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William Draven Elite user Las Vegas, NV 486 Posts |
Hey guys, Just curious. What do you guys end on? What's your go to for a strong finish? What's the strongest climax for you?
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weepinwil Inner circle USA 3828 Posts |
Follow the carnival Metamorphism lead. Anything that causes them to scream, pee their pants, and trample each other as they run for their lives.
"Til Death us do part!" - Weepin Willie
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Mr. Woolery Inner circle Fairbanks, AK 2149 Posts |
I'm an occasional performer, not a pro. Most of what I do is single routines. However, the only full length performing I've done has been seances. Where the close is thank the spirits, politely dismiss them, then bring the lights up.
As I think Will is trying to say, the final bit benefits from giving people the message that you want them to keep. In my case, I want people to leave thinking "if spirits are not real, that's still how it would feel to contact them if they were..." -Patrick |
ManxBull Regular user Isle of Man 116 Posts |
Depends entirely on the theme of the bizarre show. A show exploring themes of witchcraft will be very different from one about serial killers, or a carny-themed show, or an Egyptian-themed show.
But in all cases, there needs to be a strong narrative thread that connects every thing you say and do in a coherent and compelling manner, building towards the finale. It needs to be the strongest, most impressive thing you have, but also has to be congruent with everything that built up to it. The build-up is as important as the execution. Ideally, there should be a temporal congruence, either beginning in the past and working along a timeline to the present; or the reverse, beginning now and digging deeper into the roots of the past. But in either direction, there has to be a progression and deepening. Recurring, developing themes and echoes have to be built into the telling and experience of all effects which build up to the climax. But yeah, it all depends on the theme, and the patterning and statement of that theme in performance. |
William Draven Elite user Las Vegas, NV 486 Posts |
There are some thoughtful replies in this thread, but I feel that we are getting away from what I'm asking. I know it's tempting to run off topic, but I want to be clear: I'm not asking for HOW to close a show. I'm asking you how you close YOUR show? What effects do YOU find that absolutely slays? Is there anything you've done that had such a powerful punch that you've been hesitant how you use it and when since?
Perhaps it best if I lead by example and show you what I mean: I start my show with a prop that I end on. I place a prediction chest into view. During the first act of my show, and usually the second or third effect in, I invite a participant on stage, usually an older woman, to join me in a demonstration of automatic writing. The participant is blindfolded and instructed to write in circles as they feel the energy directs them. Tight circles if the energy is saying something precise, wide circles if it's a general feeling. Erratic circles with fast movement if the energy is chaotic or excited, and slow circles if the energy is melancholy. The spec never sees what they draw, and it is safely secured in an envelope. The envelope is secured within the prediction chest. This stays in view the entire time suspended by a cable. During act three, at the end of the show, I ask the audience to participate by giving me various bits of information shared with them by the spirits in the room. Names, dates, short bits of information, etc. These are recorded on a white board. The prediction chest is opened, and the automatic writing is revealed to have these very bits of information contained within the chaotic scribbles drawn by the guest spec at the start of the show. I close the show on the encore of either a black light lit Gypsy Thread or Puzzle of Life depending on the size of the audience and needs for overall visibility. So I will ask once again: What do you guys end on? What is your "go to" for a strong finish? How do YOU close YOUR show? |
Philemon Vanderbeck Inner circle Seattle, WA 4694 Posts |
I end my show with a recited meditation on the nature of fate.
Professor Philemon Vanderbeck
That Creepy Magician "I use my sixth sense to create the illusion of possessing the other five." |
weepinwil Inner circle USA 3828 Posts |
I end Titanic with Etherica reply from a deceased passenger. Then do two just magic effects to bring people out of their daze. Learned this the hard way.
"Til Death us do part!" - Weepin Willie
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The Curator V.I.P. Beware Vampire, I have 3908 Posts |
I end the vampyre show with the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch.
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ThatsJustWrong! Special user My flying monkeys are perched on 629 Posts |
When I was doing my evenings of Victorian Spiritualism, my favorite closing was the battered, aged cymbals monkey on the mantel that has been there the whole evening. At some time or another, everyone goes up to it to find the batteries missing from its wired controller and their disappointment is palpable. I close my show with a seance using everything we have learned all evening, no gimmicks or tricks, what happens happens. I then usher the audience from the sitting room and as the last person leaves, hopefully alone in the room, the monkey rings his cymbals once. Then I run out to my BoR table to sell him clean boxers. Sold a lot of boxers...
Joe Leo
All entertainers can benefit from some help from an experienced stage director. How about you? www.MisfitMysteries.com |
weepinwil Inner circle USA 3828 Posts |
Quote:
On Dec 20, 2021, that'sJustWrong! wrote: Love it!
"Til Death us do part!" - Weepin Willie
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William Draven Elite user Las Vegas, NV 486 Posts |
Quote:
On Dec 20, 2021, that'sJustWrong! wrote: Bloody brilliant! Evil little ***! I love this. |
Yannou Veteran user 381 Posts |
I've ended with Balnagown by The Black Heart. After the spectator has used psychometry to find the name of the witch who was burned at the stake, I take the nail to see if I can get some more impressions. And I do. I see a man with a bible standing next to me, mumbling, I see men approaching, with flames and then I feel heat. At that moment, smoke (a little bit, you might miss it. That's on purpose) is coming from the hand holding the nail and I drop it in shock. When I pick up the nail, hesitantly, I get one final impression - of inner peace and forgiveness. I thank the witch in question for being with us that night and say my goodbyes.
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Al Desmond Inner circle Secret Mountain Lair in Conifer, Co 1511 Posts |
Burn my audience to a crisp in a raging inferno.
Doesn't get me too many return shows, the the press I get is the bomb. |
weepinwil Inner circle USA 3828 Posts |
Would be great for a ghost to materialize and say, "That's All Folks!"
"Til Death us do part!" - Weepin Willie
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GlennLawrence Veteran user Randolph NJ 319 Posts |
Quote:
On Dec 29, 2021, weepinwil wrote: And if it was the ghost of Mel Blanc he could say it in the Porky Pig voice! Fun fact, on Mel Blanc's tombstone it actually says "That's All, Folks!" Always thought that was pretty cool |
Wizard of Oz Inner circle Most people wish I didn't have 5150 Posts |
That's true Glennlawrence. I've seen Mr. Blanc's headstone and it's wonderful. I think equally as clever is talk show host Merv Griffin's grave whose headstone reads, "I will not be right back after this message."
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.
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DrTodd Inner circle 1976 Posts |
In my ‘Lost Voices of History’ I close with a crowd sourced event and person with an uncanny transatlantic connection from the 19th century. It is highly participatory, involves travel through time, and has several moments of astonishment, as well as some drama with a pistol
https://www.todd-landman.com/the-curious-cabaret/ |
pulpscrypt Special user Within the shadows 578 Posts |
This Halloween I finished my get together with the ringing of Tim Wisseman's DEAD RINGER and people were shocked. BUt I really like the cymbal monkey things! LOL
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The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The spooky, the mysterious...the bizarre! » » How Do You Close Your Bizarre Show? (21 Likes) |
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