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Every day people ask me how I create routines, magic and comedy. There
is no exact way. But my favorite way to create is to just play with a
premise and see what happens. When it comes to comedy I try to create a
comedic situation on stage and see what can be birthed from it.
Sometimes nothing. Sometimes I wonder what the hell I was thinking.
Other times you are given gifts of pure gold.
Creating interactive situations with your audience is key. Today I'd
like to share with you a way to make an effect you ALREADY know much
more entertaining.
The focus for me in this routine is creating a FUNNY SITUATION with the
spectator on stage and finally and AMAZING AND MAGICAL REVELATION of the
selected card.
One of the strongest and most magical effects of ALL CARD MAGIC is the
Rising Card. Anytime a card moves or slides from the deck it looks so
ghostly and magical. People don't soon forget seeing things like this.
This is why it is a classic.
So grab your old Arne Rising Card deck, or your Oh Wee Gee Card Gaff, or your
elastic thread or WHATEVER. The method doesn't really matter although I
would recommend my effect Box Monster.
The premise for the effect is that if the volunteer concentrates on
their card, combined with BOTH of your focused energies....the card will
reveal itself from the deck.
The PICTURE I like to create on stage is this.
The spectator is holding the cased deck. I either hold their hand or ask
them to EXTEND THEIR FINGER and we touch fingers just like E.T.
Essentially I am creating this "circle of energy". I ask her to concentrate on her card and to hold the box high in the air.
I pretend its not working after a false start or two. Then I pull out a
9 volt battery and say something like "we need more juice Mable...".
I then TRY AS hard as I can to get them to stick their tongue on the
battery. (the battery I have does not have any life left so it doesn't
shock your tongue).
Trying to get them to put their tongue on the battery is where you get to have fun and play.
Obviously you can milk tons of comedy out of this
moment. I usually keep trying to get them to put their tongue on the battery several times until they either refuse or they actually comply and begin to stick
out their tongue....and then I'll pull it away from them and say "wow she was actually
gonna do it!". Do not actually let them touch it. That is gross.
Then I'll slowly grimace and apply the Battery to my tongue. As I do
this I shake slightly and I shake her hand as well. By this time she
will relax and the combination of that and my shaking will usually be
enough to get the card to rise from the box. If not then I'll simply
tell her to relax...and that does the trick.
Once the card starts to rise people will gasp and when you reveal it is actually the selected card you will receive applause.
It occurs to me that the method you are using must be based on tension
where the card will rise when pressure is released on the deck. Since
many modern card rises rely on this you should not have a problem. As always email me with any questions! nathankranzo@gmail.com
Enjoy!!!!
Kranzo
P.S. MAKE SURE THE BATTERY IS DEAD. I accept no responsibility for anyone who burns their tongue. Putting a battery on your tongue is stupid. But i do it.
Howdy Folks!!! Merry X-Mas and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Click HERE to listen to the Kranzo and Fisher HOUR!!!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Hey Guys!
I’ve pretty much decided the blog will be random.
Coming soon. Instant Everything.
Had a blast hanging with Kostya in the Uk over the weekend. Saw some old friends and made lots of new ones!!! I’ll write more soon but here is a little article about the trip….
Click Here for Inside Magic Article
Andrew Mayne posted an interesting link on his TWITTER account a couple of days ago. It was a link to an article about a 17 year old who created a new website that has exploded. Its called Chatroulette.
So. I checked it out. Holy s#@&!
First off I must say that it is still in its infancy and I can see it going through some changes. BUT the basic concept is very simple and sound. Push a button to instantly see/talk to a RANDOM person somewhere in the world.
You will see anything from a drunk French guy, giggling college girls, and dudes masterbating.
As I said it is in its infancy still so not much regulation.
But being a dork I decided to just perform magic for random people. I would do something quick to grab their attention. Sometimes the person would quickly click on to the next person but often they would be caught off guard…and then begin watching and commenting. Then often they would grab their friends. I would only do it for maybe 10-30 seconds then say goodbye and move on.
I remember one kid who was probably about 8 or 9 freaking out and trying to get his mom. I believe he was speaking German. Of course when mom stepped in I clicked to the next person. Mom probably didn’t believe him. LOL!
This social media tool like anything else can be used to do terrible and crazy things. BUT I used it for about an hour to seriously MESS with people’s heads and had a BLAST.
TALK ABOUT A WAY TO GET INSTANT FEEDBACK!
Now you can show your new move instantly to some random guy in Honduras.
Enjoy!
Click HERE for a new way to perform Magic…..and possibly see a sexually frustrated dude.
Howdy Folks!
I had a blast in The Winter Carnival of Magic in Pigeon Forge, TN over the weekend! I got to hang out with one of my good old friends Eric Buss and ran into Steve Bargatze, Steve Beam, Tim Felix and others. I had no idea that Pigeon Forge was sorta like a little mini Vegas thrown right in the middle of Tennessee. Cool place and thanks to all who attended my lecture there!
While I was lectureing in Virgina I got to meet the great Ed “Carlyle” Fowler. You may know him from his Mentalism DVD The Carlyle Touch. Ed was a super nice guy and was very generous by sharing with me some incredible mentalism ideas. I’ve used Ed’s little pocket dictionary for years for pre-show work and probably what got me thinking about DICTION. Ed loved DICTION and asked that I send him one. You got one? Click HERE for DICTION.
SPEAKING of incredible Mentalism. Another highlight of my trip was spending time with my good friend Alain Nu. Alain is one of the top Mystery Entertainers in the world and we spent most of our time listening to live music and eating great food. Alain lives outside Washington D.C. and sitting in Adams Morgan with Alain discussing the finer points of performance over falafel is one of my favorite things. Alain handed me a little booklet before I left his place. It rocks! With Alain’s permission I think I’ll soon let you all in on what it is.
Keep a look out very soon for a special little side project that Alain and I are working on. : )
Well….thats all for now. I’ve got a private party this weekend and then off to the UK to perform at the Northern Magic Circle Convention. CLICK HERE for more info. This will be a blast! Kostya Kimlat, Marc Paul, Chris Priest and many more………plus ME!!! : )
Have a great week everyone!!!!
Later,
Kranzo
LECTURE LEFTOVERS!
I have NINE black Conradi Revelation packages left over from this little lecture tour. First come first serve!
Click HERE for the Mind Reading Crotch
Also I have about 30 pocket writers left. If you attended my lecture at the Winter Carnival of Magic you saw the look on everyone’s face when he pulled the card from my wallet and it said “Freddy”. I often use this WITH DICTION.
This is something I only teach in my lecture. If your interested just order one and then drop me an email nathankranzo@gmail.com and i’ll PERSONALLY email you the routine I use it for. Its killer!!!!
Click HERE for Pocket Writers
