P.S. :lookingforatrick: and :stuckinabag: was suppose to look like this

:stuckinbag: Oops!

Pete

Story boarding an act sounds interesting. How odd that even though I'm in the film/TV biz I never consider doing that. I'd be interested to see some of your sketches!

I'm doing a strolling gig on Saturday for the annual Heart Party at the Children's Hospital of Orange County - kids who have undergone heart transplants or other major heart surgery - so I'm working up some kid-friendly close up material that I haven't done in awhile. I'm not used to strolling so I'm having to adjust so that I can reset and be ready for the next table. I think that will be my biggest challenge.

Since it's for kids with heart defects I'm thinking I'll open with my Bengal Tiger From Fire production and then go into sword swallowing, and finish with a bullet catch. Thoughts?

Um, ...Er... How about those sports teams?

I'm glad you're kidding Andrew.

If a Child looks really frail try not to ask them to touch the objects you'll be using. Impaired immune systems can be a part of the recovery for these Kids because of the anti rejection drugs. The staff should be able to guide you in this, just ask them.. I know it is hard to hold back in allowing examination of the objects but it is for their own good.

Ninja Rings are good.

Rope Tricks that can be done surrounded or nearly so.

Your Ring and Rope will be excellent for this gig.

Mouth coils (but not from the mouth).

Tokyo penetration

Rubber band effects.

Use your judgement on effects like Sponge Balls and Silk thru Arm that use personal contact.

Juggling and Contact juggling can add some nice color to the event as well.

Torn and restored tissue Heart (or tissue with hearts printed on them) might be a good accent effect for possible interviews to promote the event.

Have Fun!

-Mary Mowder

Thank you for the thoughts Mary! Though I was around my mother all summer with her illness, her immune system remained in tact for the most part so it wasn't an issue. I appreciate the tip as I wouldn't have considered that - especially since when I perform for kids, I tend to make them the magicians by giving them their own little wand to keep and handling things whenever possible. I'll talk to the staff about that.

I was booked through the Magic Castle community outreach committee for this show, and they were looking for a stand up show as well. Mine is a bit rusty so someone else is handling that duty, but I'm told that last year they had someone do the razor blades from mouth routine. Interesting choice....

I'm going to use Dean Dill's beads, my Mental Photography routine, a couple of easy to follow card tricks, and the chop cup. I have my ring and rope sitting out and my card set was running a little long it seemed, so I think I'll substitute the rope for one of the card tricks. I had considered doing my coin in bottle but I've never done that strolling, so I don't know how well the coin can stand up to repeated use (it's a Johnson I believe.) Because of the setup of the event, I'd like to have a longer set ready and just go with the flow depending on each group. Certainly don't want to wear them out!

What a great gig, Andrew! I have done some for the James Cancer Research Center at OSU, and it takes some emotional prep. I go straight for comedy in those situations. Oddly, the first one I did, I had not performed in years and kept flubbing the magic. I was getting pretty frustrated until I looked up and saw they were all laughing at me.

Well, laughing is laughing so I went with it. Where I was, they could not touch anything. In fact on the most compromised floor there was a 1" thick glass as they could not risk any contagion. So I had to flub up at a higher level so they could see it.

Probably too late for you to check it out, but one of my tried and true for making kids laugh is spring animals. I started with Rocky Raccoon but now have others. Rocky is very popular, as is my skunk, "Peppy L'Pew". I got into these after my rabbit broke jail, but that is another story.

Anyway, wishing you good luck...

Jim

I actually have a Rocky routine but hadn't thought about using it. I'm waiting on the details of the gig - I wish I had a better idea of what the age range will be.

From what I understand this is more of a party atmosphere, similar to a strolling situation in a restaurant with about 300 people. After reading Mary's post I reworked my set to make sure the whole thing could be done without the kids touching anything. Just a few minor changes in handling fixed that

We have a cancer center here in LA - I've already got myself on the list to perform at their annual event as well. I wanted to be involved in that one for sure, considering it's a cause so close to my heart.

