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SIX Inner circle New York City 1772 Posts |
I was ask to do a show for a 12 year old kid I ask the lady how old are the other kids she said 12-16 what tricks are good for this situation I mentioned closeup and she said no. Any ideas?
Thanks, six |
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p.b.jones Inner circle Milford Haven. Pembrokeshire wales U.K. 2642 Posts |
Yeah, If you don't have an act ... don't do it!
Phillip |
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SIX Inner circle New York City 1772 Posts |
I usaully do a show for younger group I just need some tricks.
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magiker Loyal user Sweden 283 Posts |
Do you do magic for adults?
Rick
Magiker
Believe in the possibility of the impossible |
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SIX Inner circle New York City 1772 Posts |
I do a lot of close up and some stage but I want to do comedy for the kids but nim drawing a blank.
I just got bad news the emailed me that there will also be kids about 8-15 years old please help me. |
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gocall911 Loyal user Salem, VA 247 Posts |
So 8-16? That's a big age gap and a hard group anyway. She does'nt want close up either! I just don't know what to say.
Maybe try combining your acts (see if you can change some of your close up around to work for a larger show). That about the only thing I can think of. Good luck to you! BTW, How much time do you have before this show?
"Use your head." ~Dai Vernon~
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p.b.jones Inner circle Milford Haven. Pembrokeshire wales U.K. 2642 Posts |
I usaully do a show for younger group I just need some tricks.
Hi, Sorry but this means you need an act, If all you are going to do is take several effects that are recommended... great show! (sarcasticaly) |
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Emazdad Inner circle Plymouth UK 1954 Posts |
I wouldn't have taken the booking, The majority of the audience is going to be teens, teens don't see themselves as kids, but more like young adults. That's why those that are brave enough to take such jobs mainly do adult close-up tricks, rather than a 'magic show'. I can't see a group of teenagers sitting for an hour watching a magic show which they may consider a bit lame. if your not used to entertaining this age group and havn't a suitable act they will slaughter you.
The only thing I would have suggested is a bit of close-up but she's elliminated that.
Yours Funfully
Clive "Emazdad" Hemsley www.emazdad.com "Magic is a secret, without the secret there is no magic" Remember there are only 3 types of people in the world, those that can count and those that can't. |
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macmagic Veteran user MA 400 Posts |
My suggestion would be to do some mentalism(check out the Dan Harlan series "pack small play big) there are some really great routines in there that are fairly simple to do but play well.........maybe you could teach them how to do some magic as well! I have been performing for over 15 years and even I would have passed on this show!there are some other routines you may be able to work on depepnding on how much time you have , like a bill in lemon trick...........just please remember treat them like adults. Hey maybe you could talk to the 12 year old boy and find out what he would like to see and then try to accomodate......I just hope you have plenty of time!
Greg
"Its a magic thing...........you wouldn't understand"
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Billy Whizz Special user Plymouth, UK 576 Posts |
Why do people say yes if they haven't got an act. Are they desperate for the money. Why didn't you just say no, and that you don't have the experience to entertain that age group? That would be much more professional than saying yes without an act!!!!!!!
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edfliss New user St. Louis, MO 58 Posts |
Why don't we stop criticizing Six for taking the gig and give some concrete suggestions for putting an act together?
