So, for the stage magicians/illusionists out there, what's the process for writing a show? I understand that involves examining your "arsenal" and finding the effects that you want to do, but beyond that, how do you go about getting from the idea to the show?
-
Featured Tricks
NotarizedPHOENIXCandymanMagic 101Distancia -
Card Tricks
TNTDispositionPetroleumOmegaDouble Agent -
Coin Tricks
Perfect CentsMiRAGEALCHEMYCoinONETRIFECTA -
Cardistry
SpringThumb PropulsionFlickNB3Monument -
theory11 Artists
Blake Vogt Spidey Mathieu Bich Calen Morelli Jonathan Bayme Apollo Robbins Chris Kenner Dan Sperry Dan White Dimitri Arleri Ekaterina Jason England Justin Willman Luke Jermay Tom Isaacson Wayne Houchin Christen Gerhart Andy Nyman Dan & Dave Steve CohenMeet Our Artists
Writing a show
- Thread starter YRAMagicMan
- Start date
Sorry for the late reply. Once you have chosen several effects, go out and perform them. Figure out which ones perform better, look for certain reactions. If you are unable to perform your effects offstage, then skip that step and keep it for later. Choose the effects you feel slam the hardest and put them in one pile, but the other good tricks into another pile. Now look at your hard hitting effects and look for the one that is most fast paced. Fast and visual is something you want as an opener. Fast flashy and sets the tone for the body of your show.
To help illustrate what I mean let me do this:
Effect pool (geeky stage/parlor)
Now that is a small portion of geek and shock that I have in my rep. Now I know what some of the tricks are and how they play out. The ones I have with stars next to them, they are not standalone gimmicks but should be added if I need to extend a routine and make the act/show longer.
Now like I said before, I will separate these out into stronger effects and strong effects.
Stronger Effects
Then of course all the rest are in the strong area.
Now once you get this far you have to choose one of these effects as your opener and closer and maybe even a climax.(Middle of your show)
As an opener I do not want something that takes too terribly long to get to the gory details. I know that Needles, Razors and acid monte are all very long tricks to do. Bean trick has a moderate timing yet it kind of sets the mood that what the audience is going to see isn't a normal magic show.
The bean trick ends with a steel BB somehow passing through the sinuses to the eye. Now there is another trick in my list of strong tricks that involve the eye so. I get to rip that trick out, Thread, I mean. Since they tricks are pretty good by themselves, I can in fact switch them both out if I am doing multiple shows and do not want to do the same exact set at the same venue.
Now I know what my openers can be it is time to fill in the body of the show then add the closer. My closer is probably always going to be the Acid monte, why? Because it is my version of the effect (self created), it has suspense and it has an emotional connection with an audience member who in a sense holds my life on the line. It also is very safe and easy for me to play up the theatrics, because in all Russian Roulette effects THEATER IS EVERYTHING. Now if I do not have the proper conditions for that effect, I need ventilation from the fumes, I'd use razor blade STUNT (meaning I'll use blood).
So now my show looks like this:
Now once you get this incredibly rough set on paper, perform it for yourself and the camera. Don't share it on youtube, just use it as a tool. Get a feel of the flow of the effects and write down notes to yourself on each effect. Notes like "Pausing here may add drama." "Give looks of pain and discomfort, then smile before the blood is revealed." That sort of stuff.
Hope that helps a bit.
To help illustrate what I mean let me do this:
Effect pool (geeky stage/parlor)
- Human Blockhead
- Thread
- Bean trick
- Acid Monte
- Swallowing razor blades
- *Drinking Motor oil
- *Eating glass (Jolly Version)
- The Needle and Thread
Now that is a small portion of geek and shock that I have in my rep. Now I know what some of the tricks are and how they play out. The ones I have with stars next to them, they are not standalone gimmicks but should be added if I need to extend a routine and make the act/show longer.
Now like I said before, I will separate these out into stronger effects and strong effects.
Stronger Effects
- Acid Monte
- The Needle and Thread
- Razor Blades
- Bean Trick
Then of course all the rest are in the strong area.
Now once you get this far you have to choose one of these effects as your opener and closer and maybe even a climax.(Middle of your show)
As an opener I do not want something that takes too terribly long to get to the gory details. I know that Needles, Razors and acid monte are all very long tricks to do. Bean trick has a moderate timing yet it kind of sets the mood that what the audience is going to see isn't a normal magic show.
The bean trick ends with a steel BB somehow passing through the sinuses to the eye. Now there is another trick in my list of strong tricks that involve the eye so. I get to rip that trick out, Thread, I mean. Since they tricks are pretty good by themselves, I can in fact switch them both out if I am doing multiple shows and do not want to do the same exact set at the same venue.
Now I know what my openers can be it is time to fill in the body of the show then add the closer. My closer is probably always going to be the Acid monte, why? Because it is my version of the effect (self created), it has suspense and it has an emotional connection with an audience member who in a sense holds my life on the line. It also is very safe and easy for me to play up the theatrics, because in all Russian Roulette effects THEATER IS EVERYTHING. Now if I do not have the proper conditions for that effect, I need ventilation from the fumes, I'd use razor blade STUNT (meaning I'll use blood).
So now my show looks like this:
- The Bean Trick/Thread/ Glass bottle snack break
- Needle and Thread (NON Geek version of thread to stomach, those who have Swami should know what I mean)
- Expert Dart thrower/Motor Oil shooter (This is a Card trick known as Bullseye and is added in there to help soften the blow of the last trick and the next trick)
- Blockhead (Bloody)/Razors (Depends on how long I want the show to be)
- Razors
- Acid Monte
Now once you get this incredibly rough set on paper, perform it for yourself and the camera. Don't share it on youtube, just use it as a tool. Get a feel of the flow of the effects and write down notes to yourself on each effect. Notes like "Pausing here may add drama." "Give looks of pain and discomfort, then smile before the blood is revealed." That sort of stuff.
Hope that helps a bit.