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mike bonfield Regular user 183 Posts |
What's you opening trick on the street
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ROBERT BLAKE Inner circle 1472 Posts |
Being ME!
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KC Cameron Inner circle Raleigh, North Carolina 1944 Posts |
Mike,
What Robert (I believe) is saying, is that your show should not be about tricks so much as developing a rapport with the audience. For me, there are a lot of variables. How big is the crowd starting out? 1-5, 6-15, bigger? Also, what is your crowd's age and social grouping? Most of my crowds are parents with young kids, so doing something the adults will enjoy and so will the kids. If it is just a few people, I may start out with some close-up. A ribbon and TT if I have 3 or more families. If a crowd forms quickly, I may go into something that plays a little larger. All in all, the trick is not what matters, it is the presentation of your personality. For me, a corn chip is a delivery mechanism for salsa. Tricks are your delivery mechanism, you are the salsa. |
Yellowcustard Inner circle New Zealand 1334 Posts |
Multiply bananas to get people attention and it repeatable. Then a bit of messing about and chat and into sponge balls. The theory be-hide this is to do something that is fun and kind of magical and stops pepole. Then to do something small and intamte to pull people in and connect with a crowd. And using a young child just helps with all that.
Not to repeat what has been said, but its not the tricks its you and what you achieve with them. Hope this helps have fun
Enjoy your magic,
and let others enjoy it as well! |
troppobob Veteran user Crescent Head Australia 372 Posts |
G'day Mike
Yes I reckon - also - that the opening of my street performance should be an opportunity to present my self (my character)to the audience in a way that will get them to stop and be amazed. My opening effects include a flexible combination of quick effects that have proven to do just that and include: * TT and hanky * Silk to cane (fantasio plastic version) * Rubix cube (Daryl) * and following these Daryl's "Photograhic Deck" where the cards go from normal cards to all blank and back to normal. With the exception of the silk to cane they all reset with no real drama and I am ready to go again. Do you have some suggestions yourself????? Bob Latta (aka Troppo Bob) |
ROBERT BLAKE Inner circle 1472 Posts |
First YOU learn to get a crowd. then do tricks. it is easy with tricks but you will be halfway through your material when you have a decent crowd. so people see just a small part of the show. With ME I mean that YOU have to be there YOU have to connect with the crowd. as an excersize just stand in the street and talk to people. if you can do that with easy and no sweat make it interesting for them then show a trick.
you have to have a "programm" when you build your edge. most magicians prepare thier tricks and want to know what trick should I do? the moment you are on the pitch the show is started. put your bag down in a specific place - ask people it it is ok - connnect - set up your table - walk around and look from a disctance to see if it is ok. ask people questions - tell them the show will start in a moment. MAKE THEM CURIOUS FOR YOU! use rope to make a circle - ask children to help and hold the rope. use chalk to make a line - invite people to the line. introduce yourself and explain the show: ï do comedy - magic - dangeroius trick and this women is going to strip!? just joking. be at ease. HAVE FUN! |
mike bonfield Regular user 183 Posts |
Quote: Thank you mike
On Apr 15, 2014, ROBERT BLAKE wrote: |
ROBERT BLAKE Inner circle 1472 Posts |
If I need more time to build id do the STIFF ROPE trick. I ask a child to come up. giver her the rope in one hand and with the other hand she/he has to make a magical pass over the rope. I say:"practice that, for thirty minutes". so I leave the child and practice. now people want to see what will happen. I now make my chalk line and invite the people up to the line. I go back to the child. take the rope and let her/him hold it (in stiff possition)in the middle. I will hold the ends. she/ makes a magical pass. I let go of the ends and the rope is STIFF. I take over the stiff rope and let her/him blow on the end and the rope becomes un-stiff (not sure if this is correct english). the I ask applaus for the child. this can be quick or be longer. very flexible. why does it work? because people are interested in people / child and what will happen.
I do this in my build up. the trick is at the end of the build up. then the show starts. |
Yellowcustard Inner circle New Zealand 1334 Posts |
Quote:
On Apr 23, 2014, ROBERT BLAKE wrote: Is it wrong I want to run out and buy a stiff rope now? A great simple routine.
Enjoy your magic,
and let others enjoy it as well! |
ROBERT BLAKE Inner circle 1472 Posts |
No, yellowcustard. that is why I share it. so you can see how a simple trick can work wonders for you. understand why it works. first get a crowd. then use this to make it bigger. I have done it in christchurch in 2005. world busking festival. this trick saved my life many times. people are interested in people.
