Hey guys,
So I'm finally getting together a Parlour type show. I'm just wondering what types of effects everyone else out there is using, or if you could give any advice on the ones I'm thinking of using.
So here it is:
Opener- The Vanishing Bandanna
Middle - Fiber Optics, (some effect) (some effect)
Closer - Bill to Lemon
I'm looking at getting a 30 to 45 minute show going. What other effects would you recommend?
You're not going to like what I'm about to say...
You're not ready
C'mon... you have more stuff than this, think it through.
The Bandana routine is better placed in follow-up to an actual opener. Your opening needs to be stronger than this routine allows (even though it's a powerful bit) so the problem is finding an actual "routine" that establishes you as a skilled performer but likewise gives folks an idea as to the kind of personality you have as a showman; two to five minutes of "wow" as they say.
Step One: You need either a pre-recorded introduction or a set script card you can hand the MC so they can introduce you. This is a very important part of your opening because it establishes YOU and draws attention to YOU. So, with that part established, what's your next step? How do you "prove' to your audinece that you are the "great" so & so...?
While I'm not famliar with "Fiber Optics" i know the other two routines well and it suggests to me that you enjoy the classics along side a bit of light-heartedness. My suggestion in that case, is that you simply step out with music playing (whatever is appropriate to who you are, etc.) and offer a hard-hitting classic routine... Paper-Wad to Egg followed by by some additional Egg fun with audience members... the old "Human Hen" type gag... you get a handful of eggs and suddenly one of your Human Hen's gives you a Lemon followed by an Orange... hmmm?
Yep, you act confused, pull a kerchief from your pocket to wipe your brow... you flick it open to show a silk painting of a parakeet... silk drops down, a little flick of the wrist and out comes a live parakeet that climbs up the length of the silk to your hand... you open the silk and the picture is gone... yea team!
Now comes the real fun... you vanish the bird, egg, & lemon... yes, we're going there... a twist on
the old Bird, Egg, Lemon & Orange routine
Now, that is an opening! You have proven to the audience that you are "more" than a mere mortal; in roughly 6-minutes time you have caused things to transform, vanish, appear from nowhere and relocate... you've given them an entire show but it's only a glimpse into what is yet to come.
Your Opening has to be looked at in segments; the first 20 - 35 seconds are the most critical in that this is the instant that your audience is either going to like you and let you into their world, or close the door on you (mentally) and ignore everything you do. By walking out and turning a wad of paper into an egg... a very real egg... you have capture their attention at two levels; visually, they saw that ball of paper transform as your swirled it around in a glass and turn into an egg you just cracked opened and poured the yolk out of... if that don't make them realize something special is afoot, I don't know what will.
Now that you are established, you're more than ready to tell them about your first lesson in magic (Vanish Bandanna)
As I've said, I haven't a clue as to what the Fiber Optic thing is... that's something new I've not seen performed so i can't say much. Given the flavor of things, the fact that you've just used someone from the audience (at least that's how I remember the Bandanna bit) it's time for what some call "Stool Time" in that many performers literally sit on a stool or the step of the stage and create some kind of mushy "pretty" bit of business such an an elegant Ring Act, the Snow Storm, etc. If you are in the position to do so, this is also the spot to toss in your fist larger scaled effect such as the "creation of a girl" or some such bit... of course, once you have the girl, what will you do with her?
But I can't afford a big illusion! Comes the whines of dismay
Go to the local Bicycle shop and pick up two shipping cartons... very large but narrow cardboard boxes in which bike frames are shipped... now look at the back of that Mark Wilson Course that's on the shelf collecting dust; there's no fewer than three grand illusions that can be made with that card-stock straight from that book... if you think about it, there's even a kind of "shadow Box" illusion that can be made ala "Victory Carton".
No, this isn't cutting edge magic nor is it something that can be done in the round and without a trained helper/partner, but it IS practical and it does work and when staged properly, blows minds. The thing to remember is that you are on the ground floor and building an act and it must start somewhere.
Once you have the girl on stage you must have a routine to do with her so what will that be?
If you elected to use Mark's "Haunted House" routine why not hold to the idea of ghostly visitors and do a spirit cabinet type act? There are several practical methods of doing this using your assistant as the "Medium" and while a hint spooky, it's more in the shape of Disney's Haunted Mansion ride and not some eerie Occult encounter. Conversely you could do a two person telepathy routine... Corinda has the easy version without a code as well as a few code examples but again, I'm talking about basic stuff you should have accessible to you NOW.
If you'd rather move on with something more of the Illusion route there are some simple to put together vivisections, escapes, even transformations that the two of you can do. Traditionally, this is why most starter acts have a sub trunk as part of the collection... not to mention the fact that the act packs into the trunk... Similarly, you may want to consider a Sword Basket or Sword Box due to ease of transport (this is something you really need to think through when choosing effects).
Depending on what you do at this point you are at most 25 minutes into an act, time to either wrap things up or move on to the next bit of Audience Participation... typically with kids if you are doing a family program a gent or two if not (in that you used a young lady earlier) With male helpers from the audience it's time to have some fun... gambling routines work great in this instance as do certain types of "sucker" routines...just don't put mud on their face without giving them a positive recovery at the end of things. Then again, these gents could be there to strap you into some kind of restraint... use your imagination here, it's time for drama, a hint of funny business and something that fills the lull... you don't want to "top" yourself at this point and though you don't want to be too boring, you do want to let the Roller Coaster ride slow down some at this point so that your finale comes off as being much more than it really is. So play with ideas that "fit" best to you and your objectives.
Now you are ready to move towards the finale... after excusing your helpers for the above you offer thanks to everyone attending, sponsors, staff, etc. (very important thing most forget to do). Then you move into your "first finale"... this needs to be something "artistic" (ish) with just you on stage. If you want to end with the Bill in Lemon routine it only makes sense that this routine have something to do with money... my suggestion being to recall that silly uncle of yours that would make a coin vanish and reappear behind your ear and thus, move into a fun but elegant Miser's Dream... this is a very rare routine now days which is what makes it dramatic and memorable... there are other psychological reasons I'm suggesting this, but I'll not tarry at this point.
As you come to the end of this bit produce a lemon... this will get a chuckle but it does more... it takes the audience all the way back to your opener (assuming you go with what I've suggested here) this is something most magicians never weigh and yet comics prove its value constantly; going back to "a line" so as to keep a joke rolling. In this case you are creating recall to the very first part of your show and in so doing, causing the spectators to remember YOU and the first impression you made on them. Now you're anchoring (to borrow an NLP concept) that image in their minds and thus, every time they see a lemon, they are going to think of you... keep this in mind as you create your material and see how to use this kind of subtlety to your advantage.
Now you do the Bill in Lemon as a faux finale... your real finale' is an encore routine that can be as simple or as complex as you wish to make it. I typically do the Tossed Out Deck as my encore routine but I know guys that do Ultimate Flash Back... whatever you do, find something that plays big... of course, that's entirely up to you when it comes to how "big' it seems.
I hope this short lecture gives you some ideas that help, feel free to PM me should you have any questions.