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I have a gig at a local university's carnival scheduled for this week, but they need me to perform for four hours in a carnival setting. I've never performed this way before and I'm unsure of what to perform and how to present it over such a long time span.

What I've considered doing is doing strolling magic for half an hour, attract a crowd over 10-15 minutes, and then fill the rest of the hour with a short show. Wash, rinse, and repeat four times with different themed shows--card magic, rope magic, sleight of hand, mentalism, and maybe even a short segment for "tricks you can do to impress your friends."

Can anyone lend some advice?

Thanks,
Rob

sounds like a good idea. Nothing wrong with getting a small crowd going then slipping away 'Guerilla' stylie only to pop up in front of another group.

The mentalism may not be as strong if seen by the same people that previously saw you doing more conventional magic though.

Sounds good. I wouldn't worry about doing different routines for the whole 4 hours, personally I'd work out about 45 minutes worth of magic and just repeat it over to fill the time. You're not going to be performing for the same people every time, so I wouldn't worry about repeating.

During a walkaround of that length, I'd arm yourself with 5 flowing effects. Do 3 or 4 maybe to each 'slice' of people, and move on. Vary the set a bit.

There's no need at all to fill that time with different effects!

Maybe if you wish to drum up a crowd you can't go wrong with a really good cup and balls routine.

I echo Seiges words on this. I generally have two routines each containing about 5 tricks and I rotate them along with a few back ups and quickies to drop in as needs must.

Good luck and take plenty of fluids. It's gonna be thiristy work

I appreciate the input!

I'm definitely going to do the cups and balls a time or two. I've got some more visual effects--cups and balls, Fiber Optics, some strong mentalism, and some comedy routines--that will be for larger crowds and I'll have a deck of cards, some coins, and other "street" effects for the time I'm just strolling. I don't want to repeat myself too much for the sake of my own sanity, but repetition is indeed inevitable

How about going for guiness world record for the longest ACR. Four hours long.....

As Jay Sankey says in Rev. card magic " As you do your 400th card coming to the top.......The Horror, the horror". that bit always makes me grin.... ok maybe you have to have seen it.

Good luck!

I do this type of thing all the time.....simply fill up your jacket and go have some fun....you will find that you can draw a crowd quite easily, but I would recommend more in the area of 8-10 minutes, and move along....find another spot, set up, and boom 8-10 minutes.....you can literally repeat the effects over and over again each time. I like to have a combination of gaffed decks, misc. props, and numerous impromptu card effects.

You can change things up a little by using a different prop/gaff in each small set, and then wrap it up in a couple of impromptu effects....I found that the first 10-12 times that I worked this type of venue I was WAAAAYYYYY to prepared - I know that doesn't totally sound possible - but I mean I was loaded up with items in every pocket, and didn't use half of what I had packed.

I arrange to have a back room / staging area that I can keep a bag full of gear, and occasionally go back (in private) and change out some of my props to freshen things up for me and the specs....you don't need to carry or perform everything all at once.

The beauty of this type of venue is that you can run very "on-the-fly" and feel out each small group....and play with the routine as you go...very little pre-planned routine work, simply feed off the specs and flow from one effect to another impromptu....they will not know it is impromptu at all

PM if you need help at all!

I done this back at christmas and I just took 8 effects and performed 6 of them and kept the other 2 for back up. I just hit a group then moved on to the next repeating myself.

Some very good advice has already been given. From what I've heard of people in a similar position, and which is confirmed by our wonderful TM people, you really only need six to ten effects. Get those nailed.

I'd repeat the advice about weakening the mentalism by sticking it not only into a carnival setting, but also walk-around. Of course, con games and mind readers could be found at fairs, but you might not be doing yourself a favour trying to do all things.

Talking of which, do you know a Three Card Monte routine? The Shell Game? Fast and Loose? If you've got somewhere to show them (there might not be tables - think about that if you're relying on Cups and Balls), they could fit in very well.

Good luck.

yeah, kinda along the lines of what part-timer said, as you're in a carney setting, take full advantage of that...

can you dress up? you could have a stand-alone mentalism set if you had a completely different look? an old style fakir/swami type persona would work well i reckon...

get yourself some large facial hair, roll-neck jumper, a big crystal ball...make it look funny/ironic, then sucker-punch them with some spot on mentalism...

i'd like to see someone in a roughed up bowler hat, with a card sticking in it, waistcoat, white shirt, pulling off some classics of card magic too...then produce a makeshift wand (steady!) and go into some other classics as already mentions...cup and balls, linking rings, 3 shells...that kinda thing...play it big and brassy...

Sounds good, guys. I'm not going to go for the whole "ridiculously dressed swami" because while I do entertain, it doesn't fit my image as a performer. Though the cups and balls are a great effect and I plan to perform that at least once during the stretch! I'm going to bring my own table so I don't need to worry about relying on the venue to provide one.

I wish I had a derby hat, come to think of it (think Gazzo and his honeydew production)--now THAT is some shock-and-awe material right there