Dear Stage Magicians...

Jul 10, 2010
277
0
30
McAllen, TX
www.wix.com
I am having one hell of a time finding a finale for my show. I mean, there is a lot of good stuff out there. But nothing that is exactly a finale. I was wanting to are your finales? I am not stealing your stuff, just food for though.
 
Sep 1, 2007
3,786
15
Okay, explain this to me step by step. Every time you do something, anything really, I'm an audience member asking two questions to myself. What am I looking at? And why am I looking at it? Do that now. Answer those two questions for every part of this act and we'll talk.
 
Jan 1, 2009
2,241
3
Back in Time
The problem with your act is that it has no structure, just a bunch of tricks muddled together. If you are going to do stage magic, you have consider the fact that most Stage magicians tend to have a Theme with their show, you may not notice it right away, but if you pay attention you can see it as clear as day. The other thing that is lacking is the fact that Pressure isn't big enough for a stage show, unless you can afford a monitor or a big screen (which I don't think you can.). Not to mention Pressure is meant for close up stuff.
 
Jul 10, 2010
277
0
30
McAllen, TX
www.wix.com
Free Fall:

Walk on stage with some music if possible. I'm holding a paper bag, I tip it over and a feather comes out. I look in the bag again and dump it over once more and a bowling bowl falls out. End of trick.

It's my opener because its fast, easy to understand, and visual.

Pressure:

I am not going to tell you my patter, as its the staple in my act and I feel I am very unique in the way I do it. But first I do a needle through balloon effect demonstrating a "soft spot" idea. Then I move into pressure causing a volunteers Cell Phone to penetrate the balloon thanks to the "soft spot" principle I have demonstrated.

I do this next because its a magical piece that's easy for people to sink there teeth into.

TEARify:

I take a newspaper and tear it up into a bunch of little pieces and start dealing until a spectator tells me to stop. I then hand them the piece they stoped on (without me looking of course) and have them memorize a word on their piece of paper. I then attempt to draw what they are thinking about vaguely and that's the first part. I then tell them the word exactly.

I do this next because its a more intellectual piece. Its a deeper thing than just magic in my opinion.

Correct Key:

I have 6 keys in a glass and I have 6 volunteers come up. I present a lock and have them try there keys out. If theirs doesn't work I have them replace the key into the glass. None of them end up working so I bring out my key on a loosely tied peice of thread, (the 7th key) and it works. Unfortunately the working key slips off the thread into the glass with all the wrong keys. I hole punch a 100 dollar bill and put it on the lock, and lock it on. I say lets try something interesting and I shake up the glass with the keys so they are all mixed up. I have each of the 6 volunteers pick a key of their choice, leaving 1 in the glass for me. I say who ever has the correct key woms the 100 bucks. I hold up my key and explain I psychologically suggested them to pick certain keys and that they didn't even know it. I say you have left me the key that works. Then I say, I might be lying and this might be a test, or maybe I am not lying. In order to be fair, I give each of them a chance to trade keys with me if they would like or they can keep their own. After that is done I say, Welp, you all fell for the plan, you have indeed left me with the correct key. I put it in the lock building suspense, turn it slowly, and bam I win the 100 bucks.

I do this next because its a longer more in depth effect, with a lot of hands on stuff, and some thinking.


(insert finale here)
 
Jul 10, 2010
277
0
30
McAllen, TX
www.wix.com
The problem with your act is that it has no structure, just a bunch of tricks muddled together. If you are going to do stage magic, you have consider the fact that most Stage magicians tend to have a Theme with their show, you may not notice it right away, but if you pay attention you can see it as clear as day. The other thing that is lacking is the fact that Pressure isn't big enough for a stage show, unless you can afford a monitor or a big screen (which I don't think you can.). Not to mention Pressure is meant for close up stuff.

I agree with everything except the Pressure thing. I REALLY disagree. Its a staple in my act. Its what people book me for. You are right about the other things though. You have to trust me, I made that effect into a pure gold effect.
 
Mar 6, 2008
1,483
3
A Land Down Under
For your bank night / 7 keys variation how exactly are you "Psychologically influencing the choice of the key?

I am assuming that they are the ones whom mix the keys, also they are choosing the keys are you intently staring at them to ensure which even one they take? I understand the option to switch however how do you know if their key will fit?
 
