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sb Special user 567 Posts |
I have a "sidekick" type routine. I haven't used a gun in it for years and years. I have the spectator use something else.
I have a series of theater shows coming up and am thinking I really like the gag when the gun is shot, and an offstage assistant gets shot and dragged away. (Is this gag even in the public domain???) How about this... What if I begin with the premise that I will be using the gun, and shoot, only to miss and hit one of the assistants. I then decide that using a gun is a bad idea, get rid of the gun, and proceed to let the spectator use the other object. This way I still get all of my current jokes and bits, but can incorporate the gun sight gag. Does this gag loose too much by me doing the shootin? I will probably end up testing the joke and going with the flow, but any thoughts on this.. -sb |
tropicalillusions Special user Tulsa Okla 631 Posts |
Hey SB I will try to chime in here. The key to this whole issue is for you to be unique. I say this because I see SOOOOO many folks use the " you shot my stage crew" joke. ....... I too am guilty. But have changed my ways, and am all the better for it. The Total key is the involvement of the audience member and the Fun that you have with them, and how you include him or her.
Using a Gun these days is mostly a bad idea, I have done some shows long ago, and at the end of my show, have had many and I mean many complaints about using a gun in the show, especially when it may include family .... Most folks are not wanting their children see Guns as toys and increase the odds of their children wanting to play with a gun that they may stumble on one. So now the dilemma on what to use to pop the balloons, here is where you can get creative. Roberto the Magnificent " from the Past comedy juggling duo " Gentleman Jugglers" Uses a Bull Whip to show his balloon poppping skills. With his comedy antics... he pulls off qiute a funny routine with this. Making his act very creative and unique. Perhaps a Ray gun if you go with a scientific sort of theme?? It is a shame to have such a great and expensive prop and not use it just because of the gun, so Mine sat in the closet for many years, but now I have a unique routine that fits with my tropical themed show. . \ \I know how you feel when you have some great jokes that have always worked, but for some reason you have to cut them out, Man does that hurt. But in the end you will be all the more better for it, And you will have created something unique that will one day be copied by another performer...LOl. Best of luck with your issues and wish you the best. |
sb Special user 567 Posts |
Chris,
thank you for the post. I actually am NOT going to use the gun. Your second paragraph was what made me change my mind. As far as the rest of the routine goes, I actually use a really strange item for the "popping". It is very different. It is quite funny too - (at least I think it is) Thanks, scott |
Magic Patrick Inner circle Minnesota 1591 Posts |
Using the SIdekick without a gun for adult shows is weak. For children shows I use a Harry Potter wand and have the children say what Harry says as they try to aim the wand. Later on in the routine I add a laser sight to the wand and that make it fun for the children. Good luck to you on finding your own routine.
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chmara Inner circle Tucson, AZ 1911 Posts |
Consider, if you might, the use of additional sound effects and a mime of watching bullet travel amidst the sounds of ricochets. There is a lot of milage possible. Adding a little spark pyro set to go with a ricochet also comes to mind. Takes some pre-set for the latter -- and depends upon the venue -- but the sound and your mime is easy with some practice.
Gregg (C. H. Mara) Chmara
Commercial Operations, LLC Tucson, AZ C. H. Mara Illusion & Psychic Entertainments |
sb Special user 567 Posts |
In the commercials for the new movie "The Losers" (I would assume its in the actual movie too ), there is a shot where one of the guys makes finger guns and shoots his bad guys. Then he says thanks to his friend in the next building with a sniper rifle. It looks pretty funny.
My whole routine is set. This makes no sense to read, but on stage is pretty funny, and actually kind of makes sense. I use my Rocky puppet as the "gun". I have a ton of jokes based on this. What I was originally after was using the one bit with a real(?) gun, where the gun is shot, and the offstage assistant falls over, and is dragged away. I wanted to incorporate this into the routine, but using anything other than a gun will really take away from this particular gag. So, one of my solutions was to bring my assistant on stage, and up until this point the premise is for me to be the one to do the shooting. I aim and fire, only to miss and shoot my assistant. I then realize that this is a bad idea, and resort to using an alternative shooting device, and then proceed to let the kid use the raccoon. The routine would then continue with the raccoon and the kid doing the shooting. I like the joke of adding the laser sight BYUDAD! After reading tropicalillusions thoughts, and having those thoughts be what was in the back of my mind- I have decided against the use of a pistol. All press is good press, right up until it talks about kids and guns... Thanks for the ideas though, and keep any ideas coming. They may help the next person stumbling on this! scott |
MCM Elite user Minnesota 456 Posts |
On the abusing of on or off-stage assistants ;-)
It is probably about the same as shooting them, but I always wanted to see a show where swords are being pulled out of a sword-box type illusion and thrown off-stage. One of the assistants comes onto stage, "impaled" by the sword and does a purposely over-dramatic "death scene". If he or she can do it then, "forget" to move the body and a running gag is to go about the rest of the show, walking around or over the body. |
tropicalillusions Special user Tulsa Okla 631 Posts |
SB, Glad to chime in when I can, sounds like you got a good grip on what you want for a routine, Keep up the good work, and I know you will create something new that will work wonders for you, and in the end will make you even more proud of your original routine,
Wish you all the best in your magical endeavors. |
sb Special user 567 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-05-01 07:56, MCM wrote: MCM, That would be funny! I used to do a routine where I got "blown up", staggerd onto the stage, took my box, and collapsed. After an akward pause, the curtain closed and we went into intermission. I thought it would be funny if the curtain would close and my body would be sticking out under the curtain for the whole intermission.... Never did it though, because I always have stuff to do during intermission. The real problem with this, was that the routine is pretty funny, but not nearly strong enough -magicwise- to end the first half of the show. Just thought of this! What if after intermission, the curtain opened and I had two "nurses" come out, move me into some "box" and they brought me back to life with a clothing change....? -scott |
Magic Patrick Inner circle Minnesota 1591 Posts |
Here is the thought on your magic show. Tell them about it up front and if they don't want to go then they won't. I feel that it is silly that we are talking about guns here. Why shouldn't we be talking about swallowing razor blades or better yet locking oneself upside down in a water chamber. Have children not seen something cool like these and tried them? I feel that if they know ahead of time that you are going to use some seemingly dangerous tricks/themes they will be more cautious about their children. Do we address the knife on the Modern Art? Now you have to know your audience. If I am doing a school show forget about all that stuff. If I am doing a run at a theater than I do what I want to do. I think that an off colored joke is more damaging than using a gun for the sidekick. Just my two cents on the whole matter.
Patrick |
tropicalillusions Special user Tulsa Okla 631 Posts |
I watched a man do it with a bull whip..... put the use of a gun to shame, had his helper and audience in stitches. You always hear in the news of kids shooting thenselves or others with a gun found in the house, use of guns and kids are bad news in the states and they make a big issue of it. But you never here of kids finding swords in the house and cutting there siblings in half, or at least you here of no press on the sword subject, so, modern art is safe or Sword basket.
The use of gun will work in an all adult capcity, but mixed with family, I am sure you will get some complaints. I think SB is doing the best thing in this situation, and is going to be all the more professional in the end. |
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