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MagiUlysses Special user Kansas City 504 Posts |
Greetings and Salutations,
I don't do it as much any more, but Robert's stiff rope trick brought my Red Line of Death bit to mind. I use a red foam-core rope to mark off my "stage." When I'm looking to build my tip, I find the first likely person, but usually a couple, family, or group, and talk them into holding the rope. I tell 'em I'm going to perform a really great trick with the rope ... and I just need a few more people. I'll go with 13 (a baker's dozen), but my rope can easily be held by 18 or so people. When I have my group, formed into a nice semi-circle, I instruct the group to slowly and carefully put "The Red Line of Death" down at their feet, and thank them genuinely for helping me perform a great magic trick with a piece of rope and 13 (or whatever the number) of volunteers, who I have magically transformed into my audience. It has never failed to get a laugh, the "crowd" begets a crowd, and I'm off and running. Now that I've reminded myself, I'm going to add it back in. I'm not sure why I stopped using it regularly. But, I tend to use some bit for a while and then change up to something else (mostly just to see what else will work). That being said, burn up a bit and not a trick to build your audience. You want your audience to see your whole show as they'll be more inclined to toss a full measure into your hat. Just my humble $.02 (USD) worth. YMMV. Joe Zeman aka The Mage Ulysses |
ROBERT BLAKE Inner circle 1472 Posts |
Great bit Joe. again personality and building your crowd. very nice.
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gallagher Inner circle 1168 Posts |
My Lady and I set a different trap.
We set up a bit slow,.. but consequent. ,ignoring on-lookers, as much as possible. (nothing is more seductive!) When all is set, we go into an interaction, with each other,.. again, ignoring on-lookers. We've found, by not committing ourselves to them,.. WE feel safe. And, by not 'committing'. them to us,.. THEY feel safe. Still,.. we're giving them 'show'. Often, my Lady cleans her space,.. I drink some h2o,.. and start complaining,.. to her. ("Stop a child, and you stop the world",.. who then watches you play with children... "Start an argument,.. and you start REAL interest!) From here, we go into our best number. Really,.. the piece that offers the most octain for dollar. Fast paced. To the point. Easy to watch,.. non-threatening. (in the moment, it's a Flip Stick Routine,. with some Silk 'stuff'.,.. working in unisence.) Entertaining. Visual. ,kinda magical,... she fools me all the time! Then, we reel 'em in. Simply by taking the applause,.. kind of 'demanding',.. 'expecting' an applause. (when nö applause comes,.. we've again got something to work with,... her fault(!) naturally,... conflict.) It usually works,.. when not,.. we run the bait for three effects,. if we don't hook an audience,.. we smile,.. tear it down,.. I start analyzing what SHE did wrong,.. go drink a coffee,.. sit in a Café,.. look at the folks who were all too stupid to watch a good Show,.. complain,. grumble,... maybe steal a spoon,.. then go out and do it again,.. hoping this time,.. the audience is a bit smarter,. and my Lady has her head straight. got to go, thanks for the ear,.. give it easy boys, Gallagher. |
Nick W Special user 515 Posts |
We never open a show with a trick...show opens with the performer. as Mr. Blake said....
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James_Kelsey New user 72 Posts |
The UFO floating card to music.
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Yehoshua Regular user Turnersville, NJ 159 Posts |
Quote:
On Feb 15, 2015, James_Kelsey wrote: Can't say I'm a fan of floating cards (or anything light weight) outdoors. Wind, even a gentle breeze, usually ends up causing it to flutter all over the place. Not to mention changing lighting as the sun shifts, breakage occasionally, etc. That being said, it certainly DOES get a few onlookers to stop and see the show, very quickly I might add. I, myself, use spongeballs to open my street shows almost every time. My friends told me I was crazy, lol, but it works! I am dressed with sequins, so I already stand out. They see me setting up, and they stop to ask what I do. As I talk to them, more people get curious. Then I extend a spongeball to a passerby. "Oh, can ya hold on to this for me?" or "Oh, you there. Here, catch!" And do a vanish. Usually that's enough to get even the "too-tough-for-a-magic-show" guys to spin around. "wait, what the f----?!?! Dude, do that again!" Then I go into a full routine, build crowd, and end it (hat 'em!). 1-2-3. It's all about talkin' with the crowds and building report. I tease with a bit of magic here and there, LOTS of humor, and end it with something fast and unexpected! Tricks are like the outfit on a clown. Anyone can put on a big red nose, squeaky shoes, and some colorful makeup. But they aren't gonna stop anyone if they aren't -entertaining-! Anyways, I'm rambling, lol. It's 1am and I need sleep. Best of luck to ya! -Bersteker, The Magic Man! |
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