How to Put Together a Magic Show

How to Put Together a Magic Show

If you are a children’s entertainer, how you put your magic show together will determine if you are a hit or if you will struggle to book gigs.

When you perform magic, you can either do a bunch of tricks that won’t get much reaction or perform a show they will talk about for weeks.

The difference is not the tricks you do but how you put your show together.
I am going to give you a three-step plan to put your magic show together.
Stick around to the end of the video for a bonus that will tell you exactly how to plan your show like the pros do.




Step 1 - Open and Close Strong

Open strong with a warm-up immediately followed by your second-best routine.
You will save your very best for last.

Warm-ups will get the audience ready for a great show and by immediately moving into a strong routine you capture their attention.

They are engaged with your show and realize that they are in for a good time.
Ending with your strongest routine will leave them wanting more.

You will book more gigs because your best work will be what they tell their friends about your show.




Step 2 – What to Include

There are thousands of tricks and illusions you could use in your act.

Most people already own more tricks than they can include.

Here is how to choose the tricks you should use.


The first thing to look at is how well you perform the trick.

A trick may be the best in the world.

But if you are not comfortable with it or don’t perform it well it will not work for your show.


Second, add variety.

Your act should have a mix of short tricks and long routines.

Include amazing magic and nice little effects that are fun.

Be sure the audience is engaged and laughing a lot.

Include amazing things and funny things but focus most on being funny.




Step 3 – Parts of a Show


Warm Up:

Makes Them Like You

They want to like you but don’t know what to expect.

Your warmup breaks the ice.


Sets Expectations

A good warm up lets the audience know what your show will be like; funny, amazing, or unusual.

In kids shows it sets the boundaries of behavior so they can have lots of fun.



Teaches Them How to Enjoy a Live Show

People don’t see many live shows.

They are not watching a movie.

You want laughter, applause, and reactions.



Opening:

Your opening should be something amazing with lots of audience participation.

The audience wants to see if you are any good and they want to be involved.

Your opening sets the tone and the pace for the rest of the show.


Middle

The middle is the bulk of your show.

This is where they will be laughing, clapping, and participating most.

Your running gags will go here.

Your tricks that build upon each other fit in the middle too.

Keep things fun and interactive.

Mix amazing skill with silliness and fun.


Ending

Always end with your strongest trick.

This is what they will remember.

Give them something they can talk about on the way home.



Bonus

Here is the bonus I promised you.

Planning with a “Story Board” lets you lay out your show in a way your audience will love.

Think of all the tricks you want to include in your act.

Write the name of the trick and how long it takes to perform.

Then, slide around slips of paper around.

Look for tricks that go together.

Look for tricks that will form a narrative.

Take out the ones that don’t work well with the others.

Find what goes into your Opening, Middle, and Ending.

Sure, you could do this in your head.

You could do this in a word processor.

But use the storyboard.

It slows you down. It is tactile.

You will visualize and plan in ways that you cannot in any other format.

There is a reason they do this for Hollywood blockbusters with hundreds of millions of dollars on the line.

If the next Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars movies use this technique to make sure they get it right I want to use it too.