FOR PROGRESSIVE MAGICIANS

HOW TO ROUTINE MACIC

BY

M 4T E - A C E - M A G I C I A N

Complete instructions for making individual magic acts with 100 per cent, audience appeal.

WILL ALMAM.I.M.C. (LO N D O N )

"How To Routine Magic"by

REX, T H E A C E M A G IC IA N

Member of the Society of Indian M agicians and the Independent M agical performers of Sydney (Founder Member, International A lliance o f M agicians).

Copyright

The h a p h a z a r d p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t r i c k s i s t o d a y a s modern a s a s i l e n t p i c t u r e . I f t h e m a g ic ia n d e s i r e s e n g a g e m e n ts , and r e p e a t e n g a g e m e n ts , h e m u s t be a s u p - t o - t h e - m i n u t e a s t e l e v i s i o n . W hich m e a n s , he m u s t r o u t i n e h i s m a g ic .

S u i t a b l e r o u t i n e s t h a t f i t t h e p e r f o r m e r s r e q u i r e m e n t s , c a p a b i l i t i e s , and i n d i v i d u a l i t y a r e n o t t o be p u r c h a s e d r e a d y -m a d e . A g l a n c e a t any m a g i c a l d e a l e r * s c a t a l o g u e w i l l r e v e a l t h a t r o u t i n e s o f f e r e d f o r s a l e c o m p r i s e a n e g l i g i b l e p e r c e n t a g e o f goods a d v e r t i s e d .

S t e a l i n g t h e r o u t i n e o f some s u c c e s s f u l p e r f o r m e r w i l l n o t s k y r o c k e t t h e c o p y i s t t o t h e d i z z y h e i g h t s o f s u c c e s s . The m a g ic ia n s h o u ld b u i l d h i s own a c t , em bodying t h e t r i c k s m ost s u i t e d t o h i m s e l f , and m ore i m p o r t a n t s t i l l , t h o s e e f f e c t s w h ic h b e s t m e e t h i s dem ands.

The a im o f t h i s p u b l i c a t i o n i s t o show t h e b a s i c way i n w h ich m agic can b e r o u t i n e d . C o n c r e te e x a m p les w i l l d e m o n s t r a t e t o t h e r e a d e r how t h e a u t h o r ' s s y s te m o p e r a t e s .

A r o u t i n e i s a r e g u l a r c o u r s e o f a c t i o n . R o u t in e d m ag ic i s a r o u n d e d - o f f a c t i n w h ic h

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t h e a c t i o n f lo w s a s e v e n ly a s a r i v e r , n o t l i k e a bumpy r o l l e r c o a s t e r . I t s CONSECUTIVE CONJURING. The r o u t i n e i s b u i l t s t e p by s t e p . Each s t e p h as t o b e t h o r o u g h l y c o n s i d e r e d to se e t h a t t h e u t m o s t i n e n t e r t a i n m e n t i s b e in g o b t a i n e d .

To do t h i s , a num ber o f p r i n c i p l e s a r e f o l l o w e d . As many a s p o s s i b l e a r e a p p l i e d to e a c h s t e p .

PRINCIPLES.1 . The p e r f o r m e r m u s t n o t t r y t o e x c e e d h i s

l i m i t a t i o n s . H is c o m p le te d a c t i s l i m i t e d b y : -(a ) a n g l e s o f v i s i b i l i t y e n c o u n t e r e d ,(b ) o p p o r t u n i t y t o s e t up a p p a r a t u s u n d e r

c o v e r ,( c ) a d v a n ta g e s o f s t a g e , w i t h o u t w hich

c e r t a i n t r i c k s c a n n o t b e p e r f o r m e d , s u c h a s t h o s e d e p e n d in g on t r a p d o o r s , w in g s , e t c . ,

(d ) a p p a r a t u s a v a i l a b l e ,( e ) t im e a t d i s p o s a l f o r p r a c t i c e ,( f ) r u n n in g t im e a l lo w e d f o r a c t ,(g ) know ledge o f t r i c k s ,(h ) money a v a i l a b l e f o r e x p e n d i t u r e ,( i ) mode o f c o n v e y a n c e . H eavy baggage

m eans e x t r a e x p e n s e ; e x t r a e x p e n se m eans l e s s p r o f i t s ,

( j ) a s s i s t a n c e a v a i l a b l e ,(k ) a d a p t a b i l i t y o f p e r s o n a l i t y t o t r i c k s , ( l ) t y p e s o f a u d ie n c e s e n c o u n t e r e d ,(m) b a c k g ro u n d a t p l a c e o f p e r f o r m a n c e .

F o r i n s t a n c e , v a r i c o l o r e d b a c k g ro u n d s c a n make m a n i p u l a t i v e o b j e c t s i n v i s i b l e a t a s h o r t d i s t a n c e *

(n ) o t h e r i n d i v i d u a l d i f f i c u l t i e s .

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2. The e n t e r t a i n m e n t v a l u e o f t h e a c t a s a w ho le i s t h e suprem e c o n s i d e r a t i o n . Always g i v e t h e a u d ie n c e w h a t t h e y w a n t even i f you d o n t l i k e i t y o u r s e l f . Long T ack Sam t o l d t h e a u t h o r he d i d n t l i k e h i s fam ous p r o d u c t i o n o f b o w ls o f g o ld f i s h b u t h i s a u d ie n c e d i d .

3 . The r o u t i n e s h o u ld b u i l d up t o a c l im a x . One s t e p s h o u ld l e a d t o a m ore e n t e r t a i n i n g o n e . O f t e n , h o w e v e r , e m p h a s i s c a n b e g iv e n t o a t r i c k by p r e c e e d i n g i t w i t h a w e a k e r o n e ; t e n s i o n c a n b e r e l i e v e d b y a l a u g h . M o t o r i s t s have a t r i c k t o i n c r e a s e t h e p u l l o f a c a r a s c e n d in g a h i l l t o t h e c l im a x o f i t s j o u r n e y when t h e a c c e l e r a t o r i s f u l l down. They m o m e n ta r i l y l i f t t h e i r f o o t f ro m t h e t h r o t t l e . The p e r f o r m e r t o o can r e l a x t h e s e p r i n c i p l e s o f r o u t i n e i f i t w i l l add p e p t o t h e c o m p le te d a c t and c a r r y him s w i f t l y t o h i s c l im a x .

4 . Make t h e r o u t i n e a s s im p le t o f o l l o w a s p o s s i b l e so t h a t t h e memory o f t h e a u d ie n c e w i l l n o t b e t a x e d . T h a t a u d ie n c e d o e s n t w a n t m e n ta l w o rk , i t w a n ts e n t e r t a i n m e n t .

5 . Avoid m ono tony and d o n t l a b o r p o i n t s , o r t h e a u d ie n c e w i l l b e b o re d and become i m p a t i e n t .

6. Don t l e t e m b e l l i s h m e n t s s m o th e r t h e them e o f t h e r o u t i n e . Avoid d i v e r s i o n s a s f a r a s p o s s i b l e , k e e p in g t o t h e c h a i n o f e s s e n t i a l d e t a i l s .

7 . I n s p e c i a l i t y a c t s , k e e p a l l o b j e c t s i n harm ony . A C h in e s e would l o o k o u t o f p l a c e d o in g I n d i a n m a g ic . I n o t h e r w o r d s , r e t a i n t h e atmo s p h e r e .

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8 . N e v e r a l l o w t h e a u d ie n c e t o a n t i c i p a t e t h e next: e f f e c t .

9. The c o n c lu d i n g t r i c k m u s t be a s b r e a t h t a k i n g , i m p r e s s i v e , a n d / o r S u r p r i s i n g a s p o s s i b l e . I t i s t h e l a s t i m p r e s s i o n t h e p e r f o r m e r makes on t h e a u d i e n c e . I t m u s t be t h e b e s t . T h e re m u s t b e no a n t i - c l i m a x . As t h e t r i c k e n d s so m u s t t h e r o u t i n e . . . n o h a n d in g b a c k o f b o r ro w ed a r t i c l e s o r d i s m i s s i n g o f v o l u n t e e r a s s i s t a n t s . B u t a q u i c k f i r i n g d o u b l in g - u p m y s t e r y i s p e r m i s s i b l e p r o v id e d i t i s good enough t o d o u b le t h e a p p l a u s e . F o r an exam ple s e e t h e c l im a x o f t h e au tR or* s "The W icked U n c le " .

1 0 . The o p e n in g o f t h e a c t m u s t command t h e a u d ie n c e . I t m u s t s i t up and t a k e n o t i c e i m m e d ia te ly . T h i s can b e a c c o m p l i s h e d b y a snap o r u n e x p e c t e d q u i c k p i e c e o f m agic t h a t wakes up t h e a u d ie n c e , o r by s u s p e n s e , w h ich means m ak ing t h e a u d ie n c e vronder w h a t i s a b o u t t o h a p p e n . Be c a r e f u l ,how ever ,t h a t s u s p e n s e do es n o t become a b o r i n g d e l a y .

1 1 . B ecause a t r i c k i s o l d , o r w e l l -m m , t h e r e i s no n e e d f o r t h e m a g ic ia n t o d i s p i s e i t . T r i c k s l o o s e , t o some e x t e n t , t h e i r i n d i v i d u a l i t y i n a r o u t i n e . M o re o v e r , i n an a v e r a g e a u d ie n c e t h e r e w i l l b e fo u n d some who w i l l j u d g e t h e m a g ic ia n by t h e t r i c k s t h e y t h e m s e lv e s know o r can p e r f o r m , o t h e r s 'who w i l l j u d g e b y t h e t r i c k s r e p e a t e d w h ich t h e y had se e n p e r f o r m e d by P r o f e s s o r S o -a n d -s o 20 y e a r s ago come p a n cak e d a y , and s t i l l o t h e r s who w i l l j u d g e t h e m a g ic ia n b y t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f somet h i n g new. A l l , h o w e v e r , w i l l j u d g e t h e a c t on i t s s h e e r e n t e r t a i n m e n t .

