On Mar 17, 2018, davidpaul$ wrote:
Luan..Luan..Luan..
Your performing for the FIRST time ( First Real Show) next Friday and you are looking for advice on what you should
do? I get it, you have 10 effects tops and that's it for your qualifications. ( quoting you)

I appluad your willingness to volunteer for the humanitarian event. IMO , it's too late to ask what you should perform
for your parlor show. Perform the effects you K N O W W E L L. Adapt them to a larger audience. There is a learning
curve when you introduce a new effect, one you are not completely comfortable with. Especially when you are in front
of a first time audience. My advice: Do what you KNOW .... Have FUN!!!!!

On Mar 17, 2018, Luan wrote:
Im just asking what effects play well since I'm sure I can preform most of them (the classics anyways), and maybe a little bit of help with the structure. I cant go on stage and do 3 tricks that are clearly a closer - and that's the part which I have no experience in. Thank you so much for your advice, and if you have any special effects you like performing please do share.

On Mar 17, 2018, davidpaul$ wrote:
Are you familiar with rope effects? How about Vanishing Bottle, giant straw from bag, Bwave with jumbo size cards,
Baby Gag routine. I perform a sponge ball routine utilizing a trout fishing net with a volunteer on stage that plays well
for a larger audience. The net brings the effect up and out as opposed to a table.

If you analyze what you already do, I'll bet you can think how to make some of those effects play to a bigger audience.
Cody Fisher has some advice on how to transition close-up effects to parlor/stage. You can sign up for his free monthly
video that has great content. He visits here regularly. Check out his website.

On Mar 17, 2018, danaruns wrote:

Quote:

On Mar 17, 2018, Luan wrote:
Im just asking what effects play well since I'm sure I can preform most of them (the classics anyways), and maybe a little bit of help with the structure. I cant go on stage and do 3 tricks that are clearly a closer - and that's the part which I have no experience in. Thank you so much for your advice, and if you have any special effects you like performing please do share.

A couple general principles:

1. As Jeff McBride told me, there are two kinds of audiences: thinking audiences and drinking audiences. Makes sure your material is appropriate for the kind of audience you have. You're doing this in a bar, for people who did not come there to see magic. You're going to want to do material that is visual, that doesn't require following a long plot, and that hits hard.

2. Your performance should be "hands up, head up." Anything performed on a table is out (e.g., cups and balls). Everything you do must be performed in your hands held at chest or eye level.

3. Your opener should be quick and highly visual. You want "magic now." Magic happens as soon as you come on stage. This grabs attention, gives you instant credibility and lets the audience know what they are in for. I usually use music, too, for added impact.

4. You haven't said how much time you're doing in the parlor format, which affects structure. But in general you want to start with "magic now," move to a more complex but visual "establishing" trick. After the first two tricks, you can add in personal pieces and contrast pieces.

5. Your closer should be your biggest trick. Biggest prop, most visual, etc. It should leave no doubt that the show is over. And if you use volunteers, it's best if your show ends with a trick that has no volunteers, just you alone on stage for the final spectacle.

Good luck! Should be exciting.

On Mar 17, 2018, Luan wrote:

4. You haven't said how much time you're doing in the parlor format, which affects structure. But in general you want to start with "magic now," move to a more complex but visual "establishing" trick. After the first two tricks, you can add in personal pieces and contrast pieces.