Thank you for all the input!

Good luck to you Andrew- I hope it all works out well...

Thank you!

Hello everyone again. Sorry it has been a bit before I checked back in, but I have been really sick with a terrible sinus infection. The worst I have ever had in my life. I lost my voice completely and Matthew had to take the entire script for one of our shows. He did quite well with it and I was "Teller" of Shizzle Dizzle Magic for that performance.

I really took all of your suggestions and spent some time researching all of my options regarding rope routines. My son also checked out our options as well, and together we settled on Fiber Optics.

Hudson, I know that you said that it was a really hard place to start, but we really like the various moves and considering our creativity, we decided that once we got the moves down that we would customize the routine to fit us. Also, since Matthew now wants to learn as well, we are committing an hour each evening to practicing until we get it right.

Andrew, I will most definitely be adding a ring into my routine as well. I absolutely love the idea. It looks like there is a ring routine included in the Fiber Optics Dvd? I ordered it today along with some rope, so hopefully next week we wil get started.

Also Andrew, I am very anxious to hear about your gig for the heart party at Childrens Hospital, as this and the Cancer Center one are both causes that are very close to home for me and I know first hand how much it will mean to the patients and their families! Bringing amazement, laughter and smiles to lift the spirits of these folks will mean the world to them. I hope you have a great time with this!

Mary, you always have the most creative ideas! Love the torn and restored tissue heart idea!

Peter, thanks for the welcome. My son, Matthew always story boards our shows before he writes the scripts. Works wonderful for us!

Thanks again to all of you for letting me join you. I will let you know how the rope routine is going once I get the dvd and rope.

Have a wonderful weekend!

~Nanci

Glad you're feeling better Nanci - I look forward to hearing what you think of Fiber Optics! Richard Sanders is a great thinker.

I will certainly share my experience once I've done this gig - I was told today that it's similar to a wedding with table set up and 8-10 people at each one. It's really a celebration which will be nice.

I've already put my name on the list to perform for kids with cancer as well. Having lost my mother to it in August, it's a cause I too am passionate about and it will be a nice way of giving back

Nanci,

Hope you are feeling better soon. You will like the Fiber Optics material. My routine is just a fraction of Sanders' full three rope routine, but plays very well. I started with almost all of it and then cut down to a shorter routine. Always get a great reaction, but it was really difficult to get good enough to show the first time!

Based on Jim and Mary's comments, I did get the Daryl DVDs and the Baker DVD. Viewed Baker' already - about 30 minutes or so with basics. Got through almost all of Daryl vol 1 - a lot of material there! I can see how I would add additional material. Perhaps start with some knot or ring effects and then to the Fiber optic routine. I'm a little worried about building a cut and restored - I travel a lot and scissors don't fly so well any more.

Been crazy with work lately, so haven't settled on what I will add, but will sign up here when I'm ready!

Hudson

PS ordered a set of monkey fists from Laurie and waiting for them now .

I do an almost exact version of Daryl's ring and rope routine from the L&L DVD I have. I've found it makes the most sense for what I like to do. I'm going to add a few bits to it at some point but for now it works pretty well for me

I'm with you Hudson - I love the cut and restored stuff as it's the first rope effect I ever did, but scissors can be an issue.

Nanci,

I think a less involved and slower routine would serve you better to start with.

Part of the challenge of Rope is to keep the audience with you and engaged with the perceived "now" condition of the Ropes.

The speed and length of the Sanders' routine makes it more likely that a Magician can just go though the Routine like a repetitive exercise because they are just trying to remember the routine (and because it is fun from a jugglery perspective). Watch a few youtube performances and you'll see what I mean. Some connect, some don't.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_qu......l0.2l2l0

You need time to learn how to involve the people one effect at a time. A single Rope effect can have great charm if we connect.

