posted
Yesterday I performed my first professional magic show.
I've been dabbling in magic for a few years now. My first show was for a group of LD and PD kids at my wife's work. My second show was at a cow barn in India for the neighbors of a friend of ours during our visit several years ago.
I'd consider those and my clowning as the first few Magic User levels.
I didn't get paid for those.
I started working for Abra-Kid-Abra. Call it a good Magic User's School. (www.abrakid.com if you are interested in my weird job. Sorry, none of the pictures are of me or Sasha).
I taught kids basic magic routines (in Player terms, Cantrips and a few 1st level spells).
Finally, after some suggestions from the staff, and as I was the only full time staff member who was not a practicing magician (or should I say the only one just practicing) I debuted my skills for a 7 year old girl and her party Sunday afternoon.
My boss, who has been performing since grade school, and has done birthday parties for 2 if not 3 generations in some families, was their to critique.
I did ok.
I only have 4 pages of notes for improvement.
But I did get paid. At $50 for 1/2hrs work, I'll be doing it a long more too.
So basically, I am a 5th level MU/Illusionist (funny I didn't feel my HP go up when I leveled, but then MU's rarely do.). I don't have any of the good high level spells yet--no sawing people in half, catching bullets, or escaping straight jackets (something I may need, people keep telling me), not even the ability to make rabbits appear.
I do have, turn white metal bunny into pink metal bunny, vanish the key, and pick-a-card. My power spells are--Get Giggles from Girls, and Loud Laughter 3.
Wisest advice I got?
You can tell a good performer by the amount the audience applauds. But you can tell a good magician by the amount the audience gets into the act.
Posts: 11895 | Registered: Apr 2002
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quote: So basically, I am a 5th level MU/Illusionist
Dubious at best. I see no evidence that you have mastered the basic spell magic missile. How else can you fend off goblins, see down a corridor, or keep the children away from the stage?
I think you need to go back and focus on your basics.
Posts: 2445 | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
I worked as a part time clown/magician for a few years. I really liked that work. It was a lot of fun. My kids still like for me to pull out the magic.
Congrats on the paying gig. They are a lot of fun.
Posts: 1766 | Registered: Feb 2006
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posted
Personally, I think you should cross-class with a Psionic class (Mentalist) to get the most bang for your buck.
Posts: 4753 | Registered: May 2002
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quote:Personally, I think you should cross-class with a Psionic class (Mentalist) to get the most bang for your buck.
If he's going multi-class then Bard should clearly be high on his list. Though I think he may already be a multi-classed Bard/Magician. Though I wouldn't given him level 5, he'd need to have burning hands, magic missile, a high level shield spell.
I think Dan's probably a Bard 10/Magician 2.
Posts: 3295 | Registered: Jun 2004
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posted
I've been thinking about learning how to do magic. I think it would be a fun skill to have, and I'd like to learn more about the performance and psychological aspects of it, not just the mechanics of tricks. Do you have any suggestions for resources, Dan?
Congrats on the paid performance, by the way!
Posts: 3546 | Registered: Jul 2002
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