|
|
Go to page [Previous] 1~2~3 [Next] | ||||||||||
Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
RC!
You're most welcome! I'm sure that Danny and Mindpro join me in appreciating your appreciation. Too often, some guy will come on here with a question, and a few of us old geezers will take time to help, using our experience and knowledge. Then the "OP" will fade away, without even a thank you. Over the years, I have served as a consultant to a number of young men. It has been a real joy to see them succeed. I'll PM you about the book. --I didn't mean to "pitch" the thing, but, since you're doing schools, I thought that you might find something of value in it.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
|
|||||||||
Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Quote:
On Feb 9, 2016, BrianMillerMagic wrote: The EXCEPTION PROVES THE RULE! --and, the situation you mention certainly is an exception!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
|
|||||||||
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
It is nice to see someone asking and then listening.
Ya I am confused as to why anyone would dispute something based on thousands and thousands of shows based on one anecdotal experience.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
|||||||||
Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
Quote:
On Feb 9, 2016, RC wrote: You will not receive an single thought out of this, RC. Some will prefer one way, some will perform the other. It all comes down to "It depends." What makes the entertainer give a better presentation. I have had different choices out my 40 years of entertaining crowds of all sizes. Put two and two together. For example: 1. What size are your props. 2. How much echo there is inside the gym. 3. How many volunteers will be needed. 4. The type of sound system you will be using. 5. The quantity of the audience. 6. How much available space there is on stage for you to perform. 7. What art of performance the entertainer is going to do. When I have a choice at performing in a gym or on stage at a school I always look at both and put all of what I listed above together. Some times the gym outweighs the stage and sometimes vice versa. |
|||||||||
RC Regular user 111 Posts |
I'll keep that check-list in mind, Dynamike. Considering all the variables, hopefully I don't make too many wrong decisions & am able to at least pull the show off when I do. And Dick, I'd be honored to own a book written by someone who's had a long & dedicated career in magic. As far as advice from old geezers go, I know when I perform I'm "standing on the shoulders of giants," and it's a cool feeling knowing everyone here is part of that.
|
|||||||||
BrianMillerMagic Inner circle CT 2050 Posts |
Quote:
On Feb 9, 2016, Dick Oslund wrote: It certainly was! Crazy experience. Danny - the tone of my initial comment was lost through the magic of typing. I was just pitching in with a "crazy exception" story for good measure. Not to be taken too seriously. Of course it is generally true that the closer the front row is to the stage, the better the performance goes. |
|||||||||
danfreed Inner circle West Chester PA 1354 Posts |
I don't do many school shows but often perform at schools for summer camps etc, but when I have a choice of a stage or just being on the floor, I usually choose the floor. Being on a stage often means I'm too far from the front row, and often means the front 1/3 or whatever will be looking up at an uncomfortable angle. For smaller groups, on occasion, I brought the kids up on the stage with me because it was the best solution. I try to find out in advance what the performance sitution is, and tell them what I prefer, but often they don't give me a good description, or don't even know anyway. I also prefer the group isn't spread out wide, it's better for angles for them to be deeper, cause if they are too wide I have to get farther back or the people on the sides don't see well (or I have to awkwardly present the tricks by moving things around to show from side to side - that's not ideal). I really should bring cones for that purpose cause trying to get people to move around once they are seated is tough. Emailing a description of the ideal set-up with a photo or drawing would help sometimes, descibing what to do and not do (such as audience not facing windows).
Dan Freed
AKA The Amazing Spaghetti https://www.magiciandanfreed.com/birthday-party-magician-for-kids http://thecaricatureartist.com http://danieljayfreed.com |
|||||||||
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Quote:
On Feb 12, 2016, BrianMillerMagic wrote: Yes the tone of "I'd like to dispute this "fact" was lost I must admit.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
|||||||||
Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Brian just PM'd me, and explained! Yes! "cold type" can certainly cause confusion!
Remember the old: "A DIPLOMAT can tell you to 'go to hell', and, make you look forward to the trip!" ??? heehee I was usually the (unofficial) "patch" on Franzen Bros. Circus!!!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
|
|||||||||
Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
I started to add a few more "horror stories", but the computer burped, and they went into cyber space.
Hekk! They are all in the book anyway...
