So it is eight o’clock and the end of my shift. I’m pretty happy with the first time I’ve been to the restaurant and I feel I made contact with some people who are some movers and shakers. I get my money, hand them the invoice and I’m about to hang out with the friends that decided to come out and see me on my first night.
I get a tap on my shoulder and a server tells me something interesting.
“Table 16 would like you to help him propose to his girlfriend.”
She continues to tell me that she has been friends with the people since she was a little girl.
I made it clear that it needed to be the guy’s idea and not her idea to be cute.
She said, “No, he specifically told me to ask you if you could present the ring in a cool way for him to propose.”
I’m thinking, this is one of the biggest moments in both the guy’s and girlfriend’s life. I’m pretty nervous not really for me but for the guy.
So the server hands me the rock and I stick it in my pocket and walk over to the table. I introduce myself like I normally would to a table and proceed to do my Ambitious Card routine which is the equivalent to Tommy Wonder’s card in box, though I finish things off with a card in wallet.
Anyway, the girl picks the Ace of Diamonds. (Imagine that…) Both of them sign it and I go into my routine that finishes with the card in the wallet. (Sorry magic dudes, no Anniversary Waltz here because 1. I think the trick is too cheesy for my style of magic.
2. I think the guy wanted it to be a surprise and I didn’t want to ruin it with being suggestive.
3. Didn’t have the special things to do it.)
I then tell the guy to fold the card in quarters and I explain the ace of diamonds is a magical card and funny things happen when I use the card. At this point the card gets wrapped into a silk handkerchief and the girl held the bundle. I have the guy wave the magic marker over the handkerchief and have her unwrap it. Her face was priceless and I think it’s one of the greatest things when girls’ eyes get as big as saucers in surprise because in the silk was a diamond ring. (For those of you who have to know, I used the basic gypsy switch.)
I then grabbed the marker, the silk and left. I felt I no longer needed to be there and that the guy needed to have his moment.
After she said yes, I walked back to the table sometime later and gave them the ace of diamonds they signed and dated it. My friends who were their thought I should have signed it, and I disagreed, because this is their moment not mine. If they wanted my signature they would have asked for it and if they want it later, they know how to find me through the restaurant. I didn’t even give them a business card.
I didn’t think it would have been classy to give them a business card, or to sign the ace of diamonds without their permission. I just wanted them to have their moment.
I try hard and take advantage of business opportunities, but what an honor to be a part of something so special for two people, to truly give them a moment they will never forget.
Worrying about the business part is important, and I made a big enough impression to have probably sold this couple anything, at the same time, I feel like I got enough to be a part of something truly magical.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Monday, January 5, 2009
Showmanship for Magicians
Chapter 4
What makes up a successful show? There are a lot of factors, integrants, ingredients, and traits making up the popular, most watched and attended shows.
Music concerts can bring in grace, harmony, romance, sentiment, nostalgia, rhythm, and movement. A lot of times it is promoting youth and sex appeal. A lot of times they incorporate audience participation and sometimes comedy. There’s color with the lights, lasers and large screens. Not to mention, the color in the costuming.
It is no wonder the top grossing touring shows are music concerts.
Madonna broke records in 2008, grossing the most money any solo artist has with their concerts.
It was only a couple of years ago when Hanna Montana tickets were selling many times over the box office price.
Drama helps which is why day time soap operas are still airing, everyday. And why the situations of reality shows are created and how they are cast. Notice most cast members are not talented, but more likely trouble makers causing more drama or some producers would call it good TV.
The number one television show is a Karaoke contest backed up by millions of dollars. Lights, movement, music, drama of who is going to win, who is going home and most importantly, audience participation are included in this show that continues to be the top rated show season after season.
Fitzkee gives us a list of items that are incorporated in successful shows and presentations.
1. Music
2. Rhythm
3. Movement
4. Youth
5. Sex appeal
6. Personality
7. Color
8. Comedy
9. Harmony
10. Romance
11. Sentiment
12. Nostalgia
13. Pointing
14. Timing
15. Surprise
16. Situation
17. Character
18. Conflict
19. Proper costuming
20. Careful grooming
21. Physical action
22. Group coordination
23. Precise attack
24. Short scenes or turns
25. Efficient pacing
26. Punch
27. Careful routining
28. Tireless rehearsal
29. Special material and score
30. Grace
31. Effortless skill
32. Sure-fire
33. Spectacle
34. Thrill
35. Emotion
36. Common problems
37. Escape from the humdrum
38. Unity
39. Being up-to-date
I think you can see all or a majority of these being in the most popular television shows, movies, books, even video games, and sites on the internet.