I would go for comedy effects that play to a broad audience. Multiplying Bunnies comes to mind. So does the Vanishing Bandanna (which kills all age groups). I have had success with Chinese Sticks with all age groups (but spring for a good set and have a funny routine--mine are Mikame). Torn and restored newspaper is strong for all ages and if you are good with jumbo cards you might entertain with a six card repeat routine. Yes, you are going to have to put things together into an act and not just a string of tricks. My sons and I are doing a birthday party for about 50 inmates at the St. Louis Juvenile Detention Center. Many of these young people (as young as 10 and as old as 17) have never had a birthday party and have never seen a magician. We are going to do some b-day party classics that might not work for your group (my 9 year old is going to do Forgetful Freddie, my 13 year old is going to do Hippity Hop Rabbits and Vanishing Bandanna, and together we will do a sword box illusion, among other tricks; I will also be doing a Pro Viper II snake basket routine). What tricks do you know? What tricks can you learn quickly? What props can you afford and want to buy? What are you comfortable doing? Do you need 10 3 minute tricks or are your routines elaborate enough for you to do six 5 minute tricks? Can you warm an audience up? This can get a variety of ages onto the same entertainment page. All of these questions will help you put a show together. Ed OOPS! It's an hour long show. So make that 20 3 minute tricks (YIKES!!!!) or 12 five minute tricks. Better plan on a substantial warm up and have an encore. BTW Whenever possible I use torch to rose as an opener. Just walking in with a lit torch and standing silently with live flame is a real attention grabber. The transformation is unexpected and establishes your magical presence. Then, with everone's attention you can go into your warm up (Is there anyone here from Brooklyn? From Iowa?....) Ed |
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p.b.jones Inner circle Milford Haven. Pembrokeshire wales U.K. 2642 Posts |
Why don't we stop criticizing Six for taking the gig and give some concrete suggestions for putting an act together?
Hi, Well it's just that sort of attitude that leads people to jump in and take bookings for things they cannot do. can you imagine a brain surgeon helping me to do a brain op just because I was stupid enough to agree to do it! Phillip |
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edfliss New user St. Louis, MO 58 Posts |
[quote]On 2004-05-12 12:13, p.b.jones wrote:
can you imagine a brain surgeon helping me to do a brain op just because I was stupid enough to agree to do it! Phillip But that is exactly what will happen to you if your surgury is at at teaching hospital. Young and inexperienced interns and residents learn by doing (but under the watchful eye of a mentor). What do they call the person who graduates at the bottom of the medical school class? Doctor. Ed |
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Emazdad Inner circle Plymouth UK 1954 Posts |
<<<<<<<Why don't we stop criticizing Six for taking the gig and give some concrete suggestions for putting an act together? >>>>>
If we don't set our own standards no-one else will. To go out and do a show you are totally ill prepared for is:- 1, when the show goes down the pan it's not good for your own reputation. A good reputation is highly important if you wish to have a successful career in magic. 2, It's not good for magic in general as it puts us all in a bad light. I've heard people before say, I wouldn't book a magician they are a waste of money, I did once and he was rubbish. It's important that the experienced entertainers in the Café pass on to the newcomers the importance of working to a high standard, not only in your magic but also your attitude. If this means critisising a stupid decision then so be it.
Yours Funfully
Clive "Emazdad" Hemsley www.emazdad.com "Magic is a secret, without the secret there is no magic" Remember there are only 3 types of people in the world, those that can count and those that can't. |
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edfliss New user St. Louis, MO 58 Posts |
I agree that we should all hold to a high standard.
As a teacher I have two choices: let my students succeed or fail on their own and simply hand out low or failing grades to the students who do not perform well, or help (or find help) for my less successful students. It is better for everyone when those who need help get it. I recently performed in a gala production of Johann Strauss' operetta Die Fledermaus. It was the debut performance of a new operetta company and was intended as a fund raiser so that there can be a real season next year. The cast put the show together in four 3 hour rehearsals (two of them--orchestra and staging, on the same day). The show was a great success and next year's season has been announced. The point is, that with focused and intense effort great things can be done in a short time. I am not suggesting that Six go out and do a show unprepared. I am suggesting that we help him find effects that he can prepare in a short time so that his show is a success. Ed |
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spatrick Special user Tom Sawyer let me whitewash these 517 Posts |
This just kills me!!
