Heya, I have had some trouble with structuring the patter and such for a new close up act. I was just wondering if anyone had some tips on having the patter and general themes of the routine go together. Anything can help.
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Structuring a close up act
- Thread starter MalibuARMY
- Start date
Well, I write about hundred effects that I know and want to perform on a piece of paper and spend a couple of hours editing it till I have more or less memorized every on the paper. Then I figure come bounds between some of them, and through in some linking tricks to transfer from one part to another. For example, I am currently working on a routine based around fire. So I start with a candle production, then go to using flash paper to assist in a production of cards. Do a quick card routine, then onto better things using the same fire on the candle. My patter is based on the mythology and mystery behind fire (because I take the spot of a teacher in my "stage" character). I have a rule of one card routine, one coin routine, per act. Though you will shape that with time and experience. The main thing is just trying to find a bound between the things you already know, and then researching what you would like to add to it. The developing the character that pull it off (which my secret to that is just use one of the parts of yourself that you already love). I know this post is scatter brained, but the truth is, the best way to find out is just to experiment and find out for yourself. Do the exact things that teach in English Class for the writing process. Brain Storm, Outline, rough draft, final draft.
speak to me in person, I'll tell you. 3474devil4
or do exactly what RediSpades said, cuz I'm going to tell you to do the same thing. Imagine you are writing an essay, it has a theme, concrete detail, and commentary, etc.
Write down what you're gonna say on paper, complete with what you're doing, how you are looking at the spectator/your facial expression, the way your body is turned.
Even for my Ambitious Card Routine I have a full page of paper front/back with thoughts, ideas, script..the whole shabang!
You want to put forth full effort into each effect to make it entertaining.
TIP: Record your performance. You can do this on video but record it on AUDIO first and just listen to hear if it is entertaining!
When I did my first gig this month I felt ready with no nerves at all because I knew exactly what I was gonna do.
I don't really have a "character". The advice I took was to just be yourself. Of course I dress professionally and do things in a suave manner when I perform. I'm happy with my fun/witty self
Even for my Ambitious Card Routine I have a full page of paper front/back with thoughts, ideas, script..the whole shabang!
You want to put forth full effort into each effect to make it entertaining.
TIP: Record your performance. You can do this on video but record it on AUDIO first and just listen to hear if it is entertaining!
When I did my first gig this month I felt ready with no nerves at all because I knew exactly what I was gonna do.
I don't really have a "character". The advice I took was to just be yourself. Of course I dress professionally and do things in a suave manner when I perform. I'm happy with my fun/witty self
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I support Blindside 100%. You have to write everything down. And with the character, feel free to be yourself. I go into teaching mode as I mentioned before because that is a part of who I am.
what i would do first is to make a list of the effects.
i try to think of transitions also. so if you can think of a magical transition then great.
a big thing i feel is to have some kind of underlying theme. if you can find a theme then it makes it easier.
i have 2 main themes to my set. one is based on memorization or mind reading. the other is based on coincidence and fate. around those 2 ideas i can make (easily) a 15 min set for both.
then you can also branch out.
To find a theme think about things you do other than magic. for me im a psych major. so alot of my magic is based on psychology. this opens a big door.
if you are a musician. maybe talk about practice or something. like a story of how when you started you could barly hold the deck. then progress thru the magic
a theme will make it easier. and you dont always have to base your routine off a theme, but u can structure something around that theme.
i try to think of transitions also. so if you can think of a magical transition then great.
a big thing i feel is to have some kind of underlying theme. if you can find a theme then it makes it easier.
i have 2 main themes to my set. one is based on memorization or mind reading. the other is based on coincidence and fate. around those 2 ideas i can make (easily) a 15 min set for both.
then you can also branch out.
To find a theme think about things you do other than magic. for me im a psych major. so alot of my magic is based on psychology. this opens a big door.
if you are a musician. maybe talk about practice or something. like a story of how when you started you could barly hold the deck. then progress thru the magic
a theme will make it easier. and you dont always have to base your routine off a theme, but u can structure something around that theme.
Awesome, thanks guys. Tricky I will be at the Castle this Saturday and maybe Sunday on Halloween. I got a good portion done with just working out what tricks are where with a general fun theme.
Learn to script your magic and learn to trim the fat. Pete McCabe has a book that goes over in detail how to properly script your effects to help them and make them look less like "Magic for the blind." IE: saying what you do.
Eric Mead's talk at magic con is a good read on the subject.
Thanks, RikAllen. I read it and I loved it. While you awesome people were all helping me out I was e-mailing hopefully my first mentor if everything works out. As well, I have discovered a theme by writing every damn effect I know on flash cards, stating how long they last, and if they are an opener, finisher, or a trick for the middle of my act.
Thanks for everything guys and keep the awesome help coming.
Thanks,
–Anna
No problem with the help Anna, and Rik is fine without the Allen. Eric Mead is a pretty smart guy and the advice is some of my favorite...took me about 5 minutes to figure out where I had seen the article though.
The note card/flashcard idea is a brilliant one. I first encountered it in Henry Hay's fantastic book The Amateur Magician's Handbook. Having the name of a trick, the time, and a list of what you need to do the trick on flashcards makes moving them around easy.
Say you have one that uses cards that is an opener, two middle effects-one using cards and one using rubber bands, and your closer is the tossed out deck.
A good way to look at it would be Opener, keep cards out and use middle effect with cards (putting in same pocket/area as TOD when putting away) do the rubber band trick and then get the 'same' deck out for the tossed out deck.
By separating the first two card tricks from the end you don't have to worry about the deck switch in between.
Things like this are easier to see when you have them laid out on index cards in a row on your table. Don't forget to write down where you learned the trick on the card, I do it on the back, in case you need to review it in the future.
Good to see you have a mentor lined up, probably the most useful tool for learning is someone who's done it all before.
Good luck on your show!
Thanks Rik.
I will write and practice my routine as much as I can. I am having a magician Halloween party with a couple friends so now I have a deadline for at least the first two tricks or so once I get that down. Thanks everyone.
I will write and practice my routine as much as I can. I am having a magician Halloween party with a couple friends so now I have a deadline for at least the first two tricks or so once I get that down. Thanks everyone.