New Show Design Tips

I must be crazy.

This year, I’m debuting three new shows. One new show is stressful enough…but three?

Yeah, I’m nuts.

The first two shows are designed for teens and adults.

Each is filled with spooky magic, mind-reading, and even ghost-themed effects.

The third one, a new show for kids in both libraries and schools, I kinda fell into.

After receiving frequent requests from libraries over the years, I finally decided to properly design the show.

I created the other two just ‘cause I wanted to.

Plus, my library clientele generally enjoys learning about new teen and adult shows.

There is a LOT that goes into creating a new show.

First, is it themed? I respect the heck out of birthday performers.

In most cases, it’s simply a matter of stringing together fun and interactive kids’ magic.

At least, that’s how I did it. Sure, you have to pick the right effects that fit you and your audience.

And you have to craft worthy presentations. None of this is easy.

But the job gets a lot tougher with themed shows.

First, your potential trick section shrinks dramatically.

To create a great theme show, the last thing you want to do is shoehorn an effect into the show simply because you like it.

When creating your theme show, look closely at each effect you’re considering. Does it fit the theme?

Let’s say you have a Jack O’Lantern Square Circle. Are you really going to try to cram it into a Christmas-themed show?

That’s a ridiculous example, but I’m sure you get my point.

If I can’t come up with a worthy, easy-to-explain tie-in to an effect, it’s not going into the new show.

Some tricks are easy. My friend Tommy James sells a lot of holiday-themed effects and props. That made putting my Christmas show together easier.

But it’s not just the tricks…it’s the audience.

I personally choose not to put any silk magic effects in front of older kids, from age 10 and up.

My belief is older kids don’t enjoy most silk magic.

There are exceptions, but most of the time when I try silk magic on older kids, they don’t react with much enthusiasm.

That’s just my own preference. But my bigger point remains. Consider the age of your audience.

My wife is convinced that with the proper framing, I could put a Blooming Bouquet in my adult magic show.

I think she’s nuts.

Those are a few thoughts about trick selection for a new show. Let’s back up a moment.

What are you going to name the thing?

A good show name sets the tone and draws interest from your target market right away.

My elementary school science show is called “Wacky Science.”

It’s short, reveals the subject, and promises to be fun and unusual.

I didn’t come up with the title, but it’s a great model to follow.

In his wonderful (and highly recommended) Halloween-themed collection of effects book, my friend Jim Kleefeld calls his Halloween show “Spooky Magic.”

Again, It’s short and promises a good time for a very specific theme and audience.

My own one-man murder mystery for adults, Murder By Magic, is perfectly named in my humble opinion.

The title teases an intriguing mashup between two very different kinds of entertainment…and it delivers.

Okay, titles. What about logos?

A well-designed logo gives a professional impression right away. Each time I create a new show, I pay a professional designer to create a logo.

The logo should do three things well:

1. Easily communicate the title of the show.

Avoid any hard-to-read fonts. You want to draw in the curious…not make them squint as they try to figure out what those loopy letters spell.

2. Visually communicate the show’s theme and feel.

If I had my Murder By Magic logo designed with Comic Sans as the main font, it would have failed as a promotional tool.

Comic Sans looks and feels like a kiddie font. Conversely, if I had created a logo using Old English or other fancy calligraphy-like font, it too would have failed.

Murder By Magic is an adult show…but it ain’t elegant.

3. Look professional

This one is perhaps the most important…but it’s the one I see ignored by many magicians.

I love magicians…but they drive me nuts.

Too many magicians think they need to do everything. And not everyone is good at graphic design.

So get your logos professionally designed. The guy I work with is a Fiverr guy. He always produces amazing results.

Look no further than my school/library site. And check out my newest site too.

I’ve been working with this guy for over ten years. I’ve hired him hundreds of times and he always nails what I’m looking for.

From logos let’s consider set design.

If you’re a mentalist, you can probably ignore this section…but should you?

I get the whole ‘minimalist” idea behind mentalism. I know about the supposed ‘your rate goes down every time you add a prop’ claim.

But I’ve seen too many mentalists simply throw their carry-on suitcase onto a table and start performing.

I’m sorry, but that looks like you’re not even trying.

An effective set design for a mentalist could simply be a high-quality briefcase sitting on a side table. Sure looks better than a ratty carry-on bag.

Now that I’ve probably offended the mentalists reading this, what about family/kids show entertainers?

If you work minimalist, there’s nothing wrong with a simple Lefler table. They look great and can hold a lot of props.

But I think it would look better with a table wrap or at least a sign identifying you.

Once again, professionalism counts. So does matching your market.

If you’re going to put your name on a sign or table wrap, make sure the design fits your market.

For a while, Mak Magic produced a Lefler-style table with gold speckles and a set of white gloves painted on the front.

Called a “nightclub table,” it was about the worst design possible for a family entertainer.

So make sure your signs accurately reflect who you are and your market.

Ditto with any side banners or backdrops.

Make sure everything matches the look, feel, and theme you’re going for.

And for crying out loud, get it professionally designed.

Need something designed? I offer design services, too. Working with my artist, I’ll help create logos, banners, and backdrops that all fit your market.

Have a great week!

--Cris

 
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