I'm not sure if I'm posting this question in the right place, but I was wondering, what is the best way of going about constructing a stage/platform act with about 6 routines with some mentalism and some magic tricks?

thanks for all the help

Josh

You need to give us some kind of direction where you want to go with this. Where do you want to work it? What type of magic do you want to do? What effects do you already do that could be blended into a routine?

Your simple question opened up millons of others.

What is your budget? How big are the tricks performed? Do they need to be able to pack small? Is it a comedy? Romance? Get back to us then I'll try and help.
Nick

How many people need to be able to see this? Do you plan to work surrounded or with the audience mostly to the front? Are these to be patter tricks, or are you planning to perform all or some to music? Will you be working alone? Are you proficient at heavy sleight of hand, or do you need to stick with more mechanical props? Do you have a specific character or persona?

There are a lot of other considerations besides all those mentioned in these posts. Start asking yourself these and other questions. When you start answering them, you should be able to whittle down the list of available tricks, leaving a list of tricks that may work for you.

These are steps that all magicians must take when designing their own acts. Join the parade and you'll find it's one of the more satisfying aspects of this art.

GOOD LUCK!

Thanks for all the replies

I plan for this to be a show around 1 hr, for 20 - a few hundred people.

I want to do the linking rings, a few mentalist tricks(book tests), and maye another magic effect. If that's a good combination.
Its a one man show, and there is no music.
The tricks aren't big at all, and I can do some sleight of hand

I defintely do not have a large budget

thanks for all the help
Josh

Josh,

I recommend that you look at Mark Wilson's magic course book. Mark's empahasis is on stage magic and small budgets.

Bob
Magic By Sander

Josh,

Let me make a suggestion. Don't try and tackle a 1-hour show unless you have already built a 15-minute act. You need to start at the beginning with an opener. For openers I like productions, card manipulation, or something visual and quick to establish your credentials as a magician. A middle piece or pieces that allows the audience get to know who you are and a closer that wows them. I suggest you add music to your show even if it's only from a boom box. Forgive me for saying this, but it comes from the voice of experience, forget book tests and heavy mentalism in a magic show. Audiences allow certain leeway to Mentalists that Magicians don't enjoy. Long or complicated routines are the hardest to present in an entertaining manner to general audiences without putting long hard work into scripting and editing; and even then, if you have a family audience with about half kids, they'll be gone 3 minutes into the routine. So KNOW your audience demographic. Look for material that fits broader tastes, I hate to use the term commercial, but that's exactly what you need. If you do use a mentalism effect, make sure it’s an easily followed plot and that it isn’t too long or complicated. It's easy to fall into the trap of picking magic WE like in the hopes of our audiences liking it too. Here are some low budget suggestions:

Torn and Restored Newspaper
Cut and Restored Rope (but not too close to the T&R Newspaper or maybe not even in the same show)
Professor's Nightmare (Talking with a poem or even silent to music)
Card Manipulation
Al Baker's Sympathetic Silks
Cards Across (Tarbell 4)
Card Rise (Kundalini or any other Method, again you can check Tarbell for resources)
Linking Rings (You already own them, think about setting this to music)
Card or Bill in Orange/Lemon/Grapefruit or other impossible location
Thumb Tie
Rope Escape or Keller Rope Tie
Siberian Chain Escape
Thumb Cuff Routine (again, only one of the ties or escape tricks)
Newspaper Clip prediction, or some other quick, uncomplicated prediction

I have used or still use many of these effects myself, and if tightly scripted and choreographed they all pack an entertaining punch.
As an aside I wouldn’t put in too many card effects in the show or stack them unless you’re doing a gambling theme or establishing yourself as a card magician. One or two card tricks in a general magic show is enough. Another good resource for building a show is Jeff McBride’s Commando Act from the Magic on Stage series, although you might not want to emulate Jeff’s unique style, you can study the structure of a well constructed packs small, plays big show. Also pay attention to his presence. You can learn a lot!

Hope this helps you on your way.

Hi there Carlo! That is great advice for Josh and for anyone else trying to put an act together. It's very generous of you to share your experience.

Bob

Carlo-

What more can we say- Great advice~!!

jrandcc

Ill back up the above -try & use music -it will enhance your act

Make sure you can do a very good 15-20 min act before even thinking of 1 hr show!

I ve been doing this for over 10yrs now-professionally & I have just now got the 45 min act through trial & error & experience that I require full of strong routines that lay audiences enjoy not what I prefer etc

Mentalism-Perform 1 easy to follow effect that is 3-4 mins-with more experience with crowds etc then you may wish to improve on this

The above advice from other members is spot on-Your on the right track!!

Good luck & build your act slowly with strong effects etc
-Brent

One should consider doing one or the other Well. I can't picture Max Mavin do silks to doves, or picture David Cooperfield doing a serious mentalism routine.

Although one can combine the both, think of it as a character, which character do you want to be. It was tough seeing John Wayne in a film that was not war or a western.

Comedy mentalism, is another story. It is tough to be serious once you establish a funny character.