Hi Guys:


Next Friday will be my company's annual dinner. The theme is "Masqueready Night".

I plan to put on a Tuxedo suit and a mask - to play the role of "Masked Magician".

I will be performing strolling magic on the floor - telling them that I am the "Mask Magician" or "Magician for the Night". ^_^

Most likely the people there (including my colleagues) would think that I am merely putting the custume of a typical magician and will not expect that I could do magic. This is where I will fry them by doing something out of their expectation. :!!:

Any ideas on what should I perform?
Please take note that I will be performing strolling magic/table hopping magic; and not stage magic. :rolleyes:

All opinions are welcome!
Thanks! :lol:

You should perform what you are comfortable doing.

if u want to get the mask, u can get some in magic ring. they sell some cool mask...

if u can do tricks that involved the mass then it will be real cool like the one from david blaine where he twist his hand 240 degrees... would be nice..some impromptu magic will be cool as well...

David Acer's Party of Six :) As the name states, it involves 6 people, and it's a mentalism effect.

Hey Zhuanan,

Good on you man...... anyway, I wish you all the best in your performance. ;)

Ok, now comes to the effects, well, I am sorry to say about this and I hope you don't mind because I am try to give my my honest views on this. - Unless you perform magic to us where we gather and this is an informal, I think perform on the floor is alright to us. ;)

Well, perform magic on the floor at a function seems to me is not really professional, but if I were you, I would perform more of stand up magic stuffs. Also, maybe others would like to see your performance also feel that inconveneint as they have to stand up and see you performing on the floor.

Table card magic is quite inconveneint as you know sometimes, the table is fully flooded with drinks, cups, plates or even sometimes the table is very dirty, etc.

So, maybe you can perform some mental magic like reading their minds would really make them enjoy your show, how about 2 card Monte, T&R routines, Transposition card effects, stand-up triumph routines, Sandwich cards effects, coin magic, thumb tip effects, Rubberband magic, etd.

I think all these kind of magic would go down very well to them.

Just my humble views and best wishes,
Andrew

whatever u do, don't wear gloves. hard to perform with gloves.

unless of course u used to it.

yeah good on you zhuanan... im excited for you. surely its gonna be great dressed in a masked magician and performing magic.

Yes, for me i'll do the classic tricks that never fails to impress them. Andrew has recommended some great ones.

i'd add biddle trick, daley show and twisting the aces into the routine as well. Also do ur pinnacle ring and rubberband routine. u do it v well.... practice few times again.. im sure u will blow them away.

if u are comfy with sponge balls... do them.. i think its great.. the one where ends up with lots of mini sponge balls in the spec's hands.

also, u can try to do the gypsy thread. u can use dental floss. a magician in aus performed to me and wow.. it was fantastic.

all the best dude!
Brendan

u'll need a suit with lotsa pockets of u're gonna carry cards, sponge balls, TTs, coins and all the other stuff.

Dunno if your tux has enough.

Or borrow their stuff (which is better) and use stuff found on the table.
dunno about spoonbending, trying to bend hotel silverware is really tough.

one more thing....just a suggestion though..

its not easy to perform in a mask. Its limits your line of sight, and MAY cause u to be clumsy or not notice your angles. You may want to loose the mask. Or practice getting used to it before the actual performance.


go break a leg zhuanan. You'll be great. :D

Hi Guys:


In conjunction with the annual dinner, I have rented the following costumes:


1) Tuxedo cum coat
2) Ribbon
3) Top Hat with feather
4) Silver Belt
5) Pants

at the price of RM80...

Quite a number of people, including Daniel from Magic, told me that the rental is pretty cheap.

With the Coat that I will be wearing, I am really tempted to perform effects such as:

1) Card to Wallet
2) Raven
3) What else??? Aiya....still thinking...


What I will be doing there is table hopping + close up magic.....it would be really fun man....... :!!:

Try all the classic stuff like Crazy man's handcuff, pen thru dollar, TTs, sponge balls (3D multiplying rabbits)...etc
Try asking those who performed walkaround the other night with David Lai....