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12 . The m ore comm onplace t h e a r t i c l e s u s e d by a m a g i c i a n , t h e l e s s t r i c k e r y t h e a u d ie n c e s u s p e c t , and c o n s e q u e n t l y , t h e g r e a t e r t h e r e s u l t a n t m y s t e r y . T ry and a d a p t common o b j e c t s i n l i e u o f u n n a t u r a l a r t i c l e s t h a t a r e e n c o u n te r e d i n t h e r e a lm o f m a g ic . Take t h e t im e -w o rn e g g -b a g f o r e x a m p le . Now I a s k y o u , d o es i t l o o k n a t u r a l ? On t h e o t h e r h a n d , i f t h e bag w ere made fro m s m a l l f l o u r b s g s , t h e e g g - bag becomes a commonplace a r t i c l e t o e v e r y woman who p o s s e s s e s a k i t c h e n t o co o k i n . I n one o f t h e A m erican m a g i c a l m a g a z in e s I r e a d a s u g g e s t i o n t h a t i n s t e a d o f u s i n g t h e t e a c a d d y a p p a r a t u s f o r c h a n g in g , u s e a s i m i l a r l y f a k e d th e r m o s f l a s k c a s i n g . I saw a m a g ic ia n u s i n g a c h a n g in g b a g . He had t h e s e n s e t o c a l l i t a f i s h i n g n o t . Ho d i d n t go f a r en o u g h . He s h o u l d have e x p l a i n e d t h a t he was S c o tc h and had t h e m esh so s m a l l t h a t even t h e t i n i e s t t i d d l e r s c o u ld n o t e s c a p e . A c t u a l l y t h i s m a g ic ia n s h o u ld n o t h a v e u s e d t h e c h a n g in g bag a t a l l . -All he w a n te d t o do was t o s w i tc h some s l i p s - - s i x i n a l l - - a n d s u c h an u n n a t u r a l l o o k i n g p i e c e o f a p p a r a t u s , d e s p i t e t h e e x c u s e , was o u t o f p l a c e f o r t h e h a l f se co n d i t was u s e d . The f e l t h a t s w i tc h w ou ld have b e e n f a r s u p e r i o r and m ore n a t u r a l .

T h i s same p r i n c i p l e a p p l i e s i n a n o t h e r way. I f a p e r f o r m e r c a r r i e d on a lemon f o r t h e n o t e - in - le m o n t r i c k i t w ould b e u n n a t u r a l a s t h e a v e ra g e p e r s o n d o e s n o t c a r r y a lomon a ro u n d w i t h h im . T h e r e f o r e i t \ ra u ld be m ore r e a s o n a b l e to p r o d u c e t h e le m o n , o r e l s e e x p l a i n i t s p r e s e n c e i n some l o g i c a l way. On t h e o t h e r h a n d a n e w s p a p e r i s a common o b j e c t t o c a r r y . I t i s a l s o n a t u r a l t o t a k e a f o u n t a i n o en o r a h a n d k e r c h i e f f ro m t h e p o c k e t and so t h e y n e e d

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n o t b e p ro d u c e d o r t h e i r p r e s e n c e e x p l a i n e d .

And w h i l e on t h e s u b j e c t o f e x p l a i n i n g . N ever l e t y o u r e x p l a n a t i o n s o f n a t u r a l o b j e c t s i n f e r t h a t t h e r e c a n be any t r i c k e r y w h a t s o e v e r c o n n e c te d w i t h them . As o n e a u t h o r i t y s a id ': " I n e v e r sa y 'H e r e i s an u n p r e p a r e d g l a s s * f o r t h e a u d ie n c e i s n o t supposed t o know t h a t g l a s s e s e v e r a r e p r e p a r e d " .

1 3 . F o r t u n a t e in d e e d i s t h e m a g ic ia n who can make an e n t e r t a i n i n g r o u t i n e i n w h ic h t h e a n g l e s o f v i s i b i l i t y do n o t c o u n t . He h a s no n e e d ter w o r r y w h e th e r h i s show w i l l b e i n t h e m id d le o f a d a n c e f l o o r o r w h e th e r he w i l l have t h e s e c r e c y a f f o r d e d b y a s t a g e .

I t i s a d v i s a b l e f o r t h e m a g ic ia n t o i n q u i r e b e f o r e h a n d when a d a t e i s booked a s t o t h e p e r f o r m i n g c o n d i t i o n s t h a t w i l l be e n c o u n te r e d . I t i s o f t e n a d v i s a b l e t o c a r r y a s im p le a l t e r n a t e r o u t i n e w i t h o u t a n g l e s t o w o r ry a b o u t t h a t c a n be s u b s t i t u t e d i n c a s e s o f e m erg en cy .

At a l l e v e n t s , even i f a f e w p e r s o n s can se e m ore t h a n t h e y s h o u l d , t h e r e i s no n e e d f o r . t h e p e r f o r m e r t o w o r r y . He s h o u ld p l a y t o t h e m a j o r i t y . A s i d e v ie w may g i v e t h e w o rk in g away t o a few b u t a s t h o s e s p e c t a t o r s do n o t g e n e r a l l y se e t h e e f f e c t , t h e y a r e r e a l l y w orse o f f . F u r th e r m o r e , t h e a v e r a g e laym an soon f o r g e t s . The m oves s e e n mean l i t t l e t o h im .

Don t t h i n k , h o w e v e r , t h a t t h e a u t h o r i s c o n d o n in g e x p o s in g . D u r in g h i s two y e a r s and a h a l f e d i t o r s h i p o f "The Im p " , a m o n th ly m a g a z in e h e fo u n d e d f o r t h e I n d e p e n d e n t M a g ic a l P e r f o r m e r s o f S y d n e y , h e waged e d i t o r i a l w a r on

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a l l fo rm s o f e x p o s u r e .

14 . P a t t e r i s a d i f f i c u l t s u b j e c t . I t s e r v e s two p u r p o s e s f o r t h e m a g i c ia n ; n a m e ly , t o h e i g h t e n t h e m y s t e r y o f m a g ic , a n d / o r t o , i n i t s e l f , e n t e r t a i n . To do t h e l a t t e r , i t m u s t be hum orous o r w i t t y . T here a r e men who make a l i v i n g w r i t i n g p a t t e r f o r a c t o r s and t h e i r s e r v i c e s can b e u t i l i z e d b y m a g i c i a n s . a l s o , t h e r e a r e p a t t e r b o o k s f o r m a g i c i a n s on t h e m a r k e t .

I f t h e p e r f o r m e r d e c i d e s to b u i l d h i s own p a t t e r he w i l l f i n d l i t t l e d i f f i c u l t y i n t h e f i r s t t y p e . I t i s m e r e ly a r u n n in g com m entary o f w h a t t h e p e r f o r m e r i s , o r a p p e a r s , t o be d o i n g ,e m p h a s i s i n g how f r e e f rom d e c e p t i o n ( ? ) a r e h i s a c t i o n s , e t c .

The se co n d t

a s s e t s s h o u ld b e shown t o a d v a n ta g e .

As s t a t e d b e f o r e , t h e r e i s a lw ays t h e d a n g e r o f o v e r d o in g t h i n g s . I f t h e g i r l i s to oa t t r a c t i v e t h e a u d ie n c e may p e r f e r t o v m tc h h e r r a t h e r t h a n t h e p e r f o r m e r .

On t h e o t h e r hand a man can b e u s e d a s a com ic f o i l . B ut a g a in l e t me r e p e a t , he s h o u ld n o t b e a l lo w e d t o s t e a l t h e show. The a s s i s t a n t no m a t t e r w ha t s e x - - s h o u l d be s m a l l e r i n s t a t u e t h a n t h e m a g i c i a n , o t h e r w i s e t h e p e r f o r m e r w ou ld seem i n t h e e y e s o f t h e a u d ie n c e t o be a s h r im p , w h ic h , t o s a y t h e l e a s t , i s d e t r a c t i n g .

fihen u s i n g an a s s i s t a n t g e t y o u r moneyTs w o r th f rom h e r ( o r h im ) . Use h e r / h i m t o t h e u t m o s t . Always rem ember t h a t t r i c k s r e q u i r i n g t h e s e e n o r u n s e e n a i d o f an a s s i s t a n t a r e , i n t h e m a in , f a r s u p e r i o r f ro m a m ag ics .! p o i n t o f v ie w . C o n s e q u e n t ly t h e m a jo r p o r t i o n o f t h e r o u t i n e s h o u ld be c o n s t r u c t e d o f t r i c k s f rom t h a t c a t a g o r y .

A g a in , d o n t j u s t l e t t h e a s s i s t a n t w a lk on l i k e so many m a g i c i a n s d o u n l e s s s h e / h e i s a l r e a d y s t a n d i n g on t h e s t a g e when t h e c u r t a i n r i s e s t o g i v e a tm o s p h e re , o r t o rem ove t h e p e r f o r m e r s c l o a k , o r f o r some o t h e r r e a s o n . T h e re i s n o t h i n g m a g ic a l i n w a lk in g on t o t h e s t a g e . P r o d u c e y o u r a s s i s t a n t ( o r l e t h i m / h e r p ro d u c e y o u ) . T h e re a r e a num ber o f s im p le p o r t a b l e i l l u s i o n s t h a t w ou ld s u i t m o st c o n d i t i o n s . A c c o rd in g t o c a t a l o g u e d e s c r i p t i o n t h e A ra b ia n T e n t I l l u s i o n b y G ra n t a p p e a r s to be su c h an i l l u s i o n , r e q u i r i n g "no t r a p s , f a k e d r o p s , m i r r o r s , e t c . " b u t i t h a s c e r t a i n

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l i m i t a t i o n s . More b u l k y i s t h e D o l l 1 3 H ouse I l l u s i o n . I t , h o w e v e r , i s s e l f c o n t a i n e d and h a s no a n g l e s o f v i s i b i l i t y t o w o r r y a b o u t .

Don t p r o d u c e t h e a s s i s t a n t im m e d i a t e l y . W a i t u n t i l h e / s h e i s n e e d e d a t t h e c o n c l u s i o n o f a t r i c k when i t i s n e c e s s a r y t o hove a p p a r a t u s c l e a r e d away. I n c l u d e d in t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f t h e a s s i s t a n t c a n be o b j e c t s r e q u i r e d f o r t h e f o l l o w i n g p o r t i o n o f t h e r o u t i n e .

In o t h o r w o r d s , c o n s e r v e t im e and a c t i o n s . Nowdays i t i s q u i c k tempo t h a t i s r e q u i r e d o f p e r f o r m e r s - - w e h e a r a b o u t t h e p a c e t h a t k i l l s t h a t i s t h e a g e we a r e l i v i n g i n . C ondense y o u r show and g i v e CONCENTRATED ENTERTAINMENT.

I f c a l l i n g f o r a v o l u n t e e r a s s i s t a n t , make t h e m o s t o f t h e o p p o r t u n i t y . Get a s many la u g h s a s p o s s i b l e w i t h o u t o f f e n d i n g o r e m b a r r a s s i n g y o u r h e l p e r . H o race Mann s a y s : " a v o idw i t t i c i s m s a t t h e e x p e n s e o f o t h e r s " . G r a n t s "100 T ip s and Gags" g i v e s a num ber o f s t u n t s t o u s e w i t h a s s i s t a n t s .

16 . The m a g ic ia n b e s t e q u ip p e d t o r o u t i n e i s n o t t h e o n e w i t h a l i b e r a l s u p p ly o f a p p a r a t u s , b u t r a t h e r one who knows o f t h e m o s t t r i c k s . I n t h e a u t h o r s o p i n io n money i s b e t t e r s p e n t on m a g ic a l l i t e r a t u r e t h a n on t r i c k s f o r w h ic h t h e p e r f o r m e r a t t h e t im e o f p u r c h a s e h a s no d e f i n i t e u s e .

A l l t h e m a g i c ia n n e e d s t o know a t t h e o u t s e t o f b u i l d i n g a r o u t i n e i s t h e e f f e c t o f t r i c k s . D e a l e r s t r i c k s a r e g e n e r a l l y a p p a r a t u s t r i c k s and t h e i r a d v e r t i s e m e n t s and c a t a l o g u e s a lw a y s

9

d e s c r i b e t h e e f f e c t s . I n m a g i c a l p u b l i c a t i o n s , on t h e o t h e r h a n d , o n e f i n d s t r i c k s and t i p s , s l e i g h t - o f - h a n d , p a t t e r , e t c . , w h ic h i s o f t e n u n s a l e a b l e f rom t h e d e a l e r s com m erc ia l p o i n t o f v ie w .

So go t o i t now. G e t a l l t h e d e a l e r s c a t a l o g u e s you c a n , s u b s c r i b e t o a l l m a g ic a l m a g a z in e s t h a t g i v e w o r th w h i le m a t e r i a l , g e t i n m a g i c a l b o o k s , o l d and new , w h ic h seem t o d e a l w i t h t h e t y p e o f m agic t h e r o u t i n e w i l l r e q u i r e o r t h e a u d ie n c e s a r e l i k e l y t o demand. Read t h e r e v ie w s o f m a g ic a l l i t e r a t u r e i n t h e m a g ic a l m o n t h l i e s a s a g u id e t o b u y in g . Then r e a d and i n d e x t h e c o n t e n t s o f y o u r r e f e r e n c e s . E ve r b e e n i n s i d e a b a r r i s t e r s cham bers? H is w a l l s a r e l i n e d w i t h law b o o k s h i s r e f e r e n c e s . He m ig h t n e v e r u s e , o r even l o o k a t some, b u t t h e y a r e t h e r e j u s t i n c a s e t h e o c c a s i o n may a r i s e when some v a l u a b l e i n f o r m a t i o n may be g l e a n e d from them .

When t h e t im e comes f o r t h e a c t u a l p u r c h a s e o f a t r i c k p e r h a p s one d e s c r i b e d i n a c a t a l o g u e - - any d e a l e r o f good s t a n d i n g w i l l in fo rm t h e i n q u i r e r w h e th e r t h e t r i c k i s s u i t a b l e f o r h i s r e q u i r e m e n t s i f a l e t t e r i s s e n t s t a t i n g t h e c o n d i t i o n s t h a t /d i l l be e n c o u n te r e d i n p r e s e n t i n g i t . O ut o f f a i r n e s s t o t h e d e a l e r a s tam ped and s e l f - a d d r e s s e d e n v e lo p e s h o u ld b e e n c lo s e d w i t h t h e i n q u i r y .

17* The speed o f p e r fo rm a n c e v a r i e s w i t h t h e a u d ie n c e and ty p e o f t r i c k s . A t r i c k m u st be p e r fo rm e d j u s t s lo w enough f o r t h e a u d ie n c e t o f o l l o w and t o b e a b l e to r e a l i z e w ha t I sa p p a r e n t l y h a p p e n in g . I f to o s lo w , i t w i l l b o r e ; i f t o o q u i c k , i t w i l l s l i p b y and t h e

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e f f e c t w i l l b e l o s t . C o n s e q u e n t ly t h e b r i g h t e r t h e m e n t a l i t y o f t h e a u d i e n c e , t h e q u i c k e r c a n b e t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n .

A l th o u g h a p p la u s e and l a u g h s n a y s lo w a show n e v e r s to p e i t h e r . I n c o n c e r t and t h e a t r e s c e n e s on t h e f i l m s o n e q u i t e f r e q u e n t l y s e e s a p e r f o r m e r h o l d up h i s h and t o q u i e t e n t h e a u d ie n c e ; on t h e s t a g e , n e v e r . Always l e t t h e a u d ie n c e g i v e f u l l v e n t t o t h e i r d e l i g h t . N e v e r p u l l them up o r t h e n e x t t im e t h e y w a n t t o l a u g h o r c l a p t h e y w i l l f e e l somewhat r e s t r i o t e d .

18 . I n t h e l a s t s e c t i o n t h e a u t h o r m e n t io n e d t h a t t h e sp e e d o f t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n was g o v e rn e d by t h e m e n t a l i t y o f t h e a u d i e n c e . T h a t b r i n g s AlS t o t h e v a r i o u s t y p e s o f a u d ie n c e se n c o u n te r e d . The two m ain c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s a r e j u v e n i l e s and a d u l t s . By d i v i d i n g t h e s e x e s we g e t f o u r g r o u p s , n a m e ly , b o y s , g i r l s , m en, and TJbmen. By d i v i d i n g e a c h c l a s s i f i c a t i o n i n t o t h e y o u n g e r and o l d o r s e c t i o n s , we havo e i g h tg r o u p s . T h a t i s , b o y s f rom a b o u t f o u r y e a r s t on i n e and g i r l s i n t h e same a g e , n e x t t h e c r i t i c a l age o f a d v a n c in g s c h o o l c h i l d r e n o f b o t h s e x e s , t h e n t h e y o u t h s and m a i d s , and f i n a l l y more som bre a d u l t s f ro m 25 o r 35o n w a rd s .

U s in g t h e m ain d i v i s i o n o f c h i l d r e n and a d u l t s , i t i s o b v io u s t h a t t r i c k s s u i t a b l e to and u n d e r s t a n d a b l e b y t h e fo rm e r w o u ld n o t b e f u l l y a p p r e c i a t e d b y t h e l a t t e r . P e o p le p r e f e r to gee m ag ic u t i l i s i n g t h i n g s w i t h w h ic h t h e y a r e f a m i l i a r . To g i v e an e x a m p le . I was r e c e n t l y d o in g a show f o r t h e l o c a l Red C r o s s ,

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The a u d ie n c e was m a i n ly composed c f women. Among my t r i c k s was t h e C u t and R e s to r e d Rope. To I n c r e a s e t h e -women s i n t e r e s t I r e f e r r e d to t h e ro p e as a c l o t h e s l i n e . But t o o n e man i n t h e a u d i e n c e , t h e f e a t was n o t m e r e ly am a z in g , i t was a s u p e r m i r a c l e . How why was t h i s men so im p re s s e d ? B e c a u se he was f a m i l i a r w i t h r o p e he o\vned a r o p e f a c t o r y .

And s o , when c o n s i d e r i n g t h e t y p e o f a u d ie n c e t h e p e r f o r m e r m u s t b e a r i n m ind i t s i n t e r e s t s . Women l i k e c o l o r , c h i l d r e n l i k e t o y s , men l i k e s a l t y p a t t e r . You m ig h t do t h e M u l t i p l y i n g B i l l i a r d B a l l s . The b r i g h t r e d a p p e a l s t o t h e f e m i n in e h e a r t s ; men a r e n a t u r a l l y i n t e r e s t e d . B e f o re an a u d ie n c e o f f a r m e r s t h e i n t e r e s t w ou ld he h e i g h t e n e d b y r e f e r r i n g t o t h e b a l l s a s c h e r r i e s . F o r g o l f e r s a s e t o f M u l t i p l y i n g G o l f B a l l s s h o u ld be s u b s t i t u t e d ; f o r h o u s e w iv e s o r p o u l t r y f a r m e r s , M u l t i p l y i n g E ggs .

OTHER QPIN I0 2 J S .

D a n te , r n e o f t h e w o r ld * s fo rem o s ti l l u s i o n i s t s , o f f e r e d t h e f o l l o w i n g a d v i c e ivhen he was e n t e r t a i n e d by t h e I n d e p e n d e n t M a g ic a l P e r f o r m e r s o f Sydney: -

1 . Don t t u r n y o u r b a c k 6n y o u r a u d i e n c e y o u l o o s e c o n t a c t w i t h th em .

2 I t i s e a s y enough t o become p e r f e c t i n t r i c k s t h r o u g h p r a c t i c e b u t t h e s a le s m a n o f t h e a r t i c l o i s more i m p o r t a n t .

3 . F i r s t l o a m t h e a r t i c l e , t h e n l e a r n how t o s e l l i t .

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4 . A s u c c e s s f u l m a g ic ia n m u s t grow up w i t h h i s a r t he m u s t have f o u n d a t i o n .

5. M agic m u s t be s o ld t o t h e p u b l i c i n t h e Way o f p u b l i c i t y , t h e n i t m u s t b e s o l d i n t h e t h e a t r e .

6 . Don t c a r e w h a t t h e o t h e r p e r s o n d o e s , t r y t o be o r i g i n a l .

7 . Take i t s lo w , t a k e i t e a s y .

8 . Don t g e t t o p h e a v y by t r y i n g t o do e v e r y t h i n g a t o n c e .

9 . N e v e r make m ag ic a n u i s a n c e .

H e lm r i c h , o f f i c i a l i n s t r u c t o r t o t h e BSPS, g i v e s t h e f o l l o w i n g p o i n t s f o r p e r f o r m e r s

1 . N e v e r l o s s y o u r t e m p e r .

2. C o n t r o l y o u r a u d i e n c e . Don t l e t i tc o n t r o l y o u .

3 . F a c e and a d d r e s s y o u r a u d i e n c e , n o t t h e f o o t l i g h t s .

4 . Don t k e e p y o u r a u d ie n c e w a i t i n g .

5 . G e t y o u r p r o p s a s f a r f o r w a r d o n t h es t a g e a s p o s s i b l e .

6 . A void a l l u n n e c e s s a r y movem ent. Bed e c i d e d i n e v e r y t h i n g you d o .

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7* Bo n a t u r a l -

"Magic c a n o n l y p r o g r e s s , and w i l l p r o g r e s s , i f o n l y c o n j u r e r s w i l l s e t o u t t o e n t e r t a i n t h e a u d ie n c e and n o t c o n j u r e f o r c o n j u r e r s " w ro te V f i l f o rd H u tc h in s o n i n t h e " C o n j u r e r s C h r o n i c l e " , an d no m a g ic ia n s h o u ld n e g l e c t t h a t a d v i c e .

The m a g ic ia n h i m s e l f w i l l c o m p i le f u r t h e r p r i n c i p l e s . He s h o u ld t h e n t a k e e a c h p r i n c i p l e and s e t i t o u t i n q u e s t i o n fo rm so t h a t when b u i l d i n g a r o u t i n e he c a n e a s i l y t e s t e a ch s t e p by a s k in g h i m s e l f t h e q u e s t i o n t o s e e i f t h e p r i n c i p l e i s b e in g c o m p l ie d w i t h . F o r i n s t a n c e , c n e q u e s t i o n he w ould a s k a f t e r d e c i d i n g t o , s a y , w'e a t" h a l f a dozen r a z o r b l a d e s , w ou ld b e : " i s t h i s w i t h i n my l i m i t a t i o n s ? " and t h e n : "Can I do t h i s e n t i r e l y s u r r o u n d e d b y t h e a u d ie n c e ? I f n o t , how f a r on t h e s i d e can t h e y b e s e a t e d ? " A q u e s t i o n f ro m s u b s e c t i o n "n" o f p r i n c i p l e " l " would b e : " i s my m outh fo rm ed sot h a t I c a n h o l d and c o n c e a l b l a d e s i n i t ? " . I n t h e a u t h o r s c a s e , b l a d e s h e l d a g a i n s t t h e i n s i d a o f t h e c h e e k show a t t h e c o r n e r o f t h e m outh when i t i s o p e n e d .

And now, a t l a s t , t h e r e a d e r comes t o t h e a c t u a l b u i l d i n g o f r o u t i n e s t h e c r e a t i o n o f c o n s e c u t i v e c o n j u r i n g .

TYPES OP ROUTINES.The a u t h o r d i v i d e s r o u t i n e s i n t o f o u r t y p e s

b u t a c t u a l l y t h e r e i s no d e f i n i t e l i n e o f

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d e m a r k a t i o n , o n e t y p e b l e n d i n g , i n t o a n o t h e r . G e n e r a l l y an a c t em b o d ies f e a t u r e s f ro m a l l ty p e s *

Type o n e h a s b e e n named t h e " S in g l e L in k R o u t i n e " . I t c o n s i s t s o f l i n k i n g i n d i v i d u a l t r i c k s by a f e w w o rd s , a hum orous a c t i o n , r e p e t i t i o n c f some t r i c k , c r some o t h e r d e v i c e .

Type two i s t h e " N a tu r a l R o u t i n e " . One t r i c k f lo w s i n t o a n o t h e r b y u s i n g t h e p r o d u c t o f t h e f i r s t i n t h e s e c o n d , and so on .

Type t h r e e i s t h e " S p e c i a l i t y R o u t i n e " w here t h e p e r f o r m e r u s e s o n e t y p e o f o b j e c t s o n l y .

Type f o u r i s t h e " S to r y R o u t i n e " w here m ag ic becomes s e c o n d a r y and i s u s e d t o i l l u s t r a t e a s t o r y . "The W icked U n c le " i s an exam ple o f t h i s t y p e y e t t h e m ag ic s i d e o f i t com b ines f e a t u r e so f t y p e s two and t h r e e .

1 . S in g le L in k R o u t i n e :I t can be l i k e n e d to t h e l i n k s o f a c h a i n ,

made up o f a l t e r n a t e l a r g e and s m a l l l i n k s .Each l a r g e l i n k r e p r e s e n t s a t r i c k . The o b j e c t i s t o p r o v id e t h e s m a l l e r l i n k s to j o i n t h e l a r g e l i n k s t o g e t h e r . Som etim es i t i s p o s s i b l e f o r two s m a l l c o i n c i d i n g l i n k s t o j o i n two l a r g e o n e s .

The m a g i c ia n who d o e s n o t d e l i b e r a t e l y s e t o u t t o r o u t i n e h i s a c t u s u a l l y u n c o n s c i o u s l y a d o p t s t h i s t y p e i n i t s e l e m e n t a r y fo rm . The p e r f o r m e r who d o es o n e t r i c k , p i c k s up o t h e r a p p a r a t u s and d o e s a n o t h e r t r i c k , and so o n , g e n e r a l l y s a y s b e f o r e e a c h new t r i c k : "F o r my n e x t t r i c k , e t c . " . Now' a c t u a l l y t h o s e w ords

15

p r o v i d e t h e l i n k b e tw e e n t h e two t r i c k s , and so a v e r y c r u d e fo rm o f r o u t i n e i s e v o lv e d .

Now t o a p p ly t h e p r i n c i p l e s i n q u e s t i o n fo rm . I s t h e p e r f o r m e r g e t t i n g t h e m o s t o u t o f t h e l i n k ? Can i t be made m ore e n t e r t a i n i n g ?

To e n t e r t a i n , p a t t e r h a s b u t one d e v i c e . T h a t i s t o make t h e a u d ie n c e l a u g h . On t h e o t h e r h a n d , m ag ic c a n a p p e a l t o t h e eye by t h e c o l o r o f t h e o b j e c t s u s e d , i t c an m y s t i f y , am use, s u r p r i s e , e t c . I t s e n t e r t a i n i n g d e v i c e s a r e many. The a u t h o r w i l l t o u c h t h i s a s p e c t l a t e r .

S o , t h e o n l y way t o im prove " f o r my n e x t t r i c k , e t c . " i s t o make i t am use. I f t h e w ord " s w in d le " i s s u b s t i t u t e d f o r " t r i c k " t h e l i n k becomes " f o r my n e x t s w i n d le " . T h is f r a n k c o n f e s s i o n d o e s amuse t h e a u d i e n c e .

I t i s o b v io u s t h a t i f r e p e a t e d , h o w e v e r , t h e l i n k w ould f a i l t o r a i s e a l a u g h . I t s u s e i s l i m i t e d t o o n c e o n l y i n a r o u t i n e . To l i n k o t h e r t r i c k s some d i f f e r e n t p a t t e r l i n k would t h e r e f o r e be n e c e s s a r y . On t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e p e r f o r m e r c o u ld c o v e r t h e " b r e a k " b e tw e e n one t r i c k and a n o t h e r by on i n t e r l u d e s u c h a s p u l l i n g a r u b b e r b a n a n a w i t h a z ip p e r on i t f rom h i s p o c k e t , z i p p i n g i t o p e n and t a k i n g a b i t e f rom a r e a l p e e l e d b a n a n a i n s i d e , z i p p i n g i t c l o s e d a g a in and r e t u r n i n g i t t o t h e p o c k e t b e f o r e d o in g t h e n e x t t r i c k . "When t h a t t r i c k was f i n i s h e d , t h e gag -would be r e p e a t e d , and so o n . A n o th e r su ch gag i s t o have a num ber o f v a r i o u s c o l o r e d h a n d k e r c h i e f s i n t h e f r o n t b r e a s t p o c k e t , f o l d e d i n t h e same manner a s c i g a r e t t e p a p e r s i n a p a c k e t . A f t e r a t r i c k , t h e t o p one i s p u l l e d o u t , t h e brow m opped, and

16

t h e s i l k i s p l a c e d i n a n o t h e r p o c k e t . The n e x t t im e t h e same a c t i o n s a r e c a r r i e d o u t , b u t t h e h a n d k e r c h i e f i s o f a d i f f e r e n t c o l o r .

A g a in , a t r i c k c o u ld b e r e p e a t e d i n s t e a d o f a g ag . H av ing f i n i s h e d one t r i c k t h e p e r f o r m e r c o u ld s t e a l a b a l l o r lemon fro m a h o l d e r u n d e r t h e c o a t , go t o p e r f o r m h i s n e x t t r i c k and s u d d e n ly f i n d h e was h o l d i n g a b a l l , o r lem on . T h i s w ou ld t h e n be d ro p p ed i n t o t h e v e s t p o c k e t w h ich had been f a k e d so t h a t t h e b o t to m o f i t e x te n d e d i n t h e fo rm o f a t u b e down t o t h e h o l d e r . Thus t h e b a l l w ould be r e t u r n e d t o t h e h o l d e r f o r r e p r o d u c t i o n i n a s i m i l a r m an n e r b e f o r e t h e f o l l o w i n g t r i c k . O r , a f t e r e a c h t r i c k had been c o m p le te d t h e m a g ic ia n c o u ld p i c k up a L o ta Bowl and em pty i t s c o n t e n t s i n t o a b a s i n o r p a i l .

A L o ta Bowl i s an op aq u e j a r g e n e r a l l y made o f m e t a l , b u i l t on t h e same p r i n c i p l e a s t h e V n s p i l l a b l e " i n k w e l l s i n w h ic h a f a l s e i n s i d e r e a c h e s a lm o s t t o t h e b o t to m . When t u r n e d u p s i d e down t h e o n l y l i q u i d i n them t h a t c a n f l o w o u t i s t h a t on t h e i n s i d e o f t h e f a l s e l i n i n g , t h e o t h e r p o r t i o n o f t h e l i q u i d b e i n g t r a p p e d be tw e en t h e l i n i n g and o u t s i d e .

A c t u a l l y t h e f i r s t t im e t h e l i q u i d i s p o u re d o u t t h e r e i s no m y s t e r y . I t i s o n l y on t h e r e p e t i t i o n t h a t t h e m agic i s a p p a r e n t . To some, t h e f i r s t l i n k may seem w eak , b u t i n f a c t , i t e n t e r t a i n s b y s u s p e n s e . The a u d ie n c e a s k s i t s e l f : "Why d i d he do t h a t ? " . S u s p e n s e , c a r e f u l l y h a n d l e d , a lw a y s e n h a n c e s m a g ic .

R u n n in g c o n c u r r e n t l y w i t h a m ag ic l i n k t h e r e can a l s o b e a p a t t e r l i n k . By t h i s m eans t h e

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e n t e r t a i n m e n t v a l u e o f t h e l i n k ( r e a l l y two l i n k s ) i s h e i g h t e n e d . T h i s p r i n c i p l e i s o b v i o u s . The m ore t h e c o i n c i d i n g l i n k s , t h e g r e a t e r t h e e n t e r t a i n m e n t p r o v id e d t h a t t h e m u l t i p l i c i t y d o e s n o t c a u s e one l i n k t o b l u r r t h e c r i s p n e s s o f t h e o t h e r c o i n c i d i n g l i n k s . Remember " to o many c o o k s s p o i l t h e b r o t h " . I f o n e l i n k i s s t r o n g enough t o g i v e 100 p e r c e n t e n t e r t a i n m e n t t h e n t h e a d d i t i o n o f even one o t h e r l i n k may be s u p e r f l u o u s and may be a d e t r a c t i o n *

I f t h e s u p e r im p o s e d p a t t e r l i n k r e f e r s t o t h e o b j e c t u s e d , t h e r e i s l e s s l i k e l i h o o d o f t h e p a t t e r b l u r r i n g t h e c l e a r n e s s o f t h e t r i c k o r gag "worked. Y e t t h e p a t t e r n e e d n o t r e l a t e to t h e t r i c k , m o reso when i t i s n o t n e c e s s a r y , o r n o t d e s i r e d , t h a t t h e a u d ie n c e f o l l o w t h e p e r f o r m e r ' s m ovem ents t h e l a t t e r b e i n g a c a s e o f m i s d i r e c t i o n *

F o r i n s t a n c e , d u r in g t h e t o r n and r e s t o r e dn e w s p a p e r t r i c k , i f t h e c o n t i n u a l t e a r i n g w eren o t r e l i e v e d by t h e spoken w o rd , i t w ould t e n d t o become m o n o to n o u s . Of c o u r s e , t h e r e a r e m a g i c i a n s w i t h enough p a n to m im ic a b i l i t y t o do t h i s t r i c k 100 p e r c e n t e n t e r t a i n i n g l y w i t h o u t s p e a k in g b u t t h a t i s t h e e x c e p t i o n a l c a s e r a t h e r t h a n t h e r u l e .

O n ly a c a s u a l g l a n c e i s n e c e s s a r y b y t h e a u d ie n c e d u r in g t h e t e a r i n g t o o b s e r v e t h a t t h e p a p e r i s b e in g a c t u a l l y t o r n and t h e p e r f o r m e r can add p r o o f a t t h e end o f t h e t e a r i n g by showin g a few s e p a r a t e t o m p i e c e s . S o , t h e m a g i c i a n c a n p a t t e r a b o u t p a s t d i le m m a s , t h et im e he w e n t t o t h e z o o , r e c i t e , o r r e a d ( ? )some i t e m o f an e n t e r t a i n i n g n a t u r e f ro m t h e

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p a p e r h e i s t e a r i n g .

To r e t u r n t o t h e p o i n t a p a t t e r l i n k t o c o i n c i d e w i t h t h e L o ta Bowl l i n k . As t h e w a t e r i s p o u re d o u t t h e p e r f o r m e r c o u ld rem a rk : "Been s o u p , ( p a u s e ) D o n ' t know w ha t y o u d c a l l i t now".

T h is p a t t e r gag a l s o c o u ld n o t be r e p e a t e d o r i t w ou ld f a l l f l a t . The n e x t t im e t h e p e r f o r m e r c o u l d make a n o t h e r jo k e a b o u t t h e w a t e r : " I w onder w h a t t h i s t a s t e s l i k e " . Or he c o u ld r e f e r t o t h e bov-rl i t s e l f . T h e re i s t h e t im e -w o rn s t a n d b y : " T h is v a s e b e lo n g e d t o t h a tfam ous C h in e s e m a g i c i a n , Hung One. H is b r o t h e r was hung t o o " .

A t a l l e v e n t s , i n l o c a t i n g p a t t e r l i n e s , b o o k s o n j o k e s , p a t t e r , ' t i p s , and g a g s s r e i n v a l u a b l e . Make a h a b i t o f e v e ry t im o y o u s e e a j o k e t h a t m ig h t b e a d a p t a b l e t o y o u r m a g i c , c u t i t o u t and f i l e i t away. When you s e e n good i d e a i n a m a g ic a l m a g a z in e , n a r k i t w i t h a p e n c i l , and i f d e s i r e d , i n d e x i t .

P a t t e r s h o u ld b e c r i s p and c l e a r . I f t h e d i c t i o n o f t h e p e r f o r m e r i s n o t a b l e t o b9 u n d e r s t o o d , he s h o u ld e i t h e r t a k e e l o c u t i o n l e s s o n s o r n o t sp e a k a t a l l . S i l e n t a c t s can be m o s t e f f e c t i v e ( th o u g h m ore d i f f i c u l t t o " p u t o v e r " ) w h e re a s bad s p e a k in g can r u i n an o t h e r w is e p e r f e c t r o u t i n e . Slow s p e a k i n g adds t o t h e c l e a r n e s s o f d i c t i o n . P r o n u n c i a t i o n s h o u ld be c o r r e c t a d i c t i o n a r y w i l l s e t t h e p e r f o r m e r r i g h t and i n a d d i t i o n i t s h o u ld n o t be s l o v e n l y . A d ro p p e d a s p i r a t e o r s l u r r e d e n d in g i s b a d . I t i s s u r p r i s i n g how many s a y "gene lm n" f o r " g e n t l e m e n " .

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L o c a l r e f e r e n c e s a lw a y s r a i s e a l a u g h when t h e y a p p ly t o w e l l known p l a c e s , p e r s o n s , o r g o o d s . A few p r e l i m i n a r y i n q u i r i e s b e f o r e h i s show commences w i l l e n a b le t h e m a g ic ia n t o a l t e r l o c a l i z e d p a t t e r .

Types o f a u d ie n c e s g o v e rn p a t t e r t o some e x t e n t . B road r e f e r e n c e s "would n o t be s u i t a b l e f o r Sunday s c h o o l p i c n i c s , b u t s a l t y r e m a rk s a r e a p p r e c i a t e d a t smokos and s t a g p a r t i e s . M o d e ra t io n s h o u ld be t h e k e y n o te a lw a y s . A p e r f o r m e r who g o e s o v e r t h e bo u n d s o f d e c e n c y i s t r e a d i n g on s l i p p e r y g ro u n d . W h ile r o a r s o f l a u g h t e r may g r e e t h im a t t h e t i m e , some may be o f f e n d e d . O t h e r s , m e d i t a t i n g a f t e r w a r d s , may t h i n k l e s s o f such a p e r f o r m e r t h a n t h e y d i d a t t h e t i m e . F u t u r e e n g a g e m e n ts may be e n d a n g e r e d .

C o n t r a v o c i a l , r e l i g i o u s , p o l i t i c a l , and o t h e r su ch s u b j e c t s s h o u ld n o t b e r e f e r r e d t o . Even " m a - in - la w " j o k e s a r e a d u b io u s a d d i t i o n t o t h e p a t t e r o f a n y m a g ic ia n p e r f o r m i n g b e f o r e a m ixed a u d i e n c e m o s t m o th e r s become m o t h e r s - i n - l a w .

I n w r i t i n g down p a t t e r , t h e p e r f o r m e r v,t>uld do w e l l t o m a rk b r e a k s f o r t h e c o r r e c t d i c t i o n a s i n " The W icked U n c l e " .

To g e t b a c k t o r o u t i n i n g . One t r i c k may b e l i n k e d t o a n o t h e r b y t a k i n g an o b j e c t o r p r o d u c t o f t h e p r o c e e d i n g t r i c k , a n d u s i n g i t I n t h e n e x t t r i c k . T h i s b r i n g s t h e r e a d e r t o t h e t y p e tuto r o u t i n e .

2 . N a t u r a l R o u t i n e :T h i s r o u t i n e c a n bo l i k e n e d t o w a t e r o v e r

f l o w i n g fyom one v e s s e l t o a n o t h e r b e n e a t h i t ,

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w h ic h i n t u r n o v e r f l o w s t o one b e n e a t h i t , and so o n . One t r i c k n a t u r a l l y f l o w s i n t o t h e o t h e r . I n f o rm in g t h e r o u t i n e i t i s e a s i e r t o w ork b a c k w a rd s .

The p e r f o r m e r s e l e c t s h i s f i n a l t r i c k , w h ic h m u s t b e t h e a b s o l u t e c l im a x o f t h e r o u t i n e a s o u t s t a n d i n g , b r e a t h t a k i n g , and m y s t i f y i n g a s p o s s i b l e . F o r a s im p le e x a m p le , we w i l l a n a ly s e a r o u t i n e p r e s e n t e d by H a r ry J o b o f t h e F iv e Demons.

The r o u t i n e c o n c lu d e s w i t h t h e m u l t i p l y i n g b i l l i a r d b a l l s . To commence t h i s t r i c k , one b a l l i s n e e d e d . T h i s i n i t i a l b a l l can be p ro d u c e d b y s l e i g h t * o f - h a n d b u t i f t h i s w e re d o n e , t h e r e w o u ld bo no p r e c e e d i n g r o u t i n e . A g l a n c e t h r o u g h a d e a l e r * s c a t a l o g u e w i l l r e v e a l a t r i c k i n r . 'h ich a h a n d k e r c h i e f c h a n g e s t o a b i l l i a r d b a l l . T h a t s e t t l e s t h o q u e s t i o n o f t h o i n i t i a l b a l l b u t w h a t a b o u t t h e h a n d k e r c h i e f ? One c o u ld be o b t a i n e d , a c c o r d i n g t o c a t a l o g u e s , f ro m a m i n i a t u r e t a m b o u r in e , cone o f p a p e r , a t t h e t i p o f a w and , f rom a g h o s t t u b o o r s i m i l a r a p p a r a t u s , o r p lu c k e d fro m t h e a i r w i t h t h e a i d o f a f l e s h c o l o r e d f a k e . A h a n d k e r c h i e f c a n a l s o be p ro d u c e d b y p u re s l e i g h t - o f - h a n d . Mr. J o b , h o w e v e r , t a k e s o n e f rom a m a tc h b o x . T h i s m a tc h b o x a p p e a r s i n h i s hand i n p l a c e o f a p l a y i n g c a r d . Thus h i s r o u t i n e commences iv i th a c a r d w h ic h c h a n g e s t o a m a tc h b o x f ro m w h ic h i s t a k e n a h a n d k e r c h i e f w h ic h t u r n s i n t o a b i l l i a r d b a l l w h ic h m u l t i p l i e s t o t w o , t h e n t h r e e , t h e n f o u r . N o t i c e t h o n a t u r a l f lo w ?

The a r t i c l e s u s e d i n t h e f o r e g o i n g r o u t i n e a r e o f a m ixed n a t u r e . The p e r f o r m e r may d e s i r e t o w ork w i t h o n l y o n e t y p e o f a r t i c l e . He t h e n

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enters type three routine.

3 . S p e c i a l i t y R o u t in e :T h e re i s l i t t l e d i f f e r e n c e be tw een t h e f o r

m a t io n o f t h i s t y p e o f r o u t i n e and t h e p r o c e e d i n g t y p e . A c t u a l l y , a p u r e r o u t i n e o f t h i s t y p e i s r a r e . E x t r a n e o u s o b j e c t s a r e n e a r l y a lw ay s n e c e s s a r y t o c a r r y o u t some t r i c k s .

Of c o u r s e t h e p e r f o r m e r may d e c i d e t o make h i s s p e c i a l i t y m a n i p u l a t i o n . The o b j e c t s a r e t h e n v a r i e d b u t a t t h e same t im e c o n f i n e d i n s i z e u s u a l l y c a r d s , b a l l s y e g g s , c o i n s , t h i m b l e s , c i g a r e t t e s , and su ch l i k e . By m a n i p u l a t i n g on e ty p e o f a r t i c l e o n l y , s a y c i g a r e t t e s , t h e p e r f o r m e r w ould h a v e a p u r e s p e c i a l i t y r o u t i n e .

M y s t i c u s , o n e o f t h e T h re e W ise Men, had a ng l a s s a c t " , i n w h ic h t h e t r i c k s f e a t u r e d w ere o f g l a s s o r c o n c e rn e d g l a s s . H is e f f e c t s i n c lu d e d t h e s p i r i t d i a l , g l a s s p e n e t r a t i o n , g l a s s t h r o u g h h a t , e t c . O t h e r m a g i c i a n s h a v e V/atch a c t s , c a r d a c t s , r o p e a c t s , m e n ta l a c t s , s i l k a c t s , c a n d l e a c t s , and so o n . Mr. C e c i l E. Cook, o f t h e K n ig h t s o f M a g ic , h a s a s p e c i a l i t y r o u t i n e w i t h g i a n t c a r d s . A l th o u g h i t c o m p r i s e s o f o n l y t h r e e t r i c k s , w i t h p a t t e r , i t r u n s f o r 12 m i n u t e s . The o n l y a p p a r a t u s c o n s i s t s o f a num ber o f g i a n t c a r d s , and a g i a n t c a r d s t a n d . A f l a p i n e a c h c o m p a r tm e n t o f t h e s t a n d c o n c e a l s c a r d s n e c e s s a r y t o c a r r y o u t t h e t h r e e e f f e c t s .

Mr. Cook o p e n s w i t h t h e f o u r a c e t r i c k , u s i n g t h e f a k e d c a r d m eth o d . Of c o u r s e t h e f l a p i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e f o u r a c e s a p p e a r i n g i n t h e s e l e c t e d com par tm en t o f t h e c a r d s t a n d . The

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t r i c k o v e r , t h e c a r d s a r e g a t h e r e d up and f i v e c a r d s d e a l t i n t o e a ch c o m p a r tm e n t . B eh ind e a c h s e t o f c a r d s s t a g e money i s p l a c e d , b u t when t h e c a r d s a r e r e v e a l e d , i t i s fo u n d t h e Mr. Cook h o ld s t h e r o y a l r o u t i n e f l u s h and t h a t t h e money h a s l e f t t h e o t h e r c o m p a r tm e n ts and t r a v e l l e d t o be found b e h in d h i s c a r d s . F i n a l l y a v e r s i o n o f "F ind t h e l a d y " i s p r e s e n t e d .

And now t h e r e a d e r v d . l l be shown t h e f u n d i m e n ta l way o f b u i l d i n g a " s i l k a c t " , s t e p by s t e p . The exam ple w i l l o n l y go a s f a r a s d r a f t in g a ro u g h o u t l i n e .

What i s a showy, e f f e c t i v e , s u i t a b l e f i n i s h in g t r i c k ? A f t e r c o n s u l t i n g t h e c a t a l o g u e s and o t h e r r e f e r e n c e s we f i n d t h a t "B len d o " can f u l f i l t h e n e e d . In t h i s t r i c k t h r e e s i l k s k n o t t e d t o g e t h e r c hange i n t o one l a r g e s i l k o r f l a g .

To commence t h e t r i c k t h e r e f o r e , t h e p e r f o r m e r m u s t have t h r e e s i l k s , one o f w h ic h i s p r e p a r e d . What c a n be done w i t h t h e s e s i l k s ? The p r e p a r e d one o b v i o u s l y n e e d s c a r e f u l h a n d l i n g so f o r t h e moment we 71111 p l a c e i t a s i d e . T h a t l e a v e s tv;o s i l k s . N a t u r a l l y t h e m o s t m a g ic a l t h i n g t o do i s t o p ro d u c e th em . At t h i s s t a g e r e f e r e n c e s a r e a g a i n c o n s u l t e d and a l l p o s s i b l e s i l k t r i c k s , and t r i c k s a d a p t a b l e t o s i l k s , a r e l o c a t e d and m e n t a l l y n o t e d .

The p e r f o r m e r c o u ld p r o d u c e t h e f i r s t s i l k f ro m t h e bend o f t h e e lbow , and t h e se c o n d b y p u l l i n g i t t h r o u g h t h e v e s t b u t t o n h o l e u n d e r c o v e r o f t h e f i r s t . Both a r e o l d m eth o d s b u t i t s h o u ld b e rem em bered t h a t i n a r o u t i n e d a c t i t i s t h e e f f e c t a s a w ho le t h a t m a t t e r s , n o t i n d i v i d u a l t r i c k s .

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A g a in , t h e s i l k s c o u ld b e p ro d u c e d fromb e tw e en two p l a t e s b u t i f so i t m eans t h a t a n o n - s i l k a r t i c l e i s i n t r o d u c e d * S t i l l ,e x t r a n e o u s a r t i c l e s add v a r i e t y and p r e v e n t m o n o tony . I f t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h e p l a t e s c a n bed i s p e n s e d w i t h w i t h a b r i e f n e s s t h a t w i l l n o to b s c u r e t h e s i l k th e m e , so much t h e b e t t e r . B u t how come t h e p l a t e s

I f h e ld i n a " T o p p i t V a n i s h e r " , w h ic h i s a p o c k e t be tw een t h e p e r f o r m e r ' s v e s t and c o a t , t h e p l a t e s can be p ro d u ce d u n d e r c o v e r o f a f o u l a r d . What o f t h e f o u l a r d ? We can v a n i s h a s i l k b y m eans o f a p a p e r c o n e made f ro m a d o u b le s h e e t o f p a p e r . R e v e r s e t h e p r o c e d u r e and we can p ro d u c e t h e s i l k f o u l a r d , b u t a t t h e same t im e we i n t r o d u c e a p i e c e o f p a p e r .

I t so h a p p e n s t h a t t h e r e i s a way o f p r o d u c i n g a s i l k f ro m u n d e r a p l a t e by l o a d i n g f ro m a p o c k e t i n a s h e e t o f n e w s p a p e r . So by f i r s t m ak ing a d o u b le s h e e t o f n e w s p a p e r w i t h a s i l k f o u l a r d be tw een t h e s h e e t s , and th a n p a s t i n g on t h e d o u b le s h e e t a p o c k e t f rom w h ic h t h e s i l k t o b e p ro d u c e d f ro m u n d e r t h e p l a t e i s c o n c e a l e d , t h e n e w sp a p e r s e r v e s a d u a l p u r p o s e . The p e r f o r m e r a t t h i s s t a g e i s f a c e d w i t h t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f t h e p i e c e o f n e w s p a p e r and w h a t t o do w i t h t h e f o u l a r d o n c e t h e p l a t e s a r e p r o d u c e d .

By c a r e f u l a d j u s t m e n t s o f s i z e , t h e s i l k p r o d u c e d f ro m t h e p a p e r cone c o u ld b e j u s t l a r g e enough t o g i v e s u f f i c i e n t c o v e r f o r t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f a sm a l l p l a t e , and a t t h e same t im e b e s m a l l enough f o r " B le n d o " . T h a t c o n s e q u e n t l y l e a v e s o n l y o n e s i l k t o be p ro d u c e d from u n d e r t h e p l a t e . The o n l y

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a p p a r a t u s u n a c c o u n te d f o r i s t h e n e w s p a p e r .

