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Pedranti Magic New user California 23 Posts |
I am going to be putting on a stage show in March at my High School's Theater. It is my senior project (I am a senior in high school) and while I can't make any money from it, I am using to help me establish my stage show. While the show isn't a 'children's show' it will be a suitable and fun experience for the whole family.
Just this morning I arranged to perform at a local elementary school at an assembly sometime in the future to help promote the show. The assembly will most likely be late February/early March. As of right now however I'm not too sure as to what I should perform. I can utilize my assistant or anyone else I need from my crew to accomplish this performance if need be. What are some ideas of things I can perform for them? There will probably be two performances. One for K-4th grade and one for 5th-8th grade. Thanks in advance for any and all responses! |
Mary Mowder Inner circle Sacramento / Elk Grove, CA 3659 Posts |
What Stand-Up Magic do you already perform?
How long is each show? What led you to choose this project. Do you have a local Mentor, Brain Storming Group, Magic Shop, Magic Books or Magic Club? Basically, what resources do you have to draw on. If you don't already have most of what you need I'd say your project is overly ambitious. Your Website suggests that this may not be a problem but your question makes me wonder. You may consider inviting in a couple of "Variety Acts". Are you getting the grade for performing the Show or for putting the Show together? You can't go wrong with Rope Magic and Silk Magic but there is a lot to choose from. If you Juggle it helps mix it up a bit. One of my current favorites is "Deja Zoo" A Family friendly Mental effect. I did a re-write to suit my character but you could too. -Mary Mowder |
Pedranti Magic New user California 23 Posts |
My whole actual show is already planned out and ready to go. It will be about 45 minutes long it total. I have built some illusions and I also have routines such as the multiplying bottles, dancing cane, a mentalism routine, jumbo invisible deck, and a few others.
My question was what type of stuff could I perform specifically for the kids when I go to the elementary school. I was asked to do 1 or 2 tricks at an assembly to help promote my actual show. I have also been given the go-ahead to put up posters around the school and advertise for free in their school newsletter. As to your mentor question, I would have to say that Craig Browning is that person. He took an interest in me and this project and is helping me with the show. I know Craig has a ton of experience because he has designed illusions that have been performed by the likes of Sigfried and Roy. I was considering possibly performing the Vanishing Bandana routine. That was my original idea but wanted other ideas as well. I've never heard of Deja Zoo, I'll have to check it out. I do know how to juggle but don't plan on incorporating it in the show as a routine in itself. I hope I answered your questions. Thanks for the reply! |
jay leslie V.I.P. Southern California 9498 Posts |
45 minutes is too long. By the time the kids come in and sit, you've already wasted 15. I'd go with a half hour max.
And the tricks should be easy enough for 6 year olds to appreciate - without alienating the 12 year olds. Do you realise that 7 year olds don't understand what a 6 of clubs is... if you're lucky they know it as the 6 of puppy feet. "KISS" is the word (actually it's an acronym but who's counting?)
Jay Leslie
www.TheHouseOfEnchantment.com |
Pedranti Magic New user California 23 Posts |
My performance for the school won't be 45 minutes long, but my show in March will be. The show in March won't be just for kids, in fact, I'm not even advertising it as a kid's show. Most of the people there will most likely be teenagers and adults. I anticipate the actual percentage of children that attend my show to be much lower than other age groups.
I will be doing 1 or 2 routines tops just to help promote my show. I am just curious as to what type of material I could perform for the kids at the assembly to encourage them to tell their parents to take them to the show. I realize that 7 year olds might not get my invisible deck, but they will get a person appearing out of thin air, a dancing cane and a metamorphosis routine. I was told going to a school to help promote my show was a good idea and I know other magicians have done so to promote their show. Is it a mistake in doing so? I apologize if anyone misunderstood my original question. |
Mary Mowder Inner circle Sacramento / Elk Grove, CA 3659 Posts |
I'm sorry Pedranti Magic,
I re-read your question and I did misunderstand. I thought you were asking what to perform in the actual show. You can see why I was concerned. How long do you have for the promotional appearances? -Mary Mowder |
Pedranti Magic New user California 23 Posts |
Yes I apologize I probably should have worded it better.