A simple Raven vanish will floor them all.

yeah raven will work well....

and yes, close up stuff dude.... quite a few has been mentioned :)...

pick the ones u comfy with. Go zhuanan go.... u'll do just fine!

ah... how i wish i can perform together with u.... so nice to dress up in tux and perform.. such a professional feeling :)

Brendan

allthe best...have fun

:huh: raven... cool...love them... but u have to loose your tux and reset up everytime u do it... very troublesome...

Guys:


Thanks a lot for all the feedback.

I am currently drafting a "pockets chart" so as to facilitate the allocation of items into all the 7 pockets that I have (from the coat)... ^_^

Hi Guys:


I am just back from my Company's Annual Dinner.
Overall, there were a lot fun entertaining people there, without them realising that it was me...

There were a few glitches however. Nevertheless, based on my experience in magic, the reaction received overall was pretty encouraging....

I will post more soon... :P

Chuanan,

Glad to hear that :rolleyes:

I'll pass you the things you want very soon. Sorry for delay.

ScMonte

zhuanan not chuanan. Just realize that :D

hey zhuanan,


excellent. post more on your performances ok?

Hi Guys:


Here is an account of what happened last night - during my Company's Annual Dinner

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Before I left, I setup in my pants, shirt, coat, and wrist all the necessary "gadgets", which are namely:


1) 20 rubber bands around my left wrist
2) 6 paper clips in my back (right) pants pocket
3) Silk in my back (left) pants pocket
4) Gaff in my wallet in my front (left) pants pocket for performing CTW
5) 1 normal deck (Blue)
6) 1 normal deck (Red) setup to perform 2CM and Malaysian Magic Fellowship ID trick
7) Stealth pen
8) 2 sharpies (one as backup)
9) 2 D'lites in my silver belt
10) 1 soft TT and 1 hard TT in my right coat pocket
11) 4 small sponge balls in my right coat pocket
12) 1 big and 1 small sponge ball in my left coat pocket
13) 1 deck setup in right inner coat pocket to perform the modified version of Cody Fisher's Impossible Signed Card to Any Wallet
14) A Card wallet containing some cards marked with "Dream Card" for performing no. 13
15) Extra wax in small scissor container for backup (in inner left small pocket in the coat)
16) LeClair Animator setup
17) 4 extra LeClair Animator setup wrapped in small piece of card in a card case as backup - in the event of thread breakage
18) MAsk
19) Top hat with feather

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I reached the hotel, put on my coat, mask, and top hat and walked into the ball room. There were a lot of people, some with mask, some without mask...and here, I was looking for my first "prey"

hey...I saw my colleague Lim - very honest guy...hehe....I approached him and said:

" Hi, I am Raven - specially hired by PwC to provide entertainment for you guys...u guys are from PwC right?"

Then he said:

"Hi....hmm....are u CHH?" (CHH is my real name)".

Not wanting to spoil the atmosphere, I said:

"CHH, who is that? I am Raven...let me show u somthing".

Thereon I started pulling out two sponge balls from his ears...he was quite surprise and started smilling:

"Hey, u are a magician....."

Before I could proceed, another of my colleague - Adrien, interupted and requested Lim to do something else....err....kacao la.....but Adrien did not recoginise me....hehe

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So I had to look for another prey...I walked to a corner and saw a senior manager (Piaw)...alone there.....woo....a great chance perhaps?

I approached him, used the same patter as above, and performed the 3 phase sponge ball routine which I learnt from Ellusionist "Inside Magic"....Piaw just could not stop laughing during the routine...I don't know why, but at least he enjoyed himself....so did I...

I then shook his hand and thanked him

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Then I went into the hall, and saw a table full of woman from typist pool.
I tapped on the head of typist's shoulder (Patricia), used the same patter, and perform the same sponge ball routine as above...

Woo.....again, she could not stopped laughing...other woman sitting beside her also seem to be enjoying themselves....I was pretty satisfied....


I then shook her hand + other typists' hand and thanked them....and walked away...
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I suddently felt like peeing....so I went to the gents and came out....then I saw another collegue - Yao - whom I will be seated with him in the same table....

Same thing - I used similar patter, but this time, I wanted to do something else - and it was 2 Card Monte...

Before I could start, he called his friend:

"Hey, my friend is doing magic, lets come over"

And that friend of him ( a lady) stood at my right hand side.....not a very good angle...if u know 2 Card Monte...u will know why....

