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ebackes88 Regular user 153 Posts |
I am trying to put a show together that I could perform for seniors. I know it's best to avoid a lot of audience participation with them since it can be difficult for them to get up and down. So I am looking for effects that would play well for seniors.
My ideas so far Newspaper Tear Bank Night Daryl's Rope Routine Confabulation Invisible deck Bill to Lemon Cups and Balls Gypsy Balloon Just wondering what other effects would be good, or resources for tricks and also if there is a reason I shouldn't do any of the tricks listed above. |
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
When I "produced" my school assembly program (+/- 50 years ago) I used tricks/routines that would play for almost anyone, almost anywhere.
About every two weeks, I would be booked in an assisted living facility, or a nursing home. (I remember an older man, laughing so hard that he fell out of his chair! I had to stop, while the nurses helped him get seated again!) Here are the criteria for what props to use: Visual EFFECT (nothing "happens under cover) Visible prop (don't do tricks with white rope, weariing a white shirt!) Versatile EFFECT (appeals to all ages) Angle proof (ALL angles) Recognizable prop (No Victorian era props, like foo cans, dove pans, or "red velvet bags on a stick) Little or no set up (privacy) No table needed (sight lines--people in wheel chairs and performing area not "elevated") Spot adaptable (The trick could "open", "close" or be anywhere in the middle) Prop packs small and light, but plays big) Keep It Simple -- Make It Fun (KIS -- MIF)! INVOLVE the group! (Talk WITH them, not AT, or TO, them. Use STAFF, as assistants (nurses, etc.) if necessary. If it's a "family affair", use kids as helpers. Grandparents like to see the kids having fun!!! Avoid tricks in which the people need to REMEMBER stuff, like playing cards. Either use a mike, or TALK LOUD! Don't earn the "Chinese billing" ("ONN TU LONG") Older people may tire easily.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
Is that ta 45 minute show?
Have several acts. As Dick said, it depends on the audience, don't forget to ask. I was once hired at a nursing home for Halloween, and the elderlies kids were there as well. There was a raised stage, and as Dick pointed out, you can play to kids and adult relatives, and all will enjoy. I was told, it was mainly for the Grand kids visiting. I suggest you include the Mardo Egg Bag as well. |
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Rainboguy Inner circle 1915 Posts |
Ebackes88:
Here are a few things to consider: First, based on demography, this is most certainly going to be a growing market, as the baby boomer generation has created a huge "bulge" in the population of seniors in the US. Depending on where you live, there is most likely a very good population of assisted living facilities and nursing homes out there. And, most of them do have an "entertainment budget", granted not a BIG budget, but if you keep working regularly, yes, you can make pretty good money monthly specializing on this type of market. My experience doing shows at assisted living facilities has taught me a lot. Dick knows what he is talking about....keep the show moving and keep it visual, and yes, most certainly, involve the group, and yes, use a microphone or, better yet, I suggest using your own portable PA system. Keep the tricks, simple and direct...I suggest performing tricks like T&R newspaper, Egg Bag, Blendo, Jumbo Six Card Repeat, etc. Be sure and ENGAGE your audience, and keep track of what tricks you performed at which venue, so when you are (hopefully) asked back, as per Bill Hegbli's advice, you can do a different show. Good luck! |
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
I have a bit more time, now, so, as the congressman do, I'll revise and extend my remarks...
