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asimagu New user Spain 11 Posts |
Hi folks
I have recently been contacted by a charity foundation to produce a calendar so they can sell to get some funding. The idea they have in mind is 12 pictures (one per month of the year) with the theme "magic" and it would show one of the people they work with (people with disabilities) and another person or perhaps even myself, one of us performing the magic effect and the other one watching it..... I hope I explained myself well enough. The thing is that I am looking for photo ideas that would have a magical effect. It does not have to be a real magic effect. I wasn't sure if this was the right room to publish this, as this all goes to charity but in the end.... perhaps someone already did something similar somewhere else that could give me a little word of advise many many thanks in advance! So far I have thought of things like this: - the airborne levitation of a glass - the modern art - person cut in half illusion ... .. . Of course I could build some special props too just for this project. In the end it's "magic for a photo" :) |
Julie Inner circle 3936 Posts |
Animals, doves, rabbit's other furry critters are always appealing in pictures: rabbit in hat, dove from anywhere, dog appearance, chicken/colorful parrot production.
Fire to flowers bowl, floating lady (Super-X), Zig-Zag, silk productions, too. Have FUN! Julie |
Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
Did they contact you as the magician only, or to do both magic an photography? Will you have to take multiply retake camera shots. If so are prepared to give several different shows, as the patients most likely will not respond to seeing the same thing a 2nd or 3rd time.
What you want is the person with a happy expression. So you should actually show a magic effect, say a coin vanish and reappearance, if close-up. Hopefully, you can get a shot of the person surprised and happy, with you showing the re-appearance of the coin to them (say behind their ear). It might even be easier to video, then take still shots from the video for the calendar. You did not say if you are the photographer, or there is a camera crew to work with. In the auditorium/theater or in the place of business, one on one, or you presenting a stage show. The important thing is the expression on the faces, and in some cases, the body, hands, arms showing how excited and happy the person(s) is/are. Multiplying sponge rabbit would be good if they can hold them in their fist, and open there fist for the surprise. Again, thinking one on one effect, not a stage show. Sorry, but the magical effect is in the minds of the spectators, it is not possible to capture thoughts though photos, except through expressions and actions. A lot depends on the person's disability they have, or if they can comprehend what they are seeing. This is where the staff can advise you. This sounds like a real task to undertake, and it will be a lot of work, and working with the staff to get the right patients to participate. I hope you are getting paid for all this work. I think you will need a lighting crew to assist you as well. I am sure they want high quality photos, along with great phrase captions. Again, you did not mention what they are considering hiring you to do exactly. Will you be in every shot with the patient or the patient just smiling and laughing. I am assuming you are doing close-up magic on a one to one basis. That is how I see a photo calendar for each month. Trying to come up with 12 effects that get the patient responsive and excited will be a real challenge, but there is 2 solid ideas to get you started if you will be performing close-up. |
Mindpro Eternal Order 10587 Posts |
Funny, I did not or would never have thought about close-up magic as related to the request. I also don't think most lay people do when they think of magic.
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TomBoleware Inner circle Hattiesburg, Ms 3163 Posts |
Not sure if you’re asking for all twelve months or just a couple to include in the project but a few general thought are>
Certainly some magic props would be a good idea. But the word magic can mean more than ‘tricks’ to those outside magic circles. Unless the calendar is being sold to only magicians I would be careful about including all magicians’ props to describe magic as the public might see it. One example could be simply using a quote from a known magician like: “It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live” --Harry Potter Or how about a headline reading “Magic In The Air” with a photo of a season like fall leaves falling or a photo of Santa with Gifts. You may want to break the calendar year down into the four seasons to help with ideas. Just some thoughts, Tom
The Daycare Magician Book
https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/amazekids/the-daycare-magician/ My Blog - https://boleware.blogspot.com/ |
asimagu New user Spain 11 Posts |
Thanks for all your helpful ideas!! you're the best!
