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Andy Tauber Regular user Vancouver WA 106 Posts |
What is a good length or number of routines for a quick impromptu show?
Andy Tauber
www.magicalmischief.org Twitter: @AMagicMischief “Children see magic because they look for it.” I used to think I wasn't a morning person, but things never got better after lunch! |
satellite23 Elite user 424 Posts |
It depends on what you consider quick, and what you consider impromptu.
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silvercup Loyal user 223 Posts |
3
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Andy Tauber Regular user Vancouver WA 106 Posts |
Quote:
On 2013-02-13 19:26, satellite23 wrote: I'm not sure that's why I asked I was looking for an appropriate response to a request to do some magic.
Andy Tauber
www.magicalmischief.org Twitter: @AMagicMischief “Children see magic because they look for it.” I used to think I wasn't a morning person, but things never got better after lunch! |
Andy Young Special user Jersey Shore, PA 813 Posts |
If someone hands me a deck of cards I usually do 2-3 effects. This can take me from 5-10 minutes. I like to leave them wanting more. So many times we try to show someone all the things we know and we have to remember that less is more in some cases.
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Yellowcustard Inner circle New Zealand 1334 Posts |
People attention and need for magic various. If there stuck in a lift with you and your waiting for some one to free you then I think you have some time. If there just in a que at a coffee shop waiting for there drink then you have a short time.
Id go for set of 3 that last 10-12 min. Also have a effect or two that are quick as. When people ask me to do a trick I normally do my CMH then I see hoe that goes then do a card trick. If some one else joins in I would do a few more card effects. If some one I showed CMH to brought up a few more people and said this is the guy that did the the trick I would hit them with a 3 trick routine. Hope this helps take care.
Enjoy your magic,
and let others enjoy it as well! |
Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Hello Andy!
You ask a very sensible question. I seem to remember welcoming you to the Café sometime in the last couple of months. I will try to help with a few thoughts. Andy Young, above, made two good general statements": 1. LEAVE THEM WANTING MORE! The late Nate Leipzig, an experienced old professional if there ever was one, had a philosophy. Nate said,that when he was working a casual date, or an impromptu performance, he would watch the ladies. At the first subtle sign that they had seen enough,he would finish the trick he was doing and QUIT! Any trick that Nate did, was strong enough to close, and he followed his own advice. In my lecture, I talk about TEMPO, TIMING, AND TIME. The basic rule for TIME, i.e.: the length of your show, is simple. THE LENGTH OF YOUR SHOW DEPENDS UPON YOUR ABILITY TO KEEP THE AUDIENCE ENTERTAINED. Andy's #2 statement: "less is more" It's an old Japanese "wise saying": MORE IS LESS! Another way of saying it when speaking in terms of show length is just as simple: DON'T GO PAST THE END! Here's one more story to help give you an idea: Somerset Maugham, the author, wrote of a scene at a cocktail party (in the 1920s) Two young ladies are talking and one says to the other: "See that man over there in the tuxedo?.....He asked me if I liked card tricks. I said 'no'! He did SIX!" When I was starting to perform (about 65 years ago)an old pro magician told me: "You never want to earn the CHINESE billing--ONN TU LONG!!!" Jay Marshall and I often talked about basic things. We agreed that if you want to add a trick to your show, three things were necessary: 1. Find out how the trick is done. 2. Find out how to do it. 3. Figure out how to do it so that it entertains an audience. >>>NUMBER THREE IS THE HARDEST OF THE THREE THINGS!<<< I'm guessing that you are relatively new to performing. It's OK to be "green". When you're green, you can get ripe. When you're ripe, you just get rotten! --lOOK AT ME!!! As an amateur magician (one who LOVES magic)you don't want to "kill the thing you love!" Learn 3-5 tricks. Learn different effects. (not five "cut & restored tricks for example). AFTER YOU HAVE FOLLOWED THE THREE "RULES" ABOVE, YOU ARE READY TO 'TRY THEN OUT' on an audience. Have the patience to wait, until you have a congenial person or personS who are willing to be your audience. THEY should ask YOU to do "something"! If you have PRACTICED each trick, and REHEARSED the entire "show", you will probably do OK. You should have rehearsed sufficiently that you can pay attention to the audience's responses, without having to be THINKING WHAT COMES NEXT! After the show, sit down as soon as you can, and write down what went well, and what "could have gone better"! Start to work on what could have gone better. WHEN YOU STOP GETTING BETTER--YOU START GETTIN WORSE! --OR TO PUT IT ANOTHER WAY: YOU CAN ONLY COAST IN ONE DIRECTION! That's enough for one "session". PM, and let me know how the system works for you. IF YOU FAIL TO PLAN---YOU PLAN TO FAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Andy Tauber Regular user Vancouver WA 106 Posts |
Thanks to everyone. I continue practicing and working on my routine.
Andy Tauber
www.magicalmischief.org Twitter: @AMagicMischief “Children see magic because they look for it.” I used to think I wasn't a morning person, but things never got better after lunch! |
Dougini Inner circle The Beautiful State Of Maine 7130 Posts |
Quote:
On 2013-02-17 21:28, Dick Oslund wrote: English to Chinese: "That's not right" Sum Ting Wong "Are you harbouring a fugitive?" Hu Yu Hai Ding "See me ASAP" Kum Hia Nao "There goes Stupid Man" Dum Dum Wa King "Small Horse" Tai Ni Po Ni "Did you go to the beach?" Wai Yu So Tan "I bumped into a coffee table" Ai Bang Mai Fa King Ni "I think you need a face lift" Chin Tu Fat "It's very dark in here" Wao So Dim "I thought you were on a diet" Wai Yu Mun Ching "This is a tow away zone" No Pah King "Our meeting is next week" Wai Yu Kum Nao "Staying out of sight!" Lei Ying Lo "He's cleaning his automobile" Wa Shing Ka "Your body odour is offensive" Yu Stin Ki Pu "Great" Su Pah Doug |
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