You did not state what your performing experience is. You joined our motley crew about 11 months ago, and have about 90 posts. (only one in the past month) That's a bit above average. Good. The tricks that you listed above are all good tricks. You did list them, using the "catalog" names. I shall assume from that bit of information that you at least read the catalogs! So, first I will quote the late S. H. Sharpe: "Those who think that magic consists of doing tricks, are strangers to magic. Tricks are only the crude residue from which the lifeblood of magic has been drained." In order for a trick to be entertaining (MAGIC IS N 0 T INHERENTLY ENTERTAINING!) the magician must perform it with an entertaining PRESENTATION. I have seen all of the tricks you list, presented very entertainingly, except the GYPSY (THREAD) BALLOON. (I have seen the Gypsy Thread presented by my friend, Ricky Jay, whose presentation was delightful. Now, some specifics! The cups & balls is one of the GREAT tricks. BUT, the spectators must be able to SEE it! If the performer is working on the same level that the spectators are seated on, (ha! I ended that sentence with a preposition!) and, the group is much larger than "parlor size", only those in the first two rows will be able to see what happens! (Keep THAT in mind!) Daryl's rope routine is very strong. So is the Gypsy Balloon, and the Newspaper Tear. In both cases, the EFFECT (EFFECT: "what the spectators SEE, or THINK they SEE) is very VISUAL. The props are very VISIBLE too. All three tricks meet my criteria rather well. Depending on the method, the paper tear may not be angle proof. (My old friend, Gene Anderson's newspaper tear, is a "show stopper", but, it's a 180 degree trick.) Bank Night Confabulation, Invisible Deck, and Dollar in Lemon, can be VERY ENTERTAINING, I've used the first three, very successfully. I've never done the $ in lemon, but Emil Jarrow "killed" with it in vaudeville. You mention "seniors". From your mention of audience participation, I am assuming that you mean senior citizens in assisted living, and/or nursing homes. In those situations, many will be in wheel chairs. Bill has talked about that. I'll just note that many of the nursing home and assisted living inhabitants, will have hearing and visual problems, and, motor problems, too. You need to be aware of such things as you plan the program. When playing these shows, I often invited members of the nursing staff to be my "assistants". Bill and Rick have suggested some excellent tricks. See also my criteria in my first post. I worked school assemblies for 50+ years, coast to coast, and, border to border. See my first sentence in my first post, above. Jay Marshall and I had the same philosophy about adding a "new trick" to the repertoire: 1. Learn how it is DONE! 2. Learn how to DO it! 3. Learn how to DO it, SO THAT IT ENTERTAINS PEOPLE! (THAT is the "hard part"!) Re...#3 above, it depends on YOUR PRESENTATION! My mentors told me, 60+ years ago: "PRESENTATION means, It aint WHAT you do, it's HOW you do it"!!! Check out my criteria, above, before you even THINK about adding a new trick!!!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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BeThePlunk Special user West of Boston, East of Eden 887 Posts |
I love this thread. This is exactly the market I've been preparing to enter. The great advice above has been really helpful. May I piggy-back and list some of the bits I have on my list of possibles that have not already been mentioned?
D'Lites Color-changing Scarves Jumbo B'wave Ring and Rope I had thought to include Russian Rings and Hippity-Hop Rabbits, but now I think they would be too angle sensitive unless I can get my back to a wall. Maybe a sucker routine like Hippity-Hop would be unsuitable. Advice? Is standard size six-card repeat too difficult for a senior to see? Thanks for any guidance, David |
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gomerel Elite user 458 Posts |
Great info! I just spent 3 weeks in a convalescent hospital and offered to come back to do tricks.
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Rainboguy Inner circle 1915 Posts |
BeThePlunk:
Regarding using a standard size six-card repeat for seniors: It has been my experience performing in assisted living facilities that Bill Abbott's Five Card Opener, using the Jumbo cards supplied with the trick, works better because the cards are easier to see and, in my opinion, the routine is STRONGER than a standard six-card repeat. I do not use Bill's patter however...... Regarding Hippity-Hop Rabbits: As Dick Oslund knows, this trick has been my platform closer for decades.......and, interestingly, this is the number one trick mentioned by people who have seen my shows that they remember.....yes....it's all in the presentation...as far as angles go.....ELIMINATE THEM! Just do as I do...literally back yourself into a corner!!! A couple of additional suggestions........assisted living facilities and nursing homes are ideal venues for silk tricks.........You can hand silks out to engage the audience, and they are, of course, very visual and colorful props to use. In addition to tricks like Blendo, or color-changing silk, consider using a Crystal Silk Cylinder where your orange silks change to real oranges. A tried and true silk trick that seniors LOVE is Mr. and Mrs. Green.....a lovely trick....albeit perhaps a little hard to find nowadays....Mutilated Parasol is another GREAT trick for senior venues, too! |
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
Rice's Silk King Studio still sells Mr. and Mrs. Green silks.
