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michaelrice Loyal user Ireland 257 Posts |
My aim is to get onto one of my local TV stations. Basically, I want to get a slot on their breakfast show, or something similar.
I am going to make a demo video of me performing for a few people around town and send this into them. Can you give me any other advice? Thanks, Mike |
Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
The camera is a very small eye, and a live audience is big eyes, so be sure to focus your performance to the little eye of the camera.
Al Angello
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
michaelrice Loyal user Ireland 257 Posts |
How do you mean exactly? Give more attention to the camera?
(P.S. I've missed a whole day sleeping, sorry for not getting it! LOL) Mike |
johnobryant Regular user Texas 195 Posts |
I suggest doing something more creative. Think out of the box to get their attention.
-john |
keithmagic Veteran user 375 Posts |
See if you can find the early 1980s copies of "The New Tops".
Ron Bauer published a whole "course" in there about performing on TV for shows of that type. Priceless info. Someone on here must have a complete set and could find them. Keith
Author of "The Festival Entertainer" The Professional Entertainer's Guide to Booking and Working Outdoor Fairs, Festivals, and Events.
Available at http://www.howtobookfestivals.com |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-02-02 22:14, johnobryant wrote: Make sure you don't use any dopey catchphrases that are outdated, like "out of the box" and such. Do good enough magic to get their attention. THAT is what you are claiming to be, after all.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
Mike,
I did a local variety/talk show, and I played to the host, the camera men, the sound man, the director, and the band. When I saw the tape of my performance, I was all over the place because I was not focused on the eye of the camera. When performing on TV, you are performing an intimate show for 2 or 3 people in their living room, and what's happening in the studio doesn't matter. Al Angello
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
Al is right ... Mark Wilson once told me that, on TV, your audience may number in the millions, but they are all contained in a tiny 2" round space -- that being the camera lens! Play to the lens!
But before you worry about that, you gotta get on TV! They will probably not put you on just for the sake of putting a magician on TV. Your best bet is to tie it in to a local event. Are you presenting a program to a school, or appearing at another public event? Are you doing a charity event? Are you teaching a magic class somewhere? Might you be available to provide analysis or evaluation of a magic-related event (such as the release of a Harry Potter movie or book, or to "counter" a TV exposure show)? I have appeared on TV for all of the above. But find SOME newsworthy reason for them to have you on. And don't bother with a demo tape...they are NOT an agency. They want NEWS...or at least they want it to APPEAR like they are interested in news. They do not want entertainment acts sending them promo tapes. It won't work. |
Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Show the camera crew the act before shooting it. It will save a lot of zoom lens shots that miss the impact of the trick.
If you know how to write TV scripts, provide them. Bob Sanders Magic By Sander |
Sealegs Inner circle The UK, Portsmouth 2596 Posts |
If you want to get a slot on your local TV station breakfast show, think in terms of....what slot?
Assuming they don't have a "here's some local talent" slot, look at what they do have. I'm guessing it will be things that are features because it involves, maybe, a local person with a human interest angle, or a local example of a topic being discussed more generally at a national level, or a local person making an attempt on a world record... In other words, watch the program to see what types of things they use, and then manufacture one of those things which coincidentally has you doing whatever it is you want to do. An example... A friend of mine wanted some local publicity, and David Blaine had just done his block of ice stunt. So by way as an irreverent 'mickey take', he arranged to be entombed in a giant block of cheese for the weekend at his local shopping mall. Well, of course the local TV is going to be interested (he did interviews and live reports that went all round the world). Now...he just wanted to do it for a bit of publicity and...well, a bit of a laugh. But it also gave him the opportunity, had he wanted, to exploit the situation he'd created to promote himself as a close-up magician. An extreme example, maybe...but you get the idea. Neal
Neal Austin
"The golden rule is that there are no golden rules." G.B. Shaw |
jamesbond Loyal user 249 Posts |
Brilliant post, Neal. Just get a hold of the producer's name for each show you want to be on, write a phone script so you sound confident, and go for it. Sell yourself. If they want some promo, by all means send it. Make sure that they will plug your website or phone number during the interview - extra gigs for you.
bond james bond |
Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Check out the lighting. Often camera crews will give you breaks you simply don't need. But it makes for a dim lit set. They are trying to help.
Bob |
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