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Fast Eddie P. Veteran user Maryland 323 Posts |
I do kids parties and usually include a few dove productions during the show.
The way my show used to work was to start with a couple of productions to music. I did not use anything complicated: dove from Kleenex box (load from box on the table) and growing glove to dove (body load). As I would produce them, I would hand them to my lovely assistant (my wife) who would take them out of sight and put them in my portable cage. Towards the end of the show, I would do the balloon to dove where she would bring out the balloon to dove tray. My problem is that we now have a baby (my most magical production ever!), and therefore I have lost my assistant (I barely have any time to practice magic let alone drag her out to help with a show). Aside from finding another assistant (my daughter won't be old enough for quite awhile), anybody have any suggestions on how I could keep my doves in my birthday show? I should also say that we are moving and I will finally have enough room for a rabbit. I know this is a long post, but I'm looking for help/ideas on how to keep my doves and/or add a rabbit to my show without having an assistant. Anybody do single person shows and include animals??? |
Zack Special user 551 Posts |
Couldn't you just have a large cage on stage?
You could also hire an assistant. I bet you could find an aspiring magician who would work cheap. I don't know what you get for a show, but I would think you could find somebody who needed the work for fifty bucks. |
Fast Eddie P. Veteran user Maryland 323 Posts |
I had thought about the cage idea, but did not want the hassle of lugging it around. Another problem with the cage is that the doves would be very distracting to the kids throughout the remainder of the show. My rates are pretty cheap for kids shows - I mainly use the money to further my magic hobby - and therefore cannot afford to hire an assistant.
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Luke Sherratt Loyal user The Isle Of Wight, England 246 Posts |
Hello,
Why not put the cage under your table? Then, when you produce the doves, you can put them in the cage out of sight under your table. Just a Thought. Luke
We're 106 miles from Chicago, we have a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses
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-The Scot- Special user 726 Posts |
You won't like the price tag (I don't think anyone does), but if you are doing it to music, then you may as well put them in a cage and at the end vanish the cage (vanishing dove cage) so there are no distractions. The only thing is they might make a noise when they have gone - - that would be funny!
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Dave Scribner Assistant Manager Lake Hopatcong, NJ 4849 Posts |
Eddie: I understand not wanting to carry a cage around with you. I assume that means you use a pet carrier to bring your doves to the show. You can have the carrier behind your table and just put the doves in it after they are produced. That would also let you just take them out to your car afterwards.
Where the magic begins
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Fast Eddie P. Veteran user Maryland 323 Posts |
I'd love to be able to afford the vanishing cage. Yes, Dave, I do transport them in a carrier and that idea would probably work. I'd really like to be able to produce them at the end of the show, but that would require me stopping, running to a different room to load up, and then starting again. Oh well, I'll have to make do with a great opening sequence. Thanks for all the advice.
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boltt223 Regular user Arizona, USA 175 Posts |
Fast Eddie, I agree with Zach. I bet that there would be another magician in your area that would be willing to help you out. I live in a small town and that is how I found my now partner.
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Jimeuax Regular user 199 Posts |
That's always been a problem---if you open with your dove productions, how are you going to top that (in the eyes of kids especially) at the end of the show?----Cheers!----Jimo
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Fast Eddie P. Veteran user Maryland 323 Posts |
When my wife was helping me, I would start and end with dove productions. Now I'm thinking about ending with my zombie - - they usually really like the routine. On the other hand, I might just put the doves on hold for awhile. Thanks again for all the advice.
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Doveman New user 55 Posts |
Eddie, hi!
This is what I have been doing in my shows. I produce three doves in the birthday party show: 1st - body load production from coat (pink dove). 2nd - yellow dove from yellow balloon (Chalet dove tray). You can trip the lever yourself easily! 3rd - blue dove from egg (I use a dove pan that catches fire.) Then I place all the doves into a Chalet doves to rabbit illusion behind me. I have it loaded with colored helium balloons that match the birds. At the end of the show, I transform the birds into the balloons right in front of their faces!!!! They go nuts. The cool thing is, when the cage sides fall apart when you lift the lid, the balloons float up! It is great and I will never stop performing it at the show. One thing is that, I customized the speed of the switch from the birds to the balloons for safety. George Kimmery, the owner of Chalet magic, is an excellent builder! For the price, you can't go wrong. For the illusion and rolling base, the price is about $525.00 plus shipping. If you want to put in the extra time it takes to set up, you're golden. It has a meaning for making the birds appear and has a great finale to the show!!! I'm only 19 years old and having a blast performing!!! Hope this helps? Bye http://www.wadelive.com wade@wadelive.com |
Fast Eddie P. Veteran user Maryland 323 Posts |
Wade,
Wow, that sounds like a fantastic show. Do you do all the setup without an assistant? |
Harry Murphy Inner circle Maryland 5444 Posts |
One of the most beautiful dove acts I have seen is General Grant’s. He is a one-man act. His act involves the production of several doves, some silk productions and tricks (sympathetic silk, color changing), and the Zombie. His doves are put in simple cages right there on stage. The bars to his cages are made of ball chain and involve no doors (just push the chain aside,) and pack flat. His magic is so strong that you are watching him throughout, and not the caged doves.
I saw another magician that produced a couple of doves at different points of his act. He had a cage built into his suitcase table. The cage was inside the table and out of sight of the audience. He simply produced the dove, then put it away in the cage. Or you could build a different act and leave the doves out for now.
The artist formally known as Mumblepeas!
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Doveman New user 55 Posts |
Eddie,
Yup, I do it all myself. It takes a few more minutes to set up, but it's worth it. When the clients see and watch the show, they feel like they got their money's worth. I know some performers in my area come with a suitcase table and stand. I try to be different in my style with the colored birds and setup. The client pays good money for a show, so why not give it to them? I try to give them a mini-production in their living rooms, with live animals, the illusion, and music to go with it!!! All of the productions are cued with the music. Take the time to put together a great piece and it will pay off at the end! I get more gigs because of it and it works. You want the client to rave about your show!! We have to step it up a lot these days. You can also upsell your shows with such a production. Hope this helps. http://www.wadelive.com |
Fast Eddie P. Veteran user Maryland 323 Posts |
Thanks for the guidance, gentlemen. I'll give it some thought and try to come up with a one-man show that includes my doves and some music. Once again, the Café has been a wonderful resource!
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