talkmagic.co.uk

Hello everyone, I am currently puttinng together my outfit for my stage show. I was wondering wether anyone has any tips on the atire I should wear and wether or not it should be gimmicked. Currently, I have a topit in my suit, and various tunnels between pockets, I wear a top hat and have a nice wand. Should I have some profondes put into the suit? Is there anything essential that I should wear? Everyones thoughts are appreciated.

The person to get in touch with is Justin Lee Collins!

Oh yeah, JLC hes the man when it comes to costume design.

I wear a simple blue suit, blue baggy jeans and a plain white t-shirt.

You could have removable sleeves which would give you the gag:
"you think I hid it up my sleeves, nonsense, have a look yourself.(remove Sleeves) Perfectly normal sleeves. (hand to spec.)

Saw david stone do that and he got laughs.

Rocket socks!

I think what to wear is always a matter of personal choice and whatever suits your style or personna.
As far as gimmicking stuff up again it is down to what you wish to achieve in your act.
There's no point being laden down with extra bits and pieces that you aren't gonna use.

You need to put down what kind of magician you want to be, how you want your audience to percieve you and what you do and then figure out all the things clothing, effects, vocabulary etc. that will facilitate this idea to them.

greedoniz wrote:I think what to wear is always a matter of personal choice and whatever suits your style or persona....

Yes exactly. The few gigs that I have done have always been close up (not stage magic!) but I have always tried to adapt, and almost without exception it is a suit and tie that I wear.
And always just on the informal side; nothing businessy and nothing too formal.

I try and see it from my employer's point of view - they may have a room full of professional clients and they certainly don't want some loudmouth oik prancing round with a polyester jacket on and his shirt tails hanging out.
So obviously it's not just my dress that I reel in.

Mind you, I have a kids birthday party on friday and so out will come the velvet jacket and loud shirt. Maybe I shall upload a picture for you all to laugh at.

... There's no point being laden down with extra bits and pieces that you aren't gonna use.

My only clothing consideration in a magic sense is to make sure that I have a right-hand inside jacket pocket that makes a CtW load a bit easier, and a few outside ones to stash spares or an ID.


Good luck!

Mark

A rule of thumb for anyone being paid to perform give a speech or anything always look a little better then the people you are being paid to perform for. Always look like you have somewhere a little more upscale to go after you are done there. If they are dressed in casual, you should be wearing business casual. If they are in business casual you should be wearing a suit.

Not sure what they are wearing ask the person booking you if this is a casual affair or not.

Needless to say if you are performing at a company picnic then you want to leave the top hat and tails at home, and so it goes.

i would say:

whatever suits your character and persona
whatever makes you feel like a magician

i like the idea that someone is resurrecting the old school ways of dressing and performing magic...i also imagine you have a pencil thin moustache for some reason...

what about the white gloves too? it would be excellent to see someone perform nowadays dressed in such a classic manner...i think if delvered correctly, it could really sell the magic...

Thank you all for your imput, it is greatly appreciated.

what about the white gloves too?

I do wear white gloves for my opening effect (gloves to spring flowers).
I do like dressing up the traditional way-especially if I'm table hopping, it makes it easy for the spectators to recognize that your the magician. I don't usually dress like that though for kids shows, I find it"'s easier to relate to someone wearing "normal" clothes.

Alkhemist writes: "I wear a simple blue suit, blue baggy jeans and a plain white t-shirt. "

You wear jeans AND a suit? Sounds like quite a trick in itself

Bmat,

You are right, but slightly different in the UK. For casual I would wear a suit and tie, for formal, a dinner or evening suit with dickie tie. As you say, you have to dress to a high standard to stand out as the performer. I would never perform in denim/jeans or casual, its just not the done thing. To me its proffessional standards.