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MagicJac Regular user 166 Posts |
Hi there,
Honest to say that magicians is the field where most are willing to help each other out but of course cannot generalize, with that said I have to do 3 shows on Wednesday for small school children. 3 different groups, will be under a one open tent. My concern is a carry way too much and usually take about 15 minutes to reset. I have from 9-12pm, so think will be ok and the school/day care/elementary will understand that there is preparation for each show. asked the teacher to give me 10 minutes between each show. I have been doing same routine for 20 years and very comfortable with it. My personality is one where I think too much before entering a new effect, but think this time I have no other choice, also will like to mention that I don't have 3 of everything and my apartment has so much unused magic- in the past I have done 2 shows back to back - with about 10-15 minutes in between to reset and came out great! So once again this are my areas I have doubts 1. Does any one have tips on what to do when audience is already there and you are still setting up ? 2. Maybe take an assistant? (another magician) not to do magic just to be there for the resseting part? MagicJac J.A.C = Jaime Arana Cardenas |
MagicJac Regular user 166 Posts |
Hope someone can share anything.
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Dan Ford Special user Illinois 754 Posts |
Take a friend, familiar with magic, to help taking the props from you as you perform them, and then resetting that trick for the next show. When the last trick is performed you are ready for the next show.
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Wizuriel New user 53 Posts |
Can you play music between the shows? https://performbettershows.com/ has some advice associated with this and some funny preshow music/clips you can buy.
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MeetMagicMike Inner circle Gainesville Fl 3504 Posts |
You are responsible for telling your client your show requirements. Your client doesn't want an inferior compromised show.
On the issue of setting up in front of an audience I do this all the time and use that period to prime the audience. Between doing necessary re sets I might place a magic wand on my table so that it rolls off. I then act surprised and put if back only to have it roll of again. |
danfreed Inner circle West Chester PA 1354 Posts |
It's hard to give you ideas without seeing your exact set-up and knowing what props you use. It sounds like you need to set up your stuff at home and practice like you are performing for an audience, then see what you can change. We don't know what kind of boxes you use, Lefler table?, etc. Until you figure that out, maybe just ask the teachers to keep the kids away from you and maybe set up a folding screen or stretch a sheet out between two boxes, something like that. Are you looking for ideas on how to entertain them while you set up?
Dan Freed
AKA The Amazing Spaghetti https://www.magiciandanfreed.com/birthday-party-magician-for-kids http://thecaricatureartist.com http://danieljayfreed.com |
MagicJac Regular user 166 Posts |
Great feedback - REason why I Love this place !
Dan Ford - One of my friends that is an amazing magician is going to help me with the resset part. Wizuriel - I do play music - but definitely will check out link you sent as Funny pre show music MagicMike - Rolling wand sounds excellent - Where can I get one ??? DanFreed- I am trying to upload a photo of a show I did at a school stage where there was curtains drawn between each show, this time I will be placed in one small open tent. Where there will be three different groups of kids for each show. Click here to view attached image. |
Russo Inner circle So.California / Centl.Florida / retired Florida 1167 Posts |
At times I would carry a light 3 fold screen that could be moved - back to front to back again - One time I even produced the adult Host - he was behind the screen. I folded the side panels back (around him)- turn'd the whole folded screen around, open - there his was !!(understand ??) Best Blessing to you , Ralph ROUSSEAU (Russo)
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danfreed Inner circle West Chester PA 1354 Posts |
I can't really do 2 things at the exact same time, but if I have time, I do some quick entertainment back and forth between setting up. I wouldn't add an extra person, too much trouble and expense. You can play music, if you can find funny songs that make people laugh that would be good. I sometimes go into the crowd and do a close-up magic trick, then go back to setting up. Sometimes I ask the kids to all give me their names at the count of 3 (I explain that I'm really good at learning names), then I give their names one by one, but they are all wrong and get sillier as I go, ending with SpongeBob, etc.
This is hard to explain, but sometimes, as I am crouched and hidden behind my box while setting up, I sort of do a Curley from 3 Stooges thing, like when he is baking a cake or whatever, and he says "lah dah dee, lah da dum, ..." in a high pitched nasal voice, but I act like nobody can hear me, then usually a few kids will giggle, then I realize they can hear me and peek out and act embarrassed, then go back to what I was doing and sing it again, the laughter increases, and maybe do it 1 more time. That's a good one at preschools.
