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JeffreyMichael1127 New user 98 Posts |
I may take some heat for this, but he goes....I am a strolling magician, but I think I am going to add balloon animals to my repertoire. I do believe that a magician that also does balloons weakens his/her appearance as a magician. However, I think by adding balloon making to your arsenal will make you more marketable for venues. Not only can you stroll around a party to entertain, but now you have something to give away to the younger audience. So, to sum up....Do you guys agree that adding balloons to your magic sets make you seem less of a magician? But, on the flip side, I think you will actually bring in more money by making yourself more versatile on what you can do. Ok, let's hear it!!....
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JeffreyMichael1127 New user 98 Posts |
To play devil's advocate....I think it would be a true disaster switching back and fourth between magic and balloons. This is why I would imagine if you are at a gig....do your magic sets first, then strap on the balloons to finish off with. thoughts?
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davidpaul$ Inner circle Georgetown, South Carolina 3086 Posts |
Although I know how to make some simple balloon figures I DO NOT do balloon art at my magic gigs. At my restaurants, some people will ask, who have never seen me before, if I am the person who makes balloons?
I am the professional magician working at the restaurant or wherever. I am not a balloon artist. I won't mix it up. When I'm booked for a party, the client will sometimes ask if I can make balloons for the kids. While that might be a great idea for some and can be an added fee for the service I see myself as a Professional Magician period. Now I might use a balloon in an effect like Jeff Hobson's Balloon Bag, but NOT just to make balloon figures to hand them out. Christopher Lyle who's is an extremely talented balloon artist and magician(also extremely talented) not necessarily in that order I'm sure could add insight to your query. As for me I wouldn't do it.
Guilt will betray you before technique betrays you!
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MeetMagicMike Inner circle Gainesville Fl 3501 Posts |
I do both and love the combination. Balloons are enjoyed by all ages not just kids. It is true though that you will have to work a little harder to let people know that you are not just there for the kids. In my restaurants I definitely make sure that all of the kids get their balloon. Generally I have time to do magic followed by balloons but if things are busy I do balloons only unless requested to do magic.
I do close up card and coin magic but I enjoy balloons too. I don't feel like I'm compromising when I do balloons. I'm glad I get to do both. At a large busy party the advice to do the magic first before every showing the balloons is correct. Once you pull out the balloons it is likely you will never get back to magic. |
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Ken Northridge Inner circle Atlantic City, NJ 2392 Posts |
No heat from me JefferyMichael. I think your thinking is sound. I could care less about weakening my appearance as a magician. Balloon twisting strengthens my appearance as an entertainer!
In restaurants in particular its a great combination. In fact, if its gets real busy the first thing to go is the magic, the kids want their balloon! There have many other gigs that would have been, well, lets say less successful without the addition of balloons.
"Love is the real magic." -Doug Henning
www.KenNorthridge.com |
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Christopher Lyle Inner circle Dallas, Texas 5698 Posts |
DO NOT attempt to do balloons and magic on the same night. Once the balloons come out, nobody will care about the magic. Sorry magicians...balloons will ALWAYS trump magic. When your providing people something tangible to take with them then magic takes the back seat.
Currently, I'm playing 4 nights a week. 2 nights I'm doing ONLY magic and the other 2 nights I'm doing ONLY balloons. Your mileage may vary...
In Mystery,
Christopher Lyle Magician, Comic, Daredevil, and Balloon Twisting Genius For a Good Time...CLICK HERE! |
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Christopher Lyle Inner circle Dallas, Texas 5698 Posts |
Quote:
On May 24, 2014, JeffreyMichael1127 wrote: The only people who think this are other magicians who take themselves way the heck too seriously. The more skill sets you can offer consumers, the more marketable you become. I'm a Magician, Stand Up Comic, Fire Eater, Sidshow Performer,and Balloon Artist, and not to toot my own horn, but I perform all of the above at a very high level. I instantly become way more marketable then any person in my area who can only offer one form of talent. My 2 cents...
