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Learn About Your Tools…

In my continuing work with the Silk Thru Coat Hanger routine, one of the things I’m doing is examining the props. Since the props weren’t made specifically for me and what I’m doing, the odds are that they can be improved for what I want them to do.

The first thing I did was look a the coat hanger. I originally was using a wooden one, however this was pretty heavy and had a seam in a spot where the silk moves and frequently snagged. I ended up buying some plastic hangers at the dollar store and altering them so the were smooth where the silk and thread needed to move. This was a huge improvement.

Next I started to look at the reel. Currently I’m using a P & L Fingertip Reel. I ended up altering this a little bit. Inside the reel, I added teflon discs to the spots where metal touched metal. These discs are sold to add to gimmicked coins to reduce clinking sound and make them slide better.

These teflon discs really added to the smoothness of how the reel retracted.

I also recently ordered a couple of different reels to see if there’s a style that I prefer, rather than simply using the first one I got. I’ve got a Tango Ultimate Reel and a Kirkendall Reel coming this week. We’ll see what I end up using.

Finally I looked at the silk that I’m using. I went from a square silk to a diamond cut one. The main reason is weight, the reel can move a lighter weight faster than a heavier one…or in my case, can move a larger one for the same effort as a smaller one.

All of these little things end up making a difference. At the very least I know my props really well!

Preshow Warm Up…

Before a show, I try to warm up…but what does that mean for a comedy magician? I’ll get to that in a minute. I got started warming up many years ago when I started working in variety shows with other acts. All of the physical acts like trapeze act, or dancers warm up a lot before the show, where the magicians just hung out.

I had a friend Noelle Wood who does an amazing pole dance act, she’d warm up for an hour to do an 8 minute act. One day before a show while she was warming up, she asked me what I did to warm up. My response was, “try to not get too drunk”. This joke answer, was the answer.

Before a show, I like to joke around and be playful, it gets me into the performing mindset of having fun on stage, but also gets my “comedy brain” warmed up. Here’s a quick example of something that happened before a show that helped me warm up:

It’s this playfulness that gets me into “character” and ready for the show. Sure, if I’ve got something new, I’ll run lines before the show, but it’s important for me to play before the show whenever possible.

Production Value

Working more and more in theaters, it has me paying attention to the things that really aren’t possible in non theater shows. I remember when sound became a thing for me, and that was a game changer in my show. Now being able to play with video projection, video and lighting is opening a whole … Continue reading “Production Value”

I really want to add a video element to the show, where I play a video at some point. I’m not sure what, I think I want to do something with my daughter where I talk to her on the screen. I think this would be fun, but it’ll take some work for it to not come off as cheesy. Currently I call my daughter in the show and that works well, but that has a “live” feeling, where with a video I’d be worried it would feel canned.

Having these options opens a world of possibilities for my show. Like being able to do a few smaller tricks for larger audiences. I’ve been doing my mismade bill routine, which isn’t for 500 + people, however it works with the projection screen and plays well.

Working Slow…

Recently I watched Anthony Jeselnik’s stand up comedy special on Netflix. In it he works really slow and really takes his time. I had also recently watched David Hira’s Penguin Live Lecture and on it he talks about using pauses. Last night on stage I decided to experiment and really take my time. I went … Continue reading “Working Slow…”

Recently I watched Anthony Jeselnik’s stand up comedy special on Netflix. In it he works really slow and really takes his time.

I had also recently watched David Hira’s Penguin Live Lecture and on it he talks about using pauses.

Last night on stage I decided to experiment and really take my time. I went at a what felt like a snails pace on stage, in real time it wasn’t nearly that slow.

It really took me out of my comfort zone, but well worth it. I got a lot more applause in the show and better laughs. For me, it’s mentally really hard to pause and wait for a laugh that may not be coming. Waiting for applause is easier, but the waiting for the laugh stresses me out onstage. Waiting is the better choice than just plowing through it and stepping on it.

Unfortunately bad gigs make it hard to do good gigs as they give you bad habits. Things like stepping on a laugh when you are really just trying to get through a rough gig. I think that I need to work bad gigs like they are good gigs and just do everything the way I normally would and almost treat them like rehearsal, and not like trying bail water out of a sinking ship. If I know it’s the gig (and not me), like a horrible set up, or whatever, then just treat it like a rehearsal.

Robotic Patter…

There’s a lot you can learn by watching other acts. Last night I watched a saxophone player do a show. He played two original songs and the rest were cover songs. One thing that I liked was the production value of his show. There were a lot of light cues, which added a lot to … Continue reading “Robotic Patter…”

The show was fun, the one thing I didn’t like was when he talked it sounded too scripted for me. It sounded like he’s done it a hundred times, and he probably has. The advantage of how he talked was it was very slow, thought out and easy to follow. The disadvantage it that it didn’t some off as remotely sincere.

