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Sonny Vegas Regular user Chicago, Illinois - USA 199 Posts |
I have noticed a lot of Questions about "Hecklers/Things Gone Wrong" advice. This can really throw someone off their routine if the performer is not prepared for a well prepared comeback or recovery. Tar and feathers is out of the question.
What I'd like to start here is a practice space for all kinds of tricks gone wrong/hecklers. I will post a situation and you reply with your best comeback/recovery line...keeping them clean and usable for all who venture to this post. Hopefully if this thread gets big enough, you can always come here for situation comeback for those rude heckling machines and gimmicks who have a mind of their own. I will try to cover many situations and dilemmas. Any and all responses are welcome (except dirty ones) We need to be the ones who prove themselves to be on a level higher than the obnoxious heckler and recover comically when a trick goes astray. If you don't want to share a response, don't post it. This thread is to help all and whatever is given is available to all. *Remember the crowd is on your side. You are magical - good looking and having the crowd wanting more of your Illusional talent.... --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Let's start, +++ Situation: You're new at a club, ready to go onstage and the Emcee has accidently miss pronounced your name. You enter the stage and say.... |
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Bill Ligon Inner circle A sure sign of a misspent youth: 6437 Posts |
My name is LIGON. After an introduction like that, I wish I was one of those people who don't need an introduction.
OR Actually, I don't call myself "_______." My name is LIGON. I guess that was a postage stamp introduction. After that you're already licked!
Author of THE HOLY ART: Bizarre Magick From Naljorpa's Cave. NOW IN HARDCOVER! VIEW: <BR>www.lulu.com/content/1399405 ORDER: http://stores.lulu.com/naljorpa
<BR>A TASSEL ON THE LUNATIC FRINGE |
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Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
Sounds like a great idea...and worthy of it's own section within the Café since every aspect of performing deals with hecklers at some point. I can see this developing into a major resource. Administrators, please take note!
When I'm Emceeing, I warn every comedian that they need to give me a clearly printed or typed introduction including their preferred comedic intro, a list of previous clubs and appearances of note and a phonetic spelling of their name. If I don't have that, I use my own comedic introduction...and I'm rarely complimentary in those cases...so go prepared. As to the question - How on earth do you mispronounce Skip Way...but they DO occasionaly announce someone else's name! Drunk Emcees! I carry a small toy supercap gun in my stage kit. If they blow my intro, I pop a cap offstage then cooly walk on stage - "_________ couldn't be here tonight. I'm Skip Way" and launch into my act. :o) SKip
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
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Sonny Vegas Regular user Chicago, Illinois - USA 199 Posts |
....Once you have gotten the name correct from the emcee you welcome all the patrons to the show. Then, from way in the back of the room you hear, " Hey Marshall Brodine, show us a trick!" The audience silences and waits for your comment...
...Cooly and calmly, with your wittiest, but subtle comeback, you reply,.... |
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Bill Ligon Inner circle A sure sign of a misspent youth: 6437 Posts |
This is a hard one (for me). This is the best I've come up with so far. I suppose I should keep trying.
"Two hundred people here and only one is hard of hearing!"
Author of THE HOLY ART: Bizarre Magick From Naljorpa's Cave. NOW IN HARDCOVER! VIEW: <BR>www.lulu.com/content/1399405 ORDER: http://stores.lulu.com/naljorpa
<BR>A TASSEL ON THE LUNATIC FRINGE |
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MikeDes Inner circle Montreal 1174 Posts |
Hey Ronald, go flip your burgers.
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Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
"Yes, it's true. Marshall does tricks. I, on the other hand, perform...Illusions. Like this..."
"You took a wrong turn there, Bud. Marshall's show is on the RIGHT as you exit the Loo." "Excuse me, sir, could you conduct your business outside of the theatre? Thank you." :o) Skip
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
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Ray Anderson New user 30 Posts |
If it's a female you say:
Look lady, I don't come to your work and yell at you while your doing your tricks. Ray |
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Sonny Vegas Regular user Chicago, Illinois - USA 199 Posts |
...Now that you've seated the heckler, you proceed to your first trick " TT silk"
As you diplay your silk to the audience, then begin to stuff the silk in your hand, you realize you have grabbed the larger silk witch is a bit too big for the TT. As you put the TT on your thumb and show the audience that the silk is gone, and the darn thing pops off your thumb and falls to the floor. Everyone sees this and some have picked it up, but others are still confused about the illusion look blank... What do you say and do next? Remember half the audience is on to you and half of them are still bewildered. You say/do.... |
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kcalB Special user Took me 16 years to make 999 Posts |
My wife also had trouble saying my last name so she changed hers back to her maiden name along with a change of address.
