Stage Routine!

[onyxthedog]

I am doing a stage routine with my not-so (just kidding) lovely assistant, my little sister, for a contest. It will be a while and I am not yet sure of the restrictions. It is not purely magic, it is more like a talent show than anything else. I am putting together a routine, mainly out of Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic. I was wondering is there any advice. I may build some props with my uncle and go all out, he is a self-imployed welder so props I am covered. Any tricks that you have figured out with connecting with the audience are greatly appreciated!

[Opivy]

You probably know your magic pretty well, so the only advice I could give would be in avoiding 'stage fright'.

If you've been on stages before, this shouldn't be a problem.

I don't know exactly what to say on the subject, but i've heard people give advice such as "Picture everyone in their underwear" but this isn't really practical. If you are stricken with something like stage-fright, the last thing you have the energy to pull off is imagining everyone like this (**** I can never picture a whole group of people like that)

I never really cared what people thought, and I try to keep that mindset if I'm ever on a stage. Even though I think that way, theres something about stages that can freeze you up, or make you fumble with words/objects or whatever it may be.

So, only advice i can give - is who cares what the audience thinks. I would recomend trying to be in a mindset as of "Who cares if they figure out every single trick, or aren't entertained" Because more than likely, this won't be the case. And things can never turn out bad, if you expect the worst.

[onyxthedog]

I am looking for a theme to base my tricks around, I am pretty good at making up patter so I need a theme to pick out what kind of tricks to use.

P.S. Should I use cards, coins, etc..? I need help picking out materials. I may even film it and post it on Youtube, Metacafe or Revver.

[Opivy]

i love coins! if you know the 'misers dream' do that.

[A.C.E]

If the audience is small cards are alright. If it is huge, stay away from them because nobody will be able to see them. For instance, last year at my schoole we had a talent competition. The last person to performed nothing but cards, and I couldn't see a thing(this was before I started doing magic) and I thought he sucked, because I couldn't see anything he was doing. So using cards isn't really that great with a big audience.

[onyxthedog]

i love coins! if you know the 'misers dream' do that.

I have Bobo's which has pretty much every routine known to man! ( And some only know to dolphins) What size coin should I use? I think that because there is a stage that the whole getting rid of the evidence part might be a problem. Should I use cards, and one of my personal favorites: ropes? Sponge Balls, mentalism? Should I tell a continous story to tie all the tricks together?

[A.C.E]

For cards, depends if the audience is big or small.

[onyxthedog]

I am not sure about the limitations or the size of the audience yet, but what would be a good clean topic I could use to tie it all together?

[A.C.E]

I am not sure about the limitations or the size of the audience yet, but what would be a good clean topic I could use to tie it all together?
Hmm....... Do you have a raven? Because you coul use that to end a coin routine I guess.

[onyxthedog]

Hmm....... Do you have a raven? Because you coul use that to end a coin routine I guess.
I was looking more like a story-type topic, so I could develop some patter to entertain even further!

[A.C.E]

I'm sure you could figure out a story line type patter with loops if you have them( like with the haunted pack)

[Opivy]

I would stay away from mentalism, mainly because I find it boring. (so don't base your opinion off of me)

So yea, do some stuff from bobo's. If you can handle silver dollars, those will definatley be best for stage..

How big of a crowd are we talking here? And how big is the theatre? (how many people CAN it seat?)

[onyxthedog]

I'm sure you could figure out a story line type patter with loops if you have them( like with the haunted pack)I bought a 10 pack but they broke with in 2 weeks with out using them everyday!

I would stay away from mentalism, mainly because I find it boring. (so don't base your opinion off of me)

So yea, do some stuff from bobo's. If you can handle silver dollars, those will definatley be best for stage..

How big of a crowd are we talking here? And how big is the theatre? (how many people CAN it seat?)

I am not sure and I probably won't be able to find out how many it can seat until like a week.

[A.C.E]

You really shouldn't buy the ones from E, I would get the dispencer from penguin, it's cheap and you can make over 100 Loops ( well at leats I can, I only make my loops with 7.5 inches of unstretched elastic, so I can make way more then 100).

[cjhabes2010]

i should get into loops, would u all recomend them?

[cheaptrick]

I would stay away from mentalism, mainly because I find it boring. (so don't base your opinion off of me)

So yea, do some stuff from bobo's. If you can handle silver dollars, those will definatley be best for stage..

How big of a crowd are we talking here? And how big is the theatre? (how many people CAN it seat?)

x2, coinmagic from bobo, coin routines, silver dream etc. would be good tricks(if your good with sleight of hand) also fire magic seems like a good thing for stage.

You really shouldn't buy the ones from E, I would get the dispencer from penguin, it's cheap and you can make over 100 Loops ( well at leats I can, I only make my loops with 7.5 inches of unstretched elastic, so I can make way more then 100).

I was looking into getting some loops, just for some extra effects, what do you think about them performance wise, and how good is the dispenser?

thanks in advance

[Opivy]

no offense, but silver dream won't be good for stage. And neither are loops IMHO.

Loops are great, but for close-up mainly.

[cheaptrick]

no offense, but silver dream won't be good for stage. And neither are loops IMHO.

Loops are great, but for close-up mainly.

well, coin tricks similiar and such, idk much about stage magic, I pretty much only do do street stuff, which brings a further question, who here does actually stage magic?

[onyxthedog]

well, coin tricks similiar and such, idk much about stage magic, I pretty much only do do street stuff, which brings a further question, who here does actually stage magic?

I have only street experience as well, that is why I need so much help. But I don't usually get stage fright, so I have that going for me.

[A.C.E]

i should get into loops, would u all recomend them?
Yes, I recomend you get the three dvd's off E ( or whatever loops dvd's you want, I got the ones form E and they were great) and you shou;d also get IET dispencer from Penguin. The million dollar knot has been reveald many of times, so just search and you'll find them. The reason I would recomend getting the loops dvd's are: Life, jaunted pacl, shadow reveal, ring sting(some people don't like it, but I do. However it is very angle sensitive), and LIFE. Life is definetly one of the best on there, and will get you a different reaction you probably haven't had before. Usually, they just looked shock and are very quite. One of my favorites.

[rileymagician]

i do all types of magic , but im just starting off in illusions like zig zag, laser etc.

but i know stage and close up well. I do productions,vanishes, appearances of objects in a manipulation act , using parasols,candles,cards,hats,coins (misers dream), silk, canes,and spongs balls.

and i do a little stage mentalism and classics(linking rings etc.) for after the manipulation is over.


do the tent illusion off the mark wilson book

[Opivy]

wow riley, you need more self esteem man...