The goal in talking in your show is for it to not sound robotic. For example, he would ask audience for a response and if no one interacted, he just moved on. He didn’t mention that “oh, no one from new jersey” then move on. It’s not living in the moment when the moment pops up that makes your show feel reel. Your response doesn’t have to be a joke, it just need to address whatever happens.

Somewhere there is a balance between being scripted and sounding natural.

Using Magic For Good…

One of the cool things about being a magician, is you frequently have the ability to change someone’s day. What I mean by that is showing someone a little card trick can change their mood. Here’s an example, I was stuck in line that wasn’t moving. Someone recognized me a the magician from the show and we chatted for a minute. Then I offered to do a card trick. Everyone in the line went from being annoyed at a non moving line, to laughing and having a good time. One little card trick changed the mood and experience of 30 people.

Sometimes I wonder why so many magicians say they never do a trick for people outside of being paid. Personally I thinks it’s a very self centered approach. Being willing to do a little magic trick, if very different than feeling like you have to do a magic trick. You can say no, and sometimes you’re asked to show a trick and it’s just night a right situation and in the end no one will really gain any real joy from it. But when you know it’ll improve someone’s day, you should do it!

This is part of leaving your mark on the world. Jeff McBride is really into this type of “giving” with magic. It doesn’t mean doing a show, just a quick thing to make someone’s day a bit more fun! That’s why in my wallet I always have a trick that I can do, that’s a good trick, with a direct plot, but also quick. It’s not a long routine, it’s a quick trick. I actually have a 15 min show in my wallet, but usually don’t do the full thing.

Study Stand Up

Watching other live performers can teach you a lot about performing. I was just watching Anthony Jeselnik’s new stand up special on Netflix, and it was very interesting to watch how he moved on stage.

Anthony moves very little, but it’s very coordinated. His stillness after he delivers a joke helps let the joke land. He also does a lot with his face, how he’ll move his eyes at a punchline. Magicians can learn a ton by watching stand up comedy.

Stand up is probably the most “pure” of the novelty acts. It’s just a person, their thoughts and a microphone. There is nothing wrong with props and a skill. Stand up is simply about selling your personality.

This is a place a lot of magicians miss the boat. They sell the trick, and not their personality. Don’t get me wrong, if you are a magician, then the trick has to be sold and it has to be good, but you must have some personality in there somewhere.

The $100 Peso Bill Switch…

About a week ago I was thinking about the Hundred Dollar bill Switch and what I didn’t like about was that is all of the folding. Yes, the folding does create a magic moment…which is good for live shows, however for social media content or a sizzle reel, it can be too slow. That got … Continue reading “The $100 Peso Bill Switch…”

About a week ago I was thinking about the Hundred Dollar bill Switch and what I didn’t like about was that is all of the folding. Yes, the folding does create a magic moment…which is good for live shows, however for social media content or a sizzle reel, it can be too slow.

That got me thinking of a way to do it visually for video and here’s what I came up with:

I really like how visual and quick this came out. I think that the double change makes it a little bit more of a “head scratcher” than if it was a single change. Also it changing to a foreign currency in the middle gives makes bill change less subtle than if it was just a American bills.

I think the place this trick has in would be in a stage show, as part of a longer routine. Like while you are asking to borrow a bill, and if you use your own, every thinks it trick. You do the bill changes almost as a gag to fill time, while someone is getting their bill out.

Leave the Path…

Having a great show has a lot to do with living in the moment and being present in your show. Even if your show is scripted, you need to be on the lookout for real moments where you can venture off script and into what’s actually happening. This is what makes live entertainment so good, … Continue reading “Leave the Path…”

Last night in the show the kid that I brought up on stage was really chatty. I realized this very quickly when I asked him his name and he told me how to spell it. Then he didn’t know how to spell his last name. Letting the kid be a kid, he was perfect for the trick and he really rocked it onstage. Playing with the kid onstage lets the audience see your personality through how you interact with the kid.

I wasn’t in a hurry to get to the next joke, I let it play out with the kid however it does. Having a script to the show, allows me to get right back into it when it’s time. It could just naturally segue back into the show, or I may need to guide us back into the show. There’s no way it runs 100% of the time, however that’s why having a script is so important. I’m not thinking of the planned routine, I’m just thinking how to get back to it.

Make Notes As You Go…

Last night I did two shows and I noticed another spot in the show that could use some “stinger” music. Unfortunately I notice it as it happened in the show, and didn’t have a chance to add it before the next show. If you are present in your show and pay attention during it, the … Continue reading “Make Notes As You Go…”

One of the things that I’m trying to do to my show is tighten it up. There’s a transition in the show where I need to move a table from center stage to stage right. It’s down time. It’s only 5 seconds of down time, but it’s down time. That time could be used better than just moving a table across the stage.

During the first show I noticed that I could move the table which I don’t need for the trick before I move it as the guy is coming up to the stage for that previous trick. What I did “dead time” to eliminate dead time a few minutes later. It worked great, and I think I’m going to do keep it.

As the say, “the devil is in the details”. Little things can make a huge difference in the show. You just need to keep on them, and over time they’ll add up!