Editor's Note: Welcome to another
installment from Karrell Fox on GMN. This month's
topic covers the world of emceeing. We've excerpted
wisdom from his "Another Book," printed by Supreme.
Karrell's no stranger to the world of masters
of ceremonies. There's so much material in this
book, we're dividing it into two segments. The
second part runs next month.
****How about a big hand for
... ****
Introduction to the introduction
About 25 years ago, my friend
and manager, Bill O'Halloran remarked, "If you
act as a master of ceremonies on shows as well
as doing your act, I can book you on twice as
many shows." That's all the incentive I needed.
From that day on, I became a "magician of ceremonies."
In addition to working short
magical effects between the acts, I developed
a series of prop introductions which I used to
introduce each act. These "prop intros" have become
a sort of trademark in my M.C. work and have served
to make my work different than the usual "run
of the mill" emcees.
Many of the emcee introductions
are adaptable to tradeshow work. Instead of being
used to introduce a person, they can be used to
introduce various clients' products. Most of them
are easy to make up.
One more thought. I use the same
props over and over for many shows, only the names
changed. I accomplish this by buying a roll of
adding machine paper tape at an office supply
store. It is then a simple matter to cut strips
of this tape to the size of the prop, letter the
names on, using a thick crayon, magic marker,
or better yet, some black showcard paint and a
brush, then scotch tape the strips in place.
This way the prop will last you
for quite a while. Mine last for two years, with
constant use, before they have to be remade.
************ BANNER - BIT ************
The M.C. displays a cloth banner,
black on both sides. He places a handful of paper
dots on it and folds it in half. The banner is
allowed to unfold and the dots spell out the name
of the next act.
Make up a standard Good Night
Banner. For the act's name, get some stick-on
dots at your local office supply store. They can
be stuck on, yet they peel off easily so you can
change the name whenever you wish.
************* NOVA CANE ************
Using the same stick-on dots
mentioned earlier, fix up a 24-inch silk handkerchief
with the act's name on it and load it into your
Russ Walsh Cane to Silk. Say, "Here's an act that's
gonna come out here and really raise cane. Hold
the cane up above your head as you say this. The
cane then changes to the silk as you introduce
the act.
************ HAND OF THE CALIPH
************
Abbott's Magic Co. (Colon, Mich.)
sells a prop called the Hand of the Caliph. Its
usual use is to have five selected playing cards
appear, one at each fingertip. It's a "card-star"
type arrangement and there are five spring clips
that hold the cards and are released at one time,
I've had one of these props for year and have
gotten a lot of mileage out of it. I use Alphabet
Cards. It's amazing how many automobile names
contain only five letters (Dodge, Chevy, Buick,
etc.) therefore it's my standby for most auto
shows. "When you are shopping for a new car, here's
the name to have at your fingertips." Then the
letters appear. For a show, use the act's name.
****WINDSOR/MC ATHY APPLAUSE
CARD***
Tommy Windsor had a clever card
on the market. You hold up a sign, it reads, "Applause
Please." You turn it over and on the back it says,
"Thank You." You then turn it over again and it
says, "Both Of You."
Make up one of these flap cards
(same idea as good night banner mentioned earlier)
side one says, "Introducing." Side two reads,
"The Fantastic" and side three has the name of
the next act. Don't forget, use adding machine
tape so the sign can be re-used.
************ CODE - INTRO ************
M.C. holds up card covered with
letters of the alphabet. "This next act is really
a man of letters, he's talented too. His name
is here in code, but if we eliminate a few of
letters, we end up with Ian Adair."
Just show the sign, then take
your crayon or marker and cross out the unwanted
letters.
************ SIX-FOOT SURPRISE
************
Here's one I've used a lot at
sales meeting to introduce the president of the
company or the main speaker. I walk on with a
small table (or chair) and a top-hat which is
mouth up on the chair or table. "Ladies and gentlemen,
our next act is INSIDE my magic hat. You look
like you don't believe me. Here's I'll show you."
At this point, one of the women in the show or
an audience member walks on to help you. You both
take hold of the corners of a six-foot square
silk and produce it from the hat. With the silk
stretched out fully between the two of you, continue
the intro as follows: "Allow me to introduce,
the colorful personality of Mr. Tom Mullica."
The silk is dropped to the floor
and there stands the person you've introduced.
I'll admit, it's not a great mystery, but it is
a great intro and never fails to get a surprised
gasp and a big hand. Naturally, when the silk
is stretched out, it's done so in front of the
center-split of the house curtain and the speaker
(or act) just sneaks out behind it and waits for
the silk to fall in order to be revealed.
************ PUPPET - INTRO
************
The rabbit-in-hat puppet prop
has always been a good effect. It's just perfect
also for use as an intro. Work your regular routine
first. After the bunny has found the selected
card, you say, "You found the card, now what?"
The bunny signals for you to lean over so he can
whisper in your ear. You say, "That's right, it
is time to introduce the next act, do you know
who it is?" the bunny nods his head, yes, and
brings up a little sign on a stick (use a pencil)
with the act's name printed on it.
************ ROPE - INTRO ************
Professor Charlie Cheer's rope
trick is one of my favorite emcee bits. For the
benefit of those who may not know the effect,
it begins with a piece of rope dangling out of
your left sleeve. You pull on the rope and keep
pulling until you have a pile of about 25 feet
on the floor. At this point, the end gets stuck.
You pull up your left trouser leg and there's
the end of rope. As you pull on this end, all
of the rope goes back up your left sleeve as it's
pulled out of your left trouser leg. You start
the pulling again and the pile of rope goes back
up your left trouser leg and out of your right
trouser leg. As the end finally comes into sight,
a pair of gaudy mens' shorts are fastened tot
he end of it. The effect was marketed by my old
buddy, Harold Martin, and is available from most
dealers.
Now that the plug is over, here
is my adaptation of it to use as an introduction.
That first end of rope we talked about is tied
around my finger. I say that I tied it there to
remind me whom to introduce next. I untie the
end and go through all three phases of the pulling.
At the finish when the final end comes into view,
there's a large cardboard luggage tag fastened
to it. The next act's name is printed on it in
large black letters.
