Magicians in the Philippines know the conventional wisdom of the politically correct about “danger effects”. Any trick with blood, gore, violence and scary stuff are strictly a no-no for kid shows.
Political correctness has crept into all aspects of everyday living, including magic shows. But there are some hold-outs in the industry, who still perform scary tricks now and then, even for children.
Count Leodini as one of them. read more…
One of the valuable lessons I learned from Henry Hay’s classic book The Amateur Magician’s Handbook was the importance of being self contained.
When I go to a birthday party show, I bring everything I need. If I need a glass, I bring it. If I need water, I bring it. I bring all the items I anticipate to use even though I will most likely find them at the performance venue. Force of habit, I think. read more…
Sometimes I don’t understand magicians in the Philippines. There are many kinds. They run the entire gamut of stereotypes.
On one extreme end are the shy and timid magicians. They perform their magic tentatively, almost gingerly: soft voice, slow pace, feeble personality. read more…
As a magician in the Philippines, I also dabble in mentalism. I always include a mentalism act or two in my program when the conditions are right.
What I love about mentalism is the audience interaction. Most mentalism presentations involve audience members onstage. Not surprisingly, the choice of assistants or volunteers to help in the show can make or break a mentalism program. read more…
Over a period, I have written about the subject of patter.
I feel generous today. I’ll write one more of the same.
But before I do, let me refer you to the past articles on patter.
How to Write a Script for Your Patter
Is Your Patter Filled with Jargon?
During Inner Magic Club’s meeting of the Board of Directors last Wednesday, some members rued the proliferation of cheap magic from China. Previously expensive props like multi-colored appearing canes and vanishing bird cages now sell in Divisoria for dirt cheap prices.
The discussion turned into lamentations when someone brought up the news that some party shops buy magic props in bulk. They then train people as magicians and book them at birthday parties. read more…
As a magician in the Philippines performing for family audiences, I’m not exactly your kind of applause guru. Heaven knows the number of times I tried my hardest best to perform well. Yet, many of my performances only harvested the scantiest rounds of applause.
Still, my clueless state of mind on the subject of getting applause does not prevent me from teaching you the ancient secrets of applause-getting techniques. I have divulged these secrets only to select magicians in the Philippines. read more…
One of my pet peeves is similarity in magic.
Many magicians in the Philippines have the same tricks in their respective repertoires. With thousands of tricks available out there, you would think they will choose carefully which ones to include in their program, so that their shows will be different. read more…
As a magician in the Philippines, I’m obsessive-compulsive when it comes to microphones.
My idea of a nightmare show is to have a human mic stand holding the microphone to my face. read more…
As a magician in the Philippines performing for family audiences, I have had my share of flops. Over the years, I have chalked up my baker’s dozen of bombs.
No matter how I spin the instances I bombed, I still couldn’t get over them. They still haunt me today.
I may be harsh on myself. I impose a high standard for performing magic. When I don’t get the number of laughs per minute I expect, the thunderous applause I plan for, and the stunned silence I direly want to envelop the spectators, I go to a corner and mope. I gave myself a tongue lashing. I nurse my hurt ego. read more…