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
|
|||||||||
Mindpro Eternal Order 10587 Posts |
Quote:
On Feb 12, 2016, BrianMillerMagic wrote: To expand on Brian's and Dan's posts, "generally" may be the key word here. This is spoken like true magicians, lol. Dick's perspective is more for overall entertainers and theatrical dynamics. As I've said performance dynamics can be one of the most importat and key elements to the success of a performance. For magic and say, comedy clubs, close is good. But in my hypnosis show for example, it can be disaster and ruin the show. When I'm doing an induction where I need my subjects to clear their mind and focus on what I'm saying to them, any talking, giggling, chuckling or expressions heard from the audience can literally prevent them from being induced. So for me I require at least 15 feet in front between the front of the stage and the first row of the audience. I also know that as my show progresses on, that the audience will be on their feet and remain that way until the end of the show. So for me and this show, proper distance is imparative and since I know they'll be standing for 70% of my show, the stage is always preferred. It does depends on the specif type of performance, venue and required performance dynamics. I disagree with the sentiment "you will not get a single thought out of this." I think any performer does have a single thought or preference based on their required performance dynamics. Can it be done in a less than preferred environment, sure, of course, (bit that wasn't the question) but any decent performer with even minimal experience knows exactly what is required and what they need for their performance. While it may not be the same for all of us, we should know. |
|||||||||
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Wow see I WANT them as close as possible to my hypnosis show. Maybe it is my comedy club up bringing but the closer the better. Generally you can see expressions better the closer you are. My show is all about seeing the people in it so be close.
I have had VERY little trouble with people talking too much through the inductions, and I just turn up the stage monitors to compensate. I also tell them they hear those sounds anyhow so no biggie. What it comes to, and Brian's story as well as Dicks horror stories and mindpros difference with me on close to a hypnosis show is that you do the show in front of you NOT THE SHOW IN YOUR HEAD. In reality whatever you end up with at that time is perfect. Yes adjust later but DO it as is. Which Brian did, and Dick did every time, and mindpro does if they are close and so on. THAT is what being a pro is and Brian doing that show and getting paid and Dicks stories still doing the show and pulling them off is what separates pros from no pros. NO MATTER IF IT IS YOUR SOLE SOURCE OF INCOME OR NOT. Pro being an "attitude" in this case.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
|||||||||
BrianMillerMagic Inner circle CT 2050 Posts |
Quote:
On Feb 12, 2016, Dannydoyle wrote: The show ended up going well - not my finest show ever but certainly not a dud either - but I had to adapt quickly to the situation, both for the sake of my performance and the comfort level of the front row. I physically moved my main table and props table back about 3 feet so that I could separate myself from the front row a bit, and adjusted the angle at which I displayed items to accommodate. I remember having a terrible time my first two years doing college shows, because the environment was always unpredictable, and almost always undesirable. It would throw off my whole show. Rather unprofessional, of course. Eventually it was precisely doing difficult college shows that helped me learn how to adapt to varying environments. I'm not a kids magician, and imagine it must be very difficult to adapt to the varying environments that market presents. |
|||||||||
Mindpro Eternal Order 10587 Posts |
Quote:
On Feb 12, 2016, Dannydoyle wrote: One of the advantages of performing for adult audiences only. Having teens all pumped up on some of the biggest nights of their lives where they feel invincible and extremely wound up is another animal, creating another factor of the dynamics of which I speak. I agree, comedy clubs were all together different. |
|||||||||
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Quote:
On Feb 12, 2016, BrianMillerMagic wrote: See? Pro moves. I agree about kids shows or for that matter one night corporate shows are always different.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
|||||||||
Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
We appear to have a "meeting of the minds"!