Too often people preach and don't realize where they came from. We profess to be a group, or a society, or a brotherhood, and we come down on a fellow member for making a bad decision. Now, I am not saying that he should have taken the show either but what I am saying is that since he has taken the show lets help him out so that he can save face and not reflect negatively on magic as a whole. My advice is to do an adult style comedy show. Find some routines that are easy to do, that won't insult the intellegence of that age group, and that have a comedic slant to them. Also try to tie in some elements of teen age culture. Take a look at any teen magazine to find out what that age group is into. Play it loose but play it with an adult slant. Some effects that work well are : Vanishing Bandana Mentalism effects (Total Destiny) "In Thier Hands" magic (Sponge Balls) Cut And Restore Rope / Professors Nightmare Card From Impossible Location |
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p.b.jones Inner circle Milford Haven. Pembrokeshire wales U.K. 2642 Posts |
But that is exactly what will happen to you if your surgury is at at teaching hospital. Young and inexperienced interns and residents learn by doing (but under the watchful eye of a mentor).
Hi, not the same thing at all... they have training ext in the field they are not saying "I have to repair a brain next week can anyone tell me the best tools to use and by the way where is the brain" Phillip |
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edfliss New user St. Louis, MO 58 Posts |
Yes, but when you look at how much more art than science there is in something like brain surgury, practice and experience count for much more than classroom study or even cadaver dissection. Surgeons, like magicians, learn by doing.
Are you really a magician if the mirror is your only audience? Our aim should be to entertain, not to amaze, confuse, puzzle or just plain fool an audience. Our aim should not be the development of technique for its own sake. Look! I don't know what Six's capabilities are and neither do you. An entertainer can learn a few tricks and keep an audience amused for an hour. A magician with an endless supply of trick is still not necessarily entertaining (unless, perhaps, he is fooling other magicians). I write a script for each new trick I learn and I write a running script (complete with music and effects cues) for each show. But I build the show around what I know that I can do--or what I can learn in time to put it into the show. If we agree that Six made a mistake in taking the gig can we then also try to help him out of a jam? BTW--Needle through the Balloon plays to a wide variety of ages. I have seen half a classroom of college students hold their hands over their ears as the needle approaches the balloon! Nobody likes to hear a balloon pop. Without giving any secrets away, I do tell my students that this is more of a stunt than a trick; there is no illusion. The needle really does go through the balloon. Ed |
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Emazdad Inner circle Plymouth UK 1954 Posts |
Six, here's some good advice, phone her up and say you can't do it.
<<<I write a script for each new trick I learn and I write a running script (complete with music and effects cues) for each show. But I build the show around what I know that I can do--or what I can learn in time to put it into the show. If we agree that Six made a mistake in taking the gig can we then also try to help him out of a jam? >>>> When I add a new trick to the show I spent weeks working on the mechanics and coming up with the patter and routine then put it in the show, ensuring a brilliant routine follows it in case it bombs out. I normally find that although the kids liked it, it still requires a lot of tweeking It takes ages for a trick to work itself up into a really good routine, sometimes 20-30 performances. After each show it's anylised and bits of business added and removed etc, depending on the kids reactions and interactive comments until it's nearly perfect, (it will never be perfect). The trick is then a permanent part of my arsenal of routines. if I need to put a different show together I can then make it up with known great routines. I don't sit at home write a whole show and go out and perform it. If six puts together a whole show with stuff he has not done before, to an audience which we've all agreed is the hardest to entertain it's not going to do him a lot of good. It's alright for the do-gooders to offer advice on tricks that may work but it's not their reputation that's on the line.
Yours Funfully
Clive "Emazdad" Hemsley www.emazdad.com "Magic is a secret, without the secret there is no magic" Remember there are only 3 types of people in the world, those that can count and those that can't. |
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p.b.jones Inner circle Milford Haven. Pembrokeshire wales U.K. 2642 Posts |
Are you really a magician if the mirror is your only audience? Our aim should be to entertain, not to amaze, confuse, puzzle or just plain fool an audience. Our aim should not be the development of technique for its own sake.
HI, Ok but, making an entertaining act does not consist of buying and performing a series of disjointed effects that you have never performed (even individualy) to a live audience. Yes at some point you have to go for it do some free shows try out the act.. but this does require an act that you have practiced and rehursed Phillip |
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