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Aus Special user Australia 996 Posts |
Hi guys
Just wonted to know a few things from those who own this: Zanadu's Sorcerer's Apprentice has been a kid's show favorite for years and now it's been updated with a very funny Harry Potter presentation, complete with Harry's glasses. The performer brings a child up from the audience to be his Sorcerer's Apprentice. The child is outfitted with a tall wizard's hat and a pair of glasses which make him look very similar to Harry Potter. Of course, a Sorcerer's Apprentice gets to help perform the magic. The child does his best to do a trick, but fails. No wonder, he didn't have his magic wand! The magician reaches into his helper's hat and pulls out a magic wand! The child tries waving the wand, but still no magic. The performer removes the hat from the child's head and has him wave the hat and wand together...still nothing, but the audience is now rolling with laughter! Why? It seems there was something left behind on the child's head...a rubber plunger that's sticking straight up! Is this an effect of its self or simply a piece of by play to add to an exsiting routine. Most important of all is it worth getting? Magically Aus |
Stevethomas Inner circle Southern U.S.A. 3728 Posts |
I would never use this prop on the child/assistant. I always put it on myself...to embarass your GUEST on stage who's performing with you would be totally inappropriate. That's why so many audience members are actually scared and afraid to be chosen to assist the magician during the act, they're afraid we (read that as "we magicians") are going to use them for cheap laughs at their expense. If it's a child, that's even worse, and if it's at their birthday party (which is supposed to be a very special occasion for them) that's the ultimate mistake in poor taste and judgement. It's a great prop, and I've been using it for about 15 years now, but always on myself. Just my opinion, though. Heck, you might even use mouth coils in your act, and a head chopper and perform fire eating.
Steve Thomas |
The Donster Inner circle 4817 Posts |
I agree with not making fun of the volunteer.
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Devin Knight V.I.P. 2493 Posts |
I would NEVER use this on a child from the audience. I once made that mistake about 10 years ago at a birthday party. I had the plunger appear on the birthday boy's head and of course all the kids laughed...however
I found out after the show that the boy was VERY embarrassed by this and told his mother he'd NEVER help another magician again. As a result I lost any future bookings with this family. It was a lesson I learnt the hard way. The trick was promptly removed from my birthday act and never used again. Many magicians may be losing future bookings because they embarrassed someone and they didn't have the guts to tell the magician after the show. Along the same note, I have long since stopped using the Paper Pants Tear for the same reason. I've seen many magicians hold the boxer shorts in front of the kid (which gets a laugh but can embarrass the child) then preceed to put them over the child's head. Putting what appears to be underwear over the child's head may be funny to the audience but in most cases it will embarrass the child. Paper Hats are fine, but I recommend you stay away from the Boxer shorts. Ok so you say I'll hold them in front of myself and get a laugh...Been there and done that...This may appear to be safe, HOWEVER I had two different parents on two different occasions tell me they were OFFENDED by the fact I used underwear in my show to get a laugh. I decided then and there WHY risk offending somebody when there are plenty of other great kid tricks to use? Bikini and Boxer short tears have long vanished from my act never to reappear. Just my 2 cents worth. |
Stevethomas Inner circle Southern U.S.A. 3728 Posts |
While I will NOT, ABSOLUTELY NEVER embarass a helper, guest, assistant or audience member, I will use underwear or the word underwear during a performance. To an audience from 4 years old to 100 years old, just the word "underwear" is hilarious during a show. I also use a GIANT pair of men's underwear (the tighty whitees...about size 80 or so) as a final production with a square circle routine. As in..."it's under THERE...(audience replies...) Underwhere? and the production is made, and they say "THE END" on the back, in big block letters. That's just me.
Steve Thomas |
Aus Special user Australia 996 Posts |
That's great guys and I agree, but I would still like to know Is this an effect of its self or simply a piece of by play to add to an exsiting routine. Most important of all is it worth getting?
Magically Aus |
Stevethomas Inner circle Southern U.S.A. 3728 Posts |
It is well worth getting. I haven't really liked much that Zanadu has produced, but this is a winner. I use it as a bit through other effects.
Steve Thomas |
what the...? Veteran user North Carolina 378 Posts |
How much is it? It sounds funny. If you get one of your friends to do it. Maybe not a kid, though an assistant might work.
"Why don't your assistants do magic?" "Well now they can... or maybe not..." Brian
The great Sandwich!
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The Donster Inner circle 4817 Posts |
Since we are on the discussion now of UnderWear. what does one think of the Professor Cheers comedy shorts routine I have the professional version but have not yet used it. Don,
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BenSchwartz Elite user Southern California 499 Posts |
I use this in like every kids show I do. Whenever I pull the plunger off the head of the kid to show him that he had a plunger on his head he ALWAYS laughes with me. and to answer your question, it is something that you add to the routine and not an effect. And if the kid did get embarassed, and you did lose future bookings, well heck, well dang, ummmmm would you like one lump or two with your tea. Im tired.
"The experience of astonishment is the experience of a clear, primal state of mind that they associate with a child's state of mind." ---- Paul Harris
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Cody S. Fisher V.I.P. Austin, Texas 1194 Posts |
Hey guys...I have a few comments on this...
I have performed for children for many many years...and I think that there is ALWAYS a chance for a child to get embarrassed. Most of the time...it is simply due to poor judgement on behalf of the entertainer (magician, juggler, clown...) Sometimes however there can be certain children who would be embarrassed at ANYTHING! I feel that anyone who entertains children needs to be especially sensative to their needs. For some kids a plunger on their heads is really funny...for some really NOT funny. If you choose to use this prop...just use it with that in mind. On a side note...I received a call from a local church here in Austin and the paster was looking for a magician. He did not remember the magician they had the year before but he did remember his tricks. He then went on to say that he was looking for a "guy who did a trick where a plunger ends up on the kids head". He said that this magician was so funny and his whole congregation voted to have him back this year for another show. Based on his description I was able to put him into contact with the proper individual and it all worked out. Cody S. Fisher MUM Magazine
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Turk Inner circle Portland, OR 3546 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-06-29 21:02, Stevethomas wrote: Steve, When you perform using this effect, as you remove the Scorcerer's Hat, do you comment about "getting started and plunging right in to the trick"? Mike
Magic is a vanishing Art.
This must not be Kansas anymore, Toto. Eschew obfuscation. |
Stevethomas Inner circle Southern U.S.A. 3728 Posts |
No...I actually act like (as I remove just the cloth part) I don't notice there's anything else on my head. Leave it to the audience to clue you in, then I don't look..I just feel...feel around, up, down, all around the rubber part, the plunger...THEN I am really embarassed...tell 'em to just "forget what you just saw, I'm really embarassed"....and move on. I sometimes prefer to be subtle. SOMETIMES, that is.
Steve Thomas |
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