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Hello all! It has been awhile since I have been on. Anyway, I've been working on my tricks and thought I may want to start into a new branch of magic, animal magic. I've studied, well looked over, animal magic tricks and always found them intriguing. The main two I have seen, used anyway, are of coarse doves and rabbits. My, soon to be, wife wants to get a pair of rabbits so naturally, being a pet lover and magician, was more than happy to add to our family. I also looked at a few animal tricks and think the breed of rabbit we are getting will work great, a Netherland Dwarve. I have more than 14 years of animal breeding, including 5 years of animal training (exotic and domestic) so I think I'm at par to train a rabbit to not only go poo in the litter box, but also to help preform magic tricks. So now I'm wanting to read everyone's expressions and opinions on animal magic. I have seen it posted before about how some people will lose interest in magicians who use animals, but also heard quite the opposite. So I'd like to start a thread focused on the subject...

These days, I think that unless you use big cats and/or elephants then the public aren't really interested.

It's the element of danger or sheer size that I think interests people and rabits, doves etc. don't hold as much interest these days as they once did.

That's just how I see it

if your uk based then you should be aware that animal magic is prety much frowned apon for the past 5 years, most clients don't want to see it and a lot of venues won't let you in the door due to rspca rules and regs.

from circuses to stage acts ther's been a staedy dicline in animal acts due to peer presure and the fact that animals don't have the wow factor they used to, people wan't fast paced, shock, shock, shock magic just like there action films, they don't want to sit through a majestic and slow dove act, I'm afraid its just the nature of the clientel and the pace we live in.

What are you referring to as "Animals"?

Doves, Bunnies, etc. are traditional livestock but when you get into the larger or more exotic critters you are opening a new can or worms.

Today I feel it is far too difficult to deal with live animals in a show. Not because of the critters but because of the idiots of the world who think they are fury or feathered people with human rights... "they should be free and not "owned" or controlled"... the whine of fools that haven't a single clue as to what that would mean.

Livestock magic is wonderful but it entails a lot of extra TLC when it comes to how you deal with the animals on and off stage.

There are several previous threads on this topic, a swift use of the Search function shows:

http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic18583.php
http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic23169.php
http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic3097.php
http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic21924.php

Animal Magic - I loved Johnny Morris in it (Anyone old enough to remember him?)

Craig Browning wrote:because of the idiots of the world who think they are fury or feathered people with human rights... "they should be free and not "owned" or controlled"... the whine of fools that haven't a single clue as to what that would mean.

That'd be me then Craig.

I don't like the use of animals in magic, partly becuase I don't agree with the idea of it. Although that does depend on alot of things, I don't like the idea of keeping a bunny cooped up in a little box throughout a show or the idea that some performer have that animals are just props and don't give them the love and attention that they deserve. On the other hand, for some animals, performing is actually good fun. Look at the dancing dogs, they love what they're doing. For me, the cruety issue depends on the animal you're using, the treatment of that animal and what you're wanting to do with it.

Another reason that I wouldn't ever use an animal is because of possible animal rights opinions of the audience. I don't want what I'm doing to be seen as cruel by any of the audience. I know there are people who wont book an act because they use animals.

you know, nothing beats the oos and ahs as those given when mr Bunny pops out of his hole.

( if that doesnt make i.b) Ill eat my hat!)

I miss working with bunnys terribly, but unfortunatly, i have an alergy to them nowadays.
It is a result of having bunny poo, and bunny fur, and bunny wee scratched into my forearms, by well meaning pets.
they have that odd few seconds of struggle when you pick them up.

Animals are very unpredictable so don't we have enough problems worrying about cards not being in the right place, props dropping off the table, bad attitude spectators giving us grief etc without adding animal uncertainties to the equation? Of course bunnies are cute and cuddly (until they bite which Netherland Dwarfs do - I still have the scars to prove it!) and doves are a staple of many a magic act but there's still a certain air of distaste about suddenly producing an obviously ruffled dove from a silk, loose feathers flying around tend to suggest it's been kept in cramped conditions a bit too long.

To balance all that, last year I saw a great magish who did a routine where a rabbit would normally be used but he used his small white fluffy pet dog. The 'container' was only brought on seconds before the reveal so the dog wasn't in there more than about 30 seconds and obviously enjoyed the fuss and attention he got when appearing.

Unless you're really sure that animals will be accepted at the event or venue then I'd suggest it's better to stick to inanimate props, they can misbehave but less so than living creatures!

As something slightly different, how about thinking about instead of using a real animal, use a big cuddly toy.

I was watching a magician a while ago who did a bunny production with a massive, fluffy toy. It was a very funny routine and made so much better for the over the top fluffy rabbit.