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p.b.jones Inner circle Milford Haven. Pembrokeshire wales U.K. 2642 Posts |
Hi,
I have just taken a booking for a family/adult show and they have asked me about doing a lot more throughout the season at a local attraction. They have a theatre which looks to seat about 600 people. The odd thing though is the size of the stage, it is huge! (It came from the Millenium Dome.) I am not worried about playing for this size crowd as I have played larger, but I am a little concerned as I perform patter comedy magic with audience participation. The act plays big, but is not actually very big. The only illusion is a 7' guillotine. I do not use music or anything like that. I have to perform 2 30 min. shows (same show)in an evening with a 45 min. break in between, plus about 1 hour of close-up afterwards, strolling around the attractions. The fees are good, well over $1000 per night in dollars (6pm - 9.30pm); so I want to give the best show I can. Now, I am not used to such a big stage. Should I work with the curtains half closed? I am thinking of using some balloon displays to add flash. Any help from those with large stage experience would be appreciated. Phillip |
Mago Mai Elite user Venezuela 485 Posts |
You might want to use a backdrop. You might want to perform in front of the curtains if there is enough space. I would leave lights only in the area you are working while keeping the rest af the stage dark. Maybe with the use of a spotlight.
Mago Mai
I invite all of you to share some of my magic on videos.Please, CLICK HERE
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Harry Murphy Inner circle Maryland 5444 Posts |
Mago has pretty well nailed it.
Rather than try to fill up the space with extraneous and unnecessary “stuff”, I think that you need to make the stage appear smaller. This can be done very easily with lighting. Hopefully the venue (hall) can be darkened, most especially the stage area. Then flood the performing area with focused light (mainly a following flood light or an overhead down pin spot.). I don’t know the specifics of your act, but by blocking your act so that each effect uses a different part of the stage. Only that part of the stage you are performing in is lighted. You can appear bigger than your truly are. You could use at least one trick that consumes a lot of space. The item I use is an old thing I put together based on the Hindu Turban Cut and Restored paired with a version of ungimmicked Traveling Knot. Two spectators on stage about 12 to 15 feet (say 3.6 to 4.6 Meters) apart holding a wide cloth ribbon/band of about 6 inches (15 cm) wide and 18 to 20 feet (5 – 6 meters) long. This does fill up a stage! You can also use the very old Billy McComb version of the torn and restored newspaper trick. Come on stage and try to read your newspaper, the spot light moves to the right a bit. You follow the light, it moves, you follow, it moves, you follow, until you are across the stage from your start point. Then the light goes out and comes back on at the other side of the stage. You tear the paper up in disgust. The light is then back on you. So you restore the newspaper and walk (with the light following) back to stage center while reading the paper. At stage center, smile put the paper aside and get on with the act. You have just used a ton of space and no scenery, stage props, tables or whatnot. Just you, a newspaper and a following spot light. These are just a couple of ideas to get you brain storming on how to play big and make the space look cozy (small).
The artist formally known as Mumblepeas!
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Jewls Veteran user Michigan-USA 360 Posts |
Great suggestions guys!
That opener would be nice with music, I would like to encourage you to add music to your show. Even if it's just introduction music and occasional background fill and closing. Music adds so much, sound effects are fun if not over done too. Bill White has wonderful copy right free CD's for entertainers http://www.purelymagic.com
Jewls
www.Jewlstheclown.com |
Emazdad Inner circle Plymouth UK 1954 Posts |
Most stages have sets of curtains that can be closed to narrow the depth of the stage. I'm not a luvey but I think they're call tabs. Closing a pair behind you and then having a backdrop may do the trick.
Yours Funfully
Clive "Emazdad" Hemsley www.emazdad.com "Magic is a secret, without the secret there is no magic" Remember there are only 3 types of people in the world, those that can count and those that can't. |
p.b.jones Inner circle Milford Haven. Pembrokeshire wales U.K. 2642 Posts |
Hi,
Thanks everone for your help. I had planned on reducing the depth by having the tabs closed. It's the width of the stage that is the real problem. The use of lighting is a good suggestion and I will try and block so that I use as nmuch of the stage as possible. I do not plan on changing my actual act though the effects I now perform will stay. Phillip |
Cheshire Cat Special user Wilmslow, UK 941 Posts |
Hi Phillip. You don't need much advice really do you? As like us, you've been around and done around almost everything! Surprised you don't use any music at all as the ambience brought about by music is undoubted. I take it the house will have it's own music prior to and just after your shows. Re. space: Our large stage work was with marionettes (3ft. string operated puppets), so basically just centre stage or on a 6ft. x 4ft block was the area of work. Like the guys have said, it's important to close in the tabs and have any unused areas unlit if possible (unlike the picture on the left that had a Hammond organ, drumkit etc. on stage, and not enough space in front of the pm's to shut the curtains!) Also I'd look at it this way, for this budget, in this location, and at these flexible times and a stroll around after, - what else has been on their shortlist? They are not going to get 30 mins. of illusions with a magician and two or three assistants are they? In fact I think they are lucky to have found you and your ability to cope. Best Wishes, Tony.
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Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts |
PB,
I think you've got it yourself: Work with the main curtains partly closed; that re-configures the whole proscenium arch to any size you want (which should be one in keeping with the size of the audience!). |
m.ruetz Veteran user Peoria Arizona, USA 378 Posts |
I was thinking you should take the opporutnity to do something really big, like a vanishing elephant
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p.b.jones Inner circle Milford Haven. Pembrokeshire wales U.K. 2642 Posts |
Also I'd look at it this way, for this budget, in this location, and at these flexible times and a stroll around after, - what else has been on their shortlist? They are not going to get 30 mins. of illusions with a magician and two or three assistants are they? In fact I think they are lucky to have found you and your ability to cope. Best Wishes, Tony.
