Keith's Thoughts
4/26/09
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Variety is the Spice of Magic
When composing a new magic show, one of my
concerns is variety. I look a several categories of variety when
building a show. Some routines fit in multiple categories, or
even cover multiple aspects of a category. Here are a few to
help clarify what I mean.
Emotional Variety:
During a show I try to hit a number of
emotions. Some acts are silly and make the audience laugh. Some
effects are more of a puzzle, and make them think. Some routines
are scary in a fun Halloween kind of way, but end on a high
note. Some magicians are really good at building routines that
have a great deal of suspense. When I find that gentle heart
twisting routine kind of like the song “Puff the Magic Dragon”
does to me, I’ll probably put it in to.
Pace Variety:
Some routines are fast, and some are slow.
Even during my Chinese Linking Ring routine, I have portions of
the routine that are faster paced than others.
Prop Variety:
I like to vary my props. There are some
routines that require no props, like the twisting arm illusion
that I have seen James Marshall do so well. There are routines
with ropes, rings, boxes, cards, silk handkerchiefs, sponge
balls, and all kinds of props. Some props look ordinary, and
many claim the magic is more powerful with ordinary props, but I
love to see a beautifully decorated prop of mystery show up once
in a while.
Musical Variety:
I love to play different kinds of background
music to enhance my routines. I currently use clown/ circus
music, Chinese music, Ragtime, Jazz, Science fiction sound
effects, and many more.
Costume Variety:
This kind of variety works in some types of
show and not others. Some magicians pull out a particular hat
that fits the routine they are doing, and put it away as soon as
that routine is over. The show I’m doing now has a different
outfit for most every routine. In some cases I get to where the
outfit, and sometimes my audience member assistant wears it.
During my mentalist routine I have the audience member wear a
silly golden turban. I introduce the idea of needing an
assistant and include the phrase, “…and is willing to wear this
silly hat…”, as I pull it out of my case. That way I don’t bring
a child up who hasn’t been forewarned that they are going to be
costumed. I also spray my hats with disinfectants and/or lice
killers just in case.
Effect Variety:
Effect variety looks at the actual effect
happening, despite the props. There are many types of effects
such as appearance, disappearance, penetration, transposition,
color change, levitation, and so on. I try to make sure the show
has a great variety of effects. I would avoid doing “scarf
through arm” and then later in the show doing “rope through
body”. Now if both effects were done in the same routine, one
building up to the other, that might be creating variety in a
penetration routine.
There are many exceptions to providing variety
in a magic show. An obvious one is a card gambling demonstration
show. It still requires variety, but the base props might not
vary. I wouldn’t sacrifice the theme of the show for the
variety. In conclusion, take a look at the variety of your show.
Take your audience on a roller coaster of emotions and reactions
using all the forms of variety you can think of. Become a guide
and take them on a personal tour into the world of magic.
Your Prez,
Keith Pass
President of SAM 252
Feel free to send me some email at
magicalpass2@aol.com |
