Make Your Magic Meaningful

Building Your Show

To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme. No great and enduring volume can ever be written on the flea, though many there be that have tried it.

-Herman Melville

Are you that guy who does a trick; then does another trick, then another, then digs through his pockets (or case) and finds another and does another? Don’t be that guy. And if you’re saying “for my next trick” in your act, you need to stop now. Let’s change the above quote to fit us, shall we. It only requires that two words be changed. Change both “book” and “volume” to the word “show” and you’ve got it.

To produce a mighty show, you must choose a mighty theme. No great and enduring show can ever be written on the flea, though many there be that have tried it.

Root:

Let’s Remember Our Roots. The Root: Structure, theme, continuity. A mighty theme doesn’t necessarily mean a “complicated” or “big” theme. It could be simple and small. For example, I’ve considered putting together a show that has the basic premise of “I’m going to disprove all of the magic cliches.” The show would then be a group of effects that prove wrong the cliches.

For example, “Don’t repeat a trick” – I would introduce the idea to the audience and explain why people say it, but then I would proceed to disprove the theory by doing a trick that repeats – such as Ambitious Card. Another cliche is that it’s “done with mirrors” or “it went up his sleeve” etc. The show would be structured to use these elements in the theme of the effect or the show.

Currently I’m building a show that has the simple premise that “things aren’t always what they seem.” It starts with some very visual magic to get their attention and it builds with several effects that all fit that theme that things aren’t always what they seem.

Years ago, I used to do a whole card set centered around the theme of “things you didn’t know playing cards could do.” It was a bit more tongue-in-cheek, but it was fun and people enjoyed it. I did an “elevator” trick by Al Leech, The Gun Trick by Ken Krenzel, Mickey Mouse Math by Paul Harris and several others. The idea was that a deck of cards could be an elevator; it could be a gun, a calculator, etc. . . .

How ’bout a poker/gambling themed show. I know that it’s been done before, but how well has it been done. What if the show at a casino style poker table from the old west and you dressed the part of an 1800’s gambler. Throughout the show you might throw in some history and even have actual paraphernalia from the period. You use 1800’s style playing cards, etc., etc.

My father, who showed me my first magic trick ever, used to travel with the carnival. That’s where he met my mother. I’ve been compiling a list of effects for several years that I think would fit the carnival theme and make for a great stage show. Someday, I’ll put it all together. The intent would be to have a biography of sorts about my father. It would be very personal and very much a way to truly connect with my audience.

Branch:

Let’s Build Our Branches. Your Challenge: Create a theme. Build a show with some meaning. Give your magic some meaning. Look at the examples above and be inspired to create your own. What’s unique about you that could be a theme for a magic show? More than ever you must internalize the Roots and Branches closing tag line:

Now go study the classics and go discover your true magical self.