talkmagic.co.uk

From what I understand he is usually the one giving the standing ovation

bmat wrote:From what I understand he is usually the one giving the standing ovation

Too true! For if an audience manages to sit through one of my shows for 2 and a half hours without leaving they deserve a standing ovation!

Lady of Mystery wrote:It's also nice if it's something that ties up a few loose ends from the show.

That is sound advice. I clearly did not do this in my conclusion. With hindsight, I find this principle applied in some professional shows, but I never fully appreciated or understood this because my focus was just on getting off the stage immediately after the final effect's climax.

Fortunately, Tony's and your posts point out that this is just a lousy idea ...

TonyB wrote:Most people advise on ending with something very strong. In contrast Jeff McBride, at a masterclass I attended, emphasised that the end was a conclusion, not a highpoint. [...]

You make an excellent point. Your argument about the novel is actually very solid and convincing, I had never seen it from this perspective!

A masterclass by Jeff McBride truly deserves its name ...

[...] Make your ending emotionally satisfying, rather that spectacular. Your ending needs to emphasise you and focus attention on you - and to ground your audience.

It sounds like you have found exactly what I felt was wrong and even pointed me in the right direction for fixing it! My ending was feeling so isolated because I had only aimed for being spectacular, but not emotionally satisfying as you put it.

Thank you very much for your insight and your advice! Your acumen is exactly what I had been looking for!

This is a follow-up on the ending: I now end with a small recollection of the high points during my presentation. At the very end I go full circle to my first effect and the introductory line to it (which is a question). I repeat the question and leave the audience with it.

This way the ending feels well rounded and it works really well!

Thanks again for the great feedback!