Dan Freed
AKA The Amazing Spaghetti https://www.magiciandanfreed.com/birthday-party-magician-for-kids http://thecaricatureartist.com http://danieljayfreed.com |
MeetMagicMike Inner circle Gainesville Fl 3504 Posts |
MagicJac,
The rolling wand isn't a trick. It's just a bit of business I do with the Topsy Popsy wand. That wand is plastic and about 2" diameter. When I place it on my table with part of it hanging over the edge it tends to roll off. Just something I discovered by accident. |
MagicJac Regular user 166 Posts |
DanFreed Thanks for those ideas - Those are really great!
MagicMike - Awesome brother - have a similar one and may use that as well. MagicJac |
Shawn D Elite user Hughson,Ca 465 Posts |
If your reset is only 10 or 15 min you should have time to set the stuff up you don't want the kids to see while the kids are leaving and the other kid
are coming in. Then if you are still setting up when the other kids arrive I would interact with them while finishing up. I believe I had a show like that and that's what I did. In my case I need to roll up the jumbo straw, reset cardiograph, unshell the rubics cube. The rest I can do with them in front of me. The other ideas are great also. If you play music then put on BINGO or something the kids will sing along while waiting for you to finish up. |
noland Veteran user 350 Posts |
I perform my show out of a case on a stand (an extra deep case). No props are in view at the start of my performance--everything is set up inside the case, ready to go. I take out the props for each routine as I perform (most of which I hold in my hands--no table top required), and then replace them in the case or a dump-bag/servante attached to the back of the case as I finish each routine. At the end of the show, all props are in the case or dump bag--not necessarily reset, but concealed and out of reach of a grabby audience. As a result, when I have occasionally performed back-to-back shows, I simple reset my props inside the case behind the raised lid--there's nothing for the audience to see. I could do this practically surrounded, if I needed to. In fact, I used to do street magic, and that's where I learned to choose and structure routines that could be set up, and reset, while the audience was mulling all about. This information probably does not help you with your upcoming shows. But going forward, you may want to rethink what props you use or restructure some of the routines you perform so that they all meet the above conditions. It will take a lot of labor and stress out of the logistics of show set up and break down, and allow you to get on and off a stage, or in and out of a location really fast.
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noland Veteran user 350 Posts |
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noland Veteran user 350 Posts |
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Futureal Inner circle 1695 Posts |
What on earth have you got in a preschool show that requires a fifteen minute reset in between shows? Post your show running order I’d be fascinated to see what you’re doing that would require that kind of reset.
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candlestick New user 36 Posts |
It is really too late to comment on this since the show will already have taken place! Perhaps the original poster may wish to update us on what happened. On the other hand I quite understand if he doesn't wish to. I am interested in this topic since exactly the same situation has happened to me on a few occasions.
It also takes me about 15 minutes to reset things although I don't carry a lot of props. My entire show is in a briefcase. When I perform a trick I take it out of the briefcase and when I finish I throw it back in. At the end of the show the briefcase is in an untidy mess and the tricks have to be reset for the next show. I admire the fact that magicjac can start another show within ten minutes of the last one. He must be young and have more energy than me. I need 30 minutes between each show, that is 15 minutes to reset everything and another 15 minutes to recover! I use up a lot of energy in a 30 minute show and I can't just go into another show 15 minutes later otherwise I might collapse! Having said that I have done it on one or two occasions and it is not pleasant. However, for me personally to do it for three shows would be nigh on impossible. The way I get round this difficulty is to explain my needs to the booker of the show and come to an arrangement in advance of the time slots. If I had 9 to 12 as in the example I would suggest the first show at 9.30am the second one at 10.30am and the third at 11.30am. If that isn't possible I will work with the booker to come to a suitable time schedule suitable for both parties. If necessary I could reluctantly cut my time between shows to 20 minutes. However, I have always found that the person who books my show will go along with my suggestions when I explain to them that I need this break between shows. I have no problem setting up in front of the kids since half the time they aren't paying any attention to me anyway. The tricks are inside the case so they can't really see what I am doing. The people in charge of the kids will keep them occupied during my break times so that takes care of that problem. Anyway that is what I have always done. I often at day cares have to do two shows to two different groups. Three groups are less common but it has happened. I hope this advice may be of help to magicjac should he come up against the same situation again in the future. |
MagicJac Regular user 166 Posts |
Thanks for more feedback guys, pics of your table are great Noland, I ended up doing 4 shows almost back to back that day as the school had also gotten a chu chu train that never arrived, and since they have been my clients for the last 5 years, I did one more, that being said I did bring in a friend magician who did help me out, but long story short it could have been arranged better. Candlestick your advise seems great, next time will ensure I have more time.
Think I almost passed out as well! LOL ! Jaime Arana Cardenas (JAC) MagicJac! |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The little darlings » » Tips with resetting three 30 minute shows for a day care. (1 Likes) |
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