Just to answer some of your questions: I am not been hired for this. I am not being paid anything. I understand this is all for charity funding. They want to sell 1000 calendars at the price of 3€ so they cannot afford anything..... and I am happy for collaborating in this project because it sounds like a very cool experience. They have selected 12 people or so for the pictures. They wanted me to be in every picture, but I told them that perhaps that's too much of me and it'd be more funny if their people are the ones "doing" the magic in most of the pictures. So basically my task is coming up with the ideas for each photo... They also have a photographer who will take the photos on the day. I told them that we sshould get all 12 ideas ready for that day so we can do the whole thing in 3 or 4 hours once we have everything clear about what we want to do. I am aware this can be a lot of work, but given that we already at the low season and the coolness of this project.....why not? thanks again for all your words of advise. I still have 4 more weeks until the shooting, so will keep thinking and listening for ideas. I hope I can share the outcome of this project here for future references |
vanp8 New user 59 Posts |
Cups and Balls with the surprise load of a baby chick, or whatever you think would be photogenic.
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Kevin Ridgeway V.I.P. Indianapolis, IN & Phoenix, AZ 1832 Posts |
Is the photographer being paid? Is the printer being paid? If so, now you know the value that have placed on you.
Living Illusions
Ridgeway & Johnson Entertainment Inc Kevin Ridgeway & Kristen Johnson aka Lady Houdini The World's Premier Female Escape Artist www.LadyHoudini.com www.livingillusions.com |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Quote:
On Oct 8, 2019, Kevin Ridgeway wrote: I am SO happy someone brought this up. I am even happier it wasn't me! Also magic in photos is generally quite boring and very tough to tell the story. A magic calendar seems tough to sell to just people randomly. I'd go with cute baby animals not involved in magic if you want to move 1,000 of them.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
Mindpro Eternal Order 10587 Posts |
I agree. Magic is only appealing and of interest to magicians to the point of purchasing. If you are looking raise funds it should be something more mass-appeal and targeting the purchasers, not a small niche audience. That will stifle or greatly reduce any profitability. What's the appeal of a magic calendar?
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asimagu New user Spain 11 Posts |
Hi guys, with all the respect, it was my own decission to accept this project. And if you're only going to give me advice about the money, please refrain yourself from posting anything on this thread.
I came to you asking for your suggestions on photo ideas, not about advise about how much I should charge for it and other details that lay outside my reach such as the niche audience, number of prints and other stuff. thank you |
charliecheckers Inner circle 1969 Posts |
If you only wanted very specific advice about what photos to shoot and have no interest in how your efforts will be received or valued towards a bigger end goal, then you did indeed post this in the wrong section of TMC. Most who participate in Tricky Business provide answers designed to address the topics from a broader perspective so that the discussion serves to provide content that helps us all improve how we go about our entertainment business. So, even though you asked a specific question, you are not entitled to a direct answer. Many who read this thread now have a better understanding of the considerations one should take into account before volunteering such services.
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Quote:
On Oct 14, 2019, asimagu wrote: There are a great many things that you missed. Your target market? Those who seem to enjoy pictures of magic as much as yourself, put together by someone with absolutely no experience. It is indeed a unique Venn diagram.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
TomBoleware Inner circle Hattiesburg, Ms 3163 Posts |
Asimagu,
My suggestion would be, get as many of the group as possible in at least one of the photos. Maybe use them as an audience out front with a shot of you from behind facing the audience. My experience with calendars is the more people you have in the photos the better the sales will be. Good luck with it. Tom
The Daycare Magician Book
https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/amazekids/the-daycare-magician/ My Blog - https://boleware.blogspot.com/ |
Mindpro Eternal Order 10587 Posts |
Quote:
On Oct 14, 2019, Dannydoyle wrote: It is also short sides to ignore some decent advice offered to you, especially from some that have extensive experience in fundraising. Is this a small vanity project that you want to feature magic, or is the true purpose to raise as much income and profits as possible for the group? These are two greatly different things. Passion project or profit project? Is this for fun or business? It is also short-sided to discard those here taking the time and effort to offer you such valuable information since you admittedly have little or minimal experience in this. |
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