talkmagic.co.uk

Hey guys,

i have a bit of a dilemma.

Basically i was performing tricks for my dad and his mates at his pub and everyone loved them. Simple things like STS and bw deck and stuff like that were all i did but obviously they are very effective.

Anyway getting to the point one of the women i performed for husband is a north east comedian and is wanting to incorporate me in his act. Now the thought of this alone made my stomach turn. It would be stage work and would be paid but when i think about me performing i know nothing.

I don't have a single routine to my name, don't know too many tricks to put in a routine and can't afford to buy new tricks. I have Bobo's coin magic, RRTCM and Mark Wilsons Complete Course but i lack the motivation to try and learn new tricks as they all seem very hard.

As much as i would love to be a propper magician usingslights and that takes still i reallyam struggling to get my head into gear.

Just wondering if you guys had any suggestions for stage effects or maybe a couple of tricks that go well in a routine, to buy or that are in the three books above mentioned.

Cheers

Sam

P.S. Seige- still hasn't arrived, i imagine it has become lost in post if not here tomorrow

two off the top of my head that are easy to learn and play big if presented well are:-

cut and restored rope... take time moving the knot about, mark wilsons.

misers dream sequence end with a moth coil you can have stuck to the bottom of the bucket for easy reach, marks and bobo's

tell the dude your worries

work out a few simple routines. i believe RRTCM has a section for routining. try these routines in school and on thebstreet to get your confidence up. perhaps get a gig in a pub - a half an hour stage slot would be good practice

and, if all goes to plot, you could always recommend me?

Samdingo Samdingo...

produce 3 sponge balls, go in to the cups and balls final load under one cup is a card case.....but with rope in . Rope through boddy and c&r.


There is nowt better than being on stage in front of people yes there is a buzz close-up but when you get on a stage in front of people. When I use to do small stage stuff for my mum's charities she was involved in i would it would go to

lit match production
Candle to silk to cane
and i always ended doing card manipulations

And the middle I would just jazz.

But if you dont feel ready I wouldnt go up there just yet give it 3 or four months then see how you feel contact him again if not give him my number.

Okay - first reaction....chill!

Second reaction; if you honestly feel you aren't ready for this kind of venue, then - in all likelihood - you almost certainly aren't ready!

I know this is going to be difficult; you've received a hugely complimentary offer, in respect to a performance which you undertook, and which was well within your own comfort-zone. That's what you do, and - from the sounds of it - you do it very well indeed

But...going from close-up, which you're obviously skilled with, to a stage act, with which you have no experience, is going to be a very tough time - especially if you have no set routine, or suitable props.

I'm guessing that this lady's husband is quite an experienced, long-standing performer? If this is the case, then, yes, I'd highly-recommend having a meeting with him, and explaining your situation.

I'd anticipate that he's likely to suggest:

(a) Wating a few months, whilst you sort a routine and set, or

(b) Altering his peception of your involvement, so that you can come 'off-stage', and mingle with the audience, to do what you do best at the moment.

If you're not comfortable with what's being asked of you, this'll certainly show, and nothing will crush your confidence more than dying on stage, simply because you've put yourself in a position you're not quite ready for.

It's all a learning experience, and this is a great learning point for every magician, who's contemplating changing or expanding their performance-type.

Whatever you decide, please do let us all know how it goes down - I'm sure there's a lot that can be learned by many here from your forthcoming experiences

BTW -

Sir_Digby_Chicken_Ceaser wrote:P.S. Seige- still hasn't arrived, i imagine it has become lost in post if not here tomorrow

It's a Bank-holiday tomorrow; I'd doubt you'll be getting any post at all

It's not compulsory to take this guy's offer. If you don't feel right, don't do it. There'll be other opportunities, and if you feel your future lies in something more intimate than a stage, tell the guy and see what he says.

Thanks for all your advice so far people.

I have been on the phone to the bloke and arranged a meeting with himself to find out exactly what he would like out of me and for how long. The idea i got off the phone was that he wanted me to perform all kinds of magic which will be on stage AND table hopping, depending on the venue he is performing at. He also offered to pay for any effects that i could use to enhance any act i was thinking of but told me to be reasonable. I was thinking appearing cane and silk to cane kinda stuff?

Any more advice would be brilliant. As i say, if you recommend any tricks from the three books mention in my first post then please do let me know. Chances are i will probably reject his offer for me to perform as tomo said, but make sure he knows I'll be available in a month or two.

Cheers

Sam

since its a comedian your working for then two props would work well in that situation.

apearing shovle, just incase you need to dog your own grave and apearing broom so you can say if you didn't like the magic i can always go back to my origional job.

between you you can work out some great gags with thease two props and there not too expensive either.

Three Cards Across at the back of RRTCM is a good one for the stage.
Make sure you have it down pat before you attempt it and make sure you angles are 100%.
It's old, but when done well never fails to impress a crowd.

i agree wih robstanley if you don't feel ready for this then i would be hesitant to take the guy up on the offer, remember it's not just your reputation on the line. if you don't feel comfortable performing on stage or in a professional capacity it doesn't matter what tricks you buy.

i would suggest discussing with the comedian what kind of effects would suit his act (the last thing you want to do is upstage the guy) appearing shovel and appearing broom are good gags but you aren't the comedian so you need some better tricks than that. i recommend gazzos thrown out deck (lots of crowd involvment and a trick most people won't have seen). depending how long he wants you on stage for maybe a few bits of mentalism or a few gambling effects to get the crowd going.

think seriously about doing this it's a big ask for someone who hasn't done that kind of performance before and you have more than one reputation to think about

good luck

I'd suggest looking back over CCM. There are some stage-worthy tricks in there that are relatively easy to learn. Learn them quick, practice for a couple hours a day before the show and you should be fine.

Figo wrote:think seriously about doing this it's a big ask for someone who hasn't done that kind of performance before and you have more than one reputation to think about

From everything that people here have said, this seems IMO to be the most important thing anyone has mentioned. If you do tell this guy that you don't feel you're ready for this kind of work yet it seems sensible to let him know that you're concerned about his rep too.

Another thing to consider is that if he does want you to do some stage work and some table hopping depending on the venue, perhaps you can do the table hopping gigs and leave the stage work until you feel you're ready.

I really think you've been given a fantastic opportunity here, but you don't want to ruin it, so think carefully.

Good luck and keep us informed!

The thing is i could put together a series of tricks that are all either gimmicks or self working stuff like sts or coin unique or something like that.Only problem being i don't wanna, i want a routine that is made up and performed requiring some skill and practice, especially when my services are being paid for.

Sir_Digby_Chicken_Ceaser wrote:The thing is i could put together a series of tricks that are all either gimmicks or self working stuff like sts or coin unique or something like that.Only problem being i don't wanna, i want a routine that is made up and performed requiring some skill and practice, especially when my services are being paid for.

Blaine uses gimmicks, Paul Daniels uses gimmicks...Its all about presenting them in the best possible way rather than being a "sleight junky" Remember only you know you will be using the gimmicks and after all we are in the business of lying.

Too true Marky, also don't forget Didgy that simply because there's little mechanical skill in a routine doesn't mean it'll need less practice. I often get more nervous performing simple virtually sleightless stuff because if the one 'move' gets spotted you're buggered. When I'm doing something that has lots of sleights such as a coin routine the nerves kind of get diluted throughout the routine, if that makes sense.

However it's been pointed out before that you can easily make a living in magic with no technical skill at all (check out the plethora of virtually self-working gaffed stuff in Blaine's first special) so go with what you feel comfortable with. Just make sure the whole thing fits together as a coherent routine.