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wizardpa Inner circle The New Orleans area 1011 Posts |
I'm THINKING about working at a Renaissance festival dressed as a wizard and having a dragon puppet as my pet. I'm also a ventriloquist.
I'm also thinking about performing magic as well and I'm racking my brain wondering what magic tricks would Merlin be performing. Any Ideas? |
Robin4Kids Veteran user Lower Alabama 396 Posts |
You didn't mention it, but performing from a stage or strolling could make a big difference in some of the props you may want to use. Also knowing what type of audience you would be entertaining (children's stage, mixed, mostly adults, etc.) would help those making suggestions. Of course, the obvious is to avoid using any modern props. I would think some levitation tricks (crystal ball zombie) rings, cups and balls or some silk magic could be appropriate.
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bowers Inner circle Oakboro N.C. 7024 Posts |
Rope magic would also suit the time period.
Todd |
curtgunz Special user Only 99% of users have more than 784 Posts |
Bill Palmer was Merlin at the Texas Renaissance Festival for MANY decades.
He's an active member of the Café. You might want to send him a private message. If anyone knows about this subject; it is Bill.
Click for Free Resources for Performers
YouTube channel specifically for family & kids show magicians. Click -- You need to subscribe. |
wizardpa Inner circle The New Orleans area 1011 Posts |
I'm pretty sure the audience would be mixed. As far as strolling or stage, I think that would be up to me.
I myself would prefer stage, but most of my props would look too modern, so I'm leaning towards strolling. I'm even thinking of having my dragon doing mentalism. This is a picture of my Dragon. Of course I do not have my wizard costume on. |
gomerel Elite user 458 Posts |
Take a look at this current thread http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......orum=242
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gomerel Elite user 458 Posts |
Take a look at this current thread http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......orum=242
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The Mighty Fool Inner circle I feel like a big-top tent having 2140 Posts |
OK, that dragons just a tad on the scary side, but I guess a puppet projects whatever the puppeteer wants it to. Your biggest obstacle in doing this strolling act is that one hand will always be taken. Is there a hole in the dragon's mouth? If so, you can do the 'eating' jokes where you hand the dragon something to hold in his mouth (a silk / balloon / etc.) and he eats it as the kids frantically shout to tell you, but you don't notice.
You can also perform the repeating sponge trick made famous by Practical-Magic's sheepdog puppet. You place a large sponge on the table, and while you talk to the kids the dragon grabs it in his mouth. You act all puzzled as to where the ball has gone, the kids tell you, and you wrench the ball from the dragon's mouth, putting it in your pocket, and as soon as you do so, the dragon turns toward the kids and opens his mouth revealing that the ball has returned. (repeat as needed for laughs) Finally, there's the self-inflating balloon trick which (assuming theres a hole in the back of the puppet's mouth) is both baffling and hilarious. Produce a 360 balloon and attenmpt to inflate it with your mouth, failing. The dragon then says that HE could inflate it, and you reply "If you can blow up this balloon I'll eat my hat!!" Whereupon the dragon grabs the ballon in his mouth, it inflates, and you stand a moment looking at the balloon in confusion...you start to say something but the dragon quickly yanks your hat off your head and shoves it into your mouth!
Everybody wants to beleive.....we just help them along.
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Payne Inner circle Seattle 4571 Posts |
If you're working a faire where they allow you to stroll around dressed as Merlin with a dragon sitting on your arm then I don't really think you need to be at all woriied about the period appropriate nature of the tricks you can perform there
I'd also look into getting a leather gauntlet made as it looks like your dragons talons will go right through that canvas glove in no time A chop cup (or chalice) routine where you keep feeding the ball (or dragon morsel) to the dragon yet it keeps appearing underneath the cup would be a fun bit.
"America's Foremost Satirical Magician" -- Jeff McBride.
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wizardpa Inner circle The New Orleans area 1011 Posts |
Great, Great Ideas Guys!!!!
Thanks! |
wizardpa Inner circle The New Orleans area 1011 Posts |
Oh, one thing I thought that would be funny, depending who the Dragon is talking in front of, is to have in talking in a high squeaky voice.
Other times he might talk in a DEEP mean voice. |
curtgunz Special user Only 99% of users have more than 784 Posts |
Would love to know how you made it. It is amazing.
Think you might want to share anything about how you made it in the "Workshop" section of the Café?
Click for Free Resources for Performers
YouTube channel specifically for family & kids show magicians. Click -- You need to subscribe. |
curtgunz Special user Only 99% of users have more than 784 Posts |
Double post. Sorry. Moderator, please delete this one.
Click for Free Resources for Performers
YouTube channel specifically for family & kids show magicians. Click -- You need to subscribe. |
wizardpa Inner circle The New Orleans area 1011 Posts |
I got my Dragon Puppet from http://www.FrightCatalog.com But, I had to make several improvements. The first one was to put foam inside of his body. Before that, I guess he looked like a 100 pound guy that use to be 400 pounds. Next the head is not attached to the body. That is how it comes, but I did not like that because sometimes my wrist/arm could be seen. I glued fabric to his neck, and then I glued the fabric to his body. This was not easy to do, but it came out great. But still he was lacking something. He had no wings. What true Dragon has no wings. Thanks to the internet and a lot of searching I found a site that sells latex wings, mainly for kids to add to a costume. I got mine from http://www.fullmoonmasks.com
After glueing that to his back, I got RADAMANTUS, my DRAGON. |
Rook Special user I went to the Magic Cafe and all I got were these lousy 834 Posts |
Hrmn...since one hand is going to be occupied by Radamantus' workings (nice job, BTW), you'll need stuff that could be easily done singlehandedly. A lotta chalice might be useful here. A modified miser's dream might work in the name of alchemy, and any automatic onehanded trick wand (perhaps the flash wand?).
You know, it just occurred to me that you could conceivably rig a flashcannon in Rad's mouth to spit fireballs, provided that the combustible bits are clear. -Tom
Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.
-Roald Dahl |
Rook Special user I went to the Magic Cafe and all I got were these lousy 834 Posts |
Hrmn...since one hand is going to be occupied by Radamantus' workings (nice job, BTW), you'll need stuff that could be easily done singlehandedly. A lotta chalice might be useful here. A modified miser's dream might work in the name of alchemy, and any automatic onehanded trick wand (perhaps the flash wand?).
You know, it just occurred to me that you could conceivably rig a flashcannon in Rad's mouth to spit fireballs, provided that the combustible bits are clear. -Tom
Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.
-Roald Dahl |
wizardpa Inner circle The New Orleans area 1011 Posts |
Well I ordered a Large Lota Bowl, a wooden Arm Chopper, a fantastic card sword from http://www.tricksupply.com, and some Alchemy English Bicycle cards to go with it.
These are items I want regardless of whether or not I do the festival. But after I get my picture of myself in my wizard costume with my dragon, I'll send it to the organizers and go from there. |
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