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Alyx New user 87 Posts |
When I think of a closer, I think of something with big impact which provides the spectator with a great, memorable story to tell. I.e. the lemons at the end of cups and balls, the revelation of a card to an impossible location after a card routine, etc.
Now I'm trying to develop multiple strolling sets with very minimal pocket space, and it's challenging for me to settle on material that fits my criteria. So, I'm wondering, what is your criteria? And what do you think about Pop Haydn's Multiple Peaked Cards to Pocket as a potential closer (when the whole deck goes to pocket)? I've been playing with some of the sleights that I've heard are in this routine, and I'm thinking about buying this IF I can justify it as a closer...Thoughts? |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
A closer for a strolling set where you are simply ambiance as opposed to where you are an expected event will be very different and have different requirements.
In the case of strolling you might not need to be remembered at all. You may be nothing more than a pleasant diversion so in that case maybe less is more. Minimal pocket space is easy. Cards and coins and not much more is necessary. I certainly think it can be a closer yes.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
Alyx New user 87 Posts |
Yeah, cards and coins is pretty much what I'm limiting myself to. So what are the different requirements? Is it simply to draw the set to a logical conclusion, tying everything together?
And isn't being memorable important for on the job marketing and also feedback to the client? Can you help me to more fully see this perspective of not needing to be memorable? And thank you so much for weighing in. You've got my thinking wheels turning. |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
The idea that we always have ti be X is very limiting. Quite often it is about a product release or any number of a thousand things that you do NOT want to overshadow. You need to know what is being asked of you at these events. If they want you to shine then be the brightest penny you can. But if you are meant to be background, then if you are giving the client what they are paying for be the best background you can.
Ambiance bands never rock the room.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
davidpaul$ Inner circle Georgetown, South Carolina 3086 Posts |
Quote:
On Feb 14, 2019, Alyx wrote: Yes, I feel you should be memorable at least to the extent that your spectators ENJOYED YOU!! I find it an important requirement to involve my audience on a level that is important to THEM. I learned to draw a simple cartoon character of a dog,cat etc, and ask if anyone has a pet at home. They pick a card and write their pets name on the face. In the course of the routine I draw the cartoon dog/cat on the back of an indifferent card and the cartoon card finds and becomes the card they chose for their pet previously. (Lots of fun byplay going on) All this is to say is that they care about the card effect because they care about their pet. They have a vested interest. Another quick example regarding a coin routine. I buy cheap wands from Oriental Trading Co. On line. I give one to a spectator and they make coins appear, dissappear, Travel to my lapel and then a giant coin appears. They make the magic happen. They love using the wand. There are so many ways to involve the spectators as opposed to just performing routines. It's about relationship with the audience. You want your clients to be pleased and possibly utilize your services again as well as recommend you ( as you stated) I've been blessed to have performed weekly in restaurants well into my 17th consecutive year. It's all about relationship. Have fun!!!!
Guilt will betray you before technique betrays you!
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Mary Mowder Inner circle Sacramento / Elk Grove, CA 3659 Posts |
Tricks with cash, rubber bands or ring and ribbon can add variety to your sets.
Gypsy thread set up on you business card can make a great closer. Having a variety of objects can help with some people who either don't like cards or think all card tricks are the same. It really differentiates you from other Close- Up Magicians at events where more than one Magician is working. I love cards and I do my fair share of card tricks. My strongest tricks involve the audience. I can do some good flourishes like one handed shuffles and blind cuts and Sybli type stuff. They impress but "Find your Friends Card" or Spell the name of a good influence in your life to find a chosen card are more memorable for the audience. Both have made a good closer. I save the "Good Influence" for events where the focus is more on me and the Magic. -Mary Mowder |
Alyx New user 87 Posts |
Davidpaul$ and Mary, thank you for sharing tidbits of your working repertoires. I appreciate the good food for thought!
And, Mary, I apologize if I'm being daft, but what do you mean by "Good Influence?" |
warren Inner circle uk 4138 Posts |
I think it depends on the environment ie if its a one off type performance then it's nice to have a strong and obvious closer which is quite a simple matter however if your working in a restaurant where you perform for the same repeat customers then it can be more difficult, a simple solution is to use patter in order to let your audience know that the next effect will be your last I usually do this with a light hearted joke.
