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I've been too busy. From last week tuesday to next saterday I would've done 11 shows. That's after turning 5 away. I do this part time - I have a day job that's quite demanding and often have to get to work at 3 in the morning. I see why they call it the silly season. Anyway - last night I was performing in front of around 700 people (kid's show). The last effect is a dove pan production of a rabbit, a snake and a cake (get them to say pat-a-cake - but tell them not to say pat-a-snake..you get the idea). Anyway - the show went reasonably well, although I didn't feel on top form. As I took the loaded dove pan out of my case it broke and the whole load fell on to the stage . It was terrible. I picked up the rabbit and asked him what he was doing hiding there - got a kid on to stage to hold the rabbit - but I felt really stupid..
Yes I did check my equipment before the show in case you were wondering. Anyone else have any horror stories like this? If so, please share - I really need to hear them right now..
I have a small kid's show today and then no more shows until tuesday night - so I get to take a bit of a break..

I wonder if you've ever heard of Jay Sankey's chick pan diaster when he first started out?

Too long to type here plus my memory of it is vague but he used a cat ( big mistake number one ) and cutting the story very short he ended up with the cat on fire and leaping into the crowd. Now that is a disaster.

I've never had a trick go wrong so I can't help with a personal story.

P.S
Love your pat a cake/snake line:)

Not a personal horror story as such, but a while ago we were in a restaurant, and there was a table hopper performing. He did some card/wallet stuff, made coins vanish, etc. Some of it was genuinely impressive and we clapped in appreciation. Then he did a cut and restored rope trick, during which he dropped something small but vital. He swore, picked it up and walked off. Now, that made us more disgruntled than if he'd have simply appologised with a funny line and carried on. After all, we were into what he was doing, so he had rapport enough for us to ignore it, but walking away broke rapport and made us resent him.

Good news is that the kid's show I did today made up for last night. It was an awesome audience - just what I needed. One of the parents is an event coordinator and is keen on using me - so that's also a good thing. I did some of my adult stuff (as in stuff for adults in case you were wondering) after the kid's show and that was amazing. So I feel a lot better now. Had lunch with a good friend who is one of the top magicians in SA. It was very encouraging to hear that he's also had a couple of shows like last night. I guess the key is to pick up and move on and try and plan around the possibility of something like that happening. I managed to fix my dove pan. One of the little aardvarks (you know what I mean) had come loose.

As I took the loaded dove pan out of my case it broke and the whole load fell on to the stage

Things go wrong. It happens to amateurs and profesionals alike. I certainly have had my share of uncontrollable things that didn't work on th enight and although they can seem like a disaster at the time, I believe that it is the mark of the true professional to be able get through these moments and even on occasion turn them to our advantage.

I picked up the rabbit and asked him what he was doing hiding there

It sounds to me like you coped, and even managed to turn it into a humerous incident. Sometimes that's the very only thing that can be done. The worst is to panic and show everyone how distressed you are.

Learn from the experience of it, as the chances are something WILL go wrong again. Certainly with the amount you are performing.

Obviously check props beforehand - but as you said yourself, sometimes sods law will kick and if it can go wrong it will go wrong.

So a big congratulations for getting through it.

HappyToad wrote:I've never had a trick go wrong

Give it time my friend. Give it time...

Give it time my friend. Give it time...

Simon, the little wink made it quite clear that it was a tongue in cheek comment. Every magician has tricks go wrong.

Greetings

I know that this was completely my fault as I should have controlled the audience better but on my second children's show I was gang rushed by the little darlings and one of them grabbed my milk pitcher and managed to pour milk all over himself and the birthday girl who screamed like a banshee without a brush.

Fortunately I had the appearing cookies trick so I was able to play it off but gosh it knocked me for 6.

I now cover the front of my table with razor wire and plant a few landmines too just incase


Dean

Simon, the little wink made it quite clear that it was a tongue in cheek comment.

Evidently not.

(and I just thought you were winking cos you fancied me)

Disaster of my own.......

I was at a birthday party for my 9 year old neice and her friends....I promised her I would do a magic show for her friends. There was about 10 kids, and about 20 parents (10 sets of 2) around for the show. I was obviously taking things too laid back because I was not prepared right, nor controlling the kids well. ......likely because it was my neice a took a more casual approach to it all.......to make a long story short, one of the kids pickpocketed me....yes I did say pickpocketed......I had a bunch of loads stolen from my pocket, and when I began going into my pocket for something, I realized nothing was in there.........after a few panicked seconds, the little girls said "Looking for this stuff?!" I was embarrassed to death.

That's classic

Bananafish - thanks a million. What you said is really encouraging