Now it is not expected a single entertainer can accomplish all of these popular appeals, but a thoughtful presenter will try to get as many and varied appeals as possible into their shows. If you have as many of these traits as possible, you are only giving your audiences more reasons to enjoy your show.
One of my favorite stand-up comedians is still Steve Martin. He presented a character so unique, everyone had to stop and watch. Right now, you are probably picturing him in is white suit, with his silver hair, prancing around with an arrow through his head screaming “Well, EXCUUUUUSE ME!!!”
The costume, the look, the props, the material, music and most important the rehearsing made Steve Martin great and makes him a big name even today. From what I understand he would fill sports arenas just doing his one man act. His material was so popular, the audience would recite it with him. (Audience participation)
One man, a case with balloons, props and a banjo and the guy was a super star.
Now it’s time to roll up the sleeves and see what you can incorporate into your show. Maybe you already have a lot of these traits, but it never hurts to check again.
Keep a conscious, critical, constructive mind and your audiences will thank you for it.
Always wishing the best,
Adam
Ebook
www.adamwhitemagic.com
What makes up a successful show? There are a lot of factors, integrants, ingredients, and traits making up the popular, most watched and attended shows.
Music concerts can bring in grace, harmony, romance, sentiment, nostalgia, rhythm, and movement. A lot of times it is promoting youth and sex appeal. A lot of times they incorporate audience participation and sometimes comedy. There’s color with the lights, lasers and large screens. Not to mention, the color in the costuming.
It is no wonder the top grossing touring shows are music concerts.
Madonna broke records in 2008, grossing the most money any solo artist has with their concerts.
It was only a couple of years ago when Hanna Montana tickets were selling many times over the box office price.
Drama helps which is why day time soap operas are still airing, everyday. And why the situations of reality shows are created and how they are cast. Notice most cast members are not talented, but more likely trouble makers causing more drama or some producers would call it good TV.
The number one television show is a Karaoke contest backed up by millions of dollars. Lights, movement, music, drama of who is going to win, who is going home and most importantly, audience participation are included in this show that continues to be the top rated show season after season.
Fitzkee gives us a list of items that are incorporated in successful shows and presentations.
1. Music
2. Rhythm
3. Movement
4. Youth
5. Sex appeal
6. Personality
7. Color
8. Comedy
9. Harmony
10. Romance
11. Sentiment
12. Nostalgia
13. Pointing
14. Timing
15. Surprise
16. Situation
17. Character
18. Conflict
19. Proper costuming
20. Careful grooming
21. Physical action
22. Group coordination
23. Precise attack
24. Short scenes or turns
25. Efficient pacing
26. Punch
27. Careful routining
28. Tireless rehearsal
29. Special material and score
30. Grace
31. Effortless skill
32. Sure-fire
33. Spectacle
34. Thrill
35. Emotion
36. Common problems
37. Escape from the humdrum
38. Unity
39. Being up-to-date
I think you can see all or a majority of these being in the most popular television shows, movies, books, even video games, and sites on the internet.
Now it is not expected a single entertainer can accomplish all of these popular appeals, but a thoughtful presenter will try to get as many and varied appeals as possible into their shows. If you have as many of these traits as possible, you are only giving your audiences more reasons to enjoy your show.
One of my favorite stand-up comedians is still Steve Martin. He presented a character so unique, everyone had to stop and watch. Right now, you are probably picturing him in is white suit, with his silver hair, prancing around with an arrow through his head screaming “Well, EXCUUUUUSE ME!!!”
The costume, the look, the props, the material, music and most important the rehearsing made Steve Martin great and makes him a big name even today. From what I understand he would fill sports arenas just doing his one man act. His material was so popular, the audience would recite it with him. (Audience participation)
One man, a case with balloons, props and a banjo and the guy was a super star.
Now it’s time to roll up the sleeves and see what you can incorporate into your show. Maybe you already have a lot of these traits, but it never hurts to check again.
Keep a conscious, critical, constructive mind and your audiences will thank you for it.
Always wishing the best,
Adam
Ebook
www.adamwhitemagic.com
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