George, You right, most people will not remember the average magic show, very few will be able to name two tricks you did. And in two days you are history. Even David Copperfield will only be remembered for one or two illusions. BUT They will remember his name and all the magic ‘stuff’ he did. So, I completely agree your ‘name’ is the most important thing, plus the fact that you did entertain.The goal is to make the audience feel, other than the talent, he’s a lot like me.

Tom

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Press & Media For Entertainers... Is this still on the market?

No, It has been taken off the market, updated, and is now a full course with even greater opportunity.

What's the fee for that?

My normal size house when I was touring was the 2,500 to 3,000 seat theater (45’ to 60’ Proscenium). When I was in China I was playing 5,000 - 10,000 seat arenas which was obviously a very different experience

Today I performed a Vanishing Statue of Liberty trick (using business cards). I asked the spectators whether they knew who David Copperfield is, and if they knew his most famous trick. Of the five spectators (all in their 20s), only two had heard of David Copperfield and neither was familiar with any of his effects. (I double-checked to make sure they weren't thinking of the Dickens character.)

Happens with so many entertainers, actors, singers, dancers, comedians, and others. They may be remembered by fans or those in the industry, but not by the general public.

Meanwhile, a guy who promoted himself over what he did, and made people care about him and what he did, is still remembered. His name is Harry Houdini.

That's what I'm talking about!!!!!!!!!

For those who have performed larger crowds, what is, if any difference you've approached it? For example, 500 and 5000 are both quite large. But is there a way you performed for a mega size audience you don't for a more typical large one?

I ask because I was just contracted to perform at a sort of festival with an unusually large crowd. Likely low thousands. Which is noticeably bigger than my previous largest crowd of 600 or so.

Any thoughts or experiences are appreciated.

My shows average hundreds not thousands for the hypnosis show. But far too often you end up with much lower audiences. WHICH IS WORSE for me!

The largest show I ever did was an even for the Council of Logistics Management. (A group that gets your product from conception to distribution and so forth.) A HUGE convention. It is all about supply chain and have changed their name I guess but not relevant.

The show as it worked out was for about 10,000 people, probably a few more. The fortunate thing is I was plug and play. Absolutely ZERO to do with tech except to tell them what I needed. (Styx was the show for the closing night so I am fairly certain my rider didn't phase them at all.) Interesting in that the hypnosis show requires stage monitors, which NOBODY ever considers. The tech guys don't get it till you tell them that these people ON STAGE have to hear me, probably more than the audience!

They did all the video work to make sure everyone could enjoy so that was nice to not have to sweat it.

I worked with Goodyear at the first Brickyard 400 back in 199 (...oh my God I'm feeling old.). That event had 8,000 at it and again I had NOTHING to do with tech work or how to make people see it. Then I did a few Olympics with them as well with large shows.

I don't enjoy large shows quite as much. Keeping them in the hundreds for a stage show is very comfortable for me. In reality I have drifted much more to the Close-Up Magic show in the past few years. I prefer by a wide margin the intimacy and connection with a smaller audience. (I know that wasn't your question sorry.)

As for the advertising, none was needed. They did all the work in putting butts in seats.

As for a difference yea it is a huge one. First of all you probably have to use in-ear monitors just to hear yourself. Hearing an audience is not going to be easy for you at all. If you have not done this before think about when you watch someone not ready try to sing the National Anthem in a stadium. There are delays between what you are saying and what the audience is hearing.

You are REALLY going to have to work with the tech guys to figure all this out. It is WAY more than if your microphone feeds back or not. You can really stumble not knowing the tech.

I will bet Slim knows a bit about this. EVERY musician does and having worked on the level he has I am going to just bet he will have some great advice.

Thanks Danny! I also tend to prefer close up. Large crowds tend to become one big group instead of individuals. Which is fine but less fun in my experience. Yes, I asked about their tech situation. They will have a contractor for it I can make requests to ahead of time. Which is nice.

10000 is pretty big for a logistics management council! Luckily, they had folks who could handle all the logistics.

Yea I hope Slim gets here before you have to talk with the tech guy. I bet you that he has some great suggestions.

Congrats on getting the festival gig! I think the two immediate things that come to mind from when I went from gigs of several hundred to venues and events of over 1000 are, of course, the sound - the sound system, monitors (with separate mixes of both and a proper soundcheck) with a high-quality professional handheld mic, and a soundman to operate it (no set it and forget it Happy Amps, Fender Passport, etc.) and playing bigger and being able to visually fill the stage.

I regularly have 50-60 people on stage during my show at once and you have to be able to get them up quickly (so there's no lag in the show) and manage them properly. My performance material must be visible to the last person in the back row. So to be seen and heard by the large audience is a must.

I remember when I played the huge stadium show I mentioned above it was the largest I had ever played. I was getting advice from so many about how to handle it - Billy Joel, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Van Halen, The Beach Boys, etc. and it was really getting in my head. During soundcheck (with many of them watching me) I was unprepared for the delay and slapback from the stadium sound (Hello..hello...hello) It was driving me crazy. So I ended up having dinner with Don Henley and Darryl Hall (Eagles/Hall & Oats) and they saw me struggling and very concerned. They together gave me some great advice - Crank the monitors up to the point whee I can not hear the mains with the delay and slapback. I usually only like the monitors up enough so I and my subjects on stage could hear and would stop at that. But they suggested cranking them up to the point that that was all I or my subjects could hear. It worked like a charm! And it actually created more energy and animated responses from my volunteers making for a great show.

So my best advice is to play large with your effects, and make sure you can be seen, heard, and enjoyed by everyone (don't just play to the kids).

(Sorry for the name-dropping but they were a crucial part of the story and provided me with help and knowledge)

Thanks mindpro! Never heard that idea before of making the stage sound higher so you can't hear the delay from the mains. Don Henley certainly knows what he's doing. All the help is appreciated everyone.

Many an hearing doctor has heard the turn up the monitors till you can’t hear the house story.
Careful. Also careful with in ear monitors.

This is the theory yes. It is the way it needs to be yes. But you can accomplish it in many ways. If you are in a temporary setting like a ballroom this is going to be quite a process.

Also make sure they spend the time to mix your own personal mic. Listen to yourself IN the audience not just through the monitors. It will be importantly that your voice is what you want it to be, not what the sound guy thinks it needs to be. Be in the audience for your music cues so you can hear what they will hear.

Don’t sleepwalk through the check. They are going to assume a certain amount of knowledge on your part.

Fedora,
Yes you need to be prepared for a big crowd. But be aware that a ‘show’ size and a ‘festival’ size are two completely different things. If you talking about a normal festival with booths, etc, and people walking around, there may not be as many people watching the show as you may think.

Also and based on my experience with local festivals the stage draw during the day is considerable lower than an evening show set towards the end of the festival. So the show time will play a big part on the crowd size. I’ve read in some of the festival magazines that the average range for attendees to stop for a show is from 5 to 20%, the rest are there to shop and eat. And of course, the 20 percents would be big name music acts.

Yes, be ready and good luck with it

Tom

I always have the monitors CRANKED!!!!!!