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rossmacrae Inner circle Arlington, Virginia 2475 Posts |
Regarding stage magi who use assistants (trained ones, not audience volunteers)
I don't usually post in this topic, but I was reminded by a recent thread elsewhere about longtime Copperfield assistant (now magician on her own) Joanie Spina. Mind you, I'm prejudiced (she had my undivided attention [*sigh...*] when watching DC specials). I went to her website, and found 3 short videos from her show - you may find them worth a watch. http://www.joaniespina.com/spina_video.html I was struck by one thing: even though she's not "Playboy sexy" or ultra-slim, you don't care and she looks good because she knows how to use her body - she understands stage movement - how to move, and how to stand still, to avoid looking like a lump onstage. How many amateur / semi-pro / theme park shows have you watched where the assistant just HAS to be the magi's girlfriend or wife, 'cause she's tarted up like a hooker but she still looks like 15 pounds of meat in a 10-pound bag - and she CAN'T MOVE without looking like livestock being herded somewhere? Flora (the late lamented) used to have a video on stage movement. I learned a lot from it. Might be time to bring that factor back to mind when using assistants. |
fredmoore New user 72 Posts |
I couldn't agree more!
I was lucky enough to marry a woman who has been a Ballet dancer since she was 10 years old. She has danced (not just ballet)in many production shows over the years. Not only does she know how to move on-stage, but she's comfortable and smiles. I am the luckiest man in the world! |
Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
I was lucky enough to marry mine too. She was a model and ballet dancer in New York and Los Angeles until she was 39. She had as much stage time as I did. She also has her own stage magic show and has lectured at magic conventions where I did not!
Bob Sanders Magic By Sander |
Brian S. Tanner Regular user 161 Posts |
Being able to move properly while onstage can mean the difference between a great performance and a bad perfomance.
Stage movement goes for the magician too, not just the assistant(s). One need not be a dancer to move well on stage. Although a little dance training wouldn't hurt. Especially if you have a qualified teacher . I just saw a video of a Shadow Box illusion where the assistants just flowed on stage. But when the Magician was produced from the apparatus, he just kind of schlepped out of the box and walked like Frankenstein's Monster on to the stage. Not so much as a smile or a wave to the audience. Just awful looking.
Judge:How do you plead?
<BR>Defendant:I plead insanity. <BR>Judge:Insanity? <BR>Defendant:Yep. I'm just crazy about that stuff! |
Big Daddy Cool Inner circle 1604 Posts |
THIS is the whole purpose behind my Assistant School! First class next saturday in Nashville (but not just for Nashville area). Classes are filling up fast!
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