Tossed out Deck and Chair prediction are two of the best suggestions

Tossed Out Chair.

Could not say better than Tossed out deck. It is fast, direct, visual. Will be curious to know what you are going to perform Martin.
Good luck

Dick, re-read his quote.

I don't understand. I've done stand up sets and have been restricted to 10 min slots. You just be economical with the presentation/script and adapt the pieces you are currently doing to fit. If anything you might be a little taken aback with how everything becomes a lot tighter.

I don't know if it matters as much what you perform as how you want to make them feel. Hopefully you'll find something that allows the real YOU to shine, maybe something that echoes of other interests in life your audience will share with you.

For example, I enjoy movies. I act in local independent films. I love reading screenplays. I thrill to share with friends a hidden cinematic gem I found in the $5 bin at Blockbuster. Almost everyone likes movies, and though my audience may not be as obsessive about films, most people can connect with my interest.

At the beginning of a show, I want the audience to feel the excitement children feel when they're about to play their favorite game. So, being me, I might open with a game of The Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon. The first two participants name an actor or actress, and I show off an impressive skill of linking those named actors to the great KB. The third person only thinks of an actor or actress and, beginning with Kevin Bacon, I work backwards through the chain until I name their thought-of celebrity name.

My own methods for this effect will be published, but I know that only a few performers will get great mileage because the presentation reflects my personal interests. I found out recently there's a fella' who does a similar routine, only he links named rock 'n roll stars to his favorite famous guitarist. What I mean is while it's a tall order, I think your audience deserves a modified presentation that gives them an idea of the real you while leaving them with emotions and messages you find most important and appropriate for the venue. They don't have to be "deep" thoughts or feelings. If you predicted who would go the longest in a competitive game of paddle ball, I think the crowd would revert to childhood glee. (Incidentally, with polish, practice and a dim finish with UV lights this kid could tour comedy clubs a few years http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWnvOEH7I2Y)

Don't do tossed deck

I will tell what I do for 1000-2000 people , and I do it a lot

Invisible touch,
Mobile opener
10 poker deal

and some other stuff I can not share

but if you don't have a strong personality nothing will help

good luck

Lior

hahaha

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I just curious what others do in the same situation. Obviously I already knew that I will perform before I said yes for this.
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So what had you decided to do when you took the gig on?

Best advice yet on this thread.

-rob

Tossed Out Deck and Chair Test both seem like ideal suggestions to me. If you have a good Russian roulette routine, that might keep everyone's attention too.

Psychological forces leading into Osterlind's Bank Nite, or

Cassidy's Three Envelope Test

Okay Martin. I gave you the funny answer earlier. Here's the serious one: you're asking the wrong question.

There is no magical, extra-spectacular effect that will fill the bill. It doesn't exist.

When you stride out onto a stage, you need to do something that lets the audience get to know you and hopefully like you and care about what you're doing. If you're doing 90 minutes, that's your first effect. If you're doing 10 minutes, it's probably your only effect.

So think about what you know, and what effects let you do this. What works for me is not and cannot be the same as what will work for you.

Best of luck,
Neil

P.S. I can tell you exactly what you should not do: a supposedly life-or-health-threatening Russian Roulette effect. Contrary to Mind Guerrilla and to several TV producers who should know better, if your audience hasn't had sufficient time to get to know and like you (and if you're only doing 10 minutes, they won't), nobody will care whether you overcome this or that allegedly dramatic challenge. That means they'll be rooting for you to fail -- and if you don't fail, how exactly is frustrating their desire for blood going to make them like you?

Neil,

Good advice. As I was thinking about the 10-minute time limit, it basically forces you to do one effect, which is why I offered the two I did. I don't know about you, but I would not structure a mini-show with two effects, so, if I wanted to do more, then I would have to do at least three -- but the time is just not there in this situation.

Bobby

Russian Roulette someone in the the Audience!

Then they will care!

I think we've all seen that smash-n-stab video

It's been done: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTjgtzMWEvc

Doc

Excellent example. And as you can see, it immediately establishes his persona.

Best,
Neil

Is that the "Mind and Magic of David Berglas"? And which one do you refer to?