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Gerald Deutsch Special user 526 Posts |
A Perverse Magic ending where the magician is as or more surprised than the audience would be good as the audience will remember that and not think of the magician as a "show off".
A card routine can be ended by the magician surprised to find that he (or better, a member of the audience) was sitting on the selected card. A vanished coin can be found under a spectator's napkin. |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
I never understood being surprised by the ending. You do all the cool magic and suddenly you are an idiot and don't know what is happening?
Cardini did the whole show that way so it made sense. But to just suddenly pivot to they style always seems so forced to me.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
Gerald Deutsch Special user 526 Posts |
Quote:
On Feb 16, 2019, Dannydoyle wrote: I disagree that Perverse Magic performed without "the whole show that way" results in "suddenly you are an idiot". Roy Benson did an amazing billiard ball act using white 2 inch balls when suddenly as white balls were appearing a red ball appeared. Benson was surprised and confused and looked in a book. And then went on with his magic with the balls. He did not do "the whole show that way". (That act was one of the factors that turned me on to Perverse Magic.) |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Well if the red balls appear and he doesn't know why, and had to look in a book to figure out why doesn't that seem to make him an idiot? Isn't that the premise we are asked to buy into? He has no clue how this thing happened, even though he had to obviously load the balls.
The very essence of what you are describing IS the suddenly we need to believe he is an idiot. It can't be denied. Now you can be entertained by this. I have no problem with that. I am totally in agreement that it can be pulled off in an entertaining fashion. But the premise is still the same.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
Gerald Deutsch Special user 526 Posts |
With Perverse Magic a magician can be surprised or even confused but that doesn't "make him an idiot".
In my view a magician need not be a person with a superior intellect but merely a pleasant person that entertains his audience. And he can be subject to being surprised and fooled - as long as what he does is entertaining so the audience is pleased. That's what he's there for - to entertain and please his audience. |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Did you think I disputed that? Who said a magician has to be of superior intellect? Please don't put that on me as I never said that.
Regardless of anything if the performer is surprised or fooled by a trick they are doing the audience must believe they are an idiot. Sorry that you can not manage to see it but it is sort of the same thing as is a ventriloquist believed the dummy was really talking. You can't be a mark for your own gimmic. It is ridiculous. The audience is REALLY supposed to believe that you have no idea how or why something is happening? In my view that underestimates the audience just a bit. I agree about being pleasant, about not being superior and all that. But to think they believe totally you are fooled by your own magic is a bit much.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
Mary Mowder Inner circle Sacramento / Elk Grove, CA 3659 Posts |
By "Good Influence" I meant a card trick I mentioned (but did not clearly describe) where the Spectator finds a chosen and shuffled in card by spelling out the name of a person who was a GOOD INFLUENCE in their life, one card at a time.. It is done with a control to the top, false shuffle and a reverse count. It is very easy to do but if performed correctly should not be followed by another trick.
-Mary Mowder |
Alyx New user 87 Posts |
Oh, thanks, Mary! I adore spelling tricks. It's always fun to see what others are doing with them.
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warren Inner circle uk 4138 Posts |
As Mary quite rightly said involving the spectators name definitely elevates the effect, personally after the reverse count I would add another false shuffle that way it makes it almost impossible to back track the effect.
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Ken Northridge Inner circle Atlantic City, NJ 2392 Posts |
This is the formula I like to follow, if possible, when table hopping at restaurants. (Please note: This for table hopping. I have very little experience at strolling magic.)
1. Something visual and quick with bonus points for being funny. 2. A good solid routine with audience participation. 3. Something truly amazing. 4. If food has not arrived yet I love to throw in a quick funny gag. It doesn’t have to all that magical, just a bonus laugh. For example, I have the Card Now app for my iphone which turns a picture of my business card into a real business card. Its not too difficult to figure out how its done but it always gets a laugh and allows me to leave my ‘magical’ business card with them. Besides, I just proved with #3 that I’m truly amazing, no need to rub it in their face. I'd rather leave them with a smile on their face.
"Love is the real magic." -Doug Henning
www.KenNorthridge.com |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Table hoppers & party strollers » » Your requirements for a table-hopping or strolling closer? (4 Likes) |
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