Chapter 2: Selecting The Right Venue For Your Show
Chapter 2: Selecting The Right Venue.
Lets face it, performing magic isn’t a one size fits all occasions kind of thing. Different styles of magic play differently from venue to venue. So really before you can start marketing yourself for work, you need to identify just what kind of a magician you are! There are a lot of different styles to chose from, so I’ll quickly name them and then explain a bit about each. They are: Close-Up, Cabaret, Stage, Escapology, Mentalism, Hypnotism, Freak, Theatrical Séances, Children’s Magic, Gospel Magic, Bizarre Magic, and Busking.
No doubt one of the biggest fads right now is “street magic” which is really just an underground word for what others in the business will know as Close-Up magic, or Walk Around magic. The term of “street magic” that has come to be associated with this style has been made famous by magician David Blaine in his TV specials. This skill set is arguably the most complicated and requires the most amount of skill and dedication to the art to perfect. Close up magic combines powerful and often visual effects usually done with cards or coins with the intimacy of small theater. This style of performance is best suited for Restaurants, Bars, Social Events, Fairs, or Private Parties where the host intends for their guests experiences to be more personal than what you would expect from a typical stage show.
Next you have Cabaret magic. Cabaret magic goes by a couple of other names as well. Some people call it platform magic, Parlor magic, or Stand-Up magic. This style is usually used for medium to large sized audiences, small theater, night clubs, lounges, cruise ships, TV, and most often kids birthday shows. While cards and coins can certainly make their appearance here, other prop effects are also seen such as billiard balls, doves or other animals, ropes, silks, manipulations, and other highly visual effects.
Stage magic or Grand Illusions are reserved for large scale productions designed to be viewed by large sized audiences on auditorium sized stages. This style utilizes large animals, props, boxes, many dancers or assistants, etc. These effects are also the most costly to purchase, often ranging in the thousands of dollars for a single illusion.
Escapology is a sub-category of magic that deals with only escapes from restraints and similar devices. This field was pioneered by the great Harry Houdini in the early 1900’s. Escapes can be incorporated into any cabaret or larger sized act to add additional flash or flare to the performance but can also be focused on entirely as its own production.
Mentalism deals with the performer displaying talents that reach into the realms of the psychic. This style bends spoons and forks, predicts the future, transfers thoughts from one mind to another, over come mind over mater, can levitate objects and people, read minds, and often contact people who have died. Mentalism is usually performed in Cabaret settings but can be performed in Close Up or for Stage shows as well. I should also note that Mentalism divides itself from the usual performers act as unlike magicians, the mentalist is assumed to actually possess supernatural powers. The performances are usually stronger when the audience is lead to believe that the effects are accomplished through means that are not gimmicked, rigged, or gaffed.
Hypnotism acts focus solely on displaying ones power over the sub-conscious mind. Usually spectators are brought up onto the stage, and placed into hypnotic trances where they will behave in all manors of humorous ways to the most outrageous conditions. Some stage Hypnotists also double as Hypnotherapests which requires many hours and high level of schooling in order to obtain that title. Unlike magic shows, it is generally believed and accepted that what happens in a Hypnotists show is for real. This kind of style plays well on Stage or in a Cabaret setting.
Freak or Geek acts are also called Shock magic by some people. Those who practice this style focus on presenting wild, and often dangerous acts adapted from Indian Fakir or Carnival Side Show or Freak Show acts. These stunts are highly visual, dangerous, and mostly grotesque or designed to make the squeamish faint. This style isn’t for everyone, and plays well on Stage, or Cabaret. It can also be adapted for Close Up.
Theatrical Séances is a sub-set of magic that is almost not practiced much today, at least not out in the open main stream of things. In this style, the performer acts as a medium to the nether world and congers ghosts, ghouls, and goblins to deliver messages from beyond the grave, play instruments, or touch and move objects in the room. This style of magic was at its peek of popularity at the turn of the century. Houdini spent much of his time exposing fraudulent mediums for the fakes they were. This style is great for private parties, or Cabaret. If the artist were stationary, it could be adapted for intimate small theater.
Children’s Magic I include as it’s own sub category because I firmly believe that it takes (one) a very special individual to work well with kids, and (two) perform well for them. Typically this style works for children’s birthday parties, schools, pre-schools, church events, fund raisers, or special events. Often times the performer is dressed as a clown or likewise “silly” character during the presentation of their act. This style is highly interactive with the audience and very comedic in nature. Sometimes the performer will theme the show using science or mathematics to drive home an educational message. Perfect for Cabaret or Stage.
Gospel Magic is magic that is used to teach people about Gods love, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, the message of the Saints, and generally used to bring people closer to Jesus. This style uses stories, or morals that tie in closely to the magic effects. Great for church related venues. Doesn’t play well anywhere else though. This plays well on Stage or Cabaret.
