Hi,
I apologize if "General Discussion" is the wrong place to post this, I literally haven't posted here in years.
I'm currently working on structuring a scripted half hour show, after performing street-style magic for years. My show is based around odd performers. This means performing standard tricks, with a different performance i.e. Cups and balls as a gambling game, some mind reading as voodoo (Rick Lax's Soul Paper is great!), etc.
I also do some sideshow stunts like human blockhead and Wayne Houchin's A Single Needle.
All of this is kinda similar to the late great Harry Anderson's shows, but changed drastically to fit me as a performer. All patter is my own, but my one question is: Is it wrong to take his "Let's talk geek!" patter and adapt it to my style, or is that considered stealing an act? If so, how is it different from using any other patter for tricks? (I wouldn't be doing the needle through arm, though. I would only use the opening line "Let's talk Geek," and the joke about swallowing a rat...)
To clarify, I don't mean to argue in any way, I merely want to learn from what everyone here has to say on the subject!
Thanks so much, happy holidays!
I apologize if "General Discussion" is the wrong place to post this, I literally haven't posted here in years.
I'm currently working on structuring a scripted half hour show, after performing street-style magic for years. My show is based around odd performers. This means performing standard tricks, with a different performance i.e. Cups and balls as a gambling game, some mind reading as voodoo (Rick Lax's Soul Paper is great!), etc.
I also do some sideshow stunts like human blockhead and Wayne Houchin's A Single Needle.
All of this is kinda similar to the late great Harry Anderson's shows, but changed drastically to fit me as a performer. All patter is my own, but my one question is: Is it wrong to take his "Let's talk geek!" patter and adapt it to my style, or is that considered stealing an act? If so, how is it different from using any other patter for tricks? (I wouldn't be doing the needle through arm, though. I would only use the opening line "Let's talk Geek," and the joke about swallowing a rat...)
To clarify, I don't mean to argue in any way, I merely want to learn from what everyone here has to say on the subject!
Thanks so much, happy holidays!