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tjkie22 New user 22 Posts |
Hey there Café. I’ve been hired to perform as a magician in a “fallen circus” attraction in a haunted amusement park. Now, while I have a lot of creepy magic most of my material is more intimate in nature, and this seems to be a very high paced scares per minute type of park. Not my typical rodeo, I’m wondering if any of you wonderful performers have any suggestions for effects that are quick and visual that would fit in this environment.
Patter being a no go threw out a lot of my initial ideas and I’m considering going the way of needle through arm/knife through arm, maybe cups and balls with an eyeball, also considering a spirit silk routine with a third hand (things moving or ringing behind the silk) but I fear it won’t have the impact of the atmosphere around it, I.e. people screaming, loud music, jump scares from the clowns around me etc. I’d love any ideas you might be willing to share, I’ve also considered diving into the illusion building world but considering I haven’t built any illusions yet I’m a bit hesitant. In any case, does anyone have general advice/effects, or easy illusions to build that would fit this environment? Thanks for taking the time to read friends. |
pulpscrypt Special user Within the shadows 578 Posts |
Knife thrills arm illusion, there used to be a latex monster rabbit that could be produced from almost anywhere called Rabbid, or even Skewer thru tongue.
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weepinwil Inner circle USA 3828 Posts |
Quote:
On Sep 12, 2021, pulpscrypt wrote: I like skewer through spectator's tongue. They scream and Hollar as blood soaks the place and everyone thinks it is part of the show. Only the two of you know it isn't.
"Til Death us do part!" - Weepin Willie
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pulpscrypt Special user Within the shadows 578 Posts |
You kill me Will. I just hope that never becomes a literal statement! LOL
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weepinwil Inner circle USA 3828 Posts |
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On Sep 13, 2021, pulpscrypt wrote: Thanks Pulpscript, your endearing words warm my cold heart. However, I usually only deal with the body after someone else kills.
"Til Death us do part!" - Weepin Willie
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Intrepid Inner circle Silver Spring, MD 1177 Posts |
Tjkie22,
can you give us a little more info on the setting you will be working in. i.e. will you be performing a formal show? if so, how long does the act need to be and what is the expected audience size. Or will you be performing strolling magic to the crowds as they wait in line?
Bob
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CHRousseau Regular user Registered Lurker from Lakewood WA 120 Posts |
About the best twenty-five dollars you can invest for this sort of thing is in a copy of "Dark Matters" from Abbott's, their massive collection of 80 years of spooky magic. It is truly a hodge podge of material that ranges from the corny to the complex but it will get your creative juices--or some of the gory ones--flowing.
Specific to your consideration of the spirit cloth, think about combining an initially disembodied and gory prop hand that comes to life when unwrapped from inside your 'third hand' spirit cloth (bloodied) but after a few threatening moves you can drop the cloth when some know-it-all calls you out on what is perhaps a too-widely known prop to reveal one of the "living arm" gaffs you can buy or make that looks like you are holding that same living hand in your own gloved hand; it could become possessed enough to do the knife (or needle) through your other arm or a variety of outrageous things to demonstrate its aggressive independence by attacking you in more than one way. If you have a willing assistant, you might have that hand search for, and find, other body parts among your props culminating with a screaming head in a box (or bag) on a table--if this is a night event really cheap black art can be done on a thrift-store table with a head hole cut out and some fabric you can probably find in the scrap material section of the same thrift store. If not, just have a long bloody tablecloth hanging to floor level. I would suggest a light coating of luminous paint on what you want them so see to draw attention away from what you don't want them to notice. Or consider a crate or chest or even a garbage can that can conceal your helper below neck level. As I finish this, I am thinking about a possible variation of the above that might interest you and if it comes together in a sketch or photo in a way that I think might be practical, I will just PM you with it. Good luck with your show, Charlie Lakewood WA
Arthur C Clarke was mistaken--Magic has always been the most advanced form of technology.
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PROF BC Inner circle 1445 Posts |
For several years I used the Cesaral Spirit Bell at a similar venue with really fine results. Have someone tie the bell at the centre of a rope approximately 3-5 meters/10-15 feet in length. One spec holds one end of the rope, another spec holds the other end. The bell is now suspended over a 'forgotten grave' (patch of ground). Tell a quick tale. Wait for the spirit to rise. Bell rings while you are very far from it. The reactions are superb.
The Crystal Bell is also a winner in these sorts of venues: dowel, string, goblet, & lots of chills. You can never go wrong with a haunted key, either. Hypnotic without a lot of set up, highly portable. Best of luck with your show! BC
Phasmologist
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weepinwil Inner circle USA 3828 Posts |
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On Sep 12, 2021, tjkie22 wrote: The event you are describing sounds a lot like the one I did at the Nightmare Factory in Havelock NC for Halloween. What I learned is that the people are there to be entertained and the effect has less value than the actual performance. I suspect you will be surprised when you do a final evaluation of your audience. My job was a stage performance twice a night and walk-around for two weeks. I did the half-man illusion, cord through neck, swallowed razor blade card trick, and several other effects, A lot of blood and gore added. The most requested of all of my effects was the vanishing cigarette and the spoon and fork bending tricks I did in the walk-around. I would have never thought that. Hope it goes well and both you and your audience enjoy your show. Just focus more on the entertainment value than on the effect itself.
"Til Death us do part!" - Weepin Willie
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professortango Regular user 117 Posts |
Reminds me of a maze we had at Knotts Scary Farm themed to Houdini. There was a live magician stationed in the maze.
With the amount of stuff going on, I would shy away from gore tricks like needle through arm/tongue as the people have seen plenty of gore effects throughout the event. Needle through arm works best, in my opinion, when you can build up to it. The audience is squeamish and knows what is coming, but still wondering..."is he really going to do what I think he is." Plus, having a spectator who reels and makes faces amplifies it. This tension and play is lost in a chaotic environment like a haunted house. I'd focus on quick visual tricks. Appearances/vanishes and levitations. It can be a demented version of hippity hoppity rabbits, IT suspensions/levitations. Cups and balls/chop cup with an eyeball sounds fun. Needles/razorblade eating or a ring through neck (Dan Sperry) might work if you have 30 seconds or so to pull people aside, but I'd also worry about reset. |
tjkie22 New user 22 Posts |
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On Sep 13, 2021, Intrepid wrote: Unfortunately I’m one of the few attractions in a small circus layout. The customers come through the park in a linear fashion so it’s just a constant stream of spectators. |
tjkie22 New user 22 Posts |
I just wanted to thank all of you for the incredible advice. I’m absolutely exhausted at the moment but I’ll take the time to reply to you individually tomorrow especially some of you who have really given me things to think about. I truly appreciate you guys having taken the time out to offer me some guidance. I don’t usually get too nervous performing anymore but something about this venue/setup has my nerves on end. Will write more to respond to tomorrow. Thanks a ton everyone.
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