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My Comedy Card Routine

Michael Kras

{dg} poet laureate / theory11
Sep 12, 2007
1,268
3
Canada
www.magicanada.myfastforum.org
Hey everyone!

So, I've been testing and working on the routine you'll see in this video... it's an act I've designed for stage performance around Wayne Houchin's "French Kiss" transposition. I think it has plenty of potential and I'd love to hear what you think of it, what you think it needs, any other comments, etc.

I've only used it on stage a few times, and I'm careful to choose a volunteer who looks like they'll be able to have a good time with what I'm going to do. I apologize for the informality of this particular performance... the whole show it was featured in was very slap-dash and everything fell into place last minute.

In the video, you can't see the signatures on the cards, but I think it's pretty obvious as to what happens effect-wise, at least for magicians watching.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Bv2zkqp7co&list=UU1IqzVa5U8Y-nP7rf_7zb7Q&index=2&feature=plcp
 
Jun 1, 2009
1,066
6
Seems like you went out of breath a few times haha. I liked it a lot, you have great stage presence and the audience totally loved it. The addition of the music was hilarious. I like the idea of blank cards, it seems to make them "choosing" a card go a lot smoother. Overall I thought it was great! Maybe somehow get jumbo cards? It seems like people in the back of an auditorium have a hard time making out what's on a small playing card, also it can get washed out pretty easily by the lighting.
 

Michael Kras

{dg} poet laureate / theory11
Sep 12, 2007
1,268
3
Canada
www.magicanada.myfastforum.org
Thanks for the feedback my friend! I agree that jumbo cards would have been a better option, but I didn't have time to grab any. I thought the next best thing woudl be blank cards, as they're a bit easier to see and there are no card faces to distract. The signatures didn't show up on video but people in the audience did confirm that they could see everything!
 
Apr 1, 2009
1,067
1
35
California
First, let me be honest. Your videos tend to annoy me. Your personality just seems too staged for the solo in your room youtube type videos and the performances just never seem to fit my style. what I enjoy performing or even watching. Now for the also honest but not quite as harsh part. I loved your performance. I could see myself doing that very same act some time. I now want to use French Kiss on stage because of you. Brilliant job, my friend.
 

RickEverhart

forum moderator / t11
Elite Member
Sep 14, 2008
3,637
471
47
Louisville, OH
Loved the performance Michael. The music is a very strong addition....do NOT change that. The only thing I would change is maybe get the Pheonix Parlour size cards and have someone cue your music for you so you do not have to bend down and touch your ipod at all. The audience loved it!
 
Apr 1, 2009
1,067
1
35
California
I kind of like the whole bit of him doing the music... It provides that sort of awkward moment that goes with the character, when you awkwardly turns it on and off. I wouldn't necessarily have an ipod though... maybe a boombox or something... just me though..
 

RickEverhart

forum moderator / t11
Elite Member
Sep 14, 2008
3,637
471
47
Louisville, OH
Asher, I see your view as well. Good point. Maybe it does fit his character to do so. That's why I'm glad we have many members here to get different perspectives.
 

Michael Kras

{dg} poet laureate / theory11
Sep 12, 2007
1,268
3
Canada
www.magicanada.myfastforum.org
Usually, I'd give my music to the tech booth, but given how hectic and slapdash this particular show was, I opted to operate the music myself!

Glad you guys are liking the video so far. Asher, glad you get to see my performing style in a real-world context! I understand how it can appear in to-camera performances but, as you can see, it's what I do in the real world and it works for me.
 
Jun 1, 2009
1,066
6
Thanks for the feedback my friend! I agree that jumbo cards would have been a better option, but I didn't have time to grab any. I thought the next best thing woudl be blank cards, as they're a bit easier to see and there are no card faces to distract. The signatures didn't show up on video but people in the audience did confirm that they could see everything!

Alright very nice. I did Carbon Paper with jumbo cards and a mini blowtorch (took several practice attempts to not light the card completely on fire haha), since I doubt the audience would be able to see the burn mark on a regular card. But it's good that the audience could see everything! It sucks when you're doing a stage show and only the person on stage with you can experience the magic when you want everyone to.
 
Jun 1, 2009
1,066
6
I just want to chime in again here and say I did French Kiss with blank cards at a New Year's party last night, and it goes soo much better than using cards with faces. I just say "You can actually order some decks before they get printed, so they are all blank like this" and everything's justified. So thank you Michael for such a wonderful idea!
 

RealityOne

Elite Member
Nov 1, 2009
3,748
4,079
New Jersey
It was good, but you could have done a lot better. I think your personality was lacking from most of the effec and the patter was say-do-see patter.

Patter first. You TWICE say you are not performing magic but an experiment. First off, why bother characterizing what you are saying? Second, an experiment makes me think of High School science class which isn't a very magical image. Third, later in the routine you say "this is where the MAGIC happens." Wait, I thought it was an experiment? If you want to call it an experiment, carry this through the patter and make it mean something.

Your patter is say-do-see all the way. I do this, you do that and look what happens. And, despite the fact that lots of magicians tell you to do it, recapping doesn't help your magic. You build this great suspense and then essentially start telling people what they saw 30 seconds ago. This doesn't build suspense... it kills it. The only time to recap something is if you have to plant a memory (e.g. saying that the spectator shuffled when they only cut the deck). Recapping is not necessary here.

Now for your personality. Where is it? The say-do-see patter strips "you" out of the effect. You need to script the effect and have a number of one liners and jokes built into it. You then need to be able to respond on your feet.