"Klaatu barada nikto"
Former Member of P.E.A. Creator of The Clearly Q&A Board Alumni ECSSI ECSSII ECSSIII ECSSIV ECSSV BizarreHauntingsI |
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Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
In the first place, if I knew the thumb was likely to fit poorly, I'd palm it and ditch it while reaching for my wand rather than risk "thumbing" it. Nevertheless:
"...um...TA DA!" "Well, that's the last time I use Michael's plastic surgeon!" "Look...seriously...if I was good, I'd be in New York." To lady in front row: "Did you see what just happened? No? Good! For my next trick!" "By a show of hands, how many of you paid to see this show? Boy, did you get screwed!" Look shocked. Keep your thumb hidden behind your palm. Double take between missing thumb and thumb tip. Pick up thumbtip, blow it off, palm it as you move to "restore" the missing thumb...wriggle "restored" thumb for misdirection as you pocket the thumbtip...do something good...FAST! Man! This show is turning into a regular Hades Gig! Skip
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
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kcalB Special user Took me 16 years to make 999 Posts |
Can we try to keep this to one idea per post ?
"Klaatu barada nikto"
Former Member of P.E.A. Creator of The Clearly Q&A Board Alumni ECSSI ECSSII ECSSIII ECSSIV ECSSV BizarreHauntingsI |
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Sonny Vegas Regular user Chicago, Illinois - USA 199 Posts |
Basically, yes Skip. This is turning out to be the gig from Hades.
I like Skip's solutions...I think the more the merrier and keeping everything on one post should not bury other posts of the forum. I will try to add a performance situation every day and all are invited to lay a line or 2 or 3..ect. here. But actually this is a learning tool for that wonderful thing we call Murphy's Law. You never know when you will be appying one of these solutions to your act and later saying "Thanks Guys!" (not to say these exact problems will occur, but similarities do surface without warning.) |
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Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
Apologies, Derek! I'm a brainstorming kinda guy. When someone gives me a problem I shoot ideas at it till we hit one or two someone likes. Just my style.
Skip
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
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kcalB Special user Took me 16 years to make 999 Posts |
Skip, We all apprciate the good intentions, But as in so many other rooms in this mansion we all have a tendancy to drift way off course.
Perhaps we all suffer some form of Entertainers ADD ? If we try to stick to the topic it makes The Café a valuable research tool. Thanks, Sebastian
"Klaatu barada nikto"
Former Member of P.E.A. Creator of The Clearly Q&A Board Alumni ECSSI ECSSII ECSSIII ECSSIV ECSSV BizarreHauntingsI |
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Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
Some new lines to play-off the thumbtip SNAFU:
"Well, we weren't expecting THAT were we?" "If this were television, this would be called a 're-take'." "Doggone Wal-Mart magic props!" or if you prefer "@$#%*#@ Wal-Mart Magic props!" If it's painfully obvious to the audience that your "thumb" has fallen off..."I did this bit in front of a leper colony once...they laughed their !@#$% off." Quickly point at some point in the back of the room behind the audience & shout "LOOK! IT'S BLUE MAN GROUP!" - whether the audience looks or not, quickly bend down and pick up the gimmick. Pocket the tip and assume an overly innocent look. I look at it this way, if you're a serious magician who performs for the "Holy Crap, he fooled the pants offa me" reaction, comedy lines may not work for you or interest you. BUT...if, like me, you're a comedian who successfully performs magic for the laughs, then covering an error WITH a laugh leads the audience to believe that the SNAFU was part of the show and they will forget all about it by the next routine. Pick one or two lines that appeal to you and work with your character...and store them away for future use. Skip the Prolific
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
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Gideon Sylvan Special user Deerfield, IL 541 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-07-08 12:46, Skip Way wrote: Now that is funny!
You know you are a magician when you have boxes full of lecture notes you have never read, but still are excited about going out and buying more.
www.gideonsylvan.com |
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KyletheGreat Special user Georgia 560 Posts |
For the popping off thumbtip:
Well I betcha have never seen that cheesy old "tear the thumb off and put it back on" trick like that before have you! I have a friend who does the thumb tip off on purpose, but he only does it when performing for magicians. It is a comedy routine if you haven't guessed. |
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Sonny Vegas Regular user Chicago, Illinois - USA 199 Posts |
After recovering from that last flub, you proceed to the next trick in your routine. 'The Ring and Rope'
This one requires 2 volunteers in the audience. You scan the audience before you ask for a volunteer. Noting that there is a table of nice old ladies to your right. You ask if 2 of them would like to come on stage to help you. "Agnes the Widow" and "Helen the Librarian" her friend agree. So far your patter is working well and the trick seems to be running smooth. So far so good,...that's until you accidently muff the move and fumble Agnes's ring. You watch it hit the ground and disappear under a table in the first row. As those salty beads of sweat start rolling down your forehead, knowing another trick has backfired on you, you start to panic mentally. Neither of the two purple hairs realize what has happened. You have little time. You need to cover this quickly. Time to think. You lost the Widows ring!!! What do you do next????....... |
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Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
This is PRECISELY why I NEVER ask for a volunteer's ring. I know how much impact it carries...but it just isn't worth the risk of losing a ring, a setting or simply being ACCUSED of such a thing. Nevertheless:
I quickly say a short prayer to St. Bosco, Patron Saint of Magicians, and hope that I have an alert and honest spectator at the aforementioned table. I follow through with the bit, vanishing the ring. If I see the front row spectator pick the ring up...then through my great and mystic powers I discover that the ring has mysteriously flown into the hands of that very handsome young bald fellow seated at this front table. "Why, Agnes...I believe he's proposing!" If the front row spectator is neither alert nor honest, I simply hand Agnes my wallet and run like heck. Skip
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
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