Since I'm fairly sure I won't be able to dissuade you (I've had the fever for a specific effect before too) try to relate with the people one effect at a time within the routine to start and let the speed come as you see the people are with you. Consider 55Hudson's idea of a cut down version to start.

If the Sanders' is too daunting after a little practice, don't give up Rope, just scale back. You'll get there in the end.

Best of luck.

-Mary Mowder

Mary,

Thank you for your input! I have a great deal of respect for you and take your advice very seriously. In that light, I went ahead and ordered Daryl's rope dvd's as well as Carroll Bakers, per your and Jims original advice.

I have always made sure that I performed things that were engaging and entertaining to my audience and not just a "Hey look how cool I am" act. Andrew also mentioned an L&L dvd, which I am wondering about.

I really think if I look at these and compile routines that fit me, that you are absolutely correct that I will be better off in the long run. I also know that learning and perfecting one thing at a time is much better than trying a whole lot of things and doing it badly!

Thank you for helping me step back and analyse my choices. I already am so thankful, for this thread and all of you that have been so gracious to me!

I do take advice to heart and think things through, because even though I have a lot of experience in some areas, I know that I have a lot to learn in others. Rope obviously falls in the latter. Since it is an area I know nothing about, I want to learn from all of you that do know.

Thank you again, and as soon as I get this figured out, hopefully I can get started!

~Nanci

I like the L&L DVD because it gave me some options of shorter routines and I was able to put various pieces together to create my own. Well, that's the plan anyway I also do Dan Harlan's version of Professor's Nightmare (which is gaffed but looks SO cool!) so I'm working on ways to integrate both of them, along with a stiff rope which I sometimes use as a visual opener. It's a fair amount of rope to be pulling in and out though so I need to routine it so it flows well. I'll be interested to hear how it goes for you, Nanci!

I had a great time at the children's hospital gig today. I did several card routines, some ring and rope stuff, my chop cup and Dean's Beads. All went well until the last 15 minutes when a kid tugged on the beads so hard they came raining down around me in chunks. I tried to get them back together while asking the kid for another number, and when I looked down I realized I couldn't salvage the trick. I'd already done it for someone else at the table so they got the idea, so when the kid said "3" I just put the beads away and pulled the 3s out of the deck and did Twisting the Aces...with the 3s. Just an interesting audience management thing to work on.

Got some free Panda Express too. What a sweet deal!

Brilliant save Andrew! Glad it went well.

Nanci, you'll have wiggly rope dreams for a while but you'll be smiling.

Did anyone see Pete Stobie in the February Linking Ring? Page 34, Row 3, 1st from left. We knew him before he was famous.

-Mary Mowder

Andrew - Glad to hear you children's hospital show went well. No better feeling than helping a sick child to smile.

I had a fun weekend with a short notice show. My wife gave me short notice (very short!) that I was doing a show for our friend's daughter and niece (ages5&6). Dd the kid classics - coloring book, sponge bunnies, etc., but the highlight was when I did The Lucky Coin (from Card College) for our friend. First time I've done this effect and from the reaction, it is a keeper!

Best to everyone!

Hudson

I'm not familiar with The Lucky Coin...what's the routine?

I love short notice shows...so long as I'm prepared

Andrew - Sounds like you were a hit! Brilliant save!

Thanks Mary! Believe it or not, although I am holding a card case , there is no cards in it. I got this gag from Aldo Colombini. I act like I am going to do a card trick but out of the box comes a rope which led me into ring rope and safety pin routine. You can put other stuff in box too! What ever works for you! I've enjoyed it.

Pete

Skills required for this effect are: force, control, and top change. I wanted a trick to learn/practice the top change and that's why I added it.
The premise is that the Spec finds their card using your "Lucky Coin" (the top change ensures they do find their card). . It is on the last DVD of Card College - don't recall if it is in the book or not.

If you don't have the Card College series, I strongly recommend it. I totally revamped my entire card skills after more than 20 years of magic once I got the CC series. You won't regret using this series as a reference for card magic.

Hudson