So, a couple of my friends thought it would be a good idea to register me to do a 20 minute stage magic show at a local venue. The stage is pretty big, and I would say about fifty people will be there. Since I'm mainly into card magic, I'm freaking out right now. For an opener, I'm going to do mental yarn, since it's mostly just talking to the audience, and to close, I'll do invisible deck. I do own a thumb tip, so i might do a few basic productions and vanishes, but if anyone can help me come up with just 2 or 3 more basic effects, i will be good to go. I have until the 24th. I really DON'T want to cancel this. I also might head to the city this week and stop by fantasma or tannens- but it's not certain. Please, if anyone can help, send me a message or reply to this thread please. many many many many thanks
Firstly I must ask a very serious question;
WHY IN THE HELL DID YOU ACCEPT THE GIG IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE A SHOW?
I see this kind of post more than a few times a week and it never fails to amaze me, the lack of personal integrity let alone no seeming respect for the client, the audience or the art when novices gladly embrace such opportunities.
Here's another question for you,
DO YOU HAVE FANTASIES OF GETTING MORE WORK FROM THIS GIG?
How would this be possible given that you do not have "an act" that, as others have already suggested, you can do in your sleep; not just "the moves" but a discourse of patter that is fun, comfortable for one and all, and that you can deliver with clarity and command vs. the slop we tend to use on the streets and during casual conversations?
Yes, I'm putting you on the spot and I'm giving you a very hard time but only because you aren't a unique situation and you just happened to be the latest lucky chap to get "the lecture". . . take what I'm presenting to you to heart, but don't take it personal, it's actually for everyone "new" to magic to digest; starting with the fact that you NEVER take a gig that is outside the parameters for which you are ready and capable of delivering.
STAY AWAY FROM MENTALISM. . . those suggesting such haven't a clue as to what good mentalism is about vs. doing tricks. Mentalism is probably the most performance intensive areas of magic when it comes to stage command, presence, audience management and knowing your stuff. So if you don't want to look like a putz, leave it alone for now and focus on traditional magic.
As one poster has already pointed out, you don't have time to do a lot. 20-minutes is however, the length of the typical stage act (figure a show in 10-12 minute blocks for best results and ease of "adjusting" to holiday themes & client needs/wants). You mention the Thumb Tip. . . you can easily do 5+ minutes with it alone depending on what you do with it. I'd suggest you take the idea a step or two further and look at a piece like the Long Salt Pour or maybe some kind of comedy silk routine that uses the TT along with dye tube perhaps (Billy McComb's Half-Dyed Silk routine will give you a solid 3+ minutes; couple it with the 7-Cornered Handkerchief you you've got a very solid 5 minutes of interactive fun. But you could segue' from the hank into Rope Magic by turning your silk into a piece of rope (very easy to do) and from here do the next 5+ minutes with another combination bit that's focused on Rope tricks or even shift into a Kellar Tie & Pick-Pocket gag ala Blackstone).
If you do cards then look at routines that play big, even with a standard sized deck, such as Cards Across or some dramatic version of the Deck Stab (if you have the $400.00 the Ted Lesley Card Stab is AWESOME!).
Let your age and inexperience work for you. . . but you'll need a copy of the Wilson Course and a nice young lady to help you out... Make the Arabian Tent Illusion or Victory Cartons featured at the back of the book. Your presentation would be the fact that you don't have access to a real magic shop and so you had to improvise. . . you could even do a comedy bit, having an inflatable girl come up from the prop first (you are making do with what you have, after all). . . The nice thing is, you only need a couple of big Cardboard Boxes, a sharp knife and some rehearsal time. . . you can literally make either of this props for less than $25.00. . . $60.00 if you have a professional company make up the boxes for you (if that much). The action of doing this however, gives you a big illusion along with the other bits.
Keep things very simple and LISTEN to the experienced. Track down your local IBM/SAM groups and see if there's a seasoned worker that can give you a hand.
Once you've survived this first gig, make it a point to not accept any shows that are less than 6 weeks away (no matter how much you might want to do them) and ALWAYS have them give you at least $50.00 up-front to hold the date.
Best of luck!
