talkmagic.co.uk

right...

I'm leaving school in the next few weeks. everybody in my school knows I'm a magician and my head of year today asked me if i could perform some magic for the year in our leavers assembly. when she asked me my initial thought was "nah" I'm a close up magician, but then i said i'd think about it.

so i come here do you people have any ideas of what i could perform? i only need to perform for about 10-15 minutes but i don't have any effects that would be suitable for a "stage" type performance. Gazzos Tossed Out Deck came to mind but thats about it.

any help would be appreciated
thanks

well, i'd say perform the stuff that you already performed in the first place - that's what got you the attention afterall...

ask them to arrange a few tables if possible instead...

Like abaxus said, do stuff your used to.

If it was me I'd do the stuff that I'm used to but could also work for stage. Like using a TT for some vanishes, switching etc. I'd also prob use some IT for levitations and the hummer card. You get the added advantage of distance for these tricks.

You could also buy some jumbo cards for card tricks. Or there are poker size cards available that have larger numbers and smaller symbols for the sort of thing your talking about.

Failing that try and stick to tricks were you predict cards- card to wallet, bang on, card to envelope etc. That way a lay person can shout out a selected card which you then produce.

I guess its just a matter of using your imagination.

What sort of magic do you do usually?

Try to keep with what you're used to doing, a couple of weeks probabaly isn't enough time to learn something totally new.

Silks, sponges, TT, ropes all work well on a stage. Anything visual, sinful could work well, call a spec up on stage and have him sign the coin. Should be visual enough for a big audience. What about mental magic, Grab a copy of Karl Fulves Self Working Mental Magic, there are some brilliant effects in there that would work well on a stage and are dead easy to learn.

It all depends on what you're comfortable with.

If you want to stick to cards - perhaps you can look to adapt certain effects to jumbo cards? Take a few self-workers (or anything not heavy on sleight of hand) and rework them for the larger cards. These kinds of things can work well.

I've always been a big fan of the McCombical Prediction routine - and it's available in Jumbo Cards - which is good for larger crowds. It's a great comedy/prediction routine that plays very well in all situations.

A Psychometry routine could work.

Although I wouldn't recommend running right out and performing it without giving it due time to refine, if you're looking for a true mind-blowing effect that is capable of slaying any audience - you could look into Greg Arce's Awe-Some Total - which is one of the most remarkable effects I've ever seen.

I agree with all that. do the TT and IT stuff.

slydini's flying paper balls with the headmaster as the volunteer, that should get you some laughs. and if you can pick his/her pockets while he/she's there and then pretend to auction it off after.

i normally perform close-up/street magic

I'm not a big fan of mentalism really, it's never struck me like so many on here

tables etc. is out of the question. it's a small-ish hall fitting about 250 people in rows of chairs. many other things are sure to be presented at the assembly.

really, all i need to do is have a good effect, which can be changed into a 10 minute routine, with good patter, jokes etc.

Demitiri - have you got a link to this McCombical Prediction routine? jumbo cards had crossed my mind.

i was thinking of a signed ACR with a few extra things thrown in there and then their card appear jumbo size on the outside of a window with their signature on it-just a thought.

thanks.

KJ's Paper Rose is always a beautiful piece of stage work.

Here's a video of Copperfield performing it. If you don't know it and can't divine the method, I'll give you a few hints if you PM me, but don't expect the whole method.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfeVa0bqqaM

Rob

How about a flick through Mark Wilson's Complete Course, he's got some ideas in there which might work well. The card in the photo frame is once of my favourites as well as his svengali stamp album. Both are very easy to set up and perform.

I think any IT tricks would be good, again anything that's visual. Also this wouldn't break the bank!

maybey trying a card throw/spin like long distance spinner. I know greg wilsons card stunts dvd has a lot of info. on this.

its a school right so someware they must have a projector and someomne must have access to a video camera, link the two and you have your own david blaine street show.

iv'e done this for coin magic shows and for lectures, ok i used a dv camera and ran it through a laptop so i could add illustrations but the basic premis id sound.

ps floating rose very nice, not quite sure of the hookup for this but as I'm not going to perform it anyway i don't need to know.

I'm not sure of shops that sell it in the UK - but here's a US shop for descriptive purposes.

http://www.elmwoodmagic.com/full/Magic-Tricks-Magic-Books-Magic-DVDs-1-McCombical-Deck-Billy-McComb__721.htm

There's another version of this effect out - call Mona Lisa McComb. It's more expensive - but absolutely perfect for stage shows. The Mona Lisa version uses Paintings instead of playing cards. You can see it here:

http://www.elmwoodmagic.com/full/Magic-Tricks-Magic-Books-Magic-DVDs-9595-Mona-Lisa-McComb-Black-Rabbit-Magic__3333.htm

If you want to do a nice mental opener, Gerard's "Instant Messages" from Psychological Subtleties 2 is great.

Vanishing bandana is always a winner. Although it's an effect meant for children I've performed it before a indie audience waiting for a band to come on and it went down a storm.
It's also incredible easy and virtually impossible to get wrong

well i've decided on an effect/routine the idea has come from the program max magic

a table is presented. along with positions number one to five. there are five envelopes and four random objects e.g. calculator, watch etc. the headteacher is called out on stage, and a prediction is given to another assisstant (sp?) i explain that each item has an envelope each. i asked the head for her mobile. the items are put in the envelope, and i ask the head to mix them, when i turn my back and then i wil find it with my "magical powers" i turn around and say i lied to her, i get her to turn around and i mix them up, so none of us no were her mobile is . i then say i will now find your mobile, but first i need a magic wand, and then i wack out a hammer and smash one of the enevelopes. i baically do this through out and the position of her phone and the prediction are correct.

now i need a little bit of patter to go with this perhaps a pre-story, or some one liners. anything would be of help

thanks.