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I haven't been here for the longest time. I've been really busy with school and what not and have really missed talkmagic!

I'm going to a convention in a couple weeks and am looking for some advice.

I'm performing in the youth section of the stage contest this year and I have my act worked out as well as practiced but, to me, it appears a little simplistic. I didn't want to include so much into one act that anyone watching has absolutely no idea what's going on but I think I don't have enough to do well in the competition.

The act is inspired by the movie "The Music Man"(1962) and it's essentially a sales pitch about a wonderful new diet drug, which is, in fact, an animal balloon.

"It's stays inflated in your stomach and keeps you feeling full all day at a fraction of the cost of other diets." Or something of that flavor.

Anyways, it's a combination of a little bit of hat juggling and balloon swallowing. (Set to the song: Bellville Rendezvous from "The Triplets of Belleville).

This sounds like there's more to it than there is but I feel there's not enough to the routine for it to be competitive.

Maybe I'm just getting nervous like I always do...

What I was originally going to ask is does this seem like an adequate routine? I keep getting the feeling that it's under-structured and lacking creativity.

It's good to be back here and I hope to check back in more often than I have been but I can't make any promises.

-Ian

I wondered where you have been. Welcome back

Thanks!

Great to see you back!

Hi Ian.

It sounds like you have a good basis for your routine, but it does sound a bit light on magic content (I assume it's a magic convention you are going to, not one for performing arts in general).

I don't think you need dozens of tricks, but if it's a magic contest, maybe you need some magic!

Having said that, you don't have very long, and you might be better off sticking to the routine you have practised, and think about expanding it for use in another show or competition.

If your act is based around you being a pitchman, could you sell other patent medicines? What about those soft red pills that keep multiplying - you only have to buy once, as there are always some left in the pack? A growing sponge could also fit into the act nicely.

Do you suffer from heartburn? (Excuse for a fire effect of some description.)

Cold or flu got you down? Try new miracle Phlegmo! It won't get rid of your cold, but it sure makes your snot bouncy! (The bouncing handkerchief gag.)

Something like the magic tea kettle (producing lots of different coloured medicines) could work, but I don't think that's one to try and add now!

Thanks Lady of Mystery!

I like those suggestions part-timer, especially the sponge balls I think that could fit in nicely. Yes it is a magic convention and I feel it is too late to add anything new to that routine.


However, I have a routine that, for a while, I've been practicing that I have yet to utilize. I mentioned it... I believe a year ago and it's a morning based routine which seems like it would be a lot of fun to perform.


I haven't used it yet as I've always felt like I could improve it more and more but at some point I guess I just have to try the routine once and if it works, I can expand upon it for next year. (Just typing as I think).

Welcome back.

I don't think creativity is your problem. So far it sounds great, except as previously mentioned it seems to be a little light on magic.

I once sat beside Fantasio when he was judging a magic competition. One performer had a brilliant routine, the audience was eating out of his hand, laughing hysterically, it was and still is a great act. I noticed that Fantasio put a huge 'X' through the judging sheet. I leaned over and asked him why he did that.

Fantasio told me it was a great act. An act he himself was willing to book. He was even going to give a private critique of the act to the performer. But he was not even going to officially judge that act, why? It was a magic competition and there was not enough magic.

two things to consider, do you actually care if you win? or are you just going for the exposure? I remember talking to Murray Sawchuck (America's got talent) many moons ago, he came in second in a stage competetion. He told me he really didn't care, he was not really there to win (although he should have won). He already had a job as a cruiship performer, he just had some material he was trying to encorperate into his act. The crowd loved it, and that what was he really wanted...although it would have been nice to win.

In previous years I've entered just for the experience. However, this year I've entered with intentions to win. I still hope to put on an entertaining act, but this year I just care more whether I win or not.

I feel the act screams needle through balloon. But maybe thats just me.I once did something similar for a school presentation. It was a presentation on hayfever, and after explaining different symptom's, cures etc, I revealed my miracle cure, which was a rubber band! I then pinged the rubber band up my nose, blocking out the pollen, which got a great reaction. I did not do any other magic, but that wasn't for a convention*.

*Which I just realised made the whole story irrelevant. Sorry!

Hi Ian. My balloon swallow lasts seven or eight minutes, and Docc Hilford released a routine that got twenty minutes out of a balloon. So I wouldn't worry about being light on contact. Also, I don't feel a needle through balloon (as suggested) would fit in.
However if you end the routine by producing a mouth coil after the balloon swallow, that might go down very well. It does for me.
Best of luck, and enjoy it.

I like the mouth coil idea Tony! Too late to add that to the routine now but maybe next year...

What is the Docc Hilford routine? Is it available on the market or is it just his personal routine?

In the old days, Ian, magicians had to do a lot of research and cultivate the right friendships.

Now they can just Google the words Hilford and balloon:

http://www.floraco.com/doccfam.htm#20min

Thanks Part-Timer.

I have one last question that didn't even strike me as bizarre until a second ago...

I'm doing a routine that utilizes the rice bowls but it will be cereal and milk. However, I am unable to show the second bowl empty as a result. I never thought this was weird until a second ago and it's just a stupid detail I've overlooked. But, this is for magicians and I think they will enjoy the twist rather than worry about why I'm not showing the bowl empty however will this come off as suspicious? Or am I looking at it from a magician's over analytical stand-point?

Thanks,
Ian

Ian The Magic-Ian wrote::oops: Thanks Part-Timer.

I have one last question that didn't even strike me as bizarre until a second ago...

I'm doing a routine that utilizes the rice bowls but it will be cereal and milk. However, I am unable to show the second bowl empty as a result. I never thought this was weird until a second ago and it's just a stupid detail I've overlooked. But, this is for magicians and I think they will enjoy the twist rather than worry about why I'm not showing the bowl empty however will this come off as suspicious? Or am I looking at it from a magician's over analytical stand-point?

Thanks,
Ian

If it is entertaining enough (and judging from your previous posts you sound like a very entertaining performer) they are not even going to think about the bowls.

Thanks for all the input everyone!

I just returned from the convention and had a lot of fun!

I placed second in the competition; however, and this is going to sound either incredibly indecisive or just plain stupid, I switched from the above described routine, which was suffering from problems, to a routine which I knew well and could perform well.

I may use the other routine later in this year or sometime next year but I misjudged it's readiness to be performed.

Other points of the convention:

Mark Wilson was there and gave a lecture!

Johnathan Pendragon is a lot funnier than I thought he would be.

I purchased three books for less than 30 dollars.

And Latko performed some of the greatest close-up magic I've ever seen.

All over a great weekend!