Starting out in doing small shows, need advice

[MagicianDM]

I'm looking at doing some small shows to earn some extra cash. I am thinking of 20-30 minute close-up shows, consisting mainly of card effects.

I have some questions..
1. Would a show consisting fully of card routines be okay? Gimmicked/non gimmicked plus packet effects, or would it be adviseable to throw in some non-card effects?
2. What would the maximum audience for close-up shows be? For everyone to see, especially card effects, the audience will need to be relatively small (<20 people?).
3. Is the length of 20 to 30 minutes appropriate for a small show? I want to keep it short and sweet but with many good effects.

What do you think of the following routine -


1. 3-D Advertising (Henry Evans) - introduces the deck visually. Length - 1 minute
2. Palatino (in a book by Aldo Colombini) - basically a Hofzinser type effect, where a selection switches places with the four aces. At the end of the effect, leaves the aces on the table to go into the next effects. Deck is ungimmicked and can be examined/shuffled by audience beforehand. 2 minutes
3. Penetrating Aces (old Genii magazine) - the aces jump between the top and bottom of the deck in a very clean manner. 1.5 minutes
4. Automatic Ace Triumph (K. Fujiwara) - using aces from previous effect - a triumph effect using 4 aces and 12 cards. 1.5 minutes
5. Daley Show (penguinmagic) - Dr Daley's Last Trick variation, again using aces from previous effects. 1 minute
6. Card in Hand (Card College) - simple yet very powerful. 1.5 min
7. Using selection from previous effect, sandwich routine from Dan Harlan's R&B (3 phase routine), very clean. 4 min
8. Ambitious Card using same card - 2.5 minutes
9. Put deck away, go into Twisted Sisters - 2.5 minutes
10. For last effect, bring out the deck and prediction ready to go into The Grail (Mike Rose). 2.5 minutes


That routine works out to be 20 minutes, but with additional patter and plus transitions from one effect to another, 25 minutes. Does that seem like a solid card-based routine, good amount of effects? Or add some non-card based effects?

Thanks

 

[William Draven]

Hey man, welcome to the Biz part of the show.

Doing shows is a lot of fun, but then again so is getting paid for it. Even if it's part time it's a great way to share your art with the world and get a little in your pocket back for your efforts. Let's take a look at your questions and see if I can't get you some answers.

1) You can most certainly do a show on or with all cards. Jon Armstrong's entire closeup act is done with just a deck of cards. There are many very talented magicians who can do a full hour out of card material alone.
2) Typically close up audiences range from 20 to 30 people. But if you use a video projectors, cameras, or TV screens you can increase that number exponentially.
3) I usually try to build shows that are either 25 minutes, 45 minutes, or 55 minutes long. It's really easy to stretch or cut five minutes of material if you need to.

You're routine is running very tight on time. Have you actually video taped and timed yourself doing all this? Doc Daley's last trick in a minute just seems way to quick for patter and delivery. I'd advise that you make sure to give yourself time to connect with your audience. Don't just ram rod effect after effect down their throats.

You've got a nice line up here. Best of luck to you. Let us know what you learn from doing this live in front of people.

I'm looking at doing some small shows to earn some extra cash. I am thinking of 20-30 minute close-up shows, consisting mainly of card effects.

I have some questions..
1. Would a show consisting fully of card routines be okay? Gimmicked/non gimmicked plus packet effects, or would it be adviseable to throw in some non-card effects?
2. What would the maximum audience for close-up shows be? For everyone to see, especially card effects, the audience will need to be relatively small (<20 people?).
3. Is the length of 20 to 30 minutes appropriate for a small show? I want to keep it short and sweet but with many good effects.

What do you think of the following routine -


1. 3-D Advertising (Henry Evans) - introduces the deck visually. Length - 1 minute
2. Palatino (in a book by Aldo Colombini) - basically a Hofzinser type effect, where a selection switches places with the four aces. At the end of the effect, leaves the aces on the table to go into the next effects. Deck is ungimmicked and can be examined/shuffled by audience beforehand. 2 minutes
3. Penetrating Aces (old Genii magazine) - the aces jump between the top and bottom of the deck in a very clean manner. 1.5 minutes
4. Automatic Ace Triumph (K. Fujiwara) - using aces from previous effect - a triumph effect using 4 aces and 12 cards. 1.5 minutes
5. Daley Show (penguinmagic) - Dr Daley's Last Trick variation, again using aces from previous effects. 1 minute
6. Card in Hand (Card College) - simple yet very powerful. 1.5 min
7. Using selection from previous effect, sandwich routine from Dan Harlan's R&B (3 phase routine), very clean. 4 min
8. Ambitious Card using same card - 2.5 minutes
9. Put deck away, go into Twisted Sisters - 2.5 minutes
10. For last effect, bring out the deck and prediction ready to go into The Grail (Mike Rose). 2.5 minutes


That routine works out to be 20 minutes, but with additional patter and plus transitions from one effect to another, 25 minutes. Does that seem like a solid card-based routine, good amount of effects? Or add some non-card based effects?

Thanks

 

[MagicianDM]

Hey, thanks for your reply man.

The times I stated are just rough estimates that I timed myself doing the effects with very little patter, but of course I will refine and work on patter and presentation, which should make it longer and allow more of a transition rather than going from one effect to another straight on.

I don't have access to video projection type equipment, so should I say that I only do shows for maximum of around 30 people?

And so I have the idea of how to set a routine up sorted out, right? I'm thinking of adding things like T&R newspaper, cut & restored rope, color monte etc into the mix or into other routines. Cheers

 

[Craig Browning]

I'm going to offer a more critical view here solely for the sake of helping you think some things through, so please don't take it wrong.

The list of effects means nothing in actuality, it's all in how you present such effects. Paul Brook can stretch out OOTW to a solid and entertaining 30 minute routine that blows people away (see his book "Alchemical Tools") and even with conventional magic (vs. mentalism) less really can be more but it's based on YOU as the showman and your scripting.

I have a big dislike for "How To" video for a number of reasons BUT there is one huge advantage of them and even Youtube type materials; you get the opportunity to watch how other performers work and as such, you get to see how most of the more successful workers tailor their patter so as to get the most out of a routine -- time is both, our friend as well as our foe, learning to use time to our advantage is where the tricks begin to turn into magic and it is through patter and banter that the entertainer can milk things to their fullest potential based on their own persona. . . parroting someone else ain't the secret and I should point out that this is one of the downsides to studying video performances; I'm just as guilty as the next person to see a handling and approach that I like and in so doing, unintentionally do the bit word for word, step by step as I saw in the video (I'm terrible when it comes to Bob Cassidy's stuff). Nonetheless, we can still use such heroes as a model from which to build our own presentations and in the beginning, this is a wise thing to do until you get your footing, confidence, etc.

That covers your list of effects and what William was getting out when it comes to time.

DOING ALL CLOSE-UP I've found to be challenging, but admittedly this is not an area that I'm particularly strong in. Nonetheless, I've known of very few that were able to "support themselves" doing nothing but close-up within the private market (home parties & small mixers). It is a big deal within the corporate world, especially when it comes to board meetings, product introduction or presentations, etc. The other place I've seen it work effectively is with the High Roller's Clubs most every Casino has.

There's an older gent in Las Vegas that very few people have ever heard of and yet, he makes thousands a week as a close-up worker because he works on-call 24/7 with 3 primary casinos. Basically, he gets a page and off he goes to work a 20 minute close-up gig for some big winner. As I understand it, he gets more than $1,500.00 a shot and will do as many as 5 such parties in a single day. . . not bad for a part time job. Understand however, it took him nearly a decade to make the inroads that put him in this position, so it's not an over-night kind of thing.

William has given you a decent enough overview when it comes to things you need to consider however.

Doing an act that is 100% Card Effects is not impossible but is a serious challenge. The most successful acts I've known of that do this are those with a Gambling theme and demonstrations of card control by way of dealing hands to a handful of guests gathered nearest the table, etc. It takes a very special type of individual however, to make card magic entertaining for any extended period of time -- very few aspiring entertainers have that special something that allows this. So again, we need to weigh our skills as a showman and not as a magician; if your character & patter are strong enough, you can carry this sort of program even if you have questionable skill (you'd be shocked as to how sloppy some of the legends out there, really are. It is their personality and scripting however, that allows them to get away with an abundance of things. . . similarly, I've seen numerous card tech types that had impeccable control but sucked when it comes to showmanship skills. While they could win awards based on technique, they can't eek out a living doing it.)

The moral of the story is, don't rush into things; find a mentor or two that can guide you and help you create a solid program. Don't hesitate to work for free for your first few shows, just so you can get used to working with the public with your material and thus, round off the rough edges.

Grade Yourself! Create a check list and challenge yourself to be brutally honest when it comes to reactions from guests as well as your own perspective when it comes to act integrity. Don't be kind to yourself, too many people in our world are delusional when it comes to how good they want to believe they are vs. reality. Compounding that condition is the good ole boy policy many a magic club has, a scenario in which everyone pats even the worse performers amongst them on the back for a job well done rather than causing waves and telling them how poor a job they actually do. So seek out the harder answers, they will ultimately make you better than you presently think you are ;-)

Take baby steps and you will do well.

Enjoy the journey!

 

[William Draven]

LoL Craig I've noticed that we've sort of got this Good Cop/ Bad Cop thing going on between the two of us. This wasn't intentional but just an observation.

=P

 

[Randy]

Is this a strolling gig or an actual close up seated gig where people sit around and watch you perform?

if it is a strolling gig, then all you really need is like 3-4 effects and just repeat those for each group you perform for.

 

[MagicianDM]

Craig, thanks for your advice, I agree with you that the effects without good presentation are nowhere as strong/good. I was watching few performanes of Daryl and Malone and they really do connect with their audiences, and can make even a very short one minute effect into an entertaining five minute routine. But I'm not rushing into things, and I'll think ill add a couple non-card effects into my above routine while taking some card effects out, to have a bit of variety.

And this is for close up seated gig, I understand that I just need a short little routine that I can repeat to each group for strolling

 

[Craig Browning]

LoL Craig I've noticed that we've sort of got this Good Cop/ Bad Cop thing going on between the two of us. This wasn't intentional but just an observation.

=P

Certainly not intentional nor would I ever do so as to take away from your view. I think you know where you stand in my book. On the other hand, I think contrast is a good thing and I've always been great in the role of Devil's Advocate . . . I can even take up that side arguing in favor of things I absolutely don't support or believe in, simply for the sake of helping others THINK. . . to me, that's the ultimate goal.

Luv Ya, man!