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Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
Kyle,
Thank you for reading my previous post. Your last post sounds a lot better than the previous ones. If you would of placed your first post like the last one, everyone would have agreed with you. |
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Mike:
I guess sometimes we all just forget to be more clear and precise as we want and should be. I will have to try to make sure I do a better job of making myself more clear with my thoughts. I thank you for letting me know and hope others will do the same if they are not sure what I am trying to say or if they are not understanding me.
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
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LMLipman Elite user Falls Church, Va. 443 Posts |
I was going to post pretty much the same initial question as what started this thread: is it better to do that same show for a repeat client or related client or do an entirely different show? I have a birthday show coming up for the cousin of a child I performed for six months ago. I'm sure there will be a lot of children at that show who saw my first show. Also, I'm performing a Halloween show for the same community I did last year.
These posts are now about five years old. I'm wondering if anyone has a new take after having read the posts from five years ago? My shows generally stay the same although they have evolved over the years and I find that sometimes I leave a trick out if the show is running long for some reason. I also occasionally try to put a new trick in. |
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TRUMPETMAN Special user Naples, FL 705 Posts |
I got booked for a birthday for a five year old boy. The family loved the show so much that they asked if I could also do a party for their daughter who was turning eight about six months down the road. They also asked if I could do a different show. They wanted it a bit more geared for an older child. Also, it coincided with the 4th of July, so I combined my patriotic show with my birthday show and had a Red, White & Blue Birthday. Everyone loved it, and I got a big tip on top of my fee.
I do different shows all the time in schools and preschools. I try to match my themes with what the kids are studying. I have many different ways of doing this, and it works for me. ON that note, I sure hope I don't get blasted in posts by those who think that the old school of doing one show for your entire career is the only REAL way to do magic ! I prefer to follow my own path. As my mentor reminds me constantly, "the house of magic has many rooms, enough for all of us". To each his own. Mark
Mark Pettey
Naples, FL facebook.com/robbietheringmaster |
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magicgeorge Inner circle Belfast 4299 Posts |
Heh, this old chestnut!
One point I don't think was mentioned is if you're 4 a year is a very long time. If the children hadn't seen the show for a year I'd do the same one. I'm in two minds about this issue. Everyone seems to be one extreme or the other and when I listen to them argue about it I often wonder whether they are trying to convince others or themselves. I think people who change their act monthly are fooling themselves that it needs to be done. It's just an excuse to buy more tax-deductable toys. As magic was usually a hobby before it was a job for most of is (now it's a jobby?!) we all prefer buying new effects over replacing old ones. Routines do need a lot of stage-time to be perfected and even the most adept entertainers won't refine it into gold within a few months. A good routine maybe, but not in the 'know it inside out-know why you say everything and how to deal with any situation that comes up' way that comes from years of honing. And yes, children will want to see the same show again and complain if you don't do certain things that you've done before. ON the other hand..... People who think that you can do just the one show for years and the adults & children don't expect anything new out of you are also fooling themselves. I have had quite a few bookers who have called me and said "we have been using so-and-so for years he's great but it's always the same act so we thought we'd try someone new". Children will watch your act several times but if you become the in thing with a certain group you may see the same children several times in a month. I think even if the kids love it the adults see it as lazy or uninspiring. It's also very hard to introduce a new trick into your show if you've got old old favourites. It's great to do an effect you don't have to think about so your mind is 100% focused on the audience. When your doing a new effect you tend to be focused on what you're doing not the crowd. So I think there must be a happy medium between buying every new prop that comes out and doing the same act all your life. Themeing it at Christmas and hallowe'en is one good method and having a great second show definitely helps. Your show will also feel different everytime if you have fun and do a lot of ad-libbing. George |
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TRUMPETMAN Special user Naples, FL 705 Posts |
Good points George. I like your thinkin'.
