Looking for advice on first proper show!

Struggling with an effect? Any tips (without giving too much away!) you'd like to share?

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Looking for advice on first proper show!

Postby doyler35 » Sep 4th, '08, 14:29



Hi everyone,

All going to plan I shall be preforming my first show on Saturday week to a group of family/friends of family. The group will be about 10-15. I have a good idea about how it's going to look however if anyone could spare a moment to give me some advice/crticism/money I would really appreciate it! I'm confident in my ability of handling all the effects and such, so I'm really looking for advice on the general ideas really! I've tried to give as much detail as possible. Please feel free to PM email msn me or whatever (i just want some friends really! :wink: )

The show opens with me demonstrating “tomorrow’s newspaper” which has unusual magical properties (found in the property section). I turn to the financial section of the newspaper from which I have cut 4 pieces of paper. Explaining that having the financial section of tomorrow’s newspaper means an easy way of making money, I slap the clippings down onto my palm and they have instantly changed to 4 five-euro notes. (Extreme Burn by Richard Sanders)

With this newly acquired money, we can now play a game. Here I begin my chop cup routine in the style of the spectator guessing where the ball is (in my pocket or under the cup) with the “possibility” of winning a 5 note. Each time the spec looses, I put a note back into my pocket. After the final note, I load the cup with a piece of fruit then explain that if the spectators like what they see, they should clap and cheer and generally make some noise. If they do not like what they see however, “feel free to throw these at me”, reveal the fruit, load the second and reveal. I then toss the fruit out to spectators to examine. Reaching for tomorrow’s newspaper, I ask if anyone has seen fruit go through a table before and ask someone to toss a piece of fruit back to me. I cover the cup with a sheet of newspaper and make attempts to knock the fruit through the table with the cup. On the last attempt, the cup is crushed completely and nowhere to be seen. “C*** (not the best) that perfectly normal cup cost me fifteen quid!” I exclaim “think I’d better stick to the cards!”

I now produce 2 decks of cards. I pass one to a spectator and ask them to keep them safe, and not let anyone touch them in at all. I pass the other deck to another spec and instruct them to carefully go through the cards face up, and while my back is turned, to remove any card they wish and show it to the audience. I take the deck back and give the spec a pen to sign the card. This done, I cut the deck and instruct the spec to return the card around the middle of the deck. The routine goes as follows- mostly taken from that wonderful, wonderful book; Royal Road..
• Okay, could have sworn this one was in RRTCM but can’t seem to find it. Maybe I was thinking of “Righting a Wrong” but there’s a version in Mark Wilson’s Course as “Riffle Revelation”
• As a link between the two main effects of the routine I do a quick ambitios card. Not sure where I picked this up but it’s basically the spec’s card goes into one half of the deck which goes into the other half of the deck. When the deck is riffled, the card has jumped to the top of the deck.
• Apparantly to finish I do what is certainly my favourite card effect I have come across in my mere year of practising magic – Grab-Bag Card. Its a beauty!
• About to put the cards away, I remember the deck I gave to the other spectator. The spectator confirms it has not been touched and I recall how the other spectator had chosen his card. I remove the deck from the case and reveal there is one card face down. The spectator takes this card, and it is indeed a match for the card we had been using all along.

To finish it will be either a coin or sponge ball routine (depending on pocket space!) I know that was long, so I really do appreciate it if you have read it :)

Many thanks
Gary
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doyler35
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Postby Ian The Magic-Ian » Sep 4th, '08, 14:43

That sounds good for a first show.

I don't know who will change anything but I don't feel it's my place to do so. (unless you have grand illusions in a close up show than i'll say something)
It sounds like you have it planned out already so why do you need our help?
Is there something specific you'd like to change, or work on?

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Postby doyler35 » Sep 4th, '08, 14:55

To be honest theres a few details I'm a bit unsure about. The idea of offering them the chance to win the money sounds like it could create a bit of "us versus him" in their minds. Also, I'm not sure if I'm making the most of the I.D, as in if it would still have its mindblowing effect presented like this.

Although simple, I feel the card routine is the highlight and I'm sure I read that its good policy to have the highlight as your second last trick. Is this true?

I just posted it because I have seen people give great advice about this kind of thing and would be nice to hear if wether its a good idea to change anything.
Thanks

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Postby Miles More Magic » Sep 4th, '08, 15:13

It's for family and friends, yet you have still gone to a great deal of effort to get a show together, which is 100% great.

I'm sure that you are going to enjoy it and so will they. Remember that you know them well enough to get their honest reactions after the show.

As for changing things, again, others are better judges of that, but good luck whatever you do.

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Postby Lady of Mystery » Sep 4th, '08, 17:27

Sounds like a nice set to me, best of luck with it.

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Postby Mage Tyler » Sep 4th, '08, 18:45

doyler35 wrote:To be honest theres a few details I'm a bit unsure about. The idea of offering them the chance to win the money sounds like it could create a bit of "us versus him" in their minds. Also, I'm not sure if I'm making the most of the I.D, as in if it would still have its mindblowing effect presented like this.

Although simple, I feel the card routine is the highlight and I'm sure I read that its good policy to have the highlight as your second last trick. Is this true?


I wouldn't be too worried about creating an "us versus him" situation, just keep it light and play up how close they were, and that they'd better stay out of the casinos with that type of luck.

As for the I.D. I really like the idea of having a spectator hold it - I think it increases the mindblowing potential and you can make a big deal about how you haven't handled it at all. You can even put a few rubber bands or string around the deck to keep it "safe and secure".

I think you've got a great sounding set, quick visual beginning and a strong finish. Have fun!

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Postby doyler35 » Sep 7th, '08, 00:08

Thanks to all for the support/advice!

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Postby Mr.Mystery » Sep 7th, '08, 04:30

You really made your show flow well together. What I mean is that instead switching props for every trick you made each trick fall into the next, the finale of one trick becomes the starting of another, this is something I have problems with. Anyways, good luck and have fun!

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