Phantom (and a cool story!)

[Crede]

Hey guys, I just wanted to share this with you. I suppose this thread could be considered advertising, but I don't really see it that way.

My high-school is doing Phantom of the Opera this year for our Spring musical-- a really wonderful opportunity! I'm part of the technical production crew, which is of course, building the set, painting it, and then during the show, moving things around, curtains, etc. It's not everyone's cup of tea but I really enjoy it. Anyways, due to the nature of the show, we get to do all sorts of stage illusions-- tricks with mirrors (the Phantom grabbing Kristine through the mirror, and so on), and at the end, the Phantom will sit down on a huge chair, pull his cloak over himself, and when the cloak is pulled off again, he will be gone. So I'm very excited about working on these projects; it's not the type of magic I've done before (hand-held), but I think it'll be really challenging but spectacular.

In fact, last night while working, a stage magician came over to help with some of the projects. Eventually I got the chance to introduce myself and my interest in magic, and I'm really glad I did, as he informed me of a nearby magicians club! I had no idea of it, but he invited me, and once the show is over, I think I'll go and see what it's like. I live in a small enough town that prior to this experience, I had never actually met another magician so I'm really pumped that I've found others with similar interests.

Has anyone had a similar experience to the above? Randomly meeting a magician and having that benefit you somehow? If so I'd love to hear the story...if not, I hope you've enjoyed mine!

Lastly, the little bit of advertising. The show is March 8th-11th and there's 5 performances, 3 evening, two matinee. I'm not going to post where it is on a public forum, but I'll let you know that we're in upstate NY, about 1.5 hours south of Rochester, 1.5 hours west of Binghamton. If anyone wants to come see it-- and I can guarantee that it'll be awesome-- drop me a PM and I'll get you the necessary information.

In case anyone is a theatre/Phantom buff, here's a couple of pictures (I hope they're public) of stuff we've built. The organ (which also functions as a boat) is absolutely FANTASTIC:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...39244414.99980.113236485362075&type=3&theater

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...39244414.99980.113236485362075&type=3&theater

Thanks for the read!

 

[Jacob L]

Awesome, that sounds like a great experience! Congrats on finding that magic club! I was able to do some magic when my high school did Charlie and the Chocolate factory. We made the disappearance of Mike Teavee more like an illusion and it was awesome!

 

[Jay Adra]

That sounds like a lot of fun.

I always thought the subtle use of Magic in Phantom was magic at its best.

 

[RickEverhart]

Wow...that sounds like a great show planned with incorporation of magic. That is how I found my local ring. I ran into a magician at Walmart (15 years) after seeing him at Boy Scout Camp. I told him that I remembered him and that I eventually started doing magic. He told me about the local ring / club and within the next week I was headed to my first magic club meeting. Best thing that ever could have happened. Good luck and have fun!

 

[rocket92]

My story isn't exactly meeting someone, but it follows the same vein. When I took my Accepted student tour at Penn State, the tour guide mentioned that the president of the university was also the adviser for the Magicians club. That was how I found out about the club I'm in now, which is amazing. (Having the university president as your adviser means lots of high end gigs for the university)

 

[Crede]

Thanks all for the nice responses!

I am indeed super excited about the show...theatre in general is a favorite activity of mine, so throwing some magic into it only makes it better As we get closer hopefully I'll get to become more closely involved with the illusions. It's a really creepy show, honestly, but it's one of the best love stories of all time, and it does have some fantastic magic.

@ Jacob L, I'd never thought of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as a magical show, persay, but that certainly made me smile! Really cool that you were able to help out there and make it better

@ Rick, Funny how we find such good things by accident I must admit I'm somewhat nervous about going (which I still won't, actually, for another few weeks, due to other commitments, the show included) because to put it quite frankly, I haven't been "serious enough" about magic to go to a club, and I feel that others there will be professional paid magicians, or at least semi-proffessional, which I am not. However, I'm excited for the opportunity to meet other magicians and perhaps improve some of my effects; it's always nice to meet those with similar interests.

@ Rocket, wow, aren't you lucky ahaha! I'm heading off to college next year (dunno where yet...common acceptance letters!) and I hope to find more magicians there!

 

[RickEverhart]

Crede, you would be surprised about the guys in the local clubs. Some will be horrible performers, some are amateurs hobbyists, some are semi professional, and there MIGHT be one or two full-time guys. You'll fit right in....trust me. Don't be afraid. I was too until I saw I was way ahead of 75 percent of the guys.

 

[rocket92]

Crede you should look at *cough* Penn State *cough* (Shameless plug)

 

[Crede]

Heya again guys, and mods, sorry to necro-post/bump but I'd forgotten about this, rechecked and saw there were a couple of things I should reply to, plus I figured an update would be good, without starting a whole new thread.

Phantom is over ( D: ) but it was absolutely wonderful, without a doubt the best show our area has ever put on. Perhaps later I'll link a couple more pictures of the chandelier and the etc. The mirror trick worked, the chair was awesome, and I got to help with an appearing-noose trick (morbid stuff but still cool, haha). I'm sad it was over but it was a blast.

Anyways, as for the magic club, I emailed the magician, and I their next meeting is the 26th. Totally going! Rick, thank you, that's actually very reassuring and makes me even more excited about going. I also found out, btw, that their local club is actually a chapter of the the Society of American Magicians, which is interesting to know, anyways. I've been asked to bring a trick; my original thought was just Stairway (the first effect I ever learned and still one of my favorites) and bring a pack of cards as back-up stuff, but I recently got another email-- addressed to those who attend these meetings regularly-- that the theme of the meeting will be paper magic, and to try not to use cards as paper. Unfortunately I don't actually know any T&R newspaper or dollar bill, but I might see if I can come up with something. If not, the email wasn't specifically addressed to me (I was just added to the list, I suppose) and I'm sure they won't mind, but it'd be nice to stick to the theme. I'll take suggestions too!

Rocket I'm already done applying, and I didn't apply to Penn State, haha. I know a couple of my friends have gotten in there though. Hopefully where ever I end up going there will be a magic club of some sort!

 

[RickEverhart]

Crede, our magic club does the EXACT same thing. Every meeting there is a theme. Our next meeting is March 28th and our theme is you must perform a magic trick that is "funny" or meant to be humorous. February was card trick only night. Some nights it is NO CARD trick nights or "teach the group" a trick.

Another fun idea is that everyone brings a mystery magic trick in a brown bag...everyone mixes them up and you must go up....grab one that was not yours ..and then you have 10 minutes to go sit down and learn it and come perform it to the best of your ability. NO instructions included either in the brown bags. It's hilarious what people can do with improv.

Paper magic...hmm...
You could do a frixion pen prediction on paper. You could do some type of billet work or a center tear. You could use a post it note pad, the type that fold like acordions and do a force by opening it the different way. I'll keep thinking.

 

[rocket92]

Rick, I love that mystery bag idea, I may have to propose that at one of my club's meetings. Crede, congrats on a show well done.