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David Regal V.I.P. 828 Posts |
It's Saturday, and I'm going to dinner (Chinese) and a movie ("Posession" - I'm married). Let me leave you with a tough question for you all to stew on:
We have all found moments in effects, or perhaps just lines, that came out of a particular performance, lines that we kept in during future performances because they worked. Sometimes, the spectator actually gave us the line, other times it's something that happens "in the moment", but can be used over and over. Here's an example from my act. I've performed "Pasteboard Massacre" for a long time, but last year at The Magic Castle I found a new laugh (AFTER I recorded the trick for L&L, of course). At the beginning of every show I find out the occupations of my two helpers. This night, the guy was something like a Molecular Engineer. When I got to "Pasteboard Massacre" ten minutes later, I cut the deck (into pieces), and milked it in all the places I normally do. After I hissed, in my stage whisper, "I CUT THE DECK". I paused, then added "Try doing THAT with your atom-splitter, you son-of-a-b*tch!" The laugh was a good one. Since then, I've found that I can modify the line to suit most occupations, and retain the extra laugh in the routine. So...any of you receive any "gifts" from the audience that kept on giving? |
martinkaplan Special user Los Angeles 562 Posts |
I do a variation of Phil Goldstein's B'WAVE. I used to ask spectators to name their favorite King and that King and only that King would be found in the four card packet because all the other cards were blank. One night I asked a spectator to name his favorite King and he replied, "Louis the Fourteenth."
I now use that line when I do RE-SET, RE-SET. I begin by saying, "I used to do the next effect with Kings,but one day I asked a spectator to name his favorite King and he replied, Louis XIV. I do the effect with Aces now." I time it such that the laugh the line elicits becomes the perfect moment to do the switch. If anyone reading this wants to use the line, be my guest. -Marty |
Darrin Cook Special user 621 Posts |
I have an effect where a child tries to touch the back of his card in a ribbonspread using a magic wand. After he fails I use the wand and say, "Let me show you the card I would have touched." I touch one card and turn it over, only to discover it is the wrong card. The effect is that the card has vanished from the deck.
One night a spectator unknowingly gave me a line when he commented after I failed to touch the selected card, "I didn't say that would be your card --I said it was the one I would have touched." It always gets a laugh. |
David Regal V.I.P. 828 Posts |
Marty, kind of you to share - very funny!
Darrin - I love that moment. |
Donnie Loyal user 224 Posts |
This line is 100 percent true and I use it in my show after applause or soemthing "One time I thought I was getting a standing ovation, but as it turns out....they were just leaving"
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Kaliix Inner circle Connecticut 1984 Posts |
My patter for Crazy Man's Handcuffs involves comparing them to the Chinese Finger Traps.
I tell people that I was very intrigued by them as kid, but not very good at them, as my Mom told me that I woke up one morning with them still on. People sometimes comment that they "...have no idea how you did that?" or something to that effect. I tell them that, "That's good, if you could figure it out, I'd be out a job!" Probably not original, but it works for me.
The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge.
~Daniel J. Boorstin |
Dave Le Fevre Inner circle UK 1666 Posts |
Quote:
On 2002-09-14 21:17, martinkaplan wrote: Thanks Martin. I shall shamelessly plagiarise your patter for B'wave and for Twisted Sisters. I sometimes perform Twisted Brothers, so I can do something along those lines too. "I used to do this effect with Queens, but one day I asked a spectator to name his favourite Queen and he replied Mary Queen of Scots. So now I do it with Kings instead." Thanks again, Dave
The Ozzy Osbourne of the 34x27
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JimMaloney Inner circle 1184 Posts |
Quote:
On 2002-09-16 08:30, Dave Le Fevre wrote: Or, if you feel like getting a little risque (and more current), you could say: "I used to do this effect with Queens, but one day I asked a spectator to name his favourite Queen and he replied Freddie Mercury. So now I do it with Kings instead." -Jim
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Dave Le Fevre Inner circle UK 1666 Posts |
Nice idea, Jim.
I shall use that one when the audience is appropriate. Dave
The Ozzy Osbourne of the 34x27
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Jim Morton Veteran user 361 Posts |
Actually, David, this happened to me with Streamlined Collectors. I use the four Queens, and I have them go to four different department stores, all ending up at one because lingerie is on sale there. One of the stores in Nordstrom. While talking to women I know, I noticed that three of them all said they bought their make-up at Nordstrom, and they all bought the same brand (M.A.C). One night, while performing, I said, "The first queen went to Nordstrom, to buy some make-up... M.A.C." And several of the women in the audience chuckled, so now I use it all the time. I always get a few chuckles from women on that one. I don't know if this phenomenon is San Francisco specific, but apparently, at one time, Nordstrom was the only place you could buy this make-up. M.A.C has opened up their own store here, so maybe this line will lose its humor soon.
Jim |
Steven the Amusing Regular user San Francisco Bay Area 117 Posts |
I performed a card thru the hand business card effect and my neighbor commented: "Whoa, I guess you'd call that a PalmJet printer".
Now I start the routine asking if they've seen the new PalmJet printer? (wave) now you have! I find I get a big chortle out of the tech geeks - in part because they are all ga-ga to get a look at it. Here's another freebie: hold your hand up vertical with your palm facing the spectator, fingers together. Make very slight left and right movements of just the hand. "Know what that is?" ... "A micro wave. That's right! it prints using microwave technology." |
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