Open to Suggestions...

[Jack]

Ahoy ding-dongs!

So here's the scoop. I'm an actor in Atlanta and I'm currently in a production of "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)". There is a part in the play right befor intermission where the other actors run off stage leaving me to awkwardly vamp and improvise for a few minutes. I didn't want to do a sing-a-long or tell bad jokes for 5 minutes so the director and I agreed I should end the section with a magic trick. I've been doing "Pressure" by DG+DW and it's been going over great. I've also done a version of "Angle Zero" by d+M where the corner of the card ends up in my shoe the only thing is that card tricks don't really read well to a 300 seat house. I'd like to know what other effects you guys would recommend.

Here are some stipulations: I have audience eyes a little over 180 degrees around me, I am on stage so low angles are bad and there is a balcony so high angles are bad as well, I need to have whatever the trick requires on me and can't take the time to set up any props or tables. I'm looking for simple and visual. Card tricks don't work well as you can't see them from the back rows so I've ruled out any T&R card tricks. It needs to be visible and clear from 60 feet away. Lemme know what you guys think. Please include the name of the trick, creator, where it can be purchased or learned and a link to a video of the effect if possible. Remember "Pressure" is working great so I'm looking for effects in a similar vein (as far as visibility and angle sensitivity go). I'm fine just doing "Pressure" but I would like to have a couple other effects so if people come and see the show more than once they don't see the same trick.

Thanks guys!
Cheers!

p.s. The show runs for six more weeks so I have time to practice.

 

[Craig Browning]

There's a few things that come to mind but you will need to double-check the balcony sight-lines by doing a mock-up on this first bit; it was a thing Doug Henning used to do that I always loved. Doug would be tied into a very large bag (handcuffed), the bag's top held in a raised position by two gents from the audience using long poles. . . you could hear Doug talking through things, see him wiggling about inside the bag and too, because things were done on a raise see-through podium, all was fair. . .

Right!

Long story short, Doug would (body language from within the bag) apparently get free of his restraints, the bag would be lowered and on the raise podium holding the cuffs & shackles was a girl. . . Doug would be in the audience clapping his hands saying "I always wanted to what that looked like from out here. . . pretty good, wasn't it?"

Yes, it's a twist on the sub-trunk and all you need is an item that used to be marketed years ago, called "Bag X" and the podium you stand on, which is featured in the Tarbell Course and known industry wide as either a Triangle Base or Tarbell Base. . . the original ones were literally made of a 4'wide Triangle (plywood with carpeting set on it) and two rectangles made of 2x4 boards that, needless to say, created a triangle raiser for the aforementioned carpeted piece of plywood to rest. . . there's a couple of other important bits I've left out but all in all you can make the thing for well under $50.00 even at today's prices. You can make your own gimmicked bag as well, not a big deal.

Doug also used this as part of a quick change routine but I always thought the escape version went over better.


ANOTHER BIT. . .

Sylvester the Jester developed a rather neat gimmick a few years back that Kevin James shared with me, including a use of the gaff that I have gotten tons of mileage out of. The routine is yet another variation to CONFABULATION -- the classic bit in which a magician/mentalist has a short conversation with an audience member through which key bits of information are gathered; name, astrological sign, kind of work they do, the company they work for, favorite place to visit, etc.

The mage points to a large manila envelope that's been visible (handing from a chord, over-head) since the close of the previous number (or the whole show if you wish -- it's likewise obvious that the chord runs into the wings of the stage a bit). He explains that he had a dream just a few days ago and. . . rather than telling her about the dream, he lowers the envelope to her awaiting hands. He then opens the envelop removing the contents. . . a hand-written note that describes the dream. . . a dream that is about ___ (the name of the person in question) who works as a ____ and was born under the zodiac sign of ____. . . and so forth; the dream description names everything she/he just shared during your conversation.

This piece is pure dynamite when handled correctly but does require some special set-up on your end.

IM me for the details should either of these interest you... understand however, both are very potent reputation makers.

 

[RickEverhart]

Thanks for sharing those Craig. The Henning one with the escape presentation and ending up clapping from the audience sounds outstanding.

 

[DannyT]

Craig, he said he didn't have time to set anything up before he went on. A trick that can be on him at all times.

However I know you said card tricks were not good enough, but I think you should give this one a go. Gazzo's tossed out deck. You can buy this at penguinmagic.com in Gazzo's section on the left of the screen.
It requires one sleight that really isn't hard to learn, and will also complement your angles.

 

[Jack]

Wow Craig! Thank you very much for sharing those but unfortunately I don't have the time nor resources to do something of that scale and set up in this instance. Be assured that should the opportunity arise where i could perform either effect I will be sending you a message.

Danny, thanks for the "Tossed Out" suggestion. While this is a card trick the effect doesn't live in the hands but between the performer and audience. This kind of thing is just what I'm looking for.

Keep 'em coming folks

 

[Robert//Livingston]

A levitation, Dancing Cane, anything with flash paper. You could do Multiplying Billiard Balls, or any other manipulation act. How about Fiber Optics?

 

[Craig Browning]

I visualize the "set-up" as being quite swift and easy, but. . .

If you insist on something less visual you could go with Paper Balls over the Head, it's always a great audience pleaser.

The old "What's Next?" card might be worth reviving in that it's not been seen in years. . . it is a small card that allows you to show one dot on one side, two on the other and then three on the original side with four on the other and then back to only two on the original side with a total of eight on the other as your kicker. . . I'd bet you could find it for under $20.00.

I wouldn't do a Dancing Cane or Zombie nor any sort of self-levitation in that you simply don't have the time or setting to make such things as cool as they should be. Billiard Balls might be good but again, you need to create some kind of unique blocking (choreography) for it and a solid billiard ball act takes years to develop.

Look at bits like Sidewalk Shuffle or a stage version of 3-card Monte, Sucker Die-Box, McComb's Half-Died Silk or 7 Cornered Hank are both great bits of business, as is the Flash Vanish Bird Cage of Blackstone fame. Linking Rings (I'd strongly recommend the Comedy 3 Ring Routine from Whit Hayden or, as an alternative, the old Linking Coat Hanger routine from Caveny)

I'd personally discourage you from TOD but not for reasons I'll go into here.

 

[Jack]

Thanks again Craig! I'm gonna look up some of those suggestions and see what I can work out to fit the situation. I don't think I'm going to get TOD. While the effect is kind of what I'm looking for I just can't bring myself to spend money on a one trick DVD when I have a wealth of books with similarly great effects. Guess I'm old fashioned that way .
Again thanks for being a seemingly bottomless well of information. It's great to have some seasoned pros contribute to the forums!
Cheers!