In Mystery,
Christopher Lyle Magician, Comic, Daredevil, and Balloon Twisting Genius For a Good Time...CLICK HERE! |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
I do not do balloons in restaurants. It is a stylistic choice. I am unclear as to how it weakens your appearance as a magician. (I see what you did there. "Appearance" as a magician! Very clever.)
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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RobertlewisIR Veteran user Colorado 367 Posts |
I see no reason to object to it. As Christopher Lyle said, someone who says it detracts from the magic probably takes himself way too seriously. But it might detract from an INDIVIDUAL'S character. It all depends on what you're doing and what you're trying to accomplish. It's not a stylistic choice I would make because it's not the image I'm trying to project. But another person would find that the things I do would detract from their work. It's all about finding the right fit.
~Bob
---------- Last night, I dreamed I ate the world's largest marshmallow. When I woke up, the pillow was gone. |
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Poof-Daddy Inner circle Considering Stopping At Exactly 5313 Posts |
I do both (for a little extra) when a strolling performance comes up (outdoor type event). Sometimes I get hired just for Balloons (street festivals where a food vendor wants traffic near them. I set up next to them and as my line grows, mom and dad grab some food from my vendor. Plus I have a tip jar. Combining the two is also handy at kids parties (time filler) and family restaurants. Some families prefer a balloon doggy for their young child over a magic show.
Works for some not for others but you wont know if you don't try. (I also only do simple 1-2 balloon animals, flowers, bees...)
Cancer Sux - It is time to find a Cure
Don't spend so much time trying not to die that you forget how to live - H's wife to H on CSI Miami (paraphrased). |
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JFmagic New user Ithaca, NY 75 Posts |
If you want to use balloons in your act, use pressure (For sure) and I learned graffiti alloon recently by dan sperry. you should check it out
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Motley Mage Special user 572 Posts |
I am not a balloon guy--yet--but several of my friends do both magic and balloons and generally follow the same basic idea Christopher laid out: they do both, but generally not at the same gig. One caveat: a friend who performs magic and does balloon work an alternating nights at the same restaurant has said he regularly gets asked to do some magic on balloon night (or make balloons on magic night) by repeat customers, which he by request. And then EVERYBODY wants a balloon . . .
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
I started doing balloons in the early '50s. (BEFORE 'SKINNY' BALLOONS WERE AVAILABLE.) If I remember, we used 350s--we cut some 350s in 1/2 to make ears and legs on dogs. The late John Shirley stayed with the 350s. He 'invented' the 'BALLOON BARRAGE' and Ed Sullivan said that it was the greatest finish he ever had on his TV show. John did a WORLD TOUR with Sullivan. He did the balloon act and closed with the Barrage.
Then, in the early '60s, Vernon Stiles (Oregon or Washington "dealer") started importing skinnies! They were about 1" x 45", and you had to "start" them by sucking in some air from the bottom. They inflated rather unevenly. They were drenched in powder. Finally, American balloon manufacturers started to offer them. (245s). I did a 5 minute bit with them in the school show. I even did a complete 45 minute "BALLOON CIRCUS" (with a SAFETY theme) for awhile. The Shrine Clowns began using them, and I had to red light the balloon work. Christopher Lyle said it very well. The more you can offer, the more salable you become. If I were doing balloons as an "add on", at a birthday party or as a stroling act at a picnic or a fair/festival I would stay with the BASIC one balloon piece. The "spectacular' many ballon figures, I would reserve for a "display" act.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
I do table side balloons & magic at my restaurant gigs. I personally see four distinct benefits to including balloons.
1) All but one of my weeknight gigs is at a mall or mega shopping complex. The kids walking around with these hats and sculptures helps to bring business through the door. That makes me look good. 2) Balloons help me stretch a five-minute visit into a fun experience that leaves the kids with something substantial in their hands. Perceived value! 3) Where I might need to come up with 2-3 new full routines every week to satisfy my regular families, I need only master 1 killer routine and fill the remaining time with the humor built into my balloon bits. 4) Women at the bar enjoy my magic, but they make a fuss over the balloon flowers, corsages, or small critters I make for them. When I give them to their men to give as gifts, it makes the guys look good and they tip bigger. It's a win-win as far as I'm concerned. I've never seen a down side to performing magic & balloons side by side at a family venue.
