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Hi all.
I've decided to take part in a small show, basically open mic. It will be on an elevated stage and the crowd will be between 300-400. Unfortunately for me stage magic is out of my realm I've only really done closeup before, so I'm looking for some help
It's only a 4 minute slot so just one trick/routine. I'd need something that involves a good bit of audience participation as well as something visual. I'm sort of drawn to some sort of mentalist effect although I'm no mentalist so it would have to be mental magic or perhaps I could work something around an impression pad? Anyone with any ideas or recommendations of any type of routine that has a good wow factor would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Deleted my original reply, misread the allocated time.

You only have 4 mins so youre right you need one strong effect. What you do will depend on what the other acts are doing. If all the other acts are comedians then you need a comedy routine. If there is more variety then you have more options. It also depends on how friendly the crowd are.

There is something to be said for spending the first minute with some kind of BANG! Im magic and Im GOOD at it! effect to grab peoples attention. Followed by one good solid effect.

You have 3 minutes left. The trouble with a mentalist effect is that you wont have the enough time to build up a rapport with the audience. You would walk on, do something good and walk off. You would get away with it but the overall effect would be a bit flat.

Everyone needs to:

(a) Immediately understand what you are attempting to do.
(b) Be able to see what you are doing.
(c) Immediately see that you have achieved the effect and that it was amazing.

How about a DW effect where you produce a list from your wallet of things just called out by the audience?

The theme of your act could be coincidences. Introduce the idea with your one minute wow effect to assert your magic authority and then...

Minute 1 Tell the audience that you have a long journey to go home and want them to shout out things that you should buy for the trip. Get a spectator up on stage.

Minute 2 Get about 5 things shouted out at you. Note them down.

Minute 3 Tell everyone that you always ask the audience this and still have the list from your last performance. Take out the 'old' one from your wallet and hand it to the spec to read out. All the things on the list are the same - what a coincidence!

Now get everyone to applaud your spectator - bow (you take the applause) and leave the stage.

Hi George,

That sounds like a really nice effect, I can't say I'm familiar with the term DW or the method used here, any links to the required book dvd etc would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your input I really like the idea.
As for the one minute thing hmm It sounds like with one minute its gotta be an appearance or a vanish or both
thanks

I had the chance to present for 10 minutes in an auditorium two years ago. George's suggestion is great indeed because what I did was something similar. It's the Lottery trick where they can call out numbers while a throw a huge beachball at them (it's summer!). So whoever gets the ball shall stand up and give out a number.

Sarconi I have sent you a PM about the DW.

Im not sure about DVDS on DW but a Classic routine can be found in Al Korans book Professional Presentations edited by Hugh Miller. This routine is also performed and explained on Richard Osterlinds DVD Easy to Master Mental Miracles Vol 2.