Especially do I agree with Danny's note above: "Pro. being a matter of attitude..." YUP! "Professional" is, IMO at least, (and, I suspect for most of us) A MATTER OF ATTITUDE!!! Mindpro's note about "teens pumped up on the biggest night...." AMEN! I've played a "few" of those all night lock ins after the prom! I have a GREAT story; of going with Jay Marshall to fill in for Frank Everhart at the Ivanhoe Restaurant in Chicago for a 2:30 AM after prom party. Jay was a "super pro" that night. Some day when the opportunity arises, I'll share it. Those of you who have done those affairs, will really empathize! I'm not, technically, a 'kid show magician' either. I don't use any of the "standard" kiddie props. Most of my props are generic. I create situations for the audience "out front". The situations are fairly standard. I just use the appropriate vocabulary, and "approach" to the group. Brian...I vividly remember my FIRST COLLEGE SHOW! I was booked for a 90 minute program. I brought in my basic school assembly show in its 13"x20"x8" case, plus the doves (two doves--EIGHT MINUTES!) a few mental bits, and, a strait jacket. It was a full house--about 500. I was opening, at that time with a 6th f*ng*r and an 18" silk prod. It's a nice, quick, visual! I did it, and, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE! They didn't DO ANYTHING! They just stared at me. I thought "@#$#%! They don't like it, and, I have 88 minutes to go!" The silence lasted a good 4 seconds. Then, a young guy in the "back row", yelled< "DAM! I didn't see THAT!" BIG LAUGH...and, BIG APPLAUSE! When the laugh faded, another guy yelled, ""And, you won't either. I saw him in the Caféteria (a promo) and he is GOOD!" I realized that the effect had stunned them! That kid in the back row, unwittingly had perfect timing! --And, the second kid, too! The 88 minutes FLEW BY! ENCORE..."STANDING O"!!! I got back to the motel, and, it took me two hours to get to sleep!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
|
|||||||||
Mindpro Eternal Order 10587 Posts |
Quote:
On Feb 12, 2016, Dick Oslund wrote: I love intelligent "meeting of the minds" among professionals operating at the same levels. It can be so productive and beneficial to all. I still tour every spring and this is the problem I have. I often do two shows a night at two different schools, one at 1:00 a.m. and another at 3:30 or 4:00 a.m. and just like Dick mentioned, following the show(s) the sun is up and it takes a couple of hours to come back down enough to fall asleep even though you are more than tired. I do this for four months straight and still love it after all these years. |
|||||||||
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Some of the first shows I ever did were rocky. I suppose that is true of most if not all.
I was dejected. Long story short I went into work at Magic Inc and Jay Marshall asked about the show. (It was not the best environment, but it was a chance to perform so I took it!) I said to Jay "They were not paying attention, they were loud, not listening, shouting and when they did pay attention it was just to heckle me. What would you have done? He looked at me, smiled that Jay Marshall smile and simple said "About 20 minutes". I will tell you at the time it did NOT help at all. I thought it was sort of a flip answer, but it was not and it was probably close to the best advice I ever received. It was his way of saying "do the show in front of you, not the show in your head". Get on, get on with it, and get out. That was the motto.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
|||||||||
lou serrano Special user Los Angeles, CA 671 Posts |
Quote:
On Feb 12, 2016, Dannydoyle wrote: I've never head it put this way, but yes, that's what a pro does. Lou Serrano |
|||||||||
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Quote:
On Feb 12, 2016, lou serrano wrote: It took me a LONG time to get to it. It is something I tell guys who come to work for us. On the outside working at 5 star resorts seems easy. BUT when you consider that the tech guy may or may not share a language with you, the crews work 14 hour days 6 a week and you are basically 1 hour of that week, the tech itself is not state of the art, rain may have moved the wedding on the beach into your space so now you are moved, and on and on it is not as easy as it seems. Performers have a "show" in their head that is the best they can do. It is the ideal show and it is the best we can do. BUT we as professionals have to deal with shows as they are, as we would like them to be in our heads LOL. I do EVERYTHING I can to hit that show in my head and in reality it is why I choose to do shows where I have the absolute most control possible. Even with all those things I mentioned it is possible to get very close. But when the show starts you do the show that is in front of you. You do the best show for that environment and you do that to the best of your ability. I believe I OWE that to the client. Nobody wants to hear "Oh the tech wasn't working right". They want a show and deserve the best one possible. ALL pros do it to one degree or another. To me it is the essence of the job. It is the crux of what we do and it is the dividing line between pro, and a guy just making a few bucks. AND again I stress by "pro" I mean simply attitude and NOT anything else in this case. It is not derogatory to anyone who works part time.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
|||||||||
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Tricky business » » Gym Floor or Stage (8 Likes) | ||||||||||
Go to page [Previous] 1~2~3 [Next] |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.06 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |