I just recently had the strangest gig. I had a youth group leader who had some young men who were “believers” of Criss Angel. This may sound harmless at first, and maybe it is. However, the concern that this leader had was that these young men really believed that Criss Angel had real power and could do real “magic.”
If you’re a fan of Criss’s, you’ll note that he himself admits that he has no real power. So this youth group leader hired me to do a show/lecture to prove that Criss Angel does not have real power. Of course, I didn’t want to come across as an Angel-hater, so I structured the show to have three main phases:
- Magic isn’t real
- A mentalist Show
- Brief lecture about magic not being real
Phase 1:
The first phase, “Magic Isn’t Real,” is where I spent a brief amount of time talking about the concept that just as in a movie, there are special tricks and effects used to create a moment, feeling or emotion, etc, so too does magic use similar techniques to create similiar events.
Magic Uses principles like misdirection, psychology, slieght of hand, gimmicks, and lots of practice. So much like when you watch a movie, you suspend your disbelief and pretend that superman can really fly, let’s suspend our disbelief for the next half-hour or so and pretend that magic is real.
This really set the stage for a great show. The audience seemed to be much more interested in experiencing the moment rather than trying to figure out how things were done. I’ve since added this intro to my show. I had a show a week later where I used this same intro. I’ll talk more about that in my next blog entry.
Phase 2:
The show was pretty much my standard show with a few modifications. I tried out a couple of new effects from Sankey’s latest DVD (Hemispheres). Here are some of the effects:
- Lee Earle and Larry Becker’s “Ace Revisited.” – A book test with a dictionary
- John Archer’s Komedy Killer (my own modification of it)
- Finding Your Inner Superhero – An effect I created – basically a prediction of a chosen superhero
I did a few other effect, but they are ones I’m keeping to myself for now. Anyway, I usually do a different book test, but at this gig, I tried the Becker/Earl and it killed. After the show everyone was talking about it.
The Archer thing I’ve been doing for years now, and this show, was the last show I’ll ever do it. I love the effect, but it’s just not playing the way I want it to, so until I can come up with a better presentation, it’s out.
The superhero bit has been a staple in my stand up act forever, and this particular show it played better than it ever has. The reason being is that I worked with a script/presentation consultant to improve the performance.
The Sankey effects that I did played well also. I just wanted to comment on the idea of constantly monitoring your show. This particular gig was a turning point for my show. There are new effects in and old effects out.
Phase 3:
In the final phase, I briefly talked about how many of the things I just did, as imposssible, as they seemed, there was some trick to it. In addition to the practice, I used psychology, slieght of hand, gimmicks, etc. I then spent some time talking about the fact that even Criss Angel himself admits that he has no power. Part of the presentation included an interview with Criss on the Penn and Teller show.
It was a very cool interview. Check out the youtube link above to listen to it if you like. I think you’ll enjoy it.
So the point of all my ranting is that by taking this particular gig, my show was taken to the next level. First of all, I was able to get a new introduction to my show that has now served me well for a couple of shows. Time will tell if it will hold out, but I think it will.
Secondly, I gained a new trick-set that is better than my previous show. I was able to test some new patter that worked well and thus improved my show.
Finally, as much as I’m not really an Angel fan, I gained a new level of respect for him after listening to the interview. So keep on giggin’ and keep on trying new ideas, and constantly improve your show.
Jeff Stone
Reading a book on Houdini and how Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle was adamant he had real powers to effect his escapes.
Seems weird that people would still feel performers they see are using actual magic.
Here via Penguin’s forum, always been interested in magic and thinking of doing a show for the kids, grand kids and their friends, I must be crazy!
Mik
January 6th, 2008
It’s funny. I remember in my early, early years as a performer, I had all of the trick decks: Svengali, Invisible, Stripper, Mene-Tekel, Brainwave, and even a few more.
I was at a party one time, and I brought a small suitcase full of these trick decks. I then proceeded to show somebody a trick with one deck.
Then I put it away and got out the next deck, and so on until I had shown every trick deck. The girl I was showing asked how I did it, and I said, “Magic.”
She said, “Really? Is it something you are born with or how do you get it?”
Maybe she wasn’t all there, but it just seems silly that ANYBODY who witnessed a magician do trick deck after trick deck would believe that it was some sort of power.
Jeff Stone
January 6th, 2008
I think Criss Angel is a demon. Not kidding people, really
Angel
June 18th, 2009
Hey Angel. I’m so glad we caught up with each other. 7 Years without Angel is toooooo long.
Also, too funny that someone named Angel is referring to another “Angel” as a demon. That’s irony. I love it.
Jeff Stone
June 18th, 2009