http://www.silkkingmagic.com/Rice's%20M......ssus.htm |
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Quote:
On Mar 31, 2017, BeThePlunk wrote: Yes! (see Rainbowguys post above) I've played a "gezillion" of them, when I was touring schools over 50 years! I'll just add a few comments to Bill's, and Rick's posts... "Mr. and Mrs. Green, IMO, too, would play well! Jumbo cards, are definitely easier for elderly eyes to see! The late Russ Charles did Six Card Repeat in his school shows with Jumbocards. It played very well. The 5 Card Opener would, I think, play even stronger. I just did my regular school show, 'cuz it was planned to appeal to almost anyone, almost anywhere. I describe most of the tricks/routines in my book (including my PRESENTATIONS). I also wrote an "essay" on the three "types" of SUCKER TRICKS (including the ancient die box and the almost ancient Hippity Hops, sucker egg, t&r napkin,egg bag, color change silks, etc.) It's important that you present sucker tricks with a "soft suckering" presentation! IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU, WITH YOUR PRESENTATION, HELP THEM REALIZE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO FOOL THEM, W I T H O U T MAKING FOOLS OF THEM! Most "homes" have a "party" room Bingo, etc.) Most do not have a platform or stage. Oh! I put the Mutilated Parasol "in" in 1992, USING DON LAWTON'S ROUTINE. It always got a show stop laugh, and applause. I wrote up Don's presentation in my book. I used it mainly for the elementary schools, but, it will play for senior citizens, too. If you've seen my DVD, you saw how many silk tricks I did. Slydini Knots, color change silks, 20th C Silks, etc. (see my book for tested and different routines!) Believe it or else (!!) there are senior citizen assisted living homes in Florida, that have beautiful auditoriums, with full stage facilities. One of these days, I'll write up how to play RV Parks along the gulf coast!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
@ebackes88, BeThePlunk & gomerel:::::
In planning your program, keep in mind, S. H. Sharpe's statement about TRICKS! Several of you have "submitted" lists of tricks. ebackes88 mentioned that he is "looking for effects that will play well for seniors". --Remember that EFFECTS are not TRICKS. TRICKS are what the magician PERFORMS. TRICKS, like music, only exist while they are being performed. EFFECTS are WHAT THE SPECTATOR, SEES, or THINKS THAT HE/SHE SEES, WHEN THE PERFORMER PERFORMS THE TRICK.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Rainboguy Inner circle 1915 Posts |
At the last assisted living facility I performed for, I did something that "You're not supposed to do as a Magician"...specifically I did 2 "card tricks" in that show, because, they were not "card tricks" per se, but rather, tricks using cards as Props.
