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blitzchampion Regular user Portugal 148 Posts |
How should I make a routine ?
What exactly is a routine? Can someone explain this more deeply ? I have seen small groups of tricks and guys calling them routines, and then someone else comes along ( forums ) and says that's not a routine because the tricks are just a bunch of random effects. Could someone explain this better ? Thanks |
Frank Tougas Inner circle Minneapolis, MN 1712 Posts |
A routine can be anything from a complete act to several smaller set pieces. For example I do several tricks using a rope. The overall theme is cut and restored but it consists of several smaller rope effects that blend together into one set piece of magic with a beginning a middle and an end. This is a routine.
The linking rings is a good example of a trick that is really routine. Yes you can link and unlink tem endlessly - but if you have a theme or direction such as the rings taking over and they link and unlink almost without your effort, or you have a story that is illustrated by the rings, you have a routine. Think of it as you would a sketch on say SNL. There is a premise, it begins and the story unfolds until it reaches a climax which in magic would be the big surprise while in comedy it would be hopefully the big laugh. As in a sketch there are smaller laughs along the way but they are obviously leading up to a finish. Do that with magic and you have built a routine. I am sure others will want to weigh in on this as well. I would refer you to Lance Burton's wonderful piece where he is sword fighting and it ends up with he switching places with the bad guy. In a smaller veign, an excellent cup and ball effect is one that is well routined. Hope this helps.
Frank Tougas The Twin Cities Most "Kid Experienced" Children's Performer :"Creating Positive Memories...One Smile at a Time"
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what Special user Lehi, UT, USA 643 Posts |
A simple example might be a ring & rope routine.
Sleight - a way of holding the ring so that it can be magically threaded onto the rope. Effect - Thread the ring onto the rope; this is something that you can do in front of people. It's what the spectators see, not necessarily what you did. Routine - a one act play with a ring and rope. Many effects are executed in sequence where the ring threads and comes off of the rope. You interject humor and/or audience participation into your effects string to make it entertaining. You build to a climax, at which point you get a standing ovation. All of this together is a routine. Show - String together multiple routines to create a multi-act play. Many people will say that this is a large routine and I will not argue. It is just a routine which includes smaller routines.
Magic is fun!!!
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Alex W. Loyal user 211 Posts |
I define "routine" as a small amount of related effects which lead in some way to the next one. For example, you could do this: Four coin production ---> Matrix routine ---> Four coin vanish. That would be a routine. Throw in a continuing patter line that would justify each trick (like using the Matrix to "explain" how you produced the coins), and it could work pretty well.
By the way, the "Production -> Trick with whatever you produced -> Vanish everything" sequence is commonly used in magic. Hope this helps! -Alex |
wassabi_87 Loyal user moscow, idaho 226 Posts |
I think a routine is any number of tricks and effects that smoothly run to the next one; but be careful not to make the mistake of doing all the same type of tricks and call it a routine. The tricks could be similar, or the patter can lead on to the next trick, but on the other hand don't just do a long routine with card tricks. Refresh the spectators with linking rings or some cool coins matrices, such as doing "Wave the Aces", and then doing a coin matrix with the coins jumping from ace to ace on the table
bike during the day,
do magic at night, and very early the next morning, homework. |
Frank Tougas Inner circle Minneapolis, MN 1712 Posts |
I think some of these explainations are more how to put an act together rather than a routine. It is not just putting your tricks into a smooth flowing arrangement. A routine has starts and stops, beginning a middle and an end, a series of small leading to a big. I hope this isn't too obscure. Try this...
I would say, study well known comedians. They put several routines together into an act. Remember, if they appear on the Tonight show, or Letterman or Conan, you generally see only a single routine since there is not enough time for a full blown act. Instead, study a Comedy Central presentation or HBO Special and you will see the concept of these set pieces put together into an act. When a comedian tries out new material he presents it either as part of a routine or set piece, or swaps it out a new routine for an old one and see how it flies. The act does not have to be a smooth transition, and often is not. The routines that make up the act often are smooth transitions of one joke into the next. That is the way you would handle the magic.I think this will give you the feel for it. This is a great question and deceptively difficult to answer. It would make a great panel or roundtable discussion at a convention.
Frank Tougas The Twin Cities Most "Kid Experienced" Children's Performer :"Creating Positive Memories...One Smile at a Time"
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magical_coinz New user 4 Posts |
Hi
I HATE ROUTINES! The way I do magic is like, let's say I produce 4 coins. Before the production, I don't say anything, I just produce them. Then I keep the coins on the table for the matrix. But before I start the matrix, I tell them that this trick is called The Matrix. Then when I have completed it, I might do the magical flitration of four dollars. But before I start it, I say "now this next trick is called The Magical Flitration of Four Half Dollars". That's my way! Sometimes, I say, "I need a coin for this trick." Then I pull it out of the spectators ear. Then I say "Now I am about to do something you will not believe. Now, this trick is called GONE, that's what its called." Thanks Bilal |
Frank Tougas Inner circle Minneapolis, MN 1712 Posts |
Yes I can tell you hate routines. However, if you are doing the original Matrix by Al Schneider or any of a number of knock off routines by the same name, you are performing a series of independent effects that melt into a routine. Thank God the originators have done the work for us.
Frank Tougas The Twin Cities Most "Kid Experienced" Children's Performer :"Creating Positive Memories...One Smile at a Time"
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Full Effect Loyal user Los Angeles 257 Posts |
Quote:
On 2003-07-11 13:14, magical_coinz wrote: That's exactly what a routine is! A series of independent effects strung together to form a seemingly endless trick. PS I noticed you chanced your username from magical_magician3003 to magical_coinz
"Running water never becomes stale, so keep flowing" - Immortal Dragon Bruce Lee
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Michaels Elite user 412 Posts |
A routine is a program or a piece of entertainment. Therefore, by definition a single effect or a series of effects may be deemed a routine.
To try and put it simply: The trick is the effect and the way we present that trick or series of tricks is a routine. Michaels
"Our technology is ahead of our humanity"
Albert Einstein |
Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts |
Quote:
Michaels writes: "The trick is the effect and the way we present that trick or series of tricks is a routine." That's it exactly! A wonderful way of putting it! The trick, or the routine, can be brilliant, average, or lousy; it's got nothing to do with its being a trick or routine and everything to do with YOU! |
Ricahato Regular user denver 113 Posts |
Let me give you an example; I perform the coloring book, with the disappearing crayons and a rainbow streamer. Now those are three different tricks. but a routine is when I show the coloring book empty, them I have the kids pretend they draw pictures, then I take the crayons make them dissapear, then produce the streamer as if coming out of the crayons. Then I make them disappeer into the coloring book and show it with pictures in color. Now that's an example of a routine, you just put some tricks together to create a story or just a flow for a better presentation. Hope this helps
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Leon of PrimRose New user mayfield, new york 69 Posts |
Making a routine isn't that difficult. All you really need to do is link a bunch of tricks that are related to each other.
Being forgotten is worse than death
There was never anything but life...life and death...Good...Evil...It all depends on how you look at life... and death. The strong, the weak. It's all just a concept. Believe the unbe |
Gambit242 New user Monroe, La 68 Posts |
Where is a good place to see magic routines and acts? Streaming? DVD?
See ya Gambit242 |
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