On 2013-12-19 15:49, Dick Oslund wrote:
Dear MichaelCGM!
De gustibus non est disputandum! For those who 'have no Latin' (!) That simply means: CONCERNING TASTE--WE CANNOT ARGUE!

I wrote, in the two posts above, from the experience of an on the road professional with almost 50 years experience playing the U.S. "coast to coast and border to border".

As a young lad, I saw many old time pro's who were performing "Victorian" style magic shows.

C. Thomas Magrum, at one point was carrying two Thayer "Elephant tables, two P&L tables, one custom made ("oversized") card table plus a fish bowl production table. TEN pieces of luggage had to be carried in (sometimes to second floor auditoriums). It required about 45 minutes to set and another 30 minutes to pack. Magrum was a ONE MAN show. By the end of the season, after 400 programs, he was a nervous wreck.

I'll tell the story of 3 magicians, all touring simultaneously for the SOUTEAST SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES, in 1971. in my book. One carried in a VAN LOAD of props, back drops, PA system, plus he and his wife changed into show wardrobe. One carried a sword basket with all props inside. I used a Merv Taylor Suitcase Table, and a dove carrier. WE ALL THREE WERE GETTING THE SAME MONEY!!!

Before I hit the road for my first bureau tour, I had done my homework. I did not operate the way I did FOR MY CONVENIENCE! Over the years, there were innumerble repeat dates. --and many many standing ovations, Standing ovations aren't given by high school students unless they have been entertained.

On 2013-12-20 05:12, Quentin wrote:
I believe Dick meant that he operated to give the best show possible under any circumstances for his convenience and peace of mind. In other words he did his thinking and hard work beforehand.

On 2013-12-18 19:36, MichaelCGM wrote:
My personal perspective is that I'm there to entertain and that everything should be geared to do that, without concern for my convenience, my next show or my prefertence in packing. I used to be part of a rock group in the 70s. I can't imagine planning a show so that I could be partially repacked before the finale. Watching TV, I always see fast-paced shows that are aimed at my entertainment, not their convenience. I notice the same thing in Vegas shows, college shows, even school shows put on by the students. I'm not saying that one is right or wrong for taking the time to put things away as one performs. I'm just saying that, for my show, it's a no-no.

On 2013-12-20 09:15, wwhokie1 wrote:

Quote:

On 2013-12-18 19:36, MichaelCGM wrote:
My personal perspective is that I'm there to entertain and that everything should be geared to do that, without concern for my convenience, my next show or my prefertence in packing. I used to be part of a rock group in the 70s. I can't imagine planning a show so that I could be partially repacked before the finale. Watching TV, I always see fast-paced shows that are aimed at my entertainment, not their convenience. I notice the same thing in Vegas shows, college shows, even school shows put on by the students. I'm not saying that one is right or wrong for taking the time to put things away as one performs. I'm just saying that, for my show, it's a no-no.

Agree completely, don't sacrifice the show for my convenience. I try to figure out how to put things away in such a manner that it makes packing up more convenient, but only if I can do so without effecting the show. I did a show yesterday and accidentally discarded an item on top of something else I needed. Later I had to dig for a couple of seconds to find what I needed. That messed up the flow of the show, and with kids (I had 4 year old to teenagers and a few adults.) you cannot give them a lull or they will fill it. I verbally covered that time, but even a couple of seconds can become a major disruption in the flow of the show. Even a couple of seconds of unnecessary packing can disrupt the show.

On 2013-12-20 09:15, wwhokie1 wrote:

Quote:

On 2013-12-18 19:36, MichaelCGM wrote:
My personal perspective is that I'm there to entertain and that everything should be geared to do that, without concern for my convenience, my next show or my prefertence in packing. I used to be part of a rock group in the 70s. I can't imagine planning a show so that I could be partially repacked before the finale. Watching TV, I always see fast-paced shows that are aimed at my entertainment, not their convenience. I notice the same thing in Vegas shows, college shows, even school shows put on by the students. I'm not saying that one is right or wrong for taking the time to put things away as one performs. I'm just saying that, for my show, it's a no-no.

Agree completely, don't sacrifice the show for my convenience. I try to figure out how to put things away in such a manner that it makes packing up more convenient, but only if I can do so without effecting the show. I did a show yesterday and accidentally discarded an item on top of something else I needed. Later I had to dig for a couple of seconds to find what I needed. That messed up the flow of the show, and with kids (I had 4 year old to teenagers and a few adults.) you cannot give them a lull or they will fill it. I verbally covered that time, but even a couple of seconds can become a major disruption in the flow of the show.

On 2013-12-23 12:37, MichaelCGM wrote:
Hi Dick. I thought there was something that rubbed you the wrong way in my post. I'm glad that it was mostly semantics. I could point out that the PRACTICAL REASONS are based on our CONVENIENCE, but that would still be semantics.

On 2013-12-24 05:48, TonyB2009 wrote:

Quote:

On 2013-12-23 12:37, MichaelCGM wrote:
Hi Dick. I thought there was something that rubbed you the wrong way in my post. I'm glad that it was mostly semantics. I could point out that the PRACTICAL REASONS are based on our CONVENIENCE, but that would still be semantics.

I would respectfully dispute that. For me, at least, packing small and resetting as I go (which basically means the stuff goes back in the right pocket) is all about my image of a magician. We all have our own images of what a magician should be, and my image does not include colourful props, big boxes or livestock. As a child I remember Doug Henning in jeans and a t-shirt, and Paul Daniels standing on a bare stage with a few simple items in his hands. I read about Adam the Simple in The Man Who Was Magic, and Merlin, who certainly used no boxes when he did magic. So the approach is designed to gel with my image of what a magician is, not to help me get ready for repeat shows. The fact that I am ready to walk on as soon as I walk in the door is just a nice side effect.

My image of a ventriloquist is of someone with a number of puppets, and as I get more into that, the show is becoming less convenient for me. But I won't complain because I am still being true to my image of what I should be doing. So it is all about the show, not the convenience.

On 2013-12-24 18:30, TonyB2009 wrote:
...the PRACTICAL REASONS are based on our CONVENIENCE...

That is what I dispute. For some of us at least the decision to travel light is NOT based on practicality and convenience. It is based on philosophy. Everything else you say I have no dispute with.