So you want to have a Big Illusion Show?
So you want to be recognized by your peers?
You want more than anything else in the
world to be in show business? So you want
to eat, sleep and breathe the Magic Show
biz? Read on, I'll show you how it's done.
How much do you know about Creative Visualization?
It is important that you visualize yourself
working on your own big show/visualize
yourself very successful, driving from
town to town in a new luxury car. The
audiences love you; you can do no wrong.
Meditate, thinking only of your show,
and how good it's going to be. DON'T ALLOW
ANY NEGATIVITY TO SLOP INTO YOUR THOUGHTS.
Remember, you can do anything you set
your mind to.
NOW, before you go any farther in this
article, read that last paragraph over
at least 10 times.
I guess this is the point in this course
where you rush out to the jewelry store
and buy a small gold pin that says "ATTITUDE,"
pin it on and you are ready for some serious
action.
ARE YOU REALLY A MAGICIAN?
Perhaps you should ask yourself this question
before you go much farther in this project.
I don't mean can you do the double middle
faro, quick change turn, middle, super
move. I mean, are you a real stand up
talking ("talking" being the operant word)
MAGICIAN. Can you cut a rope in two and
restore it, can you entertain a crowd
with an egg bag, some linking rings and
maybe a coffee can with some coins. If
the answer is "no", well don't give up,
it is not too late to learn.
I love the old classics, and always include
at least two of them in my full show.
In the words of my dear friend, Jack Barker
("DINON"), the classics are true works
of art, that have been handed down to
us, as part of our art form. In the hands
of a competent performer, they reach down
and touch something in the mind of the
beholder that NEVER fails to bring amazement
and laughter. They have a built-in entertainment
factor. They must be developed, and mastered
as a stepping stone to becoming a magician.
They should never be in the hands of an
incompetent. They are our heritage. They
are always new in the proper hands. LEARN,
ENJOY AND TREAT THEM WITH RESPECT.
I can, in all honesty, say that I could
take a set of rings, a coin pail, a die
box and an egg bag, and go out with nothing
more and make a living. Can you say the
same thing?
I ALWAYS, include the die box in my performances,
even when I work the Magic Castle, in
front of that highly sophisticated audience.
One night after my show at the Castle,
Siegfried was in the audience, I heard
him say to Bill Larsen at the bar, "That
Kramien is a nice man, but he is awfully
old-fashioned." So be it. My die box was
and is made by Mel Babcock of Cashmere,
Washington; a GREAT craftsman, who makes
lots of fine magic. Ask him for his catalog.
Joe Stevens, (Stevens Magic Emporium,
Wichita, Kansas), has all the videos you
will ever need to teach you the classics
of magic. Please do these great tricks,
and do think of me when you do them, and
have an audience full of happy smiling
faces. You will love it the first time
a kid comes up to you and says, "I have
a set of these rings, but mine are different
than your; one of mine has a hole in it."
Or the look on the kid's face when he
reaches in the egg bag, and pulls out
an egg; or the looks on their faces as
they keep their eyes WIDE open, and don't
blink, to see the die pass from the box
into the hat.
Sounds so good, I think I'll pack up
my little case, and go out and do a free
show somewhere for a bunch of beautiful
people.
Now, let's work on putting your show
together, one step at a time...
THE BACKDROPS
You will need backdrops and frames for
your show, so we will start with that
issue. Many auditoriums you will play
may have a stage, but little in the glamour
department, when it comes to scenery or
backdrops. Remember, you are selling a
SHOW. The backdrop provides the setting
in front of which your miracles will be
performed. Portable frames will also allow
you to play gymnasiums, where you can
seat a lot more people. I worked the National
Armory in Washington D.C. with the frame
setup I am showing you. We played to 18,000
people.
When building the frames, do not use
flimsy material. Use only the best. Steel
is heavy, but it will last forever and
will not blow down, as will aluminum,
or PVC plastic.
For the basic setup on a stage, (24 foot
of backdrop and two wings, you will need
the following:
This setup will get you started. The
nice thing about this system is that you
can add units as you go, to meet any situation.
Your show will look professional, and
you will never again be forced to work
in front of an old dirty, torn curtain.
Use your backdrops always, leave them
plain. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES
DECORATE THEM WITH YOUR INITIALS IN SEQUINS.
(The sure mark of an amateur.)
(audience)
Although this backdrop system will cost
you some money, it will last as long as
you are in show business, and then you
can sell it to someone else who wants
to play show biz.
I just talked to Ray Grant, the genius
who does all the costumes on our show,
he gave me current prices on what VELVET
drops would cost. You will need two panels
for each frame, make them nice and full
so they will hang nice. You will have
a hem at the top for the crossbar to slide
through, and a hem at the bottom for light
weight change. At today's prices (2000),
the velvet should cost you $40.00 per
panel and $10.00 per panel to have them
made. So, you cost for the basic setup
cloth is $500.00.
Your frames should cost about $40.00
for a plate and upright and $15.00 for
a crossbar for a total of $395.00. So
far a total of about $895.00 you are off
and running with a CLASS set of backdrops.
I have never found a backdrop from a magic
shop that is suitable for our type of
work, the only exception being Abbot's
JET SET, this is a fabulous frame, and
we always carry a couple with us.
| IMPORTANT:
|
Have
a crate made to hold the backdrops...take
care of them and they will look
like new for many years. |
Well, now I have you thinking like a
real, live showman.
LIGHTING
Almost all auditoriums will have some
kind of lighting, and usually someone
to run them for you. Most buildings are
short on, or have no front lighting; and
of course for the gym appearances, you
are on your own. For years we carried
two light trees, placed in front on the
floor-one on each side of the stage. Hang
eight lights on these cross bars, and
you should get by anywhere, even doing
a color change or two.
Most cities have several lighting companies
who will be glad to sell you what you
need in lighting. Be sure you buy heavy
floor plates for your light trees. We
don't want the little children to knock
them over, do we? Carry plenty of colored
gels with you; they don't last too long.
Magenta and Straw are both good colors,
and should make you look healthy and at
least halfway alive.
Allow about $1,500.00 to the light poles
and lights. Radio Shack now sells some
highly portable light stands, and systems.
I have not used them, but they do look
good. Whatever you do, KEEP IT SIMPLE.
You find in builder's supply stores now,
halogen portable lights very cheap, and
oh so handy, for load out, work lights
and in a pinch, front lights.
SOUND
AGAIN, KEEP IT SIMPLE. Many of you who
read this will be "sound freaks", and
you will love the excuse to go out and
buy all sorts of exotic sound equipment.
FORGET IT. Buy a good, reliable 100 watt
set. While you can get more powerful systems,
remember, we're only trying to amplify
a voice (and some incidental music) in
an average-sized auditorium. For years,
I used a 100 watt amplifier and it gave
us more than enough sound anywhere we
played. Stay away from elaborate "mixing
boards" and other equipment meant for
mobile DJs home stereos.
Don't forget, you will probably have
a three or four person show for starters
and the most attention your sound set
will get is someone running past with
a prop in hand, changing a cassette.
I have used only wireless mikes for years.
I just went out for lunch and stopped
by the local Radio Shack and found a sure
brand wireless mike with a great light-weight
head gear, putting the mike right in front
of your mouth for $40.00.
Here is basically what you need:
| 100
watt PA Amplifier w/ Mike Mixer |
$249.00 |
| 2
Tripod Speaker Stands |
$159.98 |
| 2
Speakers |
$398.00 |
| 8
Channel Wireless Port |
$
79.95 |
| Wireless
Sure Mike |
$
49.00 |
| Backstage
Mike w/ Stand |
$
90.00 |
| Dual
Cassette Player |
$120.00
|
| Total: |
$1,146.92 |
(These prices are taken from the current
Radio Shack Catalog for the year 2000)
Let's add this up along with the backdrops,
and see if you still want to be in the
Magic Show Business, or if it's just better
to keep drawing your social security,
and watch the Pendragons on television.
It comes to a total of $3.541.92
Pretty cheap. Well, what are you waiting
for? Call the welder, get a seamstress,
go to the fabric store, hit Radio Shack
and LET'S GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD!
| IMPORTANT:
|
WHEN
LOADING THE SHOW OUT, LOAD THE BACKDROPS
LAST, THEN THEY CAN BE FIRST OUT
AT THE NEW SITE AND FIRST UP. |
Now that you have read this far, many
of you are saying, "I don't need all this
equipment. I'll rent a school auditorium
and just go for it." WRONG, you do need
the equipment. From now on, you don't
do an act. From now on, you are a SHOW
OWNER, and you are selling a complete
show.
If this is not something that you want
to do, then don't waste anymore time reading.
Be happy that you have been privileged
to read about my weird life.
Now that we have this beautiful brand
new setup, let's put a show together.
LENGTH OF SHOW
In the old days the magicians used to
do over two hours. Today, 90 minutes is
plenty. Open with 45 minutes, then a 10
minute intermission, with time to sell
the Magic Coloring Books (more about this
later on). DO NOT exceed 90 minutes. I
can hear you now, saying, "BUT GEE WHILLIKERS
STAN, MY REALLY GREAT ROUTINE WITH THE
BILL IN THE WALLET TAKES 20 MINUTES."
Forget it...the last thing you need in
an illusion show is a 20 minutes routine
of anything. Keep the show moving...keep
the show moving...keep the show moving!
No matter how talented you think you
are, or how funny, do not exceed the above
time limits. Do yourself a favor, listen
to an old pro, one who has done this for
many years.
You probably already have a 90 minute
show; maybe all your show needs is four
or five major illusions to put you over
into the full show category. Remember
in the beginning, I told you to make a
list of your eight favorites. This could
well be your nucleus.
My son, who has a great sense of humor,
and who is a fine showman, said a few
years ago when we were booking all over
America and Canada: "Dad, I've got a great
idea... we buy a dozen 16-foot trailers
from Wells Cargo; we put in the backdrops,
PA. etc. Then we go to ABBOTTS and buy
a dozen identical illusion shows...Temple
of Benares, Giant Head Chopper, Canvas
Covered Box, Levitation (Astro) and Thin
Sawing. Our agents will book tours in
12 areas of the U.S., we will run an ad
in Genii, and franchise the units out
to 12 magis." WE DIDN'T DO IT. (Although
we still might!)
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
What are you going to call your show?
Shall we call it, "Stan Kramien the Magician"?
Well, unless your name is Stan Kramien,
that doesn't make much sense, and even
if your name is Stan Kramien, it doesn't
make any sense if you want to draw people,
and spark their imagination.
When Kathleen and I started building
the big show, we from the beginning used
a show name, first one was WONDERFUL WORLD
OF MAGIC, then when that one became old
hat we switched to MAD WORLD OF MAGIC.
One day at the far, I asked Kathleen to
think of the name of a well attended,
well thought-of show that had played to
sell out houses for years...right...ICE
CAPADES. SOOOO, why not "MAGIC CAPADES."
Bingo! What a great idea. We toured with
that name for years, until in 1976, we
sold the title, and the show to Dennis
Loomis. Our next show, I entitled "MAGICAZAM."
I sold this title and show to a young
man, Gunther Nash, from Colorado. "THE
MAD WORLD OF MAGIC" title and transportation
I sold to Mark Evans, of Salt Lake City,
Utah. Our present show is called "SHAZAM!"
I guess what I'm really trying to tell
you is that unless your name is David
Copperfield, perhaps you would be better
to lure folks in with a fun sounding show
name. Now think about that. But then of
course, there are those of you to whom
ego is more important than money. Now
really think about that one.