Hi, Actually last year they had Jonathan Goodwin from the Monkey Magic TV show doing Large illusions, as well as many major illusions. He did Blackstone's floating light bulb, the full thing into the audience and all and Kevin James snow storm thing! Phillip |
Cheshire Cat Special user Wilmslow, UK 941 Posts |
I'm not just using this expression as a "weapon" Phillip (as I have to admit I do occasionally) - but the people you mention "I've never 'erd of 'em"!! But it seems you feel under pressure or even intimidated by what's gone before. Is this so? Not volunteering by the way, - but would it be worth your while employing a good juggling, puppet or vent act as part of the show? One thing for cert. I employed an illusion act back in the 80s for a big Blackpool venue - you know, Zig Zag, Broomstick, and about another half a dozen wonders that filled a large Ford van!! They were followed on the same show by a good chatty kids magician (and rather a good puppet act that headlined the show!!). All the feedback was about that magician and that puppet skeleton, flying pig etc. There was also "a rather good puppet act" that impacted so well that members of the "Tiswas" team working with it in a Manchester Theatre felt a bit hard done to also! I'll ramble no more!
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JamesinLA Inner circle Los Angeles 3400 Posts |
Phillip, good luck. My suggestion: break out your flying carpet, which you previously mentioned, and float someone. Also, you could download some music and sound effects from Kazza, and download the software to cut it together. That's a lot of fun actually. Then burn it to CD.
Jim
Oh, my friend we're older but no wiser, for in our hearts the dreams are still the same...
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p.b.jones Inner circle Milford Haven. Pembrokeshire wales U.K. 2642 Posts |
HI Ace,
No, I do not feel under pressure only reason I mentioned who they had before was because you mentioned Illusion acts. I know I can do the job and do it well. I was reccomended by TEXACO (the oil company) who I have worked for quite a bit and also The port Authority and docks company as many of the directors of these companies are on more than one board and the first gig is for Texaco who have hired the whole attraction for the night. I was just interested in seeing how people would deal with the large stage. It is so big that the managers wanted me to view it (I have) before the dates because in their words " a few of the acts we used in the past have really paniced when they saw it!" James, I do not want to change my adult/family act as I have tweaked it over 15 or so years. I do have pre show/post show music and a musical recorded intro. again I do not want to change the rest of my act by adding music. even though I could easily do this as I have acsess to a recording studio with pro tools on apple mac with which I am well comfortable having mixed and recorded for several small bands. Phillip |
Jim Reynolds Elite user Special Guest 431 Posts |
How about shortening the stage with a couple of large, 6x4ish, posters that look like the old masters except with your name? One on each side of stage.
It would be a good way to get your name burned into your audience's mind. jr |
magicgeorge Inner circle Belfast 4299 Posts |
Great suggestions by everyone. I don't think the extra width will be a hinderance in any way with everyone focused on you but it might be cool to use the extra space. I just can't think how, so I'm as much use as a chocolate fireplace. I just suggest racking your brains to think of the one time you thought "this is a great effect but if I had a bit more space I'd..." and then do the dots
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p.b.jones Inner circle Milford Haven. Pembrokeshire wales U.K. 2642 Posts |
HI,
Thanks everyone for the help. I will be leaving shortly to perform these shows. The theatre holds slightly more than I guessed. I have 2 houses/performances at 750 people per performance. They had a big top stage set available which I am using as a back drop and stage entrance. It also kills a lot of the depth of the stage which is good. I will let you know how it worked out soon. Phillip UPDATE: Jun 21, 2003 Hi, The shows went great the second seemed a better crowd than the first. I have been asked to do some regular dates so that's good. Phillip |
JamesinLA Inner circle Los Angeles 3400 Posts |
Congratulations, Phillip!
Per your comments about sound mixing, the software I bought (over the net) for cutting sound only does just that: cut. I would love to mix two or more seperate tracks. Could you recommend any software for this. Not Mac, but Windows based? Thanks. Jim
Oh, my friend we're older but no wiser, for in our hearts the dreams are still the same...
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p.b.jones Inner circle Milford Haven. Pembrokeshire wales U.K. 2642 Posts |
Hi,
Cubase is the most common this will do almost anything that can be done with music at present.... also cakewalk is another alternative . these tend to be expensive programs for the pro versions but a little cheaper for home/lite versions which would likely sufice as you need a huge knowledge to use all the things on the pro version. One proram that I love is Acid pro this lets you take loops/ samples of music and place them on a track they are auto time streched and put to the correct key. you can easily come up with your own music with this through trial and error though you have to buy samples (some music mags give free ones) which come on cds normaly in each catagory. IE, Funk guitar riffs, Techno bass lines Phillip |
JamesinLA Inner circle Los Angeles 3400 Posts |
Thanks, Phillip, I will look into those programs. Congratulations once again.
Jim
Oh, my friend we're older but no wiser, for in our hearts the dreams are still the same...
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p.b.jones Inner circle Milford Haven. Pembrokeshire wales U.K. 2642 Posts |
HI,
Just to say it must have gone over well as the venue has just confirmed 16 more dates with more to come and further more at the original fee. Phillip |
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