Two shows in the past two weeks.

[ArmanMagic]

Hey guys,

So a couple of weeks ago I made a thread about this talent show in which I had one week to prepare my act. I basically just did my usually routine with dresscode and fraid knot and added the invisible deck and insurance policy as fillers. Instead of doing my usual dresscode code routine where I reveal a thought of soda brand, I opted for a straight color change using the formal version of dresscode. Now this talent show was mostly music acts and I was actually the first talent act that wasn't music in 4 years. I go up stage and the crowd is quite loud and weren't paying attention at first. I then went into dresscode and change my shirt and tie into different colors. That right there got their attention and started freaking out. I then proceded to do the invisible deck which got killer reactions as well. I started doing my insurance policy act when I realized that I was performing it wrong during mid-trick. It wasn't a problem because I just made stuff up as I went along. Then came my last effect which was fraid knot and they totally fried the spectators. After the show, I was approached by a lady who was actually an event planner. She wanted me to perform as a filler for a fundraiser at the Arcada Theater, which is famous theater where I live. I felt very honor and took the gig. She said she would call me about the gig in the next few days. It wasn't payed of course but it was great exposure.

A few days go by and I haven't got a call about this gig I was supposed to do. I called her and she said that she was sorry for not calling earlier and told me to be there at the theater at 5. I intended to do the same routine as the previous show but including a multiple card find and the jumbo moving spots. Since my moving spots card broke I asked my friend to bring his since he was coming with me. I try to fix my moving spots to best of my ability but it looked really bad up close. My friend comes to my house before the show and he gives me his moving spots card and it workings completely different than mine. I wasn't confident enough to perform with his, so I just stuck with my crappy moving spots hoping that the lightning and stage will cover up the all the repairs I made on my moving spots card. I get there at five and I go up stage before the show starts to make sure that the card looks fine from stage, which it did. Before the show I also performed some magic to the bands that were part of the show. 30 minutes before I go on I go backstage to start preparing my act. The lady that hired me comes backstage and tells me I'm after the next act. The next act goes on and then the lady says that I'm after the next one after that. She tells me that until I'm second to last. I was ticked off because she kept putting me off but I didn't complain because she could just as easily take me off the show because I'm last minute.

I go up stage and start doing my act and I get to the multiple card find routine. I get through all the card revelations when I get to the last revelation where I do airtight. I was worried about this revelation because the balloon always pops in my face when I blow it up and pops in my face. But I had a back-up just is case it did that. It goes perfectly fine and it gets great reactions. I go through the whole show and it was a success. I overall thought these shows were a great experience for me and I just wanted to share it with you. If you wanna see the performances, there are links of the shows below.


Trunk full of Funk performance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-83ETIQHCkc

Arcada show performance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zq4pa7frwVw

 

[RickEverhart]

I watched the first 3 and a half minutes of Arcada show and stopped because I was bored of the your "narration" of the effects. Now, do not take this wrong. What you are doing is great because over 3/4 of the members here have never even been up on a stage before entertaining a crowd. I applaud you for getting the gig.

You could take this up a few notches by getting rid of the dialogue completely for dress code and moving spot card. Add some killer music as you walk out onto the stage and just go right into the change for dress code as soon as you are out in front of the mic. Then go into moving spots to the music beats. Just a thought. Then go into the rest of the effects with some talking. You have to grab their attention right away and having music will add that other dynamic as you take the stage.

Again, I'm just trying to give you some constructive criticism. You don't have to listen to me. Just my opinion.

 

[ArmanMagic]

I watched the first 3 and a half minutes of Arcada show and stopped because I was bored of the your "narration" of the effects. Now, do not take this wrong. What you are doing is great because over 3/4 of the members here have never even been up on a stage before entertaining a crowd. I applaud you for getting the gig.

You could take this up a few notches by getting rid of the dialogue completely for dress code and moving spot card. Add some killer music as you walk out onto the stage and just go right into the change for dress code as soon as you are out in front of the mic. Then go into moving spots to the music beats. Just a thought. Then go into the rest of the effects with some talking. You have to grab their attention right away and having music will add that other dynamic as you take the stage.

Again, I'm just trying to give you some constructive criticism. You don't have to listen to me. Just my opinion.

No actually thank you. I do completely agree that the dialogue for dresscode was very out of place and shouldn't have been used. I've never really experimented with magic timed to music so I might try that at some point. Thank you for the advice Rick Everhart, I really appreciate the honesty.

 

[RickEverhart]

I am actually grading 120 papers right now before school tomorrow so when I have time I AM going to break down the rest of your show and see what my thoughts are. Keep up the good work. You will only improve each time you take the stage.

 

[ArmanMagic]

Okay thank you.

 

[RickEverhart]

The entire sequence of picking spectators with the beach ball seems really forced and uncomfortable for you and the spectators involved. It's painful to watch. I understand what you are trying to accomplish but I think you should explain that you are going to hit the beach balls into the crowd and music will be playing and when the music stops...then the people holding the balls are now your spectator or spectators.

You say...I have a deck of cards...they are all normal. First of all...nobody except MAYBE the front row of the auditorium can see the pips or what the cards even are. Keep that in mind for future reference. To everyone else past the first row or two...they just see "washed out" white due to the lighting and how small cards are visually on stage.

During the card selection process you continue to talk as you are walking away from the microphone which just sounds muffled and horrible. You either need a lapel mic, a head set, or a Gim-crack .
http://www.theambitiouscard.com/aitem.cfm?itemid=26 to hold your mic.

At 5:30 you reveal the first card by flicking it into the air and catching it but nobody really clapped or cared due to the fact that nobody can even tell what card she had selected in the first place and what card you just flicked out. To the audience they all look white.

Now, at 7:00 notice...the balloon and cards plays HUGE for you because the audience could see that balloon blown up and they could "hear" those cards rattle in there and then BAM they heard you pluck the selection out. That too them was impressive. Well Done!

Afterwards you go right back to throwing a beach ball into the audience with no music and it is DEAD AIR time. You need something different here. You've already done the beach ball into the crowd to select audience members so do something different.

Also, when spectators are coming up on stage...ALWAYS walk over to the steps and help them up the steps or have your assistant help them to make sure they don't trip of fall on their way up. Due to their nerves or lighting they could trip over a cord or miss a step. I've seen it happen and it puts a damper on your show.

The magicians insurance policy was so-so. I have a feeling you have other material that could play stronger. Perhaps ropes or something.

Yikes...at 13:00 we are back to throwing the beach ball out for a 3rd time.

Yes, here come the ropes. Good choice, however every time you step away from the mic it sounds like mumbling. Also, make sure your spectator is not cutting off the viewing angles of the spectators that would have been seated to your right. They would be looking at her back for the first minute or so.

The rope routine seemed a little confusing and maybe that is why the audience was a little silent. I would totally revamp the rope routine with a Fiber Optics routine so that you are finishing STRONG and get tons of applause.

Thank you for allowing me to critique your show. I'm not claiming to be outstanding, but just wanted to give you some pointers and direction.

 

[ArmanMagic]

How would suggest picking spectators if I were to do a lot of picking spectators? I do believe that picking them with the beach ball was very awkward but that was also due to there being nobody really in the crowds. Most of them were in the front 3 throws to begin with anyway. I do realize now that putting on music during those off beats of picking the spectators would be good. I did realize that whole microphone situation was bad, but I was hoping that they had a headset because I haven't purchased one. But they didn't so I had to go with what I got. The rope routine usually gets reactions out of the crowd, maybe because of the lack of people in the audience, or maybe I didn't perform to the best of my abilities that day is why they didn't get a reaction.