On Jan 22, 2019, Don wrote:
Dick:
I understand you developed 1 act that played for all types audiences,venues and physical performing conditions.That required very little if any revision.That is what I call a club date act.

I am familiar with you because of Kid Stuff 5.That I read many times.I considered it a great book for school show performers.I am in DC area,but born in Norfolk,VA.

Everything you say I totally agree...

Don

On Mar 29, 2016, MikeDes wrote:
For me the problem is not with the props or magic equipment I carry. The problem is all the other stuff you need for the show. Things like a backdrop curtain, sound equiment, lighting, etc. If someone can figure out a way to make all that "pack small" it would be great!

On Apr 9, 2016, Sealegs wrote:
While I understand the appeal of 'Packs small plays big' I think caution has to be exercised in seeking this as a goal. 'Packs however it packs... plays to your strengths', is, in my opinion, a far better mentality to adopt in the first instance.

Part of the problem with having, 'packs small, plays big' as a goal is that it often ends up creating a very portable show that's not as good as the performer could otherwise deliver... and unfortunately it sometimes creates a show that's simply not good enough.

Of course there are plenty of performers who have successfully used small props in their shows to great effect. I'm not suggesting packs small plays big can't incorporate, or be part of a winning formula. Paul Daniels' 'act as known' was very compact but he easily played the biggest venues with an act that in no way felt small. Likewise Wayne Dobson was hugely successful with an act that he worked entirely from his pockets.

However, many don't have the stage persona or style of working that suits such a performance choice... and it is in these situations that, 'packs small plays big', can lead to performers to short change themselves and their audiences.

On cruise ships, (which is where I work and have worked for 30 years) the acts are continually flying on and off and between the ships, so the need to travel within the bounds of the usual baggage restrictions imposed by airlines, or better still with just carry on, has obvious advantages. But ask a seasoned cruise director what they generally think about patter magic acts on ships (which are generally also comedy acts) and the comment you'll most often get back will be, "they don't do enough magic and they're not funny enough".

I feel the, 'packs small plays big', mentality is a big contributing factor in bringing about these comments. Filling a 45 show with just 3 or 4 routines maybe great for the performer but it might well be less good for the audience. (and those who booked the act!)

So by all means look for, 'packs small plays big', but make sure that doing so doesn't erode the task at hand, which is delivering the best show you can.

Unfortunately many a magicians' biggest trick is fooling themselves into believing that they're delivering a show that's better than it is.