Sep 3, 2007
150
0
36
Kentucky - Temporarily
This is a parlor show and it's very street mag-icky. If this were a stage show you would pages upon pages, even notebooks full of notes on more details and technical stuff than you can imagine. Marketing yourself as a stage performer with this show will not yield consistent success.

Now, as for the magic, the reason you are getting negative criticism is because there is no structure, no transitions, no purpose or meaning to connect with your audience, etc. It's difficult to give you a finale effect because your show is a jambalaya of random magic, so the finale could literally be anything. Anything will fit because you have not defined the space, the container, the world. It's like an abstract painting and you're asking us which colors you should use and that's why we are like, "Uhhhhh." What you need to do is define your work and give us a space to fill. So if you decide that instead of abstract, you're going to paint a black and white portrait, and you ask us what colors to use, we can very easily say, "Gray, white, and black." And then you can ask, "Should I have people in my painting?" And we can say, " Well, it's a portrait, so yes, you should paint a person."

I hope I am making sense.

So, to answer your question in the only way that I can, a finale should generally be the biggest effect, should focus on you, and it should aim to be somewhat different from the rest of the show. Now, literally tons of effects will fit this criteria, from card tricks to grand illusion. Lance Burton used to close his show with a smaller illusion even though his show was full of grand illusion, but he made it big with "himself."

And for the record, Pressure can be a stage effect.

|| sean ||
 
Jul 10, 2010
277
0
30
McAllen, TX
www.wix.com
This is a parlor show and it's very street mag-icky. If this were a stage show you would pages upon pages, even notebooks full of notes on more details and technical stuff than you can imagine. Marketing yourself as a stage performer with this show will not yield consistent success.

Now, as for the magic, the reason you are getting negative criticism is because there is no structure, no transitions, no purpose or meaning to connect with your audience, etc. It's difficult to give you a finale effect because your show is a jambalaya of random magic, so the finale could literally be anything. Anything will fit because you have not defined the space, the container, the world. It's like an abstract painting and you're asking us which colors you should use and that's why we are like, "Uhhhhh." What you need to do is define your work and give us a space to fill. So if you decide that instead of abstract, you're going to paint a black and white portrait, and you ask us what colors to use, we can very easily say, "Gray, white, and black." And then you can ask, "Should I have people in my painting?" And we can say, " Well, it's a portrait, so yes, you should paint a person."

I hope I am making sense.

So, to answer your question in the only way that I can, a finale should generally be the biggest effect, should focus on you, and it should aim to be somewhat different from the rest of the show. Now, literally tons of effects will fit this criteria, from card tricks to grand illusion. Lance Burton used to close his show with a smaller illusion even though his show was full of grand illusion, but he made it big with "himself."

And for the record, Pressure can be a stage effect.

|| sean ||

Thanks for the reply! I guess what I mean to say is that its a stand-up act if that makes sense. There is a loose connection with 3 of the 4 tricks. My show is loosely based off the topic of coincidences. Does that help at all?

P.S. Thanks for defending the Pressure thing haha
 
Mar 6, 2008
1,483
3
A Land Down Under
I understand the method however the reason I suggested that you do not seem to understand the presentation.

Keys are mix implies that nobody knows which key will open the lock (you included).

They take the keys out of the glass (do you have a chance to examine all the keys after they are taken). Not to mention you get the last key so in reality there is a high % chance that you do not have the correct key.

The point I am trying to make is using 'psychological influence' as a premise is not new for either of the effects however for you to be really able to do it you would need to know exactly which key opens the lock. The is essential because you need to influence the participants, so mixing the keys is fine however you would obviously need to study the keys (even briefly) to determine the correct key. Especially if someone wants to swap the key.
 
Jul 10, 2010
277
0
30
McAllen, TX
www.wix.com
I understand the method however the reason I suggested that you do not seem to understand the presentation.

Keys are mix implies that nobody knows which key will open the lock (you included).

They take the keys out of the glass (do you have a chance to examine all the keys after they are taken). Not to mention you get the last key so in reality there is a high % chance that you do not have the correct key.

The point I am trying to make is using 'psychological influence' as a premise is not new for either of the effects however for you to be really able to do it you would need to know exactly which key opens the lock. The is essential because you need to influence the participants, so mixing the keys is fine however you would obviously need to study the keys (even briefly) to determine the correct key. Especially if someone wants to swap the key.

