talkmagic.co.uk

so... my question is like "could you do card magic on the stage"?
because im not really into these props and gimmicks and the paying for these props and such. unless i can make some myself and save alot of money. comon, im only 15

Like Katriel said - the only way to really do it is to get a large screen and project yourself on it. Otherwise, the cards are just too small for people to follow what you're doing.

Zero000 wrote:oh yeah, i think each person has about 5-7 minutes.

That's about time for one big trick, which is what you need. You might be able to fit in a couple of smaller ones at the start too.

Being 15 isn't really an issue. I remember being about 9 and a kid who was slightly older did a magic show at the end of term. He did a huge routine (looking back, it was too long and had too many effects), but was full of good stuff and pretty well-structured for a 10 year old.

There are only two things I remember really clearly. A Lotta Vase to which he kept going back and from which he kept pouring water throughout the act and a production box that he used as his finale.

The box was detailed in a book aimed at kids written by Ali Bongo and even explained how to make production streamers. It was a home-made effect that I can recall 25 years later.

I think you should forget about card tricks, even if you can get projected in some way. It's not the ideal environment and on such a limited timescale, you need to make an impact fast.

Big effects are often impressive, but they don't have to cost a lot. There are books of children's magic that have stage effects to build yourself and I recall reading of a book that explains illusions that can be built using pipes and other common materials.

By the way, if you do go down the Snowstorm in China route, please make sure that they aren't going to be angry at having to clear up the mess afterwards.

If you only have 5 to 7 minutes you cannot use a volunteer assistant. The audience participation someone suggested would have to be limited to them calling out, almost'Oh I yes I did' 'Oh no you didn't' or them reacting vocally.."We were a poor family' Ahhh. "Poorer than that" Ahhhhhhhhh. type of gag.Or repeat after me lines.
If you've done street magic you should know a good cut & restored rope. If you like coins, then the Miser's Dream. The Rings suggestion can't fail.
My premier advice to you is, 'If you only have 5 to 7 minutes perform a SILENT act. Projecting speech or micke use (it may be a bad mike) are thus eliminated. You only have to concentrate on a. An effective opening.. b. a couple of follow ups. c. A finale. The snowstorm is a great idea (except to a caretaker!) Can you not combine this with a torn & restored tissue,& the Japanese Butterflies. The snowstorm could be the paper butterflies, sold by Davenports and others.
Allen Tipton

hmm... i might then do alot of xcm then... if i can get it down,


i could get a projector, but it would be a waste of time because i'll just go up and leave, our school does have those projector things.

but if im not going to buy any of these prop things, what do you think is a VERY strong card trick that mostly alot of people are going to see... waitt i just remembered, i have the big cards. they might work for something

ZeroOOO. So you want card tricks for the stage. Well there's
The 6 Card Repeat.
The Diminishing Cards.( Nice cheap version from magical Wonders..(£6, I think) The Chapender method is best but you'll only get these now 2nd hand at about £18(Derek lever)
The Nap Hand(though how many folks play Nap now. Lionel King in the 1940's used to perform this on many a big stage as did Billy Mc.Comb) By the way, the latter even did Coin In The Bottle on the London Palladium stage BUT it is all in the presentation. You have to tell the audience what's happening and then they THINK they're seeing it happen.
The 11 Card trick.
Cards Across.Once known as the 30 Card trick but better with less cards.
Cards To Pocket.
Card In Wallet.
Why don't you buy Ken De Courcey's Cards In Cabaret? (Magic Books By Post) It only costs £7 and on its 97 pages there are 46 Cabaret/stage routines.
You want a 2 minute opener, a 3 minute middle of the act and a 2 minute closer.Even the Baby Gag would work here to get you off on a laugh. The only possible 2 ways you could win are 1. Flashy manips. 2, Comedy.
Don't think it's ONLY 5 months away, 'I've' got plenty of time.You haven't. It needs working on and trying out a number of times before audiences NOW.
Preparing James Parker (came 3rd. in the YMOTY, either 1999 or 2001( I'm getting old) at the Magic Circle, and he won the Ditta Manipulation Shield, Twice at IBM,(Runner up to the main shield once) took me 18 months.Preparing Marc Oberon, who is a young professional, came third in International Magic's Close Up last Dec. And won the Europe Close Up Championshiop at Blackpool this year, was less. But he is a pro.
DON't for heavens sake take up the suggestion of large screen & video camera. It's fine for David Copperfield and International Competitions but in the hands of amateurs and particulary using equipment of probably much lower standard and your act is in the hands of someone who won't be able to rehearse with you, except once...It is a recipe for disaster.
Allen Tipton