I get a little tired of seeing how crazy some of my fellow magi go over the latest effect. I have seen several marriages become strained over rampant spending and plastic abuse due to magic purchases. Not to say I don't buy some effects currently on the market. Everyone does. I also confess to a closet fetish for collecting change bags! I get around the prop addicition problem two ways. One is by building the majority of what I use. This allows me to create things specifically for certain themes. I have always loved building my own tricks, and have done it since my first days in magic as a youth. I never build to sell, only to use on my own shows. I also don't create carbon copies of currently marketed effects. We all saw the horrific example of the guy who tried to copy Chance Wolf's effect and sell it on eBay. YUCK ! The second way I avoid going broke buying the latest toys is to read books. Between Tarbell, Henry Hay, Rice, and Hoffman, I have access to more stuff than any magic store could stock. My wife is always telling me I should get more sleep instead of staying up half the night reseaching my magic tomes. I do buy my puppets, since that is a field of artistry I would rather have someone else who is more competent take care of. It is not the cheap way to go, but since my figures perform many different routines, the same puppet can be used show after show. Not to tread on thin ice, but I have spoken with a well known performer from the UK who now lives in the SW USA, (initials JR) who feels much as I do, and has MANY diiferent theme shows that keep him working constantly in schools and preschools. This is the majority of my work. The birthday thing I mentioned in an earlier post was a fluke. I rarely change up my birthday show. Mark
Mark Pettey
Naples, FL facebook.com/robbietheringmaster |
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themagiciansapprentice Inner circle Essex, UK 1381 Posts |
I always check with the client first. I have got lots of tricks but prefer doing a set show for parties. I've one kidshow for 2007/8, another for Christmas 2008 and a third for Gospel events. Normally, I just do the former unless the client wants something different for their child. (Then I can do an Arabian theme, dalmatians, colour, sports, pirates, animals etc.)
Next year, I'm leaving my current show in the UK and doing a new Colourful Magic 2009 for the Gulf. This is to stretch me and allow me to use the new skills and patter I've developed - not just too include new props. I agree with Trumpetman about the reading being important. I'm browsing Tarbel, Ginn, Laflin and Rice at the moment trying to sort out next years show.
Have wand will travel! Performing children's magic in the UK for Winter 2014 and Spring 2015.
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jimhlou Inner circle 3698 Posts |
Wow, lot's of great information. I would say that if you change your act when doing a repeat booking, ask whomever's booking you "is there anything you've seen me do before that you want me to do in this show?" This will avoid the "why didn't you do ....." problem.
Jim |
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Potty the Pirate Inner circle 4632 Posts |
I always find out where the kids have seen me before, check my records, then bring along almost entirely new material for repeat shows. For me at least, it's easy to have hundreds of routines which I can refresh quickly and put into a show at a moment's notice. And it's always fun to work a routine that you haven't done for years.
In my opinion, this keeps my shows fresh, and exciting. Working with a vast body of material keeps me on my toes, and ensures that I always enjoy performing. If you sing, you learn thousands of songs....and can sing them all from memory with no practise at all. Why should magic routines be any different? Once you've learned a routine, you'll never forget it.....though perhaps a quick glance at the script is needed sometimes. The down side is if you spend loads of money on new kit - which I admit I do - this year I've spent about £15000 on my shows. Then again, with lots of the best kids' props, I earn pretty good wages for my efforts...... ;) |
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Hansel Inner circle Puerto Rico 2492 Posts |
Quote:
On 2003-07-31 15:43, p.b.jones wrote: Agree!
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gadfly3d Special user 963 Posts |
Al Goshman once said that "an amateur does new tricks for old audiences and a professional does old tricks for new audiences".
While some change is good to expand ones repertoire, it takes many performances to get any specific effect to a professional standard, and too much changing can lower the quality of ones act. Gil |
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vincentmusician Loyal user Toronto 265 Posts |
I have found for Christmas Shows, I repeat a lot of material and everyone is fine with that. For little kids repetition is okay. For older kids at Birthday Parties, I use new Material. If I perform for businesses, I asked if they want me to repeat my Show or do a new one. For Adult Parties, I perform a New Show. For Strolling, I repeat the same Magic routines.
So it really depends on the client, and the audience. I agree that doing a Show for years makes it smoother and you can improve your Show. However, doing the same Birthday Show for the same older kids who know everything that will happen just does not work for me. Do what works for you. Cheers! |
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