As usual, I performed the routine and my routine involved a top change.
Before I executed the top change, I looked at the lady and said something - trying to use that as a form of misdirection...she looked at me and I was thinking....ya this time I am going to succeed....But suddenly the cards got stucked...I could not do the top change...

Oh man....how am I going to change the card? Then suddenly I thought of one way to perform top change where you are fully surrouded by specs....I did that move...no one noticed it.....and there you go....one card has changed...

Yao was quite surprise when he turned over the first card and it has changed...I said then:

"Turn over the second card"

He did the required and that is why he said:

"Waloa....how did you do that?"

I did not say any thing...just shook his hand + that girl's hand, thanked them and walked away....

(Note: For the subsequent performances, I also did the thank you part but to save time, I will not repeat here)....

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I felt really good now....then I approached another Malay guy, from filing department...can't quite remmber his name....did the sponge ball routine for him...
the difference is that there were more specs this time, so I asked them to blow on that Malay guy's fist, and the ball multiplied and multiplied.....

Again, awesome reaction from them....I was really happy....

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Oops....the Dinner was about to start already....I went into the hall again, and seated at my table....then Yao came in, that was where he realised, hey, the masked magician was me....

He asked me to teach him so that he could pick up some girls......hmm.....how could I share the market with him yo....haha......

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So we had some food, and I saw that the time was right....I then performed CMH....I could hear my batchmates (at the same table) saying....

"Woo....look at that!" - when the rubber bands unlinked

Then I performed "Band Thru Wrist"......wonderful reaction again.....however, the best has yet to come.....

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I never imagined in my life I would perform IT related effects - until yesterday.
I received the DVD entitled "Who is afraid of invisible thread" by Jon LeClair on Monday and started playing with it.

All along I was thinking that IT is too delicate, cumbersome, difficult to setup and difficult to perform. LeClair changed my view.

I knew that I would not be able to perform adequeately all the effects taught in the DVD, so I focussed on "Whirling card" and "floating bill".

I did not have much confidence on "Whirling card" because I could not catch it properly, so I further focussed on "floating bill". I practiced "floating bill" for about 10 times at home...paying specific attention on how is the setup, how to do proving, and how to hand the bill to the specs.....

Again, I never expected I would perform "floating bill" even though I practiced it for 10 times at home - which I thought I would only use it as a backup effect....

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Remember Yao? After performing the "Band Thru Wrist" effect, I thought of moving into "steath pen"...I performed and he was really impressed....

And then.....

I took the bill, rubbed it against by coat, saying that this would give some static charge....and here I go....the bill started FLOATING!!!!

Walao....I could hear my batch mates saying:

"Wey...look at that!!!!! Oh Man!!!!!!!!!!!!"

When the effects was done, all my batch mates eyes were buldging.....and they said.....

"You are like David Blaine man...........!!!!!"

I knew that my "floating bill" has since become my signature effect....no doubt about it.....and I only practiced it 10 times at home.....

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I acted like I was a "restaurant magician", and I approached another table (where Piaw was seated), again I performed the same "floating bill" effect....hoo...I can tell you.... the reaction from the table was priceless.....

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I went to another table, saw Lim again, performed stealth pen effect and then "floating dollar bill".....all people sitting at the table went crazy and gave me applause.....

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Remember the Malay guy? (No pun intended....I don't know his name so I just called him Malay guy)

I saw him at one table, went there, and perform the same "floating dollar bill".
Half way through, one guy standing near me started touching the bill....I lightly tapped his hand and told me that that would take my power away....(speaking of audience management...not easy also).....

I finished the act and the people there looked at me like I am an Alien to them....

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I went to another table, and saw Akmal.....I did not want to perform Floasting Bill immediately, so I perform the MMF ID trick....wow, he was really amazed....then I aasked for a bill from him....he did not have it, he then asked from another person....and as usual, I performed the same "floating bill" effect....the reaction was again awesome.....

I think from that day onwards, when they see me, they will think of the guy who levitated the bill....I never did receive such reaction from card trick.....

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So I moved on to another table and saw my colleague "Liew"....we talked and he challenged me to perform magic tricks - since I was wearing a magician's costume....I first denied (purposely), then I took the one dollar bill from him and strarted performing "Floating Dollar Bill".