The principal didn't give me an exact length yet, he will give me more details next week. However he did say he wants to just to perform a trick or two at the assembly. He said I can probably get up to 15 min if I need it but he doesn't know exactly yet |
kazam65 New user 84 Posts |
Pedranti Magic,
When I got to schools to promote a Family-Fun Magic Show, I just do a few fun tricks that involve interacting with the kids and get them to laugh and also be amazed. Multiplying RAbbits works really well for me. I also make sure the kids go home with a flyer the day I'm there that tells them about the show. During the "MINI-Show" I also tell them I will float one of them in the air during the show,...AND saw their Principal in half. Needless to say they all don't want to miss seeing that. Wish you the best, Alan |
Mary Mowder Inner circle Sacramento / Elk Grove, CA 3659 Posts |
Cut and Restored Rope might be a good choice.
-Mary Mowder |
Sam Sandler Inner circle 2487 Posts |
Pedranti- ok here is what you need to know.
when you go to the schools for the "teaser" to promote your bigger show you only have them for a few moments so you need to wow them I think you say that you have a sub trunk if so then that is one that you must do at the teaser show. I would recommend doing one small effect prior to the sub trunk. this could or maybe should be a volunteer bit. but nothing too long. the key here is not to try to come up with some "new" stuff but rather perform things you already have worked out and polished. so perform one smaller effect with or with out a volunteer and then close with the sub trunk. in between the two effects tell them a little bit about yourself and what the BIG show will be like. the goal is to keep the teaser to no more then 10-15 minutes have fun and enjoy the ride. sam
sam sandler- America's only full-time DEAF Illusionist
http://www.samsandler.com http://www.deafinitelymagic.com |
Pedranti Magic New user California 23 Posts |
Thank you for all the advice so far. I don't actually have the sub trunk but I am going to perform a very similar effect that utilizes bl*** a** and so that won't work for the school, but I see where you are coming from.
I was thinking of using Andrew Mayne's Bisection as that 'Wow' factor trick and not quite sure what I'll do for the other one yet. Alan, if only I had the props to saw the principle in half that would definitely be going in this teaser show! |
Mary Mowder Inner circle Sacramento / Elk Grove, CA 3659 Posts |
You can always pull a rope through the Principal via Grandmothers N******e method.
It isn't as grand as sawing in half but with fun byplay it could be fine. -Mary |
Mindpro Eternal Order 10587 Posts |
Maybe it's just me but if you have to ask these elementary questions, maybe you're not quite ready to do this type of event or venue? Schools are not a simple piece of cake that many think they are. Just a thought.
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Pedranti Magic New user California 23 Posts |
I by no means think that schools would be a piece of cake. I would never have accepted to do a full fledged school show. I won't pretend that I am prepared to do a show like that. The only reason I did this was to promote my other show and the fact it'll only be about 10 mins tops.
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Mindpro Eternal Order 10587 Posts |
So you're telling me that the school is going to go through all the hoopla of breaking class schedule, to wrangle all the students into the gym or multi-purpose room and all that that entails, just for a ten minute promotional assembly to push your stage show? Sounds like you could have a lot of angry teachers on your hand.
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Pedranti Magic New user California 23 Posts |
No, as a matter of fact I'm not. I'm telling you that they already had an assembly planned for that day and the principle asked if I could come in and perform. He was the one who approached me about it, not the other way around. I originally just asked if I could hang some flyers up in their front office and it went from there.
So no, I highly doubt that the teachers will be angry, at least not at me. |
Mindpro Eternal Order 10587 Posts |
I see, that makes more sense, I understand now. I was imagining a different scenario.
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Pedranti Magic New user California 23 Posts |
Once again I apologize for the misunderstandings. I will word my post better next time as to not have this confusion.
Thanks All! |
A Show By Joe Elite user Long Island 405 Posts |
I would go with a cut and restore rope routine, and maybe a sucker trick like the Die Box, or Hippity-Hop Rabbits.
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