I t i s p e r f e c t l y n a t u r a l f o r a p e r s o n to c a r r y a n e w s p a p e r and so t h e r e i s no n e e d t o p r o d u c e i t . The p l a t e s n o t b e in g i n harm ony w i t h s i l k s , s h o u ld b e d i s p o s e d o f a s soon a s p o s s i b l e . They c o u ld be m e r e ly l a i d a s i d e o r r e p l a c e d i n t h e s u i t c a s e i f t h e p e r f o r m e r w ere w o rk in g f ro m o n e . Some i d e a s d o n ' t w ork o u t i n p r a c t i c e . F o r i n s t a n c e , t h e m a g i c ia n m ig h t c o n s i d e r u s i n g p l a t e s made o f e d i b l e m a t e r i a l and g e t t i n g r i d o f them by e a t i n g them . To f i n d some s u b s t a n c e f ro m w h ich t h e p l a t e s c o u ld be made w ould b e t h e d i f f i c u l t y w h ic h w ou ld v e to t h e i d e a .

T h e re s t i l l r e m a in s t h e p r e p a r e d s i l k t o be o b t a i n e d . The d i f f i c u l t y w i t h t h i s s i l k i s t o s t o p t h e l o a d b e h in d i t f ro m s w in g in g i n t o v ie w . By l e t t i n g t h e s i l k f o l d a ro u n d t h e l o a d a s i t d o e s n a t u r a l l y when h e l d s t i l l , and t h e n h o l d i n g t h e f o l d i n p l a c e w i t h a p i n , t h e s i l k fo rm s a p o c k e t w i t h t h e l o a d i n s i d e . I n t h i s s t a t e , t h e s i l k can be h a n d le d w i t h f re e d o m . The p e r f o r m e r c o u ld m e r e l y t a k e t h i s s i l k f ro m h i s i n s i d e c o a t p o c k e t , r e m a rk in g : "They s a yt h a t two a r e company ( sh o w in g t h e two p r o d u c e d s i l k s ) b u t I l i k e a c ro w d " . O r , b y h a v in g t h e f i r s t two s i l k s r e d and vrh i t e and t h e f a k e d one b l u e , t h e p e r f o r m e r c o u ld s a y : "Where t h e r e i s r e d and w h i t e t h e r e m u s t b e b l u e " w i t h a p t m u s ic t h e n com ing i n .

A t t h i s s t a g e , t h e m a g ic ia n h a s d r a f t e d o u t a ro u g h i d e a o f a r o u t i n e . H ere i t i s : -

P e r f o r m e r e n t e r s w i t h a s h e e t o f n e w s p a p e r w h ic h he q u i c k l y fo rm s i n t o a c o n e and e x t r a c t s

25

f r c m i t a r e d s i l k . L a y in g t h e p a p e r dorm o n a o h a i r he th ro w s t h e s i l k a lo n g h i s arm and r e a c h i n g u n d e r n e a t h i t b r i n g s f o r t h two s m a l l p l a t e s w h ic h a r e shown on b o t h s i d e s and l a i d on t h e s h e e t o f n e w s p a p e r . The s i l k i s t h e n hung o v e r t h e arm a t t h e e lb o w and t h e p l a t e s l i f t e d and p l a c e d t o g e t h e r . 'When s e p a r a t e d , a w h i t e s i l k i s s e e n be tw een th em . The p l a t e s a r e l a i d a s i d e and t h e s i l k s h e l d up t o f u l l v i e w o f t h e a u d ie n c e . R em ark ing t h a t w here t h e r e i s t h e r e d and w h i t e t h e r e m u s t b e t h e b l u e , t h e p e r f o r m e r rem oves t h e b l u e s i l k from h i s p o c k e t . The t h r e e s i l k s a r e t i e d t o g e t h e r and im m e d ia te ly t r a n s f o r m i n t o t h e n a t i o n a l f l a g . So much f o r t h e t h e o r y .

The r o u t i n e s h o u ld now b e t r i e d o u t f o r t h e o r y som etim es b r e a k s dovm i n p r a c t i c e . I n a d d i t i o n * t h e p e r f o r m e r g e t s an a p p r o x im a t io n o f t h e r u n n in g t i m e . I f a l o n g e r r u n n in g t im e i s d e s i r e d e f f e c t s w h ich do n o t i n t e r r u p t t h e n a t u r a l f lo w o f t h e r o u t i n e a r e ad d ed . I n t h i s i n s t a n c e t h e r e a r e num erous l i t t l e p a s s e s w i t h s i l k s d i s s o l v i n g k n o t s , d a n c in g s i l k , s e r p e n t s i l k , e t c . w h ic h c o u ld be i n t e r p o s e d v/hen one o r b o t h s i l k s w ere p ro d u c e d .

The p e r f o r m e r s h o u ld n e v e r h e s i t a t e t o b u i l d u p , p u l l down, and t h e n r e b u i l d h i s r o u t i n e i n an a t t e m p t t o g e t a more e n t e r t a i n i n g a c t . I n t h e end t h e r o u t i n e m ig h t b e e n t i r e l y d i f f e r e n t f ro m t h e f i r s t o n e ro u g h e d o u t . I t m ig h t be m on ths b e f o r e f i n a l i t y i s r e a c h e d . I d e a s o f im p ro v em en ts can come a t a l l t i m e s i n b e d , i n a b a t h , i n a t r a i n , a n y w h e re , a n y t im e and t h e y s h o u ld a l l be j o t t e d down so t h a t t h e y w i l l n o t be f o r g o t t e n .

26

Once t h e g e n e r a l i d e a h a s b e e n d e c id e d o n , t h e f i n a l d e t a i l s h a v e t o be hammered o u t . I f t h e r o u t i n e i s s e l f e x p l a n a t o r y and e a s y t o f o l l o w , t h e p e r f o r m e r m ig h t d e c id e t o d i s p e n s e with p a t t e r . O t h e r w i s e , t h e p e r f o r m e r t h e n s e t s o u t t o b u i l d h i s t a l k i n g p a r t s e r i o u s , hum orous , o r a c o m b in a t io n o f b o t h .

I n g e n e r a l , s e r i o u s p a t t e r d r i v e s home t h e m y s t e r y , w h i l e hum orous p a t t e r g i v e s t h e a u d ie n c e s o m e th in g t o l a u g h a b o u t , a s w e l l a s t h i n k a b o u t . The q u e s t i o n t h e m a g ic ia n h a s t o d e c i d e i s f o r w h ic h t y p e o f p a t t e r c e r t a i n s e c t i o n s o f h i s r o u t i n e a r e b e s t s u i t e d . I n some c a s e s hum orous p a t t e r m ig h t swamp t h e m y s t e r y . On t h e o t h e r hand s e r i o u s p a t t e r m ig h t so h e i g h t e n a t r i c k a s t o b r i n g i t t o t h e z e n i t h o f e n t e r t a i n m e n t b y m y s t e r y a l o n e .

Apply t h e p a t t e r r u l e s and t e s t s s e t o u t . I n some c a s e s t h e p a t t e r may bo m ore i m p o r t a n t t h a n t h e t r i c k s . U nder t h e s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s t h e p e r f o r m e r i s d e a l i n g v d t h t y p e f o u r r o u t i n e .

4 . S t o r y R o u t in e :B r i e f l y , t h e p e r f o r m e r b u i l d s a s t o r y w h ic h

he i l l u s t r a t e s w i t h m a g ic . T h is i s n o t s im p l e . The m ain i d e a o f a s t o r y c a n u s u a l l y b e g a in e d b y t a k i n g some t r i c k and p e r s o n i f y i n g t h e a r t i c l e s . The r u l e s o f d ram a a r e f o l l o w e d . Books on t h e s u b j e c t c a n be o b t a i n e d f ro m l o c a l l i b r a r i e s o r b o o k s t o r e s . At t h e same t i m e , on t h e m ag ic s i d e , t h e p e r f o r m e r s h o u ld n o t l o s e s i g h t o f t h e r u l e s on r o u t i n i n g .

C e r t a i n t r i c k s a r e m ore a d a p t a b l e t o t h i s s t y l e o f r o u t i n i n g t h a n o t h e r s . I l l u s i o n s , i n w h ic h a s s i s t a n t s a r e u s e d , l e n d t h e m s e lv e s

27

e s p e c i a l l y -well t o t h i s f o r a . W ith on e i l l u s i o n c a b i n e t K e l l a r b u i l t an a c t " T h a t W atchman, t h e S a i l o r , and t h e Monkey". C a r t e r p r o v i d e d a c o n t r a s t i n t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f h i s s t r a i g h t - o u t v a n i s h o f f i v e g i r l s "The D i s a p p e a r in g F l a p p e r s " and t h e s h o r t a c t he b u i l t up i n t h e h a n g in g i l l u s i o n " C h e a t in g t h e G a l lo w s " . Dante worked a s u b s t i t u t i o n i l l u s i o n w i t h p l e n t y o f pan tom im ic a c t i n g i n a b a r b e r s shop s e t t i n g .

Of a s i m p l e r n a t u r e , t h e r e i s t h e " T w e n t ie th C e n tu r y S i l k s " , a ro u n d w h ic h a num ber o f s t o r i e s have been b u i l t , i n c l u d i n g t h e a u t h o r ' s cThe W icked U n d o " .

I n p e r s o n i f y i n g t h e a r t i c l e s , t h o a l l u s i o n i s h e i g h t e n e d I f t h e a r t i c l e i s , t o u s e a ivord c o in e d by t h e a u t h o r , " L i f e d " . T h i s means t h e a r t i c l e i s g iv e n a " l i v i n g e x p l a n a t i o n " . F o r i n s t a n c e , i n "The 'Wicked U n c le " an e r g i s i n t r o duced a s t h e v i l l a i n o f t h e a c t and i s " l i f e d " by c a l l i n g i t a "bad e g g " , I t b e in g common t o c a l l r e a l v i l l a i n s "bad e g g s" w h i l e a t t h e same t im e t h e a r t i c l e i t s e l f was an egg . L a t e r when t h e egg c h a n g e s t o a y e l l o w s i l k , t h e s i l k i s l i f e d " by r e f e r r i n g t o t h e v i l l a i n a s " a y e l l o w - l i v e r e d c u r " .

Below i s s e t o u t a b r i e f exam ple o f p u t t i n g t h e " L in k in g R in g s " i n t o a S t o r y R o u t i n e . ML i f e " w o rd s have been u n d e r l i n e d .

S t e p . A c t io n . P a t t e r .

1 . Show e i g h t r i n g s t o "A l i t t l e d o m e s t ic be s e p a r a t e ( ? ) . t r a g e d y w i t h e i g h t

p l a y e r s a l l members o f t h e C hromium D ram a t ic C i r c l e .

