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david walsh Regular user Bonnie Scotland 183 Posts |
I have thought about this a few times. For an actress (actor)/dancer to take up the position of a magician's assistant must be a pretty big commitment. All the practice time, performance time and flexibility could be a lot to ask.
I know you often hear of man and wife performing acts and this does seem like the ideal situation. Assuming no one put an ad in the lonely hearts column saying: Wife wanted, must be small, flexible, look good in a leotard and be willng to travel. In general how did those of you working with an assistant get together?
David.
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Lyndsy M. New user Ontario, Canada 6 Posts |
David,
Peter and I live together and it makes things so much easier. We can rehearse whenever we want to. And no, Peter didn't put an ad in the lonely hearts column? Lynz
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Peter Loughran V.I.P. Ontario, Canada 2683 Posts |
Not that you saw anyway...Just kidding.
P.
Brand New: - SNAKE BITE ILLUSION
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RandyStewart Inner circle Texas (USA) 1989 Posts |
Quote:
On 2003-06-30 07:08, david walsh wrote: Right you are David. And they rarely get any credit! It's amazing how many effects are made possible with the secret assistance of the assistant! I've heard many stories of how certain effects came about due to the wife's input. Did you know that Diana (Shimada's wife) suggested the dove be facing him before production in the "Dove Toss" production? This position insured the dove only saw him when in flight and immediately returned. Particularly helpful when stage area has chandeliers. Doves love them as much as humans! Did you also know it was she who suggested two silks instead of one for the Twin Dove Vanish at the end of his classic act? And on and on and on... Where would magic be without the clever assistant? |
magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
My show would be nothing without my partner Kelly. Of course she is now my wife, so that makes things a whole lot easier.
I say partner because she does a lot more than just assist me. She is as much a part of the success of the show as I am myself. We are a team and we create and perform our magic that way. We met on a date and I found out she enjoyed magic. I always made it 100% clear that she did not have to feel obligated to do magic but she needed to understand that I have a passion for it and it is a big part of my life. She loves magic and wanted to help me in any way that she could. Through the many months ahead, we rehearsed and worked on the show to make it flow right and incorprate her into the illusions and new effects. It is great for us because it is something we both love and get a lot of fun and enjoyment from.
Kyle Peron
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Murray Hatfield Regular user Canada 150 Posts |
David,
You are absolutely right on with your post. Being an assistant/partner can be a huge commitment. And a thankless one at times as well. In the case of a dancer, imagine spending five or ten or more years to study, train and compete in dance only to choose to play second fiddle to a magician. Add the total lack of recognition that most assistants are given (even by their own partners in some cases) and it can't be a very rewarding job at times. On my tour I've had the pleasure of working with some of the finest magic teams in the biz. Sadly I've watched far too many times as both laymen and magicians come up after the show to warmly congratulate the magician side of the team for a great performance while completely ignoring the partner. Even sadder, I've seen magicians who treat their own assistant as little more than a stage prop or worse, an indentured slave. I think it's about time that magicians as a whole began to recognize the contribution that our assistants and partners make on a regular basis, both to our own shows and to our art. I was incredibly lucky to find and work with my partner Teresa who, over the years, has contributed as much as I have to our show. She may not have the years in magic that I have, but her knowlege of dance, movement, music, costuming and theatre have brought whole new dimensions to our performance. Magically she brings a completely different perspective to the table and helps me to see things from outside of the box. I know I couldn't do what I do without her. Next time you see a show with an assistant or partner make sure you don't just give credit to the magician. Chances are they both had a hand in creating the magic you see onstage. Just my two cents... Murray |
Peter Loughran V.I.P. Ontario, Canada 2683 Posts |
I'll drink to that!
Well said, P.
Brand New: - SNAKE BITE ILLUSION
www.masterofillusions.ca Follow me on Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/peter.loughran.9 Check out my new movie: www.plasterrockmovie.com www.globaluniversal.com Also visit: www.l2fireworks.com |
King Of Pop Veteran user Estonia 392 Posts |
Well it's certainly one of the best topics ever.
I can't say much because I am not on stage with my wife, because I don't have one yet. I have also thought a few times on that and came up with something like that. Firstly, the magician finds (looks) for his assistant. They practice together, they go on tours together, they perform together and that's how it goes further. Magician asks her out after show, to eat dinner, after while they add cinemas and so it goes till he makes his proposal.
God Bless You, I Love You From The Bottom Of My Heart
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Nothing will help a magician appreciate an assistant like being one. My wife is my assistant but she also was a ballerina before that. She still dances two nights a week. Dancers bring much to an act. She joined my act after we were married.
However, there is a twist to this. Lucy also has her own magic stage act independent of me. If you got to see her in Atlanta, I am her assistant. We also have a two-hour stage show in which we perform together and separately. One of the many nice things about our relationship is that professionally we always try to introduce each other and treat each other as equals. We have other lives too. She is a practicing physician and I am a registered lobbyist. At home she feeds us and makes the coffee and I take out the garbage and do the laundry. It certainly is easy. I love Lucy. Bob Lucy's Assistant Bob Sanders Magic By Sander |
Dayanara New user Michigan 64 Posts |
The commitment for an actress/dancer to become an assistant has to come from the heart. If they want to use their talent and education to help magicians out and don't mind being ignored almost all the time, then that's their calling.
Personally, I would like to open my own dance studio someday, but I also wouldn't mind being an assistant to a magician or doing choreography for him or her. Some girls would say it was a waste of 17 years of class and a degree in dance to do such a thing, but that's them. It's my calling, not theirs. |
KerryJK Special user Northampton UK 621 Posts |
The first assistant I ever met properly was at an agent showcase I was at as a musician. She was accompanying a truly dreadful magician who she really carried. It was an education to watch. The funny thing is, even offstage she never stopped moving like a magician's assistant, dancing and stretching about the bar as we spoke and subconciously making flourishes as she helped load up the van.
I've always had a lot of sympathy for assistants anyway, my childhood fantasy when watching magic shows was being in the box myself (which may account for how I ended up doing escapes). There are so many good ones, and they rarely even get a billing. Maybe it's also because I'm attracted to things and people on the edges, who aren't the mainstream focus. Hey, that's why I'm a magic fan to start with. There's a thread in the illusions section where someone stated that illusions were the easiest form of magic to perform, before someone immediately pointed out that illusions are only easy to perform badly. When you see a duo work together with proper skills, rehearsal, teamwork and chemistry, boy do you know about it. One of my favourite illusion teams in this respect (who haven't yet been mentioned) is Shahid and Lisa Malik. |
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