Are you funny, are your jokes funny or is your magic funny. What truly makes a comedy magic act??

As I reflect on last year and how it seems that my comedy stand-up show has risen to a new height during 2011. I reflect and ask myself all those questions. I have been booked for some very odd performances, for the first time since the late 90s I was requested to perform at a roast. Don’t get me wrong I have MC many but to be the feature act, it has been a while. I have been asked to perform at biker convention, which turned into another booking for a divorce party of all things. The oddity of those venues is what I found the most challenging and rewarding as an entertainer this last years. For one I had to customize my show, break out of the full act and make adjustments to fit the audience.

I think that part of the reason for the surge of bookings with my comedy show is that people are looking for something to make them laugh in an economy and world that is no laughing matter. We all want an escape from our day to day lives, and what better way than finding something to laugh about. This is where we come in as entertainers right!!.

So I ask this simple question to get the discussion flowing.
Are you funny, are your jokes funny or is your magic funny. What truly makes a comedy magic act??

--Floyd

I didn't think I would be a comedy magician at all until I started busking and performing regularly.

I had seen myself as the mysterious/elegant magician... which I still dress as; and is a large part of the act.

The reality of the situation was that I naturally fell into ad-libbing patter and comedy; it wasn't until later that the realization hit me that... I was doing comedy magic interspersed with the more "serious" pieces.

And to think I had contemplated performing with pantomime/silence... go figure!

As to what makes a comedy magic act? The audience, and audience participation. If they're having fun, you're having fun and the circle feeds back on itself.

Ekuth,
Well said, about what makes a comedy magic act, and the point I was hoping someone would make thank you.

I think from the audiences perspective YOU have to be funny.

They need to be going away thinking "He is a funny guy" not he had some funny jokes/tricks. Although part of making them think this is by having funny lines and unique and interesting tricks but also by being engaging, likeable and accessable.

I also think originality is the key if you are telling your own funny lines and sharing your own presentations then you are a funny guy if you're sharing a collection of lines you've acquired over the years then even if the audience don't recognise them you're still more likely to fall into the "person with funny jokes" category as you are not being true to yourself.

My awakening came with phone calls from talent buyers who told me, "You don't have to bring a lot of magic props. We would be happy with thirty minutes of one-liners."

Bob Sanders
Magic By Sander

George,
Yes I agree, the audience is expecting you to be funny, and if you bill yourself as that you best be that.

I would like to touch on the originality a bit here. I feel that comes from you the performer, I would bet that 70% of my material could not be performed as I do it. The reason I say this is I have seen others try and fail. The key to originality I think is being yourself as a performer, and knowing there is only one you in this world.

Bob, 30 min of one liners?? Would you say that is their prospective of a comedian or do you feel that was a complement to you as a performer. Or do you think they were saying we don't care as long as your funny how you get the laughs? Just wondering how you took that.

Floyd, I mean you have to be funny as opposed to your jokes or tricks are funny (that's why I capitalised the you part not the funny part)

George, Yep I could not agree more. I got what you were saying just wanted to elaborate a little on it. I fully agree, with you on this and is one reason why I feel reflection is so important, sometimes we forget the real reason for comedy magic and that being the person performing not the jokes.

As "they" say, some people can read the back of the cereal box and the audience will eat it up. The right person at the right time...at the right venue...funny..

I find when I am not trying so hard...and being more true/real..the better reaction I get.

Been trying out old and new stuff at an open mic/cafe. One of the owners is a fantastic jazz horn player. His wife told me that I was described as fearless in my music and comedy improv. When I let things filter out and be in the moment..that is priceless. Of course with fewer filters, some times I get that glassed over look with new bits.

Related to my other hat(counseling) years ago, a client told me he couldn't tell when I was joking or being serious. That was the start of less comedy off stage, and more sewious/seriousness on stage.

Harris
continues in his study of comedy as the Dr. of Laughology...cause as my wife says, I'm not always that funny

I think it's important to have somewhere to go to not be funny. If you have to make sure everything is funny then you won't take any risks. I like your style, Harris.

Harris, right on..

Last night my nearly normal wife and I were discussing comedy bits. Her undergraduate degree is in speech and theatre.(She has many other qualities)

I was talking about adding a bit to be used with my spring fox. Actually after that bit, Nigel (puppet that rocks and talks) ask if he could pet set "Red". I am not sure, then Nigel quips...I will hug him, and hold him and pet him and call him George. I would anticipate this would get scattered laughter..so I wanted to follow that up with..Ah ..I see we have a few intellectuals in the group. My wife, suggested I change it to either..thanks for reading...or I see we have some well read audience members. Later I am doing a bit on Spam Festivals..(big in Hawaii, I hear..) and Nigel will quip Oh I love Spam...I will hug it, and hold it and pet it and call him George.

Harris
of mice and magic

Tell them about the rabbits, Harris!

Years ago, "Bugs B", did a take off on this bit. I think it was with snowman.
Hoffman did the movie version.

Hat's off to the other "George" on the other side of "the pond".

Harris

Harris "hug him and squeeze him" is from Bugs Bunny not Mice and Men. They just referenced the "George" and gave the snowman Lenny's voice from the first film. So the gag is a bit of a stretch for people to make all the connections. It's a parody of a parody of a film of a book!

I only know all this because I used to do a surreal bit in my stand up where I did an impression of a rabbit with floppy ears that wanted to have straight ears then a friend of mine bought me a badge saying "Tell them about the rabbits, George". While I was wearing the badge another friend pointed out that Warner Brothers had also done an homage to Mice and Men with the yeti.

Yes sometimes my bits are just for me and a few.

Another line I use with my spring puppet...

"Red is a Fox",pause....so is my wife. I only do this at gigs where the audience knows both of us. At one of these type of gigs, I asked Nigel if he thought he could dance.(nod to reality TV show)

Not with these legs, he replied..then looked over to my wife and quipped.."Now ANNNNNNNNIE ..she's got LEGGGGGGGS. The first time we used the bit it was a true impromptu bit...Annie and the rest of our family said they laughed so hard they shed a tear....

Usually my wife does not come with to gigs. She and a few family & friends are coming to a musical/comedy gig tomorrow..

Over the years I had to remind her not to laugh in anticipation of the laugh line in stories. As she has heard some of them for many years, she tended to get ahead of the rest of the audiences.

Let the improv begin....

Harris
Still learning and staying green

Harris, that is classic, I love it...

Am I funny?

Only when I'm awake. When I'm asleep, I dream in cartoons.

Do looks count?

Got some feedback from a venue/owner. Although she likes the comedy bits and props, many of her customers have requested more music less "schtick".

Over the years, my show has become more schtick than lick. Recently we have been adding more stronger magic and or music/lick to go with schtick.

For the above mentioned venue, I told the owner folks that go to a Chinese restaurant, don't want to find Italian food. (that I would do more music there)

Harris
staying green to grow