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
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davidpaul$ Inner circle Georgetown, South Carolina 3086 Posts |
Just a comment. At one of my restaurants they hired a balloon person to perform on a different day of the week.
They didn't last long as the restaurant let him go. I questioned why and was told that too many people complained that he didn't get around to their table...Also..when his performance time was up, he left leaving some dissapointed kids who were waiting. I recently was having dinner with my wife at a restaurant and a balloon artist was walking around with her cart sculpting the balloons. I noticed how much time she was taking and noticed kids at other tables excited and patiently waiting only to be dissapointed as the balloon person walked off in a different direction. Correct me if I'm wrong but sculpting balloons is time consuming depending on the figure as well as the speed of the performer I can cut a magic routine short if the restaurant is busy and people are waiting to see me, but you can't twist half a figure. How do you guys handle this? I agree, kids as well as some adults like balloons, but do you have time to get around to everyone who wants one? It's obvious that many of you are successful at performing both but as I said I'm sticking with just being known as "The Magician". I do give away nice little magic wands I purchase at a Dollar Store 8/pack for a buck that they use to make the magic happen. I also give away away "Magician" stickers which the kids love. So this works for me. Just a comment and observation as I see it.
Guilt will betray you before technique betrays you!
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Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
I would MUCH rather be known as the restaurant's Entertainer or Ambassador than its Magician. Too constricting.
The SMART balloon artist knows his limits and restricts his choices to quick, eye-pleasing, and fun balloons. Fancy, artistic time consuming sculptures have no place in a busy environment. The SMART balloon artists know that engaging the table guests and creating laughter WHILE making the sculpture is the key to a lasting client-artist relationship. Balloons enhance a memorable Let's-Go-Back experience - they don't replace it.
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
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davidpaul$ Inner circle Georgetown, South Carolina 3086 Posts |
"Magician" = Entertainer/Ambassador....as well...They also advertise my presence on the LED electronic sign.
"Magician Here Tonight" not Ambassador or Entertainer....(too constricting) I know, symantics. But it does bring people in. Isn't the main goal to performing for patrons in a restaurant to be engaging and to create a fun and memorable experience? AND to invite them back...
Guilt will betray you before technique betrays you!
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Christopher Lyle Inner circle Dallas, Texas 5698 Posts |
I could sit here and type out a 2 hour long diatribe on how I work balloons in restaurants....but I won't. I have a full section on this very thing in my lecture notes where I tip my secret formula on how to be successful with balloons in this venue. My notes are $10 and are in PDF format.
I will say that I totally disagree with Skip here. By following my formula, you are able to create awesome "show pieces" to wow the audiences which will in turn BOOK YOU WORK (guaranteed!) If you'd like to continue creating the 1 balloon designs that everyone else does (which is fine if that's the goal), then more power to you. However, these are the designs that I crank out every week in restaurants: To see more check out here: http://christopherlyle.com/style.php It can be done people! You just gotta know the correct method in which to make it work for you, the restaurant, and the guests. There is an education process involved. For my notes, PayPal me $10 and I will email you the notes. Also, the notes are about to go UP in price as I'm revising them now, so get them while you can at this lower price.
In Mystery,
Christopher Lyle Magician, Comic, Daredevil, and Balloon Twisting Genius For a Good Time...CLICK HERE! |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Wow I was just about to brag how great my 3 balloon Kuala Bear in a tree was and you go post that stuff!!!!
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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Christopher Lyle Inner circle Dallas, Texas 5698 Posts |
Danny...I'm sure your design ROCKS!
In Mystery,
Christopher Lyle Magician, Comic, Daredevil, and Balloon Twisting Genius For a Good Time...CLICK HERE! |
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