... I agree with Kyle Night, its an entertainment show, not just magic show.

It is so very refreshing to see so many folks chiming in here agreeing that personality, character and style and critically important to the success of any illusion show. That is great to hear in this age of instant gratification. So many magicians want to do illusions but the race into it so fast without doing heir homework or without understanding really what it needed or what it is all about.

When this happens you tend to get shows where every illusion is presented in the exact same way with no style or personality and lack of entertainment value. It becomes one illusion after the other and a series of "how can I fool them the fastest."

A good illusionist will understand that any show as only as good as YOU the performer. For me it is more about what NOT to include in he show as it is what to include. You have to be willing to think past yourself to include only the illusions and the routines that best makes sense in the show and the pacing of it. You never add in anything that takes away from the overall entertainment value and that sometimes means leaving out something you personally love to do.

Kyle

I think a good illusion show needs stretchy pants...

I'm blind.. blind. aghhhh. man thanks Clinton. Now I have to go home and scrub my brain for a few hours..

Kyle

Every illusion show needs fresh, original, royalty-free MUSIC...of course!

Hmm...I wonder where one might find such a thing? *wink*

Steve Saunders
"The Conjuror's Composer"