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JohnCressman Special user Allentown, PA 903 Posts |
I'm going to be doing some Street Magic at a new Shakespearean Festival in New Jersey and was trying to figure out a good way to get Electric Touch to work with high "swashbuckler" style boots. Short of cutting a hole in them, I can't figure out another way to get it to work... and these are expensive boots. Any ideas on that?
Plus... any ideas in general of good street magic for a Festival like this? |
Steve V Inner circle Northern California 1878 Posts |
What do you mean by 'street magic'? I know this upsets the kids but is your plan to walk up to people and mumbling "would ye liketh to see some yat that trancendeth thy mind?" then doing a card trick?
To be honest ren faires and shakespear fest are so horrible anything you do will be life saving to the poor victims in attendance. Steve V |
JohnCressman Special user Allentown, PA 903 Posts |
LOL! I actually love ren faires. I guess you have to be into them to really enjoy them... or perhaps the one in PA and NY are just great! =)
I was actually thinking about carrying around a small fold-up table - which I haven't procurred yet - and once every 1 hour or so yelling "My lords and ladies... gather 'round... gather 'round..." Or something like that. Then proceed to do a 20-30 minute show. Well... that's the plan. We'll see if I can pull it off. This is the first time their doing this Shakespearean festival in Clinton, NJ and they have NO CLUE what they want... so it's pretty much my show. |
MagiUlysses Special user Kansas City 504 Posts |
Greetings and Salutations,
I have often claimed, and Steve has proven my point about ren faires -- you'll either love them or hate them. Steve's distaste for them aside, short of obvious plastic, chrome and other modern-looking props, just about any magic will work. I finished a faire a few weeks ago where I carried a table for the cups and balls, did the professor's nightmare or a ring-and-rope routine, along with a color-changing streamer, and a "floating" wand, for a 15- to 20-minute show. The table was a covered and framed sheet of plywood, the stand was a restaurant tray jack stand, and all my props fit in a poacher's pouch. Aside from those, just about any tricks you do well with ropes, silks, coins, or cards will do well -- although I stay away from cards for my own reasons. And the more audience interactive you can make the trick the better. If you have three to five tricks that you do well, can involved an audience member or two, or three, and you're a decent performer you're good to go. If you want to get historically accurate, download the relevant section of Discouverie of Witchcraft but I wouldn't bother, unless the festival organizers are going to be sticklers for authenticity. I don't know what Electric Touch is, but to answer your question, unless I was making enough money to pay for a new pair of boots and put money in your pocket at the end of the day, I wouldn't trash a good pair of boots. Just my $.02 (USD) worth. YMMV Joe in KC |
JohnCressman Special user Allentown, PA 903 Posts |
Good post Magi. You're the 4th or 5th person I've heard who uses a waiter tray stand. Where did you get yours?
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MagiUlysses Special user Kansas City 504 Posts |
Greetings and Salutations JC,
I got mine for free from a restaurant supply store. They had four broken stands they couldn't sell or return to the supplier so I took them off their hands. I scavenged all of the parts from them and got one perfect stand, one good back-up stand, and one stand held together with Gorilla Glue and Deck Tape that I leave in my office to practice on during lunch. This option may not be available to you, though. I think I paid something like $20 for a short stand, which was a discounted price because one of the legs was nicked. I think the tall stands I use would cost about $35. You can also check in with your local eatery to see if they have any that are shot or are being replaced that you could help them dispose of. Free is definitely the most cost-effective option. Good luck, fat hats, and fare thee well! Joe in KC |
Steve V Inner circle Northern California 1878 Posts |
I'm a big fan of waiter stands. It isn't really that I dislike the Ren or Shakespear fests...it is just that when you have a serious question or need help and the nimrods refuse to drop character. Makes me want to run them through with my sword! By the way, my dream is to get all the wackos at one of the Scottish Games to attack a Ren Fest. Of course here in the bay area, up closer to where Mr. Brooks lives, they have 'politically correct' time re-enactors. That means they have two queens or two kings and everyone is equal and no weapons allowed. Doing magic at a ren fest does sound fun though.
