Larry,

I figure your sense of who will make a good volunteer and who won't is so ingrained that it might be hard to articulate, but are there any tips you can give when it comes to picking audience members to help you on stage?

Curt

If you're doing an effect that requires reading, always select someone who is wearing glasses. Sometimes folks who need them forget them or don't have them on which leads to dreaded dead time. If you're working a venue where booze is available, always select someone far enough from the stage so you have the opportunity to see them walk. If they bob and weave, stop them by stating you meant the person seated behind or next to them. Incidentally, I often mix with my audiences prior to performing. This gives me a heads up on who might make a good participant during the show. It's also a great way to calm the preshow jitters.

Mr. Becker, these are three real diamonds. Your out for someone drinking really is great because the person and the audience have no clue and no one is embarrassed.

This is the type of information you can only get from someone with years of experience.