28

A ction. P a tte r .

2. Hand o u t f i r s t r i n g f o r e x a m i n a t i o n .

3 . Take k ey r i n g .

4 . Take b a c k f i r s t r i n g and c l a s h a g a i n s t key r i n g .

5. L in k r i n g s .

6 . Take d o u b le s e t and

7 . Hand o u t d o u b le s e t f o r e x a m i n a t i o n .

8. Take s i n g l e and k e y r i n g s and add f r e e s i n g l e r i n g .

9. Take t h e t r i p l e s e t and l i n k .

" T h is i e C i r c e , a s i n g l e m is s . A s o l i d g i r l , b u t h a n d l e h e r c a r e f u l l y .

"She f e l l f o r a man w i t h a h e a r t o f s t e e l .

H i s w ords o f l o v e r a n g t r u e .

"They w ere u n i t e d a t a c h u r c h .

" C i r c e s s i s t e r O va l somewhat j e a l o u s a t b e i n g b e a t e n t o t h e a l t a r was q u i c k l y h i t c h e d t o h e r b o y f r i e n d .

" U n d o u b te d ly t h e p a r s o n knew h i s j o b .A f i r m m a r r i a g e k n o t .

"When C i r c e added t o h e r f a m i l y c i r c l e . O v a l r e f u s e d t o s p e a k t o h e r .

"Oval was n o t c o n t e n t w i t h h e r h u s band a l o n e and a l s o added t o h e r f a m i l y .

29

Action Patter,

1 0 . Take b a c k d o u b le s e t " T h is made C i r c eand l i n k i n c r o s s c r o s s ,f o r m a t i o n .

11 . Form r i n g s i n t o "Y e a rs l a t e r t h e twos h a p e o f sw in g . c h i l d r e n m et o n a

p a r k s w in g .

12 . L in k a l l r i n g s on "And b r o u g h t a b o u t at o Key r i n g . f a m i l y r e u n i o n . 11

FINAL REMARKS.Once t h e r o u t i n e s a r e c o m p le te d t h e r e comes

t h e f i n a l p o l i s h i n g and f i n i s h i n g o f f . D i v e r s i o n s and g a g s m ig h t be added t o r a i s e a l a u g h , t o r e l i e v e t h e t e n s i o n , o r t o p r e v e n t m ono tony . P o s i t i o n s o f t h e t a b l e s and t h e a r t i c l e s a r e s t u d i e d t o g e t t h e g r e a t e s t f a c i l i t y i n h a n d l i n g . The m a g ic ia n * s m ovem ents a r e r e d u c e d t o a minimum. H is d r a m a t i c a c t i o n i s e v o lv e d .

M usic i s a n e c e s s i t y i n a s i l e n t a c t . I n o t h e r a c t s i t ad d s c o n t i n u i t y be tw e en p a t t e r b r e a k s . N o t i c e how i t i s u s e d i n t h e t a l k i e s when t h e r e i s a l e n g t h y b r e a k i n d i a l o g u e .

An i n t r o d u c t o r y p i e c e b e f o r e t h e m a g ic ia n a p p e a r s c a n co n v e y t o t h e a u d ie n c e j u s t w h a t t o e x p e c t . I t c a n c r e a t e a tm o s p h e re . M usic i n a m in o r k e y so u n d s w e l l . I f t h e p e r f o r m e r u s e s t h e same i n t r o d u c t o r y p i e c e i t t a k e s t h e fo rm o f a them e t u n e su c h a s o n e h e a r s a t t h e op en i n g o f "P opeye" c a r t o o n s and L a u r e l and H ardy c o m e d ie s .

30

As a t r i c k w orks t o a c l im a x so can t h e m u s i c a l accom pan im en t. Many o f t h e m odern so n g s can h a v e a f e w b a r s t a k e n t o f i l l i n a t a p p r o p r i a t e t i m e s . I t d o e s n ' t m a t t e r i f t h e t u n e s a r e o l d p r o v id e d t h e y a r e w e l l known. F o r e x a m p le , "Smoke g e t s i n y o u r e y e s " h a s b e e n u s e d by c i g a r e t t e m a n i p u l a t o r s . N u ts would c a l l f o r "Here we go g a t h e r i n g n u t s i n May". F o r d r i n k t r i c k s t h e r e i s a c h o ic e o f " D r in k t o me o n l y w i t h t h i n e e y e s " , " A n o th e r l i t t l e d r i n k w o u ld n t do u s any h a rm and t h e S t e i n S ong" . P r o f e s s i o n a l s s h o u ld w a tc h c o p y r i g h t and p e r f o r m in g r i g h t s .

N a t u r a l l y t h e tem po o f t h e m u s ic m u s t b e s u i t e d t o t h e a c t . W a ltz m u s ic i s m ore a c c e p t a b l e t o m a n i p u l a t i v e w ork . A m u s i c i a n c o u ld a r r a n g e a m u s i c a l s c o r e t c f i t t h e p e r f o r m e r s r o u t i n e .

The m o st s u i t a b l e s t y l e i n w h ich t o s e t o u t a r o u t i n e i s t h a t u s e d above f o r t h e " L in k in g R i n g s " . More co lum ns c o u ld b e added t o c o v e r a s s i s t a n t s a c t i o n and p a t t e r , m u s i c , and s t a g e d i r e c t i o n s . The r o u t i n e i s e a s i l y c o m p i le d i n t h i s f a s h i o n by w r i t i n g o u t t h e d i f f e r e n t co lum ns c o m p le te and t h e n c u t t i n g them i n t o s t e p s and f i n a l l y p a s t i n g them i n t o a b o o k u n d e r c o r r e c t h e a d i n g s .

R u le s a r e made t o b e b r o k e n . Don t b e f r i g h t e n e d t o i g n o r e t h e r u l e s now and t h e n . They m ig h t n o t a lw a y s be p r a c t i c a b l e .

The p e r f o r m e r i s an a r t i s t d e s i g n i n g a r o u t i n e t o h i s own s t y l e . A f i n i s h e d r o u t i n e , l i k e a p i c t u r e , n e e d s l i g h t and s h a d e f o r e m p h a s i s . Gags and d i v e r s i o n s c a n add l i g h t and

31

shade*

T ry t h e c o m p le te d a c t o u t b e f o r e an a u d ie n c e a f t e r a d e q u a t e r e h e r s a l , and h a v e someone t h e r e t o n o t i c e a u d ie n c e r e a c t i o n * On t h o s e n o t e s , d e l e t e f l o p s and b u i l d up t h e good p o i n t s *

Keep i n t o u c h w i t h s t a g e d e v e lo p m e n ts . Go t o v a u d e v i l l e , v i s i t t h e t a l k i e s . N o t i c e t h e s t y l e s o f p r e s e n t a t i o n . Read r e v i e w s o f a c t s , e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e t r a d e p u b l i c a t i o n s . When t h e a u t h o r w r o te t h e m a n u s c r i p t o f t h i s b o o k , f a n c y c o s tu m e s f o r p e r f o r m e r s w ere b e in g r e p l a c e d by t h e " to p h a t , w h i t e t i e , and t a i l s " v o g u e .

A dapt y o u r a c t t o s u i t t h e t i m e s . D u r in g d e p r e s s i o n s o r d i s a s t e r s , when fo o d i s s c a r e , f o r g e t t r i c k s w i t h r i c e , e g g s , and o t h e r e d i b l e s . When p a t r i o t i s m i s a t t h e f r o n t , b r i n g o u t y o u r n a t i o n a l f l a g s , e t c . They w i l l a r o u s e m ore e n th u s i a s m t h a n t h e g r e a t e s t i l l u s i o n s .

Shop windows o f l a r g e d e p a r t m e n t a l s t o r e s g i v e i d e a s on s t a g i n g show s. N o t i c e t h e t r i c k s u s e d t o c e n t r e a t t r a c t i o n on c e r t a i n a r t i c l e s . O b se rv e t h e l a y o u t , d i s p l a y , d r a p i n g o f c u r t a i n s , and p o s i t i o n s o f s p o t l i g h t s .

The a u t h o r t r u s t s t h a t t h e s e s im p le i d e a s w h ic h p r o v e d o f so much a s s i s t a n c e t o h i m s e l f i n b u i l d i n g r o u t i n e s w i l l be o f even g r e a t e r a s s i s t a n c e t o m a g i c i a n s t h e w o r ld o v e r . Go t o w ork now, b r o t h e r m a g i c i a n s , b u i l d y o u r g r e a t e s t a c t s , t h e n s e t t o w ork t o s e l l them and y o u r s e l f to t h e p u b l i c .

The Str.*c I !'T.-v of V*.'.'.;ALMA CONJURING COLLE JTION'

32

4H~

A cclaimed

B y the

C ritics ^ OF BOOK BUY1NG-

Read what reviewers said about "The W icked Uncle," a sophisticated conjuring act that will make you a hit at any entertainment.

G E N II: "Australian M agic Books are relatively rare and when they are as good as The W icked Uncle' they are doubly welcome . . . beginners will welcome the routine, the lady magician finds use for it, and the advanced student admires the way the effect has been built to feature proportions."TO PS: "Contents good . . . workable routine . . . novel patter . . . new twist to the climax."M A G IC IA N M O N T H LY : "Story should hold kiddies' audiences, while apparatus can be purchased or made for a few pence . . . no patter adjustment would be necessary for the man who loves 'story m agic'."SPH IN X : "Material is simple and will interest an audience and should be very helpful to those hunting for an act easy to learn."IN D IA N M A G IC IA N : "Readers will find the difference between knowing a few tricks and making their combination for an act."M A G IC W A N D : "Excellent silk act . . . whole presentation is pleasing if brief magical turn . . . easy to present." L IN K IN G R IN G : "Can be worked anywhere and is so explained that a non-magician could perform it . . . There are plenty who could use it."They all can't be wrong. If your dealer is unable to supply send a dollar note or 4/6 money order to the author, Rex, the A ce Magician, Box 3805T, G .P.O ., Sydney, N.S.W ., Australia, for an auto

graphed copy.

P R O D U C E D B Y P R O F E S S O R G A OS , 9 3 O L I V E R S T R E E T . B E X L E Y . S Y D N E Y . N S-W.