Steve V |
Michael Taggert Special user Fredericksburg Virginia 656 Posts |
My Two Pence,
Magic at renn faires is incredible However unlike typical street shows Most successfull Renn performers build as much on their character and presentation. Renn performers Are after All "Fictional Characters" so you can get away with a lot more than you can on a regular pitch. My "street Show" Is 15 minutes with Five mminutes in between and includes a hand kiss and eating fire as well as two of several routines I have on the ready. My platform show is 45 minutes and has a lot more props. The key is scripting and polish. Faire producers want a show that moves at a fast pace and is absolutley tight. many of my audiences know my lines beter than me. My table was custom built by a prop shop at one of the faires I work. They are nuts about authenticity. as far as trashing your boots don't do it unless you are really getting paid well. also don't troupe anything that can get destroyed if it gets wet. Michael Taggert AKA Mark gerard of Les Jongleurs appearing Jan 27th 2007 at the Washington Shackespear festival, National Theater Washington DC |
MagiUlysses Special user Kansas City 504 Posts |
Greetings and Salutations,
Well, that about wraps that up. I can't think of much to add to Michael's comments. If Bill Palmer discovers this thread he may add some very valuable opinion, commentary, and wisdom, but my level of expertise has been met. I've discovered, late as usual, and like many, I suspect, that my ability to create humorous ad lib lines for my routines is/was a figment of my imagination. I'll second the notion that a well-scripted act is essential to your survival and having fun. Having a script to drop into and out of is an oasis, particularly at the end of the day when your neck and back are stiff, you could use an ale, and have to hit the priv the moment you finish collecting your hat. God's speede and fare thee well! Joe in KC |
JohnCressman Special user Allentown, PA 903 Posts |
Thanks Joe! I'm working on the act now. I'm actually having a ren outfit specially made with pockets on the doublet and the pants.
Some might say "That's not period", but my answer would be "Didn't you know? Pockets were actually invented by magicians and found their way to mainstream clothing centuries later." Hey... it COULD be true. =) |
MagiUlysses Special user Kansas City 504 Posts |
Greetings and Salutations,
FDROFLMAO! Now that's funny! And brilliant! Let us know if it flys. Joe in KC |
Lee Darrow V.I.P. Chicago, IL USA 3588 Posts |
One STRONG suggestion to anyone who is considering the ren faires as potential performing territory: is to make sure that you have permission TO perform AT the faire! Otherwise, whether you are in garb or not, a merchant or not, faire security will doubtless pitch you out on your doublet and breeches.
Many faires actually require an audition for their strolling performers and will NOT allow anyone else to perform on their patch who is not so vetted. And they csn be VERY unpleasant about it - to the tune of police and charges of trespassing (I've seen it happen). However, once permission is obtained, work "in persona." That is, create a character who fits in with the other ren fairies who are working there. Learn the faire patois - the pseudo rennaissance language that they foist off on the public as being Olde Englishe and make sure that you have a Reydye Witte, a Glybbe Tongue and Fingers Nymble. Cast forth forsooths, M'lodrs, m'ladies, good gentlefolk one and all's with abandon, prithee turnest thy cell phone off and insure that hou hast thine eyes upon the prize - the applause and adulation of the hoi polloi - that merry crowde of th unwashed masses who frequente thine owne Faire upon swyche lovely and fyne a summer's daye! In other words, lay it on with a trowel and have FUN! For effects, stay away from anything too obviously modern - aluminum is pretty well right out, as is plastic, if you can help it. If thou dost political jokes, play to the Crown, not Congress and remember to do the sweeping bow at performance's end! Ca you tell I've done a few of these puppies as well? Oh yeah, SUNSCREEN, BUG REPELLANT and, if it gets really hot, those pressure pack INSTANT ICE PACKS can be a life saver! Drink lots of water, eat in a healthy fashion and WEAR A HAT! Sunstroke can happen even under the cover of the trees and it can be SERIOUS. Lee Darrow, C.H.
http://www.leedarrow.com
<BR>"Because NICE Matters!" |
mysticalmike Special user Saratoga Springs, NY 509 Posts |
Also talk to Bill Palmer to.
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Leland E New user Yuba City 8 Posts |
For those of you who doesen't know who Bill Palmer is, He Played "Merlin" at the Texas Renassance Fair for many many years. I believe that he use to have a book out on the subject which can be found athttp://www.adessoverlag.com/main.htm Anyway you can contact him there. He does use Magic Café and has his own collumn. He has been a friend of mine since the early 80's. If anybody can answer you questions, he can.
I agree with Lee Darrow, You need permission for you to entertain at one of these events. I have been involved with Ren Fairs as long as I have known Bill. Even though I am a magician, I never tried to do any magic at one of these fairs out of respect for the people that are hired for the fair. In the last 10 years I have been selling hats feathers and pins at a booth. The owners of the fairs never minded me doing some juggleing and hawking in front of our booth as long as we didn't take anything away from the scheduled entertainers. Leland E |
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