okk., thanks for you help guys!
i'll see what i can do...
i think the talent show is in like 7 months ...

if i need help again, i;ll bring this topic back up

Whoo hoo, after learning much MUCH more magic. i sorta know what i can do. i had a band concert yesterday, and while i was on stage.the auditorium didnt seem so big and most of the audience can see whats on the stage. instead of doing card tricks, i might do alot of levitation.

i might do the humming bird card (hummer) and the wild levitiation found on penguin magic.

any thoughts?

They're fine so long as you can find a way of linking these - routining is important. If you're just performing them as is, one after the other then your act will seem disjointed. Try and link them together in some way. I also guess you'll be doing more than two effects, especially with the time you've got. If you're not going to do any others then at least try and get the number of effects you're doing up to 3 - it will give a much better flow to your act than just two effects and you can have a clearly-defined beginning, middle and end. Personally, if I wasn't doing a silent act, I'd try and get an audience-participation effect in the middle, just to get them involved a little more and to vary things a little. It might also help with scoring points if you're looking to win .

I don't see anything wrong with doing card magic on stage - I've known of magicians who have in the past and to great success. Manipulation's probably the easiest to see, and obviously you don't want to be doing close-up card magic; something that plays large to a volunteer on stage whose reactions can help convey the magic to the rest of the audience is best.

If you're going to use cards, why not buy a jumbo deck and work out what card tricks you know that can be scaled up?

Take your time - sort through what effects you like and can do properly.

There is some reat advice here, jumbo cards can solve the use of cards, no projector needed, lighting will need to be good though - for most effects.
Snow storm rocks if done correctly, with a good premise.

Follow the simple acronym: KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid (personally I prefer Kiss It Short n Simple) dont make it hard for yourself.
You may be the only magician there - this gives you a great opportunity to be unique! Make as many effects as possible (if not all) visual, that way it will lay better to the crowd.

I could go on, but you plenty of input from the guys and gals here, so get cracking, build routine, work on patter, practise, enjoy!!

Dade

Have you considered making up an ID using jumbo cards and a tin of roughening spray?

It could be a killer stage routine with the right presentation.

Do consider that being the only magician can also work against you as it could make you the novelty act. Try to find out as much as you can in advance about other entries and where your performing in the programme. If you're on first and there's 20 acts following then you'll need to be strong for the judges to remember you.

hmmm, jumbo deck sounds intresting. but all the tricks that i have been learning are for like street magic (one on one or two or three)

and for the invisble deck, alot of people in my school has already seen the invisble deck, i want to do something that NOBODY has seen me DO!(or my friend).

i was kinda of planning to use people's credit cards, drivers liceneces, ID and such for the hummer card and use the wild levitation as a sorta last encore.

im a little worried that since other people are also waiting to do their little thing back stage, they might see the gimmick with the wild levitiation ( i havent gotten it yet)

i want something strong to impress the audience so they will find me later asking for more, (then i'll do the card tricks and coin stuff)

Zero000 wrote:and for the invisble deck, alot of people in my school has already seen the invisble deck, i want to do something that NOBODY has seen me done (or my friend).

Sorry, but it is do

If you used people's credit cards and the like, that would need audience participation.

well i have thought more and mroe . i dont think i can do any levitations because there will be people backstage, i dont want them to see any gimmicktry. i had another assembly today in the auditorium, it seems that you can see sponge balls from the highest seat. so i may do sankey's earplugs and Hummer card. any thoughts?

only problem with earplugs is that its yellow, and a little hard to see.