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KC Cameron Inner circle Raleigh, North Carolina 1944 Posts |
Gary,
One of the things about the internet is it is easy to misinterpret emotions/intentions in forums. I didn't feel judged, just misunderstood. I agree with what you said, I just didn't want to get into a right-wrong argument, or LOOK like that is what I wanted. I don't think costumes as a group are wrong. .. or right. They have their drawbacks, and some advantages. As you can see, I can talk on both sides of the point. Just for me, personally, when I tally up all the pros and cons, the cons win - for me. I was wondering what others thought. BTW, I do think "just underwear" is nearly always a bad idea . . . Then again Captain Underpants is a popular character! I would not want to be the one who tested the idea. |
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Payne Inner circle Seattle 4571 Posts |
Quote:
On 2013-06-17 02:39, KC Cameron wrote: I have an odd effect on many children. They will stare at me in fascination. Not exactly sure why. But it is a very common occurrence for me to have toddlers and young children to keep looking my way at restaurants and other public spaces. Quote:
The outfit that I am wearing in my avatar is not one of my performance togs. It is from the Hugo award winning graphic novel I appear in called Girl Genius. My usual choice of outfits are far more subdued and nearly all historically based and look like these Quote:
Sure, I have wary and shy kids from time to time. But I've never had the screaming terrified kids you often see when approached by clowns or forced to see Santa. Which is what I thought we were talking about.
"America's Foremost Satirical Magician" -- Jeff McBride.
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KC Cameron Inner circle Raleigh, North Carolina 1944 Posts |
Payne,
As I suspected we were defining things differently. My mind works a bit differently so I sometimes have a difficult time explaining things on line. Well, I think "circus clown" garb is one extreme end of the spectrum . . . which is why I used it. As for Santa, kids all know about Santa, but sometimes they go crazy when put on his lap. I saw (and experienced with my son) the same reaction with some kids to a life-size Spongebob, whom children adore and watch daily. . . In our shows, we are not immediately putting kids on our laps, so we don't get that reaction. The children get a chance to warm up to us, and realize there is nothing to worry about. Kids are told to be wary of strangers too. Strange garb and stranger . . . it is this initial wariness we must overcome with some children. Is a costume worth it?? Why? I certainly think it can be, but I don't think it is a given. When I think about it, if I saw someone on the street dressed in my pirate costume, unless I was in a Renfaire, I would be a bit wary that the guy would be a nut job too. I use to enjoy watching and interacting with people who were trying their best to be polite and not stare when I was in costume at a store . . . BTW your costumes are great, and give an entirely different feel than the avatar. |
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Greensboro New user 73 Posts |
Magician "A" in a clown costume may scare the daylights out of kids, while Magician "B" in a clown costume isn't seen as threatening at all. Your stature, your looks, your grooming and your demeanor will all play a part in how you are perceived. Not to mention the age, mood, and attitudes of the particular group of kids you are entertaining. I suspect anyone in the business awhile has struggled with the issue and that we've all got a few publicity shots from years back that we'd rather keep hidden. I view magician/clown costumes a lot like tattoos, in that I've seen a few that enhance the subject's appearance while the overwhelming majority do not. Fortunately, it's a lot easier to change a costume.
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TonyB2009 Inner circle 5006 Posts |
Quote:
On 2013-06-17 21:37, Al Angello wrote: I don't disagree, Al. But I am an ugly guy with a big booming voice, so I fail that first small test anyway. I pass the big test - the kids laugh for an hour. Only one of my competitors even comes close to that. I do try to remember my costume, and it is probably less than one show in two hundred that I forget. But it doesn't bother me when I do. There have been a few occasions - admittedly quite rare - when I remembered the costume, but forgot the magic! That is a slightly bigger problem, but I have always managed to cobble together a show, and the client has never known.
Check out Tony's new thriller Dead or Alive http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alive-Varrick-Bo......n+carson
http://www.PartyMagic.ie |
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The Great Zucchini Inner circle 1347 Posts |
Yea, I go for comfort-I don't wear shoes, perform in socks. I actually wore a vest years ago, then had same revelation that told me, I can wear what I want, as long as they are entertained. If I wear a nice shirt, I've actually had parents ask me what happened to my T-shirt. You can brand yourself in anything.
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harris Inner circle Harris Deutsch 8812 Posts |
I come in wearing neutral well dressed clothes.
My wife helps me match the colors. I choose to wear a tie, so I can do a bit with it in the show. I also have a tie as a strap for my ukulele. After a few bits with the uke and the tie strap, I mistakenly try to use the tie around my neck as the uke strap. I also choose to create characters, by adding a hat, scarf, vest, coat, glasses and as the King of Siam said...Etc..Etc....Etc... With the add on's, I also use variation in accent, tempo, movement to add to the characters. Pat Fraleys, best cartoon voices stolen out of Hollywood, was a great find for this theatre oriented magician. Be safe, well and creative. Harris
Harris Deutsch aka dr laugh
drlaugh4u@gmail.com music, magic and marvelous toys http://magician.org/member/drlaugh4u |
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Mike Maturen Inner circle Michigan's Beautiful Sunrise Side 2726 Posts |
Sounds fun, Harris!
In my stage show, I generally wear a classic black tuxedo (no tails). I am thinking about jazzing it up a bit with some sequins, perhaps on the lapel. For my kids shows, I usually wear black dress slacks with a long sleeve white or colored t-shirt. Over this, I wear a vest that matches what is shown in my avatar.
Mike Maturen
World of Wonder Entertainment The Magic and Mayhem of Mike Maturen 989-335-1661 mikematuren@gmail.com AUTHOR OF "A NEW DAWN--Weekly Wisdom From Everyday Life" member: International Magician's Society |
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harris Inner circle Harris Deutsch 8812 Posts |
Does anyone use 2 different shoes, or two different socks in their dress/costume?
Harris Deutsch aka dr laugh
drlaugh4u@gmail.com music, magic and marvelous toys http://magician.org/member/drlaugh4u |
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TonyB2009 Inner circle 5006 Posts |
Quote:
On 2013-06-20 10:41, Harris wrote: Always. One red show, one green, and different coloured socks. It is the same with my adult work. Nice suit, different coloured shoes.
Check out Tony's new thriller Dead or Alive http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alive-Varrick-Bo......n+carson
http://www.PartyMagic.ie |
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harris Inner circle Harris Deutsch 8812 Posts |
First time I did the shoe bit, was by accident.
There I was in front of a group of men in a maximum security prison. I worked there as a primary counselor, not on work release. That morning I thought I put on my black shoes. I did have two black shoes on, but found out the were "sleightly different". As Maxwell Smart said, "missed it by that much". I noticed laughter and the men pointing down at my shows. Finally I asked and was told the "soul-full" truth. For the rest of the time I worked their, I was nick-named, two shoe Deutsch. Side note, when I left, an inmate told me, Mr. Deutsch, of all the counselors I have had, you are... .... .... .... the strangest. Harris aka dr. laugh
Harris Deutsch aka dr laugh
drlaugh4u@gmail.com music, magic and marvelous toys http://magician.org/member/drlaugh4u |
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TonyB2009 Inner circle 5006 Posts |
I was walking through a shop and I saw a pair of red shoes and a pair of green shoes, and straight away I knew I would buy both and wear one red, one green. I wear those for performing and for walking about. Very happy with them.
Check out Tony's new thriller Dead or Alive http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alive-Varrick-Bo......n+carson
http://www.PartyMagic.ie |
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Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
Quote:
On 2013-06-16 23:31, danfreed wrote: Yep, same here. That is why I became a clown a few years ago. I was doing magic for more than 25 years, next the economy went bad. Since my bookings went down, I had spare time to be someone else that was requested alot, a clown. I was already doing face painting and balloons for many years. I started being a clown with lower prices compared to my magic shows. After about a year, I could not take those lower prices anymore. I brought my clown show prices up to match my magic show prices. When in clown outfit I am doing the exact same thing as my regular magic act. I am the most expensive clown in my area. But I tell my prospects they are getting a clown and a magician combined. To help close the sell I tell them Dynamo the Clown is the number one clown that does magic tricks. I also include he uses live animals. Since I hate putting on the make-up, I should charge more to be a clown. When I receive a call for a clown, I sometimes try to persuade the customers the get the magician instead because the clown can scare kids. I really just don't like setting time to put on a clown outfit. My booking went down this year in May. I now see why. There is a female who started clowning a few years ago. When she goes thru her agent, the clients pay $150 to have the clown for two hours. The clown is actually getting only $100 in her pocket. She called me to introduce herself, requesting I be her agent too. |
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charliecheckers Inner circle 1969 Posts |
Quote:
On 2013-06-18 08:51, KC Cameron wrote: This is probably the best explanation why we chose to wear costumes. It was also much easier to create our characters. Knowing what I do now, I probably would have opted not to wear costumes (especially a clown - because of the time necessary to dress). Seeing The Great Zucchini pull off wearing plain clothes (socks and all) is something to behold. I do think to pull it off successfully (not wearing a costumes) is a lot harder than it looks. |
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