Before I performed IT effects, I understood that there are important considerations:

1) Wind
2) Light

The hall was pretty dim, and as such, I was hopping from table to table performing "Floating Dollar Bill"....

Back to the story, the bills was floating up, and when I was just about to do the proving, suddently, without any indication, the white light shone from the stage to the table (because of some kind of performance), and my chest was ****** the light....

"Oh My Gosh"....."Sei lor..Sei lor" kept ringing in my mind... cepat cepat I de-leviate the bill...but it was too late, the people at the table told me:

"I saw the ************** already la"....

Err.....I was so sad....why did the light suddenly.......err......geramnya.....
Anyway...I sat down, talked for a while and left....

With hindsight, I might have shifted my position to "another side"....but that would block some people's view if they want to look at the performance....so I think it was my luck....

After I left, I perform ACR for another friend of mine - Kevin....
No more "floating bills" liao......

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The above is the major glitch....after the glitch...I think I lost the motivation to perform "floating bill" in the dinner already....perhaps I would perform in another environment....but at that time the motivation just lost.........

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Once again....I never expect to do "floating bill" effect....it was suppose to be my backup act....but it turned out that I performed it the most....6 times man....

In Summary:

Effect Times Performed
--------- ---------------------
Floating Bill (6)
Sponge Ball (2)
Stealth pen (3)
CMH (1)
Band Thru Wrist (1)
ACR (1)
2 Card Monte (1)
MMF ID Trick (1)


Effects not performed:
------------------------

1) D'lites
2) Incredible Shrinking Rubber Band
3) Travelling Cash
4) Modified version of Impossible Signed Card to any Wallet
5) Whirling Card
6) Design for laughter
7) Triumph
8) Vanishing Silk
9) Linking Paperclips
10) Pinnacle

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I have learnt a lot through this performance.....things like audience management, misdirection....spectators involvement....etc.....

Last but not least, I really enjoy performing magic....You bring joy, astonishment, and sometimes, suspense for them.....

And if you guys have not ventured into IT, do check it out...When Adrien told Yao that I have performed magic in the previous batcmates gathering...Yao said:

"That was nothing, you should see what he performed just now"

And of course, he was referring to "Floating Dollar Bill"....
I highly recommend this effect....but remember to prepare backup IT - I broke my IT twice, once where I was getting into my car (from home), another time was while eating.....Fortunately I prepared 4 sets, so I still have 2 sets unused when I got home......

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I hope u guys enjoy my story.....
Please feel free to give me your comments ya....
I never performed this much...not even at Nouvo.... :lol:

Man you brought a lot of things together with you....How long did you perform??

Hi Monte:


I reached Mandarin Oriental Hotel at about 8 pm, and left at about 12.30 am....
Throughout the 4.5 hours, I performed when I felt that the time was right... ^_^

Other than that, I makan, drink, chatted with colleagues...and watched performance la...wanted to perform more and do other effects, but just could not find room for that ......nonetheless, it was a great night! :D

BRAVO BRAVO!!! * standing ovation*... you probably have perform more than my entire performing career... hahaha...eh... i think 2x more... have to get the practice to top speed, master it and then perform perform perform... :lol:

Congratulations. I am glad that you also had a good time despite being busted on the IT. BTW, love your descriptions :o

Thank you Paul....nobody is perfect, and so is an amateur magician... ^_^

There bound to be times where you need to experience some "unfavourable moments" so that you could learn from the mistakes, or (if it is not due to mistakes) - to take extra precaution when you perform... B)

Honestly speaking, I never thought I would perform IT...hey after the annual dinner, I become really interested in IT liao...looks like I need to consult Baalan and Ning on this area la.... :lol:

Did a show for a church this morning (sunday School, ie for primary and below kids) - had a lot of fun :D but got busted by some on one effect (bad angle) as I decided to be daring and do it really close up. :(

Simple stuff really ...