OMG. I know what you mean now. I do that. I guess i didn't put it in the description. I take a short look into the cup before giving them out again. I say I believe I know the right one. I make it a subtle thing though.
 
Sep 1, 2007
3,786
15
Free Fall:

Walk on stage with some music if possible. I'm holding a paper bag, I tip it over and a feather comes out. I look in the bag again and dump it over once more and a bowling bowl falls out. End of trick.

It's my opener because its fast, easy to understand, and visual.

Is it a gag? Is it meant to tell me something? Does it transition into something else?

Pressure:

I am not going to tell you my patter, as its the staple in my act and I feel I am very unique in the way I do it. But first I do a needle through balloon effect demonstrating a "soft spot" idea. Then I move into pressure causing a volunteers Cell Phone to penetrate the balloon thanks to the "soft spot" principle I have demonstrated.

I do this next because its a magical piece that's easy for people to sink there teeth into.

Apparently the answer to that last question is no. And if you're not going to tell me how you present then I'm just going to assume it doesn't fit and you should remove it from the act. Why? Because I'm probably right.

TEARify:

I take a newspaper and tear it up into a bunch of little pieces and start dealing until a spectator tells me to stop. I then hand them the piece they stoped on (without me looking of course) and have them memorize a word on their piece of paper. I then attempt to draw what they are thinking about vaguely and that's the first part. I then tell them the word exactly.

I do this next because its a more intellectual piece. Its a deeper thing than just magic in my opinion.

So you're pretending to be a mentalist now. Why?

Correct Key:

I have 6 keys in a glass and I have 6 volunteers come up. I present a lock and have them try there keys out. If theirs doesn't work I have them replace the key into the glass. None of them end up working so I bring out my key on a loosely tied peice of thread, (the 7th key) and it works. Unfortunately the working key slips off the thread into the glass with all the wrong keys. I hole punch a 100 dollar bill and put it on the lock, and lock it on. I say lets try something interesting and I shake up the glass with the keys so they are all mixed up. I have each of the 6 volunteers pick a key of their choice, leaving 1 in the glass for me. I say who ever has the correct key woms the 100 bucks. I hold up my key and explain I psychologically suggested them to pick certain keys and that they didn't even know it. I say you have left me the key that works. Then I say, I might be lying and this might be a test, or maybe I am not lying. In order to be fair, I give each of them a chance to trade keys with me if they would like or they can keep their own. After that is done I say, Welp, you all fell for the plan, you have indeed left me with the correct key. I put it in the lock building suspense, turn it slowly, and bam I win the 100 bucks.

I do this next because its a longer more in depth effect, with a lot of hands on stuff, and some thinking.

Again, you are pretending to be a mentalist in the middle of a magic act. Yawn! All other criticisms I had have been covered already by D.

(insert finale here)

Start from scratch.

This little hodgepodge of unrelated sundries and effects is nothing but masturbation. There's nothing whatsoever to tie this together. You could conclude with Houdini's Metamorphosis or a headline prediction and the result would be the exact same: a mess. All you're doing is saying to your audience, "Wait wait! I can do this other thing too! Watch!" Hell, at this point your finale might as well be juggling. There's no theme, no cohesion, no sense of rationale to anything. It's just a mess.

You transition from what is essentially a gag effect to a penetration that isn't especially well-suited to the stage to a book test to a bank night variation. You've answered the "What am I looking at?" part. Sort of. But you've completely neglected to answer, "Why am I looking at it?"

Start... from... scratch. This show will not fly.
 
Your ability to perform these different effects in a way that would be entertaining I don't think is in question. I think what Steer is getting at is the format is wrong. There is no theme, nor any presented reason why the audience should care other than Ooo look at what he just did.
 

Bizzaro

Elite Member
Sep 1, 2007
464
10
Vegas
www.smappdooda.com
The ending does not have to be your BIGGEST thing, merely the moist poignant or impressive. I have ended my sets with a myriad of things from fire to balloon swallowing to the razor blade illusion and even straight jacket escapes. (Mind you I am a bit strange from time to time)

I have seen a couple people close a show with a card manip act. Mind you they were very well structured and done smooth.

I think your biggest mistake is asking magicians on the internet for advice on something like this. You do what the AUDIENCE thinks is the most impressive. The only way to to do that is thru lost of performance and experimentation.
 
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