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knmagic Elite user 436 Posts |
My show mainly focus in the production of 4 doves, all from jacket. I have other effects to fill in between time but dove production is the highlight of my act. I had a show today and after setting up table, cage and everything, I realized I forgot my tux at home which is 60 miles away. I could have carried on the show withou doves but I did not wear nice clotes so I had to cancel the show, lucky that it was for charity so nobody complained. I just want to know is there any one out there ran into the same problem and what did you do to recover the disaster? If you did not have that problem, what would you do differently?
Thank you for any input and suggestion. Oh, boy, I feel so bad. First time ever happenned to me! Ken |
Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
I bet you will never forget your tux again. The great Jay Marshall suggest makeing a list of everything and attaching it to the lid of your case. Also have an emergency kit with you. Tape, string, picks, sticks, etc. that you will need to make a fast repair.
Also I always carry more magic then the show calls for. This can be used for extended shows or places that turn out not to conform to your normal act. I would not have canceled the show. You should have just done the other magic. If time was available, you could have gone out and purchased clothes for the event, if not, Well, I guess you could have gone on with what you were wearing. There is an old saying in show business, "The show must go on". |
knmagic Elite user 436 Posts |
Wmhegbli, thanks for the input. You are right, now think about it, I shouldn't cancelled the show. A good experience.
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Ken,
Those things happen! But I agree with Bill. The show still goes on! I have cancelled one show in forty-two years. It was March 2004 and I gave a week's notice. My show had been modified specifically for that performance. It would have been the first time I performed there again in twenty-two years. We really wanted to make that show. (It was even about 800 miles drive from the day before.) My wife Lucy was an important part of that show. She is also a country doctor who owns her own clinic. The substitute doctor disappeared. We had little choice. Lucy will not leave the community without a doctor. We both still feel badly about it but we also feel that under the circumstances, it was the right decision. My most glaring example of an experience like yours was when I worked the Hilton Hotel chain with fashion shows for a major modeling agency (27 cities). My job as magician was to do about four to seven minutes in between each category of clothing modeled. This set the stage for that category (sports, business, campus, evening, etc.) and bought a little time for the models to get changed. The sequence was not usually difficult because each time I would exit the opposite side of the stage as the last time. In this show there was a last minute change. Consequently, I went off stage on a side with no dove harnesses but in the next set I would produce two body-loaded doves. The show went on. And I learned that day that all doves don't have to be in harnesses. I no longer use invisible harnesses. I don't need them. (I have even fooled other magicians in the audience.) Necessity is the mother of invention. Make it work for you. Bob Magic By Sander |
knmagic Elite user 436 Posts |
Thanks Bob. I must now put my thinking out of the "harness and dove bags". Just in case no doves were allowed or I might forget my harness one day. I heard that you are going to put out a book. I hope you will share those experiences also in your book. It will be interesting to see what methods did you use to even fool other magicicans.
Ken |
Dave Scribner Assistant Manager Lake Hopatcong, NJ 4849 Posts |
Ken, not much you really could have done as far as the dove portion of your act unless you had broght extra props which obviously you didn't. The show should have continued. You could have had whoever introduced you, make some comment about your clothes. They wouldn't have to say you forgot them. Not good to have a magician that forgets his clothes, but they could have made up some story to cover the mistake. It may not have been the best looking show around, but you may have positively promoted your ability to perform under adverse conditions.
Where the magic begins
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knmagic Elite user 436 Posts |
It's a good advise Dave. I'll remember it. I guess just being disappointed and upset made my mind dull at that time.
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Lucy New user Alabama 26 Posts |
Knmagic,
Show business is loaded with opportunities to have to think on your feet. Remember that the audience usually has no idea what to expect! (Take advantage of that!) Good Luck! Lucy |
knmagic Elite user 436 Posts |
Thanks Lucy. My head was wrapped around doves and only dove production at that time. I am trying to change that thought now and developing an alternate routine that I can use for emergency.
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Lucy New user Alabama 26 Posts |
Ken,
If you are brave and want to have fun, ask Bob if MisMade Flag has ever gone wrong. About 2000 miles from home, he discovered that the silks packed for his MisMade Flag routine had one flag that really didn't match. It was the American flag that was one size smaller than the rest of the 24" set he had planned to use. (He must have three dozen sets!) He used the smaller flag and got away with it! Pure guts and luck! Lucy |
RandyStewart Inner circle Texas (USA) 1989 Posts |
Sorry to hear about the tux. I've never done that but if I were to forget or have missing even the smallest of accessories the act falls apart. Heck a missing card clip would cripple the card production portion of my act.
Wmhegbli mentioned carrying more than you need. The experienced performers I've had the pleasure of learning from always carried more. Actually a pro in San Antonio told me he had several entire backup performances in case something was missing, broken, or forgotten. If I'm performing tomorrow, I am eagerly anticipating that moment and want to perform THAT SPECIFIC ACT. However, a few experienced have asked me what I would do if something was forgotten, lost, or broken. I need to delve further into my act and have an out if something does go wrong that way. Funny how I've only been asked that by those WHO'VE BEEN THERE - words to the wise. |
Lucy New user Alabama 26 Posts |
I think of sponge balls as parachutes! They are always with me.
Lucy |
Farrell Veteran user 371 Posts |
I carry an extra set of clothes in one of those plastic drawer boxes in my car... it's always there Just in Case... I don't have to do body loads or anything I just wear a cool looking shirt and Black Pants... so this probably doesn't apply to everyone... but I do it. I've had clothes and suitcases Fall off hangers and into Puddles I've had a bag stolen when checking it onto an airplane. So I always keep that extra set of performance clothes.
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kregg Inner circle 1950 Posts |
Do a pre show checklist.
I used to think that sending my props and wardrobe was better than depending on airport baggage claim... until I saw a smoldering Fed Ex truck on the interstate. "Life is what happens to you, when you're busy making other plans."
POOF!
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RJE Inner circle 1848 Posts |
No matter how experienced or careful you are, you will forget something somewhere sometime.
We have checklists, which we check. We always try to load the show with plenty of time so as to avoid last minute rushes and so on. Even so, there will be mistakes. Since we always like to arrive early for a show, for the odd time that this has occured, we try to trouble shoot on the spot. A needle and thread and you can sew up a dove harness or devil's hank from scratch. Heck, we once created a whole backstage, complete with backdrop at a mall show once when one that was promised in the contract wasn't there. (So why did we do the show? Because our name was on the marquee, not the agent's or the entertainment booker for the mall.) I remember years ago watching a lecture at a magic club and the theme was, "What do you do when you arrive to do your show and your props didn't make the flight?" I don't remember a lot of what specific effects the lecturer came up with (one has to do with creating an invisible deck using Chapstick, neat idea, but I've never tried it). But, what I did learn, was "Don't panic! Think." You may be able to substitute and even come up with a great new routine. All the best, Rob |
Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-03-17 23:48, knmagic wrote: Ken, You have a friend who has produced a SubWay sandwich in an emergency. (DON'T unwrap it! Wait until it has been produced.) Bob The Amazed Wiz (Because no one is more amazed than me) |
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