Specifically, I opened with Bill Abbott's 5 Card Opener, and closed with Abbott's Card Sword. As I mentioned in my post above, I like doing the 5 Card Opener for Senior Shows for the reasons that I mentioned, and thought I would TRY closing with the card sword to "see how it goes". Here's how I "got into" the card sword.......I told the audience that even though the "entertainment director" who booked me for the show knew that I was going to was going to perform Magic, what she DIDN"T know was that I was going to throw in, at no additional charge, a free "Fencing demonstration" at the end of the show....so "Let's all give her a big hand for being smart enough to have me come here today to entertain you!" and I motioned to her to come up and stand next to me.............When the applause came.....and it did.....of course,,, she liked that.......so naturally I bring out the sword, put the tip up gently against the front of her neck and said..."Are YOU enjoying the show so far?" Of course, she replied, somewhat nervously "OH YES!" To which I replied...."THEY ALWAYS SAY THAT!"......(This ALWAYS gets a BIG laugh!!"....And trust me......seniors in assisted living facilities NEED and ENJOY a good laugh! After the "Grand Finale" of the chosen card appearing impaled on the sword, and the (yes, I got one) Standing Ovation.....a little old man sitting in the back came up to me and said" Hello I used to be the Sherrif here in town and that was the greatest thing I ever saw in my life........you were GREAT!...I loved the show!" Follow Dick Oslund's advice.....I have....for the past 30 years.....keep it simple......make it fun! Make the audience laugh and enjoy YOU....and they will enjoy your show! |
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Over the years, I've owned two Abbott Card Swords. I bought them at estate sales & auctions (cheap!!)
I had seen several friends use them, and, noted that they played very strong, as Rick just mentioned. Joe Harrison had gotten MANY pix in the papers, because the "cards in the air" was a great action shot. I told the story of the late Gary Bontjes, and the sword in my book. Roy Mayer had featured it in his show, and, it was a FUNNY FIVE MINUTES, with big applause at the blow off. It never "got into" my program, even though I liked it a lot. Both Joe and Roy had assistants, so the set up time was not too much. Working single, doing 3 shows a day, plus making the jumps, just made it too difficult to use. (Besides, picking up all the cards on the floor took time!) I would have liked to have used it! It's great "theater"!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Rainboguy Inner circle 1915 Posts |
Over the years, I have found a couple of things out when using the card sword....
(1) Make it a FUNNY bit...........the line I use per my post above when putting the tip of the sword up against the front of the assistant's neck.....is a KEEPER! (2) It's always a good idea to bring a large-ish tablecloth with you to drape on the floor before "the Bit"....When I put the table cloth on the floor I use the line....."easier to clean up all the blood and guts this way"....(in reality...it's a LOT easier to gather the cards this way!) (3) One card impaled does the job........I think three is too much... (4) If you use the card sword as a closer.....you can use the line..."You have been a GREAT audience...I SALUTE YOU!" And do so with the Card Sword......As Dick says, above.....a little theatre goes a LONG WAY! |
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Yes! The sword at the spec's neck is a FUNNY BIT! If I had ever used the sword, this bit would have been "in". Unfortunatelly, I hadn't met Rick, yet!
Yes, if I had ever done it, I would have had an old bed sheet on the floor! (I probably would have had THREE sheets! --3 shows a day! Yes, ONE CARD. One card, the audience will "buy". Three is way "too much"!!! The "I salute you!" line is a "tie" for the "card/neck! In high schools Roy Mayer would hand the boy the deck of cards, and move him downstage left. As he positioned the kid, he would stage cue him to "run back to your seat, when I nod my head!" Roy would move right, pick up the sword, and, hold it like a javelin. Roy would say, "I'll count to three. Then you throw the cards up in the air, and, I'll throw the sword and impale your card! As Roy got ready to throw, he would nod his head, and, the boy would leave the stage in a hurry!!! It got a hekkuva laugh!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Oh! Don't try THAT LAST GAG, in a nursing home!!!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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bowers Inner circle Oakboro N.C. 7024 Posts |
These are are my favorite types of shows to do.
I have the most fun with them.And they are generally the best audience to perform to as well. Todd |
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
AND, They usually have coffee and cake "after"!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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ebackes88 Regular user 153 Posts |
Thanks for all the advice guys! As to my experience this will be my first parlor style show. I have some experience with close up and have even done a few close up shows. Most of what I like to do is card tricks which obviously can't play very well, especially for older folks, from a distance. I have thought of trying a solo trick, I may look into that
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ebackes88 Regular user 153 Posts |
*silk trick, not solo lol
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