Date: Mon, 22 Jul 1996 20:57:57 -0700
From: Steve Axtell <steve-AT-axtell.com>
Subject: Re: M.C. Ideas


Wow sounds like you've got quite an act here Mark.  Fun stuff.  Ax

At 06:37 PM 7/21/96 -0700, you wrote:
>I do an act called "Bunny Tricks" in which a hand puppet, visibly manipulated, 
>performs actual magic tricks.  Doing a single trick with the puppet could be a 
>worthwhile bit for you as an MC between acts.  There's a limited but
reasonable 
>range of magic equipment that can work in this context -- i.e., where you're 
>essentially wearing an oven mitt on one hand.  
>
>The magician's sucker die box (stage size for your audience) is one example;  
>the puppet does the trick "on" you.  Many production boxes will work. I
have the 
>puppet announce it will produce a red silk.  It then produces yards and
yards of 
>paper productions streamers, looking frantically for the silk. The silk
finally 
>comes up -- and it's blue.  A pass through the puppet's hands and the silk 
>changes to red (standard color-changing silk).  I also do a "floating carrot" 
>trick with the rabbit, based on the Zombie effect.  
>
>And the lit-candle-through-arm trick is wonderful with a hand-puppet.  In this 
>effect the magician puts a metal cylinder snugly over his arm;  there are two 
>small holes half-way down the cylinder, on either side.  The lit candle is 
>passed through those holes and, presumably, through the magician's arm.  I put 
>the cylinder over the hand-puppet, so that only its head sticks out the
top.  Do 
>much by-play with the puppet being scared of the candle, and finally bursting 
>with pride and joy when the trick works.
>
>Something else that would be fun:  there's a standard magician's trick called 
>the "full light seance" in which the magician uses his two hands to hold a
silk 
>in front of some objects (tambourine, horns, etc.) on the table, and then the 
>objects come to life behind the table, pop over the top, make noise, etc.  I 
>include a plush puppet that looks like a stuffed teddy bear doll.  then, at
end 
>of the bit, the bear, now manipulated as a puppet, comes up and dances
along the 
>top of the silk as though it's been the one manipulating the objects.  For
those 
>who don't know the effect, the magic is that the performer's two hands are 
>holding the silk taut at all times, so there appears to be no way the objects 
>can come to life.
>
>On Sat, 20 Jul 1996, Steve Axtell <steve-AT-axtell.com> wrote:
>>The FCP puppeteer's conference probably 500 or so.  I'll be working with
>>follow spot and standing mic.  I will use a variety of puppets with vent and
>>some funny bits of business.  Ax
>>
>>At 05:57 PM 7/19/96 -0700, you wrote:
>>>i have some ideas but would be helpful to know the event, audience, size,
etc.
>>>
>>>On Fri, 19 Jul 1996, Steve Axtell <steve-AT-axtell.com> wrote:
>>>>I am going to be M.C.ing a show in a couple of weeks, and am looking for fun
>>>>MC bits of business.  What are your favorite bits? Icebreakers etc. 
>>>>Steve Axtell / AXTELL EXPRESSIONS, INC.
>
>Mark Levenson
>The Levenson Company
>(503) 452-4046/voice
>(503) 245-1161/fax
>markl-AT-levenson.com
>
>
>
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>
Steve Axtell / AXTELL EXPRESSIONS, INC.
email - steve-AT-axtell.com
VIST OUR WEB SITE - http://www.axtell.com
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Tel / Fax - 805 642-7282




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