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Hello,

I will be competing again at the huge IBM-SAM Combo Convention next year, and of course, have been working on a routine. I am going to give you the verbal gist of the routine, and any suggestions, critiques, or advice on how to improve it would be amazingly appreciated! The theme of my act is The Creation Of The World and it is all set to an appropriate storyline. Here is the basic routine:

I talk about the blackness of the universe before the world began, and I show a black piece of tissue (flash) paper, representing the universe. I then talk about the big bang that became the Earth. The tissue paper is ignited, bursts into a brilliant flash of flame and a small Globe is produced at my fingertips. This is all accompanied by the appropriate story line... very poetic piece.
So I continue about the Earth, and how the nutrients in the Earth created plants... I show a large tub of dirt, have a card selected and signed with the cardboard representing the Trees to be planted. The signed card is visibly buried in the dirt, the face-up card visible until the very second it is totally covered in about 6 inches of dirt. I then discuss the growth of the tree, with an invisible tree growing from the pot... I talk about the leaves as I pantomime plucking one off. The invisible leaf becomes real, and this leaf is actually a folded up card. The card is the signed selection.

Then, I talk about lakes, oceans, rivers forming from the rain, almost appearing from thin air.... this leads into a water bowl production. After the water is produced, it is instantly frozen while talking about the temperature and its effect on the Earth.

And after the water effect... "After these elements arose and came to be, the creation of life was imminent!!! And it all started with a large BANG!"... At which point I produce a sudden flash of flame via a finger flasher.


The End

Any improvements, additions that can be made? Any advice or suggestions? It is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Michael Kras

Umm,, isnt flash paper illegal to use under 18? I know in America you cant buy a lighter unless your 18.

I can just see Micheal being taken away by the cops right now!

Anyway it seems too scattered, not big enough, not focused on one area, seems like theres too much moving and focus on small things.

Well I did say it is a quick summary... .each section is actually quite long. But I see what you mean! And no, we can use flash paper.

The ending doesn't sound very ending-y. I would probably try and fit in something stronger, like an at-the-fingertips production of a 12 piece polka band.

No offense meant, but with your style- the style I saw on your youtube account- I can't see this being very good. It doesn't seem to fit your energetic Sankeyesque personality. Also, you introduce leaves before saying life is imminent. It's a decent idea, but it needs more thought.

None taken, and great advice! You're right about that, I will work on it and adapt it... The personality thing may also be correct, but I am known to have many different performing styles. I can be mysterious, charming, or hilarious, so I will see what comes of this.

Also, you're right, the ending needs a little work.

Michael Kras wrote: I am known to have many different performing styles. I can be mysterious, charming, or hilarious...

You couldn't write this stuff.

Just to clarify.
The big bang gave birth to the universe, not Earth, so you might want to change the starting premise.

..

Michael Kras wrote:I can be mysterious, charming, or hilarious...

That's not pretentious at all...

</sarcasm>

Michael Kras wrote:I can be mysterious, charming, or hilarious, so I will see what comes of this.

Says who?


Obviously not having alot of knowledge on magic, I cannot help you a great deal on that side. Though I would like to think I could give some advice on the story. I think it would be a good idea, if it finished in the future, what happens after the universe, or the end of the universe, I think that could be good. How does what we do today effect tomorrow and so on. It just all seems to be about the story and you havn't mentioned much magic. I think in the performance it is important to actually keep the focuson the magic.

I'm gonna try and give my best advice here, Kras, so I hope you'll take it to heart. I'd say the serious and poetic patter isn't quite you. After I've watched your videos for days on end (okay, perhaps minutes ) I'd say go with something a bit more goofy because you are a goofy kid (no offense). If in your deepest desires, your heart of hearts you wish to go through with this, make an assistant appear with the creation of man.

monker59 wrote: make an assistant appear with the creation of man.

Good idea!

Michael.. you need to find yourself in magic. It is becoming more and more apparant to me that you do not know WHO you are!! or what kind of performer you are!!

I know FOR A FACT that you will either disagree with me, or pretend to agree with me and disregard what I am about to say but...

You need to find yourself. It is fine to have different personality traits. However, you need to find your Uber-Self. Then all your mini-selfs need to come under an umbrella that they all fit into context with eachother and your Uber-Self.

What I mean by this is that you can be funny, charming, and even mysterious to a certain degree. But if your different personality traits do not relate to each other then you will confuse your audience and the effects you perform will lose their impact.

On your website you claim to perform an effect where you recall a tale about when you USED to make stop lights for the city!! You couldnt possibly be doing that at your age.. so to imply that is something you used to do.. how old were you .. 10!! And its no good saying its just fun because your audience need to be able to relate to what you are doing as well as yourself. How do you think your audience would react if you told them a story of when you were in Vietnam>? This is the same thing.. putting yourself into an UNREALITY to which the audience cannot relate, and if the audience cannot relate to you, then the connection between your audience and you is lost and the effect dies and you lose credibility as a performer.

Its fine to do card tricks at the same time as bending spoons - as long as you give your audience a reasoning by which they can draw all your alleged skills under one coherent whole.

That is something where right now you seem to be failing miserably, and I feel that is down to you not have defined you 'Uber-Self'.

I know you will ignore this or get defensive, but there.. once again.. I have tried.. to help.

Some good points there from ID.

I like the idea Michael and I think that with the right routine and presentation it could work really well. I'm not too sure about the tricks you've chosen, your subject is a very dramatic one and the tricks that you perform should reflect that. The flash paper and fire isn't a bad idea but a card trick really doesn't seem to fit in my mind.

I'd go for some very dramatic, theatrical backing music and a low lighted stage with some deep red spot lights if you're able to arange that.

Build the whole routine up and finish big, the production of life as a climax would be good.