Overview and critique of a local performance last night:

http://ihatemagic.wordpress.com/2009/09/......ic-show/

The only thing that your article makes me think of is why local magic shows can only draw an audience primarily made up of other magicians....

Spill it: this was an IBM ring annual show, right?

No, not a Ring show, Ross.

This was a foodservice venue open to the public, and again, overall the show was enjoyable -- with the exceptions noted in my article.

The biggest problem was comparable to what in journalism is called "burying the lead": A compelling angle that should be in the headline instead gets "buried" deep in the story's text. These were technically proficient and INTERESTING performers that too often fell back on cheesy humour and hackneyed lines. When they shared personal anecdotes, histories, and experiences -- real or not -- those became brilliant flashes of compelling entertainment.

I'm not sure whether the Magicians performing didn't trust their own personal narratives to be entertaining and interesting, or simply didn't know what they had.

Leland

Or, if they used unique original funny and entertaining patter in front of a room full of magicians, then they would no longer have unique original funny and entertaining patter.

LOL with RJE

Let's not confuse family show with children's show...

Shrek and Goonies are family movies whereas VeggieTales and Carebears are children's movies.

Shrek and Goonies both have sexual inuendos, some language, and adult humour.

Don't forget..in a family there are also teenagers.

Yep, fair point Bill.

I live in a culture which will ban all peanut products at a school because of fears that some peanut-allergic child will suffer an attack, and I've been spanked at a show for lighting a match (!). Some of that hyper-sensitivity has no doubt seeped into my thinking.

It's ok Leland.

It's something I'm used to relaying to customers so they realize I am a family entertainer and not a children's entertainer.

I would assume the person booking the talent did not properly describe the acts to the clients, or if they did, then the client (restaurant?) did not properly relay to it's clients.

Yeah, that's another fair point.

The flyer for the event was not kid-specific, and didn't pitch the event as being just for kids. I don't recall seeing a recommended age group listed on the flyer, and it could be that the parents merely assumed that "Magic" equals "kiddie show."

I don't know how proactive or specific the venue owner is in promoting the monthly "Magic Night." Like any businessman, he's just trying to get customers in the door, and Magic is just another part of the mix. He's also got bands, poetry readings, and so on. (To his credit, he actually has a small raised stage in part of the room -- the venues I've seen before, performers are lucky if staff moves tables aside for the show.)

As I've noted, I've even gotten some heat from the Missus for being critical on this count, so I'm gonna concede that the stick up my a...ah, my perspective is off on this one.

But my low view of the cheesy lines -- the hiding of warmth, depth, and humanity behind a glib facade of trivial humour -- and contempt for the skewering of a good-natured helper? Those stay: http://ihatemagic.wordpress.com/

Leland

Hello Leland!
Thank you for sharing your views.

Many people absolutely hate magic shows, because this is what they were exposed to.
Many will never attend another, and certainly never volunteer at one.

There is a rather finite list (of very fixable) things that make many people dislike magic,
and with some care, preparation, and professionalism, these can be ameliorated.

Many of these are in your review, and listed below:

--Sound checks should not be done while a performer is on stage
--props -even on a small stage- shouldn’t be placed in the way
--Mistaken music cues were a constant problem
--MC should have verified the pronunciation of the performers’ names
--Make the volunteer the butt of bad jokes.
--Bad humour. Very. Bad. Humour. The volunteer, being the foil for bad jokes.
--This man was mildly humiliated in front of his own family
--Walking on glass, swallowing needles in front of KIDS?
--Far too many “umms” and “ahhs” appeared to indicate a lack of confidence or preparation
--Philosophical dissertations should be saved for more appropriate venues

There is nothing mentioned that cannot be overcome and fixed easily.
Yet these small details can ruin a show, and magic’s reputation overall.

I’m so happy you’ve talked about this, so we can fix what’s wrong in our own shows!

Magically,
Walt

Thanks, Walt, I was hoping to have candor and clarity without appearing mean. And, like the old gag, in pointing out the flaws of others I had more of my own fingers pointing back at me.

Yeah, the whole making fun of a spectator, just for the sake of making fun is bad bad business.

You can have fun with your spectator, and if do make fun of them in your act, give them a chance to get back at you and be the hero.