Did a game with 3 cups and water - the one where you ask the kids to guess which cup had the water ... if they guess right I pour the water on my head and given them a prize.
Then a simple mentalism trick - predicting their selection.
Followed by a prediction and gag with a card selection (just using the Hindu shuffle)
Then the signed card that appears in a balloon gag (from one of Ammar's ETMCM series) - got busted here by a couple of kids but I gave them a quick wink and a shush and they kept quiet - the card flashed but they had no idea how the card got there so that was a consolation. Should have stayed on the stage <_< but the kids seemed a bit too far away.
Then a Bible story / quiz using the thirteen cards - ace to King, where you spell out each card and it appears ...
And ended with a lesson on God's forgiveness versus human forgiveness using flash paper to illustrate. (man, flash paper effects get a very good response) :o

Pretty simple really, nothing fancy and it took longer thanI expected - more than 20 minutes as everyone including adults were having a good time since it was very interactive and I was giving out balloon sculptures for crowd participation (correct answers etc).
Very amatuerish but as my purpose was to entertain and teach, I'm pretty satisfied.

Oh, I set up for IT but it broke :lol:

And ... though I do my magic for free, I got a pleasant surprise - RM 200 as a "love gift". Tempted to use it to buy more magic but I will need it for my academic books :(

paulmagic,

Do you often perform gospel magic? I used to perform quite a number of gospel magic show in churches but now I rarely.

ScMonte

AWESOME! Wow zhuanan, that's really great! :D

I'm sure it would notch up your experience level, and understand the "outs" of busts ;) heheheh. All in all, I raise my hat in respect. Bravo!

I perfrom when requested. Magic is a hobby for me and a way to develop my creativity, and keep me sane :D I do shows mostly for special occassions only and "mission trips". Half entertainement, half "teaching" and where possible, magic is just a small but important part of something I want to illustrate.

hey zhuanan,

well done on your performance, and the way your wrote it, it's very descriptive, I can imagine what's going on, and how were you doing the magic :D

Just quite sad that you busted the floating dollar bill.

Just an opinion, if you do the floating dollar bill before you go home and do it as a last trick, it will be a boost to your reputation , people will keep on talking and talking about it. :D

zhuanan,

tip my hat to u man! bravo.
u continue to inspire me man!

Hats off to you!!great man.Ur crazeee to remember it all.I still can remember the 1st time I performed on the streets.it was just like yesterday.eheh.Yeah,too bz with exams,check ur account on Monday.All the best in upcomin performences.

Hey zhuanan...
Seems like you had quite a huge preparation! Do you think it's neccessary?? coz u have quite a list there of stuff u brought with u....
coz i'll be doing strolling soon and i was just thinking of 2 decks, a few rubber bands, stealth pen, & sponge balls

Hi Guys:


First of all, thank you very much for your feedback...it was my first time performing with such a large crowd...will continue to work on my performance and master the routines that I have...thanks Monte for your advice as well...

Coming back to you eryanic, I have had a short chat with Monte and what we noted was that it was not necessary to bring so many items along as:

1) You may not be performing so many routines/tricks (I brought so many stuffs
with me for backup)

2) You will feel very heavy and it may not be convenient for you to retrieve the items/ execute certain "magical moves" when intended (eg. **l***g and ***h***g)

This is what I think...as for the adequacy of items that you have for purpose of strolling magic...I think that would depend on a couple of factors, such as number of crowd, the demographic of crowd, performance period, etc.

What I would propose is to check with the season performers in MMF, like:

a) David Lai
B) JamesTong
c) Paulmagic
d) Monte
e) Eugie

I think they would give you priceless advice when approached...

Thank you! :lol:

er ... me a seasoned performer? ;) hahaha thanks for the compliment (blush) - I suppose I am but I am not very good at close up. In a way I have pretty thick skin which helps :lol:

What I have learned is to stick with simple stuff and stuff I am comfortable with.

Zhuanan,

Thanks for the compliment.

ScMonte

don't forget IT routines. hehehe.

Something visual would be the best.Especially for table setting and where your spectators are surrounded.Do something like a 240Degree hand turn.Vanishing fingers.Vanishing matches.All take practices but looks amazingly visual and gets great and awesome reactions if dont correctly.Your dinner has pass long ago.But this is just some tips if you're performing on table.Vanishing fingers are by Meir Yedid.You can find vanishing matches in Proffesional close-magic by Michael Skinner along with other amazing effects with the vanishing matches itself.Hope this helps dude :lol: