James Alburger wrote "Get Your Act Together."

Although the book is dated, it has a lot of good information that is useful today.
Below are my thoughts bases on the principles in his book and revised to modern times.

1. Inventory your Magic
2. Do a Self Evaluation to determine your Personality
3. Determine the type of audience you want to perform for.
4. Determine your on stage character. Comedy-Silent, Manipulation, Bozo, Dr. Death, Amazatron, Magician, etc.
5. Review and determine the audience appeals for the trick you are about to perform as listed in "Showmanship for Magicians" by Fritzkee
6. Select the music- easier to build with the music then try to fit the music to the routine
7. Develop the routines
8. Modify the routines, add, update, continue to improve it.
9. Innovate- change it to make it more powerful. (Get rid of cheap swords for real ones in the Flying Carpet...Consider Black Art revisions on the flying Carpet, etc.)
10. Record the Music, Video tape it and review it.
11. Make notes, and record everything, including the patter.
12. Practice-Rehearse, and do it again.
13. Evaluate the final product.

Alburger goes into detail on each of the above topics.

Think of being a magician like you would an electrician, or a plumber, carpenter, a computer technician, etc.
They all require a base line knowledge level before they can effectively do their job.
There are no good instant (overnight) Construction Workers! Magic is no different.
There are no good instant (overnight) Magicians

Four Illusions and Eight stage tricks, does not make an Illusionist, however, with lots of practice it is possible.

Developing a routine requires several steps:

1. Learn the mechanics of the trick first.
2. Find a reason why that routine should be of interest to your audience.
3. List several additional tricks that can used with it. (Milk Pitcher: Comedy Funnel, Disappearing Glass of Milk, Comedy Ice pick, etc.)
4. List potential props that could be used with the trick.
5. Research, find, and list the potential comedy bits of business that fit the trick(s). View others on VHS/DVDs on how have done it, making notes on what you like and dislike and how it fits your personality or theme of trick.
6. Find the music, Listen to it, imaging your act with it. Daydream, Brainstorm.
7. Write it down then try it, practice it.

If the above is done for each mini-act you have a routine. Combine the routines and you have an act.

Step 1: Choose the effects (3) that go together.
A. You perform them well
B. You are comfortable with them
C. They are tried and true routines

Step 2:
A. Note time effects takes to perform
B. Stagger quick little effects with long effects
C. Add nice little effects with mind blowing effects. (Combining tricks)

Tips:
Open and close with the most spectacular effects
Select effects that build on each other
Paper trail each effect. (Write it down)
Each routine is a mini-play
Each routine should draw the audience in
Each routine should ENTERTAINS 1st, Mystifies 2nd.
Each routine should focus to bring out at least 1 emotion.

Format:

Opening: should be fast colorful production act..Startling, change of color every 20 seconds, musical and fancy ending.
Middle: Vary pace, short routines, variety...Mount Attack...Novelty.. Punch..Closing
Ending: Mass, Beauty, Motion, Color, Rhythmatic Action... Good thoughts..Going away "WOWing them"...
Success is: Giving them something they can talk about on the way home.

Developing Patter for Kid Shows: Explanatory Patter
Pick a Theme
1. Explain what you're going to do
2. Describe the parts
3. Add the theme message
4. Pick a Magical word.
5. Write the skit down
6. Research Jokes and Puns
7. Tie in a Variety of Site Gags

Yearly Themes Shows

• 1. School Safety
  
• 2. Fire Safety and Fire Prevention
  
• 3. Think Safety
  
• 4. Patriotic Theme
  

Seasonal Themes Shows

• 1. Magic of Christmas
  
• 2. Stage Fright: The THRILL-usion Show
  

Power Illusion Program:
Four Illusions
Eight Powerful Routines


Basic Format: Constructing Your Act

• Visual Impact, Fast Paced, Audience Grabber (Colorful, Musical, and with Animals)
  Start Show Alone. Connect with the audience in character, costume, and expectations
  
• Sucker/Comedy Routine.
  
• Audience Participation
  
• Impact Production
  
• Element of Danger Magic
  
• Illusion- Strong Closer
  Close Show Alone and Thank Them
  Leave them wanting more!
  

Kid's Safety Theme Show (40 Minutes)
You add the tricks.

• Warm-Up (Fire Book)
  
• Strong Opening (Production/Flash paper)
  
• Police and Fire Officers Are Friends Message
  
• Fire Safety Message
  
• Police Safety Message (Guns)
  
• Environmental Message
  
• Drug Awareness Message
  
• Strangers Message
  
• Bus Safety Message
  
• Sharp Objects can Cut Message (Disecto/Chopper)
  
• Poison Message
  
• Another Fire Safety Message
  
• Patriotic Message: Strong Closer
  Reference: Safety Magic for Children by Karl Wagner
  

(You need not do them all in the same sow, it would be a lot longer than 40 minutes.

KIDS Variety Magic Show (Example: 40 Min.)

• Warm-up
  
• Strong Opening Magic Routine (Production)
  
• Magic Routine
  
• Ventriloquist Routine
  
• Running Gag #1
  
• Two Magic Routines with 1 Kid Assistant
  
• Juggling Routine
  
• Two Magic Routines with 2 Kid Assistants
  
• Running Gag #2
  
• Balloon Routine with 3 Kid Assistants
  
• Magic Routine with/without Kid Assistants
  
• Magic Routine with Kid Assistant (Danger)
  
• Running Gag #3
  
• Strong Closing Magic Routine
  

To Convert the Above into a Family Fun Entertaining Fund Raising Illusion Show. Add Four Illusions.

• 1. Levitation: Broom, Super-X, Mechanical AGA, 3-in-1, Flying Carpet, OR Asrah
  
• 2. Danger Trick: Sawing in Half, Head Chopper, Guillotine, Etc.
  
• 3. Comedy: Twister, Balloon Sword Body Box, etc.
  
• 4. Animal Act: Rabbits, Doves, Lions and Tigers..Oh my.
  

Add a Running Gag Routine to keep the humor going, using the magician failure premise which finally ends in success.

• Rabbit from Hat
  
• Lota Bowl
  
• Gag Egg Bag
  
• Himber Flower Wallet
  
• Cut and Restored Rope to Professor's Nightmare
  

My thoughts on a Perfect Routine

• Is the routine Understandable?
  
• Does the routine Grab the Audience’s Attention
  
• Has Wit, Laughter, Charm and Magic built into it?
  
• Builds to a Climatic Ending
  
• It has an Exciting, Interesting, Element to it.
  
• Is Memorable Days later.
  
• Has something Impossible about to happen
  
• It connect with Audience by some Physical Means
  
• It connect with Audience by some Visual Means
  
• It connect with Audience by some Verbal Means
  
• It connect with Audience by some Emotional means
  
• It connect with Audience by Having some Dramatic and/or Danger element to it.
  

Here are some of my thought/tips on Developing a show:

Key Elements in Great Magic Acts

• Magic Must Have Visual Impact
  
• Opening Routine Must be Fast Paced, Colorful, & Visual
  
• Include an Original Trademark Personality Character Building Routine
  
• Include Musical Selection that Appeal to the Majority
  
• Include a Variety of Colors
  
• Include Audience Participation in Routines
  
• Include Audience Volunteers in Several Routines
  
• Include a Strong Novelty Routine (Comic Impact)
  
• Include Productions with Audience Impact
  
• Include an Element of Danger Routine
  
• Include a Levitation or Suspension Routine
  
• Include a Strong Closing Number
  

Remember:
Give the audience something they never saw before and something they will never forget.

When using classic effects, set the standard other magicians will strive to meet.

When magic happens in the hands of the spectator/volunteer it has a much greater impact.


Now you have the format, routine, take action, practice, rehearse, and book you show!
Enjoy...Have Fun and Most Importantly, Love What You Do.

Great advice and a good find Dennis.

I'm intrigued by what an 'Amazatron' is - did the book elaborate on it?

Looking forward to seeing you next month!

Kimmo,
It wasn't in the book. I just made up a character's name "Amazatron", free for whoever wants it.
Now the question is: Who is Amazatron?

Is he a Gizmo Magician?

Next month? How about 25 days until KIDabra Conference.

BTW, this book is dated and talks about reel to reel tape recording is much better than 45 RPM records. Switching all this to today's electronics is not difficult and much better. He does focus on performing the magic after you decide on the music, not try to find the music for the routine.

Good stuff my friend. One can always find value in the older books and information from past pros. Indeed I have found that many magicians try and devleop a routine or act and then try and "tack on" music to it. Many do not realize that the music is an intrical part of the routine as a whole. in many wyas, I will have a piece of music first that inspires an act or routine concept. I can be influenced by music.

Defining your personality is also very huge. many try and beocme someone they have seen before them. We are too easily influenced on what we see on youtube or DVds and so try to do a routine or a show based on what we "think" the audience will enjoy.

We need to define who we are as performers and find our own unique sense of style. It is not always easy, but it is easier being an extension of yourself then an extension of someone else.

It is also interesting to point out that often times how we see ourselves is NOT how others see us. it is a good rule of thumb to try and tap into good friends who really know you. Get them to write down 5 adjectives they fele best describes your personality and then be honest with yourself when you get the feedback. it can really help you to start to define your own sense of style.

Kyle

Taking a course on Understanding Personalities, can immensely help one through-out life.

Such knowledge helps one deal with friends as well as those who are opposite your personality. In this business it helps to know the personality based on visual and audio clues. It helps in selling to the client, by appealing to their likes and benefits received from your show. (It's a topic in itself.)

Yes indeed it is. Great stuff and a great share. I really think it is important for one to understand who he or she is on stage and to define that character. it impacts not only what you do but how you do it.

Kyle

That was a terrific post Dennis. Thank you for taking the time and trouble. It's pure gold! I'm going to read it several times and work on improving my magic show with this advice.

This book really helped me at the time. I also learned to slice audio tape which came in handy when I worked in radio. The floating cane gimmick is priceless and I still use it.

Where might one procure this book? I looked on Amazon and found only books by the author on voice-over work... is this the same author?