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felix501 Regular user Lewes, England 134 Posts |
I mean effects where everyone in the bar/room is ging to stop what they are doing and look - e.g. mouthcoil productions or swallowing a balloon sword.
If you do - what do we think the rules are for detemining when these are appropriate in a wandering magic scenario? thanks people felix |
steve j Special user Long Island, New York 559 Posts |
When you say "showstopper", do you mean an effect that everyone has to be interrupted from what they are doing to enjoy or an effect that you do that everyone just is amazed by and they freeze because I have found that any party that I go to with a deck of cards I stop the show, I turn it into a big magic show that goes on all night. I don't know what you mean by showstopper but I think it best to let them find your magic then force them into watching it by calling attention to yourself, if you are good and can entertain for a small group that all of their friends there will be called over and so on and so on until you have the whole place watching what you can do.
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Herrick, Jeff New user 72 Posts |
Every effect you do should be a showstopper.
I'm not looking to be a big star in magic
and that's working out REALLY good so far. |
Eric Jones V.I.P. Director of Product Development 2101 Posts |
In all honesty, anything flashy becomes a showstopper, which is a big part of performing street or walk around magic. Nothing gets someones attention like fire. While overused, fire wallets can't be beat. I would also suggest at least one flash paper effect, something that can of course be reset easily. Jay Sankeys In A Flash seems to be a pretty popular effect. I love to use flash paper to produce a prop to be used in the context of a desired effect, thus creating needed attention from onlookers as well as suprising the audience you're currently working for.
Card Flourishes for some reason draw attention, especially since the televised poker championships. The hard part would be holding their attention using those same flourishes for any real amount of time, which is what most magicians have against card flourishers. However, if you infuse magic effect with a few dextrous displays, you've got a showstopper... Another idea is to use adopt as strong applause cue stance at a climax of a routine to generate applause from your current audience. That will always elicit attention from other attendees in the restaurant or walk around event... Any other ideas guys?
“We're two tigers away from an act in Vegas.” Greg House M.D.
<BR> <BR>http://www.ericjonesmagic.com |
todsky Inner circle www.magicstore.ca 2354 Posts |
I am assuming that by 'showstopper' you really mean an effect that is something more suited to parlour-room magic or a pseudo-busking audience arrangement.
Sometimes there's a special person who needs to have the Bra Surprise trick done on them in front of a few tables (the birthday celebrant at a 40th bday party at a restaurant, for instance). Sometimes you may be performing a close-up trick for one table and you notice that the people at a few other tables are very curious, in that case it may be a good time to pull out a rope trick that a few tables can see at once, and go into your 'platform' performance. And sometimes it's just good to announce your arrival at the venue by doing something flashy (like fire) that all can see.
Todsky's Magic Shop: over 15,000 tricks, books, DVD s and Card decks. www.magicstore.ca
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felix501 Regular user Lewes, England 134 Posts |
I am really talking about the context of *strolling magic*...
Normally when you stroll and perform (or tables - whatever) you are performing for a small group right? But a 'showstopper' is when everyone in the room stops to take a look. So something that plays big and is very dramatic. Obviously in strolling magic not every trick should do this (this would be intrusive) but how many of us do this and which effects do we use? Felix |
felix501 Regular user Lewes, England 134 Posts |
I have heard of balloon sword swallowing as an example....
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elmago Loyal user Northridge- Los Angeles, CA 272 Posts |
Beleive it or not, that UFO card trick where a card flys around your body. I know they sell it in Las Vagas for 20 bucks and it has almost reached thumb tip status on tricks kids are very familiar with. But still, when you do that thing right, the whole room stops and wants to see that trick; which is exactly why I do NOT do it.
I never want a trick to surpass ME as a magician. Because then people want to see that trick, and not you. I do not want to be defined by one magic trick. I want to be able to control what I do and when I do it. Then you are only as good as your secret. I want to be known as an entertainer, not the guy that can do that trick. Miguel Rangel
"Excellence is not a single act; it's a habit" Shaq quoting Aristotle after winning NBA MVP.
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Sven Heubes New user Duesseldorf, Germany 59 Posts |
I just asked myself, what could be wrong, if people want to see that one special trick which Felix claims as the showstopper. I share Godhandz opinion that fire-wallets can't be beat. If they call me to their table to show them this one trick that stopped their conversation far away from the place I just performed in, I'm in the show! That's what I want and what I'm getting paid for. There's no longer need to interrupt their conversation and to convince them that they want to see my show. I do that thing and then go on performing. And for sure, there's so much crazy stuff, that they will forget this one effect they called me for earlier. Anyway, this is my personal opinion and doesn't have to work for everybody.
If you were half as good as you think you are, you would be double as good as you think you are...
Dai Vernon |
elmago Loyal user Northridge- Los Angeles, CA 272 Posts |
You live by the sword, you die by the sword.
A know of a magician who decided to take the easy way out. He regrets he ever learned that UFO trick. When he got past the novelty of just being able to do a trick, and wanted to do other tricks, guess what? No one cared. They just wanted to see the card fly around. And like a drug addict, he could not get himself to rehab to quit and grow. Miguel Rangel
"Excellence is not a single act; it's a habit" Shaq quoting Aristotle after winning NBA MVP.
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Ron Reid Inner circle Phoenix, Arizona 2732 Posts |
Hello:
I've never done this in strolling situations, but I suppose you could save it for a special table: The razor blades from the mouth trick is something you can carry around easily, and will get everyone's attention, guaranteed - even in a noisey bar. Ron |
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