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In short, does stand up comedy and magic play well together?

I'm trying to put together an act that has stand up comedy and magic sections alternating, so start off with stand up comedy, then a magic routine (with funny lines in), then more stand up, then magic, etc...

I want to work everything in the structure of a stand up comedy routine, i.e. the freedom to jump about a little between topics, and performed behind a microphone and stand. I probably will perform it in comedy clubs, but I think mainly I'm targeting it as a magic show for events.

My question is how does magic play alongside comedy in comedy clubs? And what I approach should I take to structuring my act?

Ok, short answer is - make it kickass funny!

A friend of mine is of the opinion that a magician in a comedy club is a welcome break, and people like Pete Firman seem to get on well in that environment.
He's said before "nobody really goes into a comedy club to see a magic show" which is right, but it still seems a little uneasy I think.

My idea I think is going to be to have a lot of strong comedy at the start to establish myself, and then to have the comedy lead into the magic, so that it doesn't seem so much of a STOP - now a magic trick, rather it's more the magic illustrates a point I was making.

I think also a short routine is better than a long drawn out one, that loses the track of the show.

Your opinions are appreciated.
Thanks.
Ed.

Look at comedians who perform comedy music in their act (such as Bill Bailey). Does that work? Could you use a similar approach to move into the magic segment?
I don't think the magic needs to relate to the comedy, it could just be a change of direction.
You could be a comedian who performs magic, or a magician who is really funny - which is more important to you? Emphasise that and use the other to enhance the first.
I've seen a lot of comedy magicians perform poor magic in a funny way to go along with the comedy, personally I think if you want to combine magic with comedy then you should make sure that the magic is strong and entertaining as well as funny. Would you want people to leave thinking "that magician was really funny, but his tricks were pretty poor" or "That magician was hilarious, how the hell did he do...".
Think about whether or not you can use the comedy to disarm the audience so that when you do the magic they are shocked and amazed (more so than they would be otherwise).
I think its important that your style/character is consistent whether you are performing a magic or comedy section.

Just my thoughts, but I don't do stand up comedy so I may be way off!

Where do you live? I have some friends who run stand up comedy nights. I might be able to give them your details once you have an act.

I recently went to a magic evening where the entertainment was put by the British Magical Society. We had five close up performers touring the tables and the second half cabaret section consisted of two different comedy magic acts on stage. Both were extremely funny, at one time I counted 8 jokes in succession without any magic being done but the audience lapped it up. The comedy was a great way to get people relaxed and in the mood for entertainment but it continued all the way through, even making light of some basic magic effects. The second magician performed an act I'd seen at least 20 years before and it was still very funny and entertaining. I knew how most of the magic was performed and, indeed, I have many of the effects and routines in the magic storeroom upstairs at Mandrake Mansions (!) but for me the comedy made the evening extra special, leaving the audience to go home with big smiles as well as baffled and bemused.

Drop Victoria (V.E. Day) a pm. She does Comedy/Magic and I'm sure will be able to advise?

Yes they go together.

Steve Martin
Johnny Carson
David Acer
Jay Sankey
Murray Sawchuck

Just to name a few. In the old days and possibly the new days, magic was used as a stepping stone to get into the comedy clubs as it offered something a little different, (even though it is as old as the hills), and comedy was a stepping stone to get into show business.

But yes they can easily go together, provided you can pull both off.