Where we are...

Been looking at just about everything I can find to generate ideas, from old Annemann manuscripts to the latest lecture notes by Banachek. A lot of ideas floating around, but can’t possibly use them all; some won’t fit my personality, others require equipment that is hopelessly out of date.

Finally started putting pen to paper. I had eight routines right in a row, a couple are absolutely killer (probably first and last), and a couple are sleepers that will dawn on people just about the time we’ve moved on to something else.

I want to have an odd number (artistic balance?), so this will be added to. Always watching the clock, right now what I have would run less than 30 minutes, not enough to call it a show.

Some will probably be dropped or added to keep the pace level. We can’t be jumping from channel to channel. If an energy level changes, then something bigger has to stay the same. People will swallow a lot, up to and including girls appearing from thin air, but they won’t tolerate a change in my personality or in the “feel” of the show.

I did have a flash of inspiration earlier tonight; not sure why I didn’t see it sooner. Banachek does an amazing routine where he draws an image being thought of by a volunteer. His method involves a device that he teaches how to build, but even at that, it’s more money than I want to risk on my craft skills right now. End of the line for now right?

HOWEVER…I was looking at ways of constructing an Otis Manning Billet box for another effect, described by Theo Annemann in “Practical Mental Effects”, which would use colored paper for audience members to write their questions on. Manning’s first device was constructed from a candy box; mine will be a Kleenex cube, but with an adaptation so that it can safely be passed around the room.

Light Bulb! Why not use the OM (Kleenex) Box to gather the same two pieces of information Banachek used and use THAT info to draw my picture from. It’s too powerful an effect not to drop it in; it’s astounding to the audience, and (with the right volunteer) can be pulled out to probably fifteen ENTERTAINING minutes of run time.

Plus, by using Annemann’s idea, I can do it four times in a row (although in actuality I’d probably do it once, possibly twice, then do something else with the remaining data.)

Still looking for potential venues. It’s striking that we have hundreds of Chinese and Mexican restaurants, but very few Italian ones, and none at all (that I know of) close to my home. When Brick Oven Grill shut down that left only Olive Garden, and they don’t have private rooms. I am NOT going back to Wally’s. Period.