|
|
swingjunkie New user 83 Posts |
So I know a lot of people who use the Axtell Drawing board used prerecorded tracks. I do too, at least until I get vent down better...then I'll do it like it should be.
Anyways, I wear a microphone, so it makes sense for my voice to come out of my PA system. However, it doesn't make sense for my board's voice to come from the speakers, so I let his eyes move to get attention (nothing new there), but then I let his mouth move an hear nothing. I lean in like I'm listening, tell him to hold on, then draw a mic on his head, at which point I can use my track because now, he's going through the sound system. Just a thought. |
MagicSanta Inner circle Northern Nevada 5841 Posts |
The kids are not thinking about the speakers etc.. How big of shows are you doing that a mic is really neccessary? I know some like it because of some reason or another but realistically you likely don't need it.
I actually saw my first Axtel drawing board the other day in action. I could see right off where the eyes were but the kids couldn't, or didn't care, but the mouth part was really concealed. It played freakin' huge. |
The Great Smartini Inner circle 2280 Posts |
Magic Sant it may be the case that you know where to look..or not. As for the speakers...it's nice to think things through so that they make sense for everyone including those who might consider the speakers and where the voice is coming from.
As for the use of microphones for shows...I would think that Swing Junkie is doing shows like most of us and these usually would benefit from a sound system or some kind of microphone. This is particularly the case where you have multiple shows in a day and this would be a real strain on your voice. For myself, I only do school/library shows and this means that I need a sounds system/microphone for 99% of the shows. The only exception is for shows at those micro/storefront libraries where my show is more of a balance between magic/storytelling. |
KC Cameron Inner circle Raleigh, North Carolina 1944 Posts |
Swing,
How about drawing a mic on him from the start? To me, it seems illogical for you not to hear him w/o a mic, he is right there. Or perhaps get a kid up and hold a "mic" for him? This would be more interactive. I would encourage you to vent. You will be much more self conscious of lip movement than the audience. If you are funny, they won't care. They know the board isn't really talking . . . We are hard-wired to see faces. Think of "hand" puppets that are just hands with eyes painted on. All ages enjoy them, and it is obvious they are not doing the talking, yet we fall under the "spell" & easily imagine them talking. If I do this with my parrots, they freak. They think my hand is a snake or something. (No, I am not torturing my parrots with hand puppets, it is just a reaction I have noticed.) |
jakeg Inner circle 1741 Posts |
I don't thin k that anyone cares where the sound is coming from. Even a three year old knows that the drawing on the board isn't a real person. It's all in fun and the kids know it's you, so what's the difference?
As far as being able to do vent is concerned, get a mike in front of your mouth and no one will see your lips move, (if that's what you're concerned about.) After the kids get into the routine, they could care less if they see you talking or not. |
MikeRaffone Special user 623 Posts |
I have had kids yell out that the voice is coming from the speaker and once I started drawing the mic as part of the routine, never heard another peep out of them about it.
Mike
Mike Perrello
DC Area's Leading Family Entertainment Expert |
The Great Smartini Inner circle 2280 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-07-18 12:47, MikeRaffone wrote: Thanks for sharing this insight. Sometimes our routines need to be reworked to emphasize the entertainment and fun versus always trying to "fool" them. I think that the microphone detail might be a good bit of business that helps this play. I'm particularly interested in this as I've never had a chance to work with my board...today! |
Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Why does the artwork get a cordless mic, when you don't? Is there something special about him?
- Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
|
The Great Smartini Inner circle 2280 Posts |
At the price I paid for the Remote Controlled Drawing Board there is something very special about him. Still, despite all of this "specialness" my wife just doesn't understand.
|
Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Do you claim him as a "dependent" come tax time?
- Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
|
Potty the Pirate Inner circle 4632 Posts |
I just got my Remote Board back from Axtell, and used it today in a show. Bloody marvellous! Boy, it's the BEST fun ever! I have to say that using it is much more fun if you can vent. Truly, it's a lot easier to operate than the hand-held board, and the delay between operating the remote and the board reacting is pretty much imperceptible.
The sad part is, that while my remote board was inoperational, I rarely bothered to use the manual board. Even though I know the kids still love it, for me it's so much less magical. When that picture comes to life, and you're nowhere near it, and you can vent it's lines just like a puppet, man, it's awesome! |
swingjunkie New user 83 Posts |
Captain Kid,
the reason I don't draw a mic on him from the start is that I don't know he's coming to life. I, like many, act as surprised as the kids. That would kind of give away some of the humor. I also don't claim I can't hear him...I claim the kids can't. |
The Great Smartini Inner circle 2280 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-07-19 15:52, Potty the Pirate wrote: I'd have to agree with you...this prop looks like "real" magic. Back to the practice with it! |
MikeRaffone Special user 623 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-07-19 20:55, swingjunkie wrote: I like to wait until the board says its first line then I say "can't hear him too well, we better give him a mic". Then turn the sound system volume up with the remote that's hidden in my hand. Mike
Mike Perrello
DC Area's Leading Family Entertainment Expert |
Terry Owens Inner circle Ft. Wayne, Indiana 1707 Posts |
I'm not sure about using tracks...it seems too structured for me. I have found that if you build a strong enough character lips moving doesn't matter too much.
|
Andre Hagen Inner circle 1432 Posts |
Tmowens is right.
Remember Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy? Bergen's lips moved when Charlie was talking but no one was watching him (and no one cared). They were watching Charlie! Structure your routine to avoid the difficult sounds as much as possible. You're not fooling anybody anyway. I wish people were as willing to suspend belief with magic as they are with ventriloquism, but that's because they know the "secrets" of a ventriloquist. Andy
Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one - Albert Einstein
|
Potty the Pirate Inner circle 4632 Posts |
Go buy yourself the Maher course in Ventiloquism, and learn the art. It's dead easy, but you have to really try. On an off day, my lips will still move some. But it doesn't really matter, and if the kids do start to notice, of course, I'll concentrate and make sure my lips don't move. But when I vent, I look at the kids, and all eyes are on the puppet 90% of the time.
To be honest , the tricky thing about venting is the movement of the puppet, it's PHYSICAL appearance. That's what counts far more than whether or not your lips move. The remote drawing board is a ventriloquists dream, if you have one, why not learn to vent properly so you can enjoy this delicious prop! |
MagicSanta Inner circle Northern Nevada 5841 Posts |
Please don't use the word 'delicious' unless talking about ice cream, it makes my skin crawl.
|
Potty the Pirate Inner circle 4632 Posts |
Where does it crawl to?
|
MagicSanta Inner circle Northern Nevada 5841 Posts |
I don't even want to know!
|
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The little darlings » » Drawing board rationale (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.02 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |