Controversy
Revisited
By Mike Rogers
Several
months ago there was considerable controversy
on Gemini regarding the handling of a
close up venue. The clamor dealt with
whether a close up magician should stroll
about the room performing here and there,
or whether he should remain stationary
working from a home base. Jon Racherbaumer
was the advocate for the home base contingent,
while Paul Green led the charge for the
strollers. The exchanges became a bit
heated at times, in fact down right steamy.
Through it all there was never a resolution,
nor will there ever be. Some stroll, some
don't. Period.
My
good friend David French is an extremely
busy close up magician in the East. He
and I have exchanged posts over the years
regarding this subject. He recently sent
another post where he goes right to the
meat of this thing without wasting words.
David offered his thoughts to me in the
manner of a question. I felt his question
to be interesting enough to share them
with Gemini readers. David has agreed
to allow me to reprint his e-mail here.
This
column now becomes interactive. You, the
readers, have a part to play. Please respond
to David's questions in the 'Column Talkback'
Conference of Gemini as this is something
of interest to many. I'll forward them
on to David. Additionally, you might also
send your views direct to David. His e-mail
address follows his letter.
Incidentally,
David knows where I stand on these issues.
However, I'll refrain from commenting
now so as not to influence what others
might have to say. So please respond to
David's question and not to any views
I might hold. (If I were to ask for a
response to my views I'm certain many
would say they belong in the garbage can!)
OK,
here's the letter from David French. I've
changed nothing.
Hello
Mike,
Hope
all is well. We exchanged several e-mails
about a year ago regarding working conditions
and the like. I have a few more questions
if you have a moment to respond, I would
be thrilled.
I
have recently been doing a lot of cocktail
parties. I always tell the client I work
stationary. They provide me a table. As
of late, however, I am provided the table,
but am having difficulty attracting a
crowd. Many times the table is there for
me and there are several other tables
set up for people to sit. Most of the
time the guests arrive and immediately
take a seat at one of these "other" tables.
I will begin to stack dice or other crowd
attractions and no one wants to move.
I will stroll a bit announcing that I
am doing a show at my table and I get
many folks say they will come over, but
don't. I end up going table to table the
entire evening, limiting my magic to my
pockets.
I
know a lot of this is very dependant on
each situation. I have had the venue provide
the table for me to perform in the hallway
outside the main room of activity. If
I had asked the table be moved inside
the room of activity I would be shouting
over a guitar player that was hired. I
have also had a table set up in the same
room as the dinning hall and again all
the guests take a seat at other tables.
I guess my findings are that stationary
close up only really works when all the
guests must stand and can make their way
over to my area. Otherwise they grab a
seat and stay there.
I
have thought about carrying a small doctor
bag to each table when I am forced to
table hop, but that lends itself to other
problems of where to place it? And will
there be room for it. As you know table
hopping constricts you to what you can
carry in your pockets.
Basically,
my question is how would/do you work a
situation like this? Where the guests
all sit down at banquet type tables and
tend to stay there?
My
clients are always happy because they
see everyone having a good time and I
tell them that I am flexible enough to
make the event fun for everyone. It is
more a personal thought that my show is
better if I am stationary.
Any
thoughts or comments are greatly appreciated.
David
French - CPM:
djfrench@att.com
You can
visit David French's web site at:
http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/Stage/4303/ |
