I guess the thread topic is fairly self-explanatory, but for the sake of redundancy:

Does anyone do a talking manipulation act? I love manipulation, but my gift is spoken, comedic performance and working with volunteers. I'm looking for a way to combine the two. Any suggestions?

The Six Card Repeat (manipulation style)

I guess it depends on what you're manipulating. Balls? Coins? Cards? People's emotions? Sorry, couldn't keep that one to myself.

Throughout my comedy act, I do manipulative routines (cards, balls, silks, etc.) while doing comedic patter.

Levent

I have a video with Toreno performing balls with comedy patter.

The Tarbell Course's billiard ball routine uses patter

I have a talking card manip act .....

I have a talking thimble act. I actually never did any manipulation act without talking. I've never used volunteers for it, however. I suppose it can be easy enough, though. Vanish objects only to find them on volunteers, maybe? Maybe have a running conversation with them? Ask them how cool what you just did was? I don't think it'd be very difficult to write at all.

Eddie

I do agree that it can be done but as you do it, you have to work on several key issues. One that comes to mind immediately is the concept of angles and how close the audience is to you as you are doing the manipulations for the act. If you are on stage and can be mic'd, then you do not have any worries for this. If you are outside or doing a street or festival style performance you may have to control this better and learn to project your voice a bit more.

Another thing to remember is that if you are going to talk during the manipulation act, then you need the routine to fit your style and your personality. It should not be just you telling people what will happen next or you asking them how cool it is. It needs to be more then that. It needs to be entertaining to the audience and the patter should fit what you are trying to convey. The patter and the manips must work hand in hand together.

I think too many manipulators do the moves and figure out the moves and then add the patter to it. Almost like the same trap manipulators fall into when they do the moves and work out the act and then find music to "plug in". That to me is just the wrong way to go about it.

Patter and or music are just as much a part of what is being manipulated as the cards or objects are. In many ways I like to work in reverse. I like to figure out the patter or story I want to tell and then use whatever moves or sequences I need to use to fit it. It ends up then becoming a much more coherent piece.

Just my thoughts.

Kyle

What magic are you doing now? Who's the audience?

Bruce

Your gift is the spoken word, you should be helping me...

I currently have a 30 min comedic stand-up magic act. Included in the show are a short rope routine, Lasso card, Whit Hayden's 4 Ring routine, and an egg bag routine. All bracketed by a signed card to impossible location.

Ok great information. What venues do you perform in mainly and to what age audiences? This will help us better help you.

Kyle

Adults audiences. Banquets etc

Aww ok. Then I think you are on target by doing a manipulation act that plays on comedy through the usage of both patter and also the character and personna you project. Maybe it can even be a combination usage of patter and music. Music in itself, by the usage of lyrics, can be quite comical. You may be able to play off of both of them perhaps.

What manipulations do you do or want to do? Cards, Billiard Balls maybe coins?

Kyle

I do a tooth paste comercial with thimbles, which appears to be tooth paste caps. The whole "wasn't that awesome?" thing works with my charater which I say at the end of every major part in the routine. But the main thing I do with it is a fake commercial for Crest.

Eddie

Eddie: Great stuff as that really makes sense. Now you have taken a manipulative routine but made is something totally different through the usage of creative thought. You added your personality into it which means the patter you say also fits your character. You have taken the object of a thimble but changed it now to make it something different that people can relate to and relates to the story you are telling. The Crest Commercial or info-mercial idea is also very strong of an idea and I bet is not only magical, but funny and humorous as well. Great thinking and a good example.

Kyle

That's all great material. What nature of changes are you looking to make, you know? For example are you looking to add more magic?

I wrote the following patter in rhyme for a very brief manipulative routine of springing the cards, fans, etc:

Silent, unmoving--not in the least alive.
Awaiting the hand
Of a miracle man
These cards 47 and 5.
Delicately, assuredly, the deck with his fingers he squares.
And then with a quick
Simple finger-flick,
He gives them unparalled airs.
They form semi-circles, complex and perplexing.
They fly from his hands as with ease.
They're wonders of beauty
Fulfilling their duty
The general public to please.
But again they are silent. He puts them aside.
Their energy leaves as it came.
But I should expect
That their wondrous effect
Will be felt when he hold them again!

I think the flourishes I performed were the Audley Walsh long distance side spin, springing the cards, armsprad and turnover, and various fan flourishes/color changes.

If I ever get my book on manipulative magic written, this routine will go into it.

----- Amado "Sonny" Narvaez