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Is there any material on this or advice anyone can give on putting together a good routine? I just need to know what's important to have in an act and what's just... pointless in an act that needs to be good. Just any books or advice on building a good routine. Thanks!

Ian,
I am still a newbie when it comes to shows, but there is some advice I have picked up from forums. Some of it is just how I, personally find it works for me.

Decide what your performing personality is. Do this before you start thinking of a routine. You have posted about a children's and adult show, so not sure which you want advice on. May help to know.

Don't put something in the show for the wrong reason. just because it is something you enjoy, it may not suit the show you are doing.

What audience are you aiming at? Is it children, adults or families?

Is it a single routine, or is it a show that you are trying to put together?
If it is a show, then have you got any routines that you have come up with your own patter and take on it?

Be honest about your routine. You will need to write it more than once. Don't forget, angles, where you and any volunteers will stand, where your props are/will be put back to, all come into it.

Where you are performing makes a difference. I wouldn't suggest a sub trunk in someones front room!

Once you have decided on these, then look at what you have/know. See if you can think of a rough idea with them. If you feel that they may suit the show, write it down. Do this with more than you need for a show. you can then look at choosing which you want and what order you want them in.
Change the ones that you feel are weaker. sometimes it is just the order that needs changing. Think about what the outcome of each routine is. You may find that you realise you are doing all productions using a similar method. see if you can change method or outcome, or whether to ditch some.

Spend time on it.

Repeat the above.

As for books, others can advise better than me.
Ref your post on children's magic, Seriously Silly by David Kaye would be very useful. Gives some advice on performing to different age ranges. The props may be the same, but the patter etc is changed to suit various ages.

Two others which may be of help are Strong Magic and Magic And Showmanship. Should think there are some reviews on here.

Others will contradict what I said, as a lot is what I find easier, when I am trying to work out routines. It isn't necessarily correct, although I would say that the first point about making sure you know the style of your performing persona is a must.


Edit
Note, it may be worth you looking at the sticky by Staphen Ward, on performing for the public. May find some better advice in there. I must admit I had forgotten about that.

In the back of the royal road to card magic it has a section on how to link card tricks together you may be able to apply this to your performance holistically.

The Tarbell Course (I believe in volume 3) has a lesson on routining. Tarbell describes, analyzes, and compares the acts of the top magicians of his day.

Kenton Knepper gives ideas on how to routine in Mystery by Association.

I'd recomend to anyone who's at the stage in magic where they're thinking about routining to have a look at Maximum Entertainment by Ken Weber. Whilst there is only the one chapter discussing routines and material to put into your act the entire book is a really valuable resource for anyone considering their act, professional or amateur. I'm sure there is a review on it here somewhere.

David Stone also has some good advice on this in his DVDs.

One should look in to the work of Dawin Ortiz. The book strong magic will teach you all you need to know about making a routine.

Markdini wrote:I can answer this in 3 words :

Read Strong magic.

Someone call the grammar police.

Hmm this comming from a man who plays with his balls in public.

Markdini wrote:Hmm this comming from a man who plays with his balls in public.

But I always do it while grammatically correct.

[go on, someone point out the horrible grammar error in that sentence]

Lawrence wrote:

Markdini wrote:Hmm this comming from a man who plays with his balls in public.

But I always do it while grammatically correct.

[go on, someone point out the horrible grammar error in that sentence]

It started with a but. Never thought it would end like this... *breaks into song*

Oh, gosh...

"But" is ok to start a sentence with - i was going to be pedantic and say that it should have been "whilst", rather than "while".

I cud speek propa eva sintz i wuz childrun...