There were lots of opportunities for witty responses. Someone in the audience yelled out "I love you." It was clearly a guy. My first response while watching was that you should have yelled back "I love you to, MOM." Your spectator was wearing antlers (or at least that is what it looked like). No matter what you say about them it would have been funny, "what is your name deer?" or look at the antlers and say "all of a sudden I feel underdressed" or even looking at the antlers and asking "those are fake, right?" You also were getting some "what is going on?" body language from her during the point where you pull the card into your mouth. Again, a perfect time for a line such as, "I always get that reaction" or "don't knock it until you try it" or even "tastes like chicken." Those lines you could have scripted and use as needed.

As for scripting, here is what I would have done (off the top of my head). First, if you like the experiment idea, go with it. "I want to do an experiment in chemistry and I need a volunteer. A female volunteer. An attractive female volunteer. No, not the guy in the fourth row..."

Ask the volunteer's name. When she says Katherine, introduce yourself. "I'm Michael and I'm your date for tonight. We are going to do an experiment to see if there is any chemistry between us." If you don't use the chemistry angle, you can say, "I'm Michael and I'm your date for tonight, we are going to see if there is any magic between us." If she smiles, you say "I think this is going to work." If she pulls back or give you a what are you talking about look, say "I can see we are off to a good start."

Have her pick one of the blank cards. Tell here to "pick any card you want." While she is trying to pick a card, move the deck side to side. She will hesitate and you can say, "it doesn't matter, they are all the same." Pull the deck back and fan it again. As she picks one, say "not that one! Just kidding."

Then come up with a justification for writing her name on the card. "I have a problem with names, once I actually forgot the name of my date. To prevent that from happening, Elizabeth, can you write your name on the card?" She will correct you and tell you her name is Katherine and the audience will laugh. When you take the card back say something like, "usually I have my dates write their names on stickers so that they can put it where I can see it (hold the card where you would put a "Hello My Name Is" sticker) but I think instead that I'll have you just fold it up and hold on to it." You make the first fold and have HER make the second fold. Hand the card that is folded in half and tell her, "fold it up so it is in quarters." This will give the impression that SHE made both folds.

After she has the card in her mouth, ask her a question. "Are you starting to feel the chemistry (or magic)?" Whatever she says it will be funny because the card is in her mouth. If she says no, say "Good, because we haven't done any magic yet."

"Now at the end of my performances, spectators always ask for my autograph. Would you believe sometimes? Occasionally? Well, I performed for my grandmother last week and she asked for my autograph."

"Just in case you forget later, I'm going to sign a card for you now. I'm going to do the same thing you did and fold up my card and put it in my mouth."

"Now I need you to look in my eyes and do exactly what I do... Wait, this is awkward, isn't it? It would be much better with mood music." Again, this is funny because it is awkward but the music makes it even more awkward. The music needs something different - more romantic like corny over the top romantic - like the theme from Titanic. Have her do exactly as you do and bring the card into her mouth. I think your expression during this part doesn't work. You need to shift from humor to serious magic as if you are focusing on making the magic happen. The best way to get the appropriate expression is to say a script to yourself like, "I'm going to take the card in my mouth, close my eyes and it is going to change places in 3,2,1 and now I open my eyes." Your expressions will follow what you are saying to yourself.

"Did you feel anything?" If she says "No." Your response is "then can you explain how this (open card) got in my mouth?" If she says "yes" you respond, "There must be a connection, because how else can you explain how this (open card) got in my mouth?" Then hit them with the finale, "if you card is in my mouth, any idea what happened to my card?" You know have the audience WANTING your card to be in her mouth.

This isn't meant to tear you down, but to help you build something better.
 

Michael Kras

{dg} poet laureate / theory11
Sep 12, 2007
1,268
3
Canada
www.magicanada.myfastforum.org
I appreciate your thoughtful response. The routine is obviously a work in progress and this is my second time doing it in front of an audience, so I appreciate your thoughts. I'll consider them when I work through this routine in the future!
 

RickEverhart

forum moderator / t11
Elite Member
Sep 14, 2008
3,637
471
47
Louisville, OH
Dang you David, why do you have to have such good ideas? Ha ha. Super info and I like it. I'm sure Michael's performance will continually get tweaked and hopefully he can add some of what you provided to "spice it up" some more.
 
Sep 26, 2007
591
5
Tokyo, Japan
I really like the idea of the stage performance. You could even try it with 2 people (the guy being a plant and girl being freely selected) (having the plant for you know what reasons). In addition, one thing that people havent touched upon yet is, dont forget to get the audience to thank the participant(s) again. If you watch the video, you can see Katherine goes to shake your hand at the end, but you were not aware, so she hesitated a bit and then gave up. Be very aware of your participants at all time and make sure they are the focus just as much as you are. Basic things too like letting her walk up the stairs first, escorting her back to the stairs when you are finished, etc...

Anyway, keep up the good work.
 

Michael Kras

{dg} poet laureate / theory11
Sep 12, 2007
1,268
3
Canada
www.magicanada.myfastforum.org
I must admit, however, I don't really agree that I have a lack of presence or personality. I'm at least a far cry from those monotonous kids who simply narrate their action. I admit the routine needs something more to it than a systematic approach, but keep in mind it's brand new and I'm still testing it on audiences to fine-tune it and get it right. As it stands, I'm an actor without a script. But, given that I plan on earning my living as a playwright, I can definitely whip something up.

I didn't feel the need to do anything more than I did for this particular crowd. The show I performed this in was very fluffy and to-the-point. I usually approach my magic, typically my stage based work, as though I'm creating a one-act play... But for this type of atmosphere, I feel it would have felt overdone. The audience seemed to enjoy it as it was and that's all I wanted in that moment.
 
Jan 3, 2012
2
0
USA
The only thing I would change is maybe get the Pheonix Parlour size cards and have someone cue your music for you so you do not have to bend down and touch your ipod at all. The audience loved it!
 
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