(To Be Continued)
Chapter 2: Selecting The Right Venue.
Lets face it, performing magic isn’t a one size fits all occasions kind of thing. Different styles of magic play differently from venue to venue. So really before you can start marketing yourself for work, you need to identify just what kind of a magician you are! There are a lot of different styles to chose from, so I’ll quickly name them and then explain a bit about each. They are: Close-Up, Cabaret, Stage, Escapology, Mentalism, Hypnotism, Freak, Theatrical Séances, Children’s Magic, Gospel Magic, Bizarre Magic, and Busking.
No doubt one of the biggest fads right now is “street magic” which is really just an underground word for what others in the business will know as Close-Up magic, or Walk Around magic. The term of “street magic” that has come to be associated with this style has been made famous by magician David Blaine in his TV specials. This skill set is arguably the most complicated and requires the most amount of skill and dedication to the art to perfect. Close up magic combines powerful and often visual effects usually done with cards or coins with the intimacy of small theater. This style of performance is best suited for Restaurants, Bars, Social Events, Fairs, or Private Parties where the host intends for their guests experiences to be more personal than what you would expect from a typical stage show.
Next you have Cabaret magic. Cabaret magic goes by a couple of other names as well. Some people call it platform magic, Parlor magic, or Stand-Up magic. This style is usually used for medium to large sized audiences, small theater, night clubs, lounges, cruise ships, TV, and most often kids birthday shows. While cards and coins can certainly make their appearance here, other prop effects are also seen such as billiard balls, doves or other animals, ropes, silks, manipulations, and other highly visual effects.
Stage magic or Grand Illusions are reserved for large scale productions designed to be viewed by large sized audiences on auditorium sized stages. This style utilizes large animals, props, boxes, many dancers or assistants, etc. These effects are also the most costly to purchase, often ranging in the thousands of dollars for a single illusion.
Escapology is a sub-category of magic that deals with only escapes from restraints and similar devices. This field was pioneered by the great Harry Houdini in the early 1900’s. Escapes can be incorporated into any cabaret or larger sized act to add additional flash or flare to the performance but can also be focused on entirely as its own production.
Mentalism deals with the performer displaying talents that reach into the realms of the psychic. This style bends spoons and forks, predicts the future, transfers thoughts from one mind to another, over come mind over mater, can levitate objects and people, read minds, and often contact people who have died. Mentalism is usually performed in Cabaret settings but can be performed in Close Up or for Stage shows as well. I should also note that Mentalism divides itself from the usual performers act as unlike magicians, the mentalist is assumed to actually possess supernatural powers. The performances are usually stronger when the audience is lead to believe that the effects are accomplished through means that are not gimmicked, rigged, or gaffed.
Hypnotism acts focus solely on displaying ones power over the sub-conscious mind. Usually spectators are brought up onto the stage, and placed into hypnotic trances where they will behave in all manors of humorous ways to the most outrageous conditions. Some stage Hypnotists also double as Hypnotherapests which requires many hours and high level of schooling in order to obtain that title. Unlike magic shows, it is generally believed and accepted that what happens in a Hypnotists show is for real. This kind of style plays well on Stage or in a Cabaret setting.
Freak or Geek acts are also called Shock magic by some people. Those who practice this style focus on presenting wild, and often dangerous acts adapted from Indian Fakir or Carnival Side Show or Freak Show acts. These stunts are highly visual, dangerous, and mostly grotesque or designed to make the squeamish faint. This style isn’t for everyone, and plays well on Stage, or Cabaret. It can also be adapted for Close Up.
Theatrical Séances is a sub-set of magic that is almost not practiced much today, at least not out in the open main stream of things. In this style, the performer acts as a medium to the nether world and congers ghosts, ghouls, and goblins to deliver messages from beyond the grave, play instruments, or touch and move objects in the room. This style of magic was at its peek of popularity at the turn of the century. Houdini spent much of his time exposing fraudulent mediums for the fakes they were. This style is great for private parties, or Cabaret. If the artist were stationary, it could be adapted for intimate small theater.
Children’s Magic I include as it’s own sub category because I firmly believe that it takes (one) a very special individual to work well with kids, and (two) perform well for them. Typically this style works for children’s birthday parties, schools, pre-schools, church events, fund raisers, or special events. Often times the performer is dressed as a clown or likewise “silly” character during the presentation of their act. This style is highly interactive with the audience and very comedic in nature. Sometimes the performer will theme the show using science or mathematics to drive home an educational message. Perfect for Cabaret or Stage.
Gospel Magic is magic that is used to teach people about Gods love, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, the message of the Saints, and generally used to bring people closer to Jesus. This style uses stories, or morals that tie in closely to the magic effects. Great for church related venues. Doesn’t play well anywhere else though. This plays well on Stage or Cabaret.
(To Be Continued)
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