Live Magic - Sponge Routine + impromptu ring magic

CaseyRudd

Director of Operations
Team member
Jun 5, 2009
3,510
4,032
Charleston, SC
www.instagram.com
Hey guys here is part 8 in my campus magic series. Some people have been asking about my sponge ball routine so here it is. I forgot to use one of the jokes I make but I hope you like it! Also the end of the video is just some quick ring magic

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBgoKzS2QQM&hd=1

I love watching your videos Josh! Always puts a smile on my face when I see a LIVE performance! I could tell she was loving it all the way throughout. Great job!
 

CaseyRudd

Director of Operations
Team member
Jun 5, 2009
3,510
4,032
Charleston, SC
www.instagram.com
Thanks Casey! I have plenty more footage but I've decided to space it out some lol

Its funny I did this last month to some people at school and they are STILL talking about it =]

Awesome man! It's been about a month and a half since I did Smoke at school and I still have people talking about it and want me to do it. The feeling is awesome!
 
Nov 8, 2007
1,238
3
-When you produce the sponge ball it's off camera, so I don' know what the production looked like, but she didn't react at all. She cooly just says, "Uh huh." Not sure if this was just an off reaction to what you normally get with the first production, but you may want to reconsider it.

-You refer to the sponge ball as a "little clown nose thing." Do you want to be known as the guy walking around with "close nose things"? Maybe you do, maybe you don't--but it's a question you want to ask yourself as to how it pertains to your character.

-The girl throws at a really funny line: "Is that a growth on me or something?" That was a great hook to connect with her and have some fun and you ignored the line because you were too set on your routine. This is a pretty normal mistake to make when you're first starting out, but it is something you're going to want to get past.

-When you deliver the line: "You look confused so, here, I'll make it easy for you," it comes across a bit demeaning. That's the kind of line that can make someone into a heckler. No one wants to indirectly be told they're stupid.

-When you introduce the Harry/Ron thing it seems to annoy her more than entertain her. When you did the joke about making them switch places then asked her again which one she wanted her tone was that of annoyance when she says, "Ron." At that moment she felt her time was being wasted. She wanted to some action and she wasn't getting it. When she says "Ron" what her tone is really saying is, "Quit f*cking around and get on with it already."

-After you make the two balls appear together in her hand the first time she gives a great reaction. Don't be too quick to rush on. Step back and let that amazement marinate for a moment.

-Slow way down on the Ring Thing. Don't be afraid of letting them clearly see the ring is off your finger before you throw it back on.

Those are just a few things, but overall I'd say very good job at both the magic and on coming across as a confident and friendly guy that people are going to enjoy seeing perform. The people you're performing for seem to genuinely enjoy what you're doing. Keep up the great work, Josh!
 
May 18, 2008
807
0
-When you produce the sponge ball it's off camera, so I don' know what the production looked like, but she didn't react at all. She cooly just says, "Uh huh." Not sure if this was just an off reaction to what you normally get with the first production, but you may want to reconsider it.

-You refer to the sponge ball as a "little clown nose thing." Do you want to be known as the guy walking around with "close nose things"? Maybe you do, maybe you don't--but it's a question you want to ask yourself as to how it pertains to your character.

-The girl throws at a really funny line: "Is that a growth on me or something?" That was a great hook to connect with her and have some fun and you ignored the line because you were too set on your routine. This is a pretty normal mistake to make when you're first starting out, but it is something you're going to want to get past.

-When you deliver the line: "You look confused so, here, I'll make it easy for you," it comes across a bit demeaning. That's the kind of line that can make someone into a heckler. No one wants to indirectly be told they're stupid.

-When you introduce the Harry/Ron thing it seems to annoy her more than entertain her. When you did the joke about making them switch places then asked her again which one she wanted her tone was that of annoyance when she says, "Ron." At that moment she felt her time was being wasted. She wanted to some action and she wasn't getting it. When she says "Ron" what her tone is really saying is, "Quit f*cking around and get on with it already."

-After you make the two balls appear together in her hand the first time she gives a great reaction. Don't be too quick to rush on. Step back and let that amazement marinate for a moment.

-Slow way down on the Ring Thing. Don't be afraid of letting them clearly see the ring is off your finger before you throw it back on.

Those are just a few things, but overall I'd say very good job at both the magic and on coming across as a confident and friendly guy that people are going to enjoy seeing perform. The people you're performing for seem to genuinely enjoy what you're doing. Keep up the great work, Josh!

Those are actually the SAME points that I was going to bring up.

I would like to add though (and you sort of alluded to this) that I think that the sponge routine went on WAY too long. The big thing is that doing something like that CAN be entertaining if played off right, but I think asking her "which she would rather have" or "how many are there" is just asking WAY too many questions one after another after they are already confused.

As always though, great video. Camera person seemed a tad bit confused at the beginning pertaining to the way to hold a camera though. ;)
 

CaseyRudd

Director of Operations
Team member
Jun 5, 2009
3,510
4,032
Charleston, SC
www.instagram.com
I also thought that you spoke a bit too fast and quiet. Project your voice louder and annunciate your words clearer. There were people watching from a distance that seemed like they couldn't hear you. Just a point to bring up. I completely concur with Mat and Chris here as well.

-Casey
 
Matt - Thanks for the feedback! Let me address your comments so I won't get confused haha

For the first production, I think she was just a bit confused. I asked to borrow something from her (she was wearing red) so I plucked the sponge from he clothes.

As for the clown nose line, I normally make a joke about how much I hate clowns and that I killed one and took his nose as a trophy. I kind of just forgot to mention that part haha

Honestly I didn't even hear her say that! It was kind noisy at the time so I think that was something the camera picked up that I didn't! Wish I had heard that lol

I didn't even think that about that line... I use it all the time and it normally gets a laugh so I've never even considered it to be demeaning... I'll have to think of a way to rephrase that.

Haha yeah that part was the spectator... shes someone who LOVES my magic but also tries to figure it out. Since at that point I hadn't done anything super magical she was just waiting for the magic to happen (thus her response when they multiplied in her hands). Again this normally isn't an issue with my avg spectator but thanks for your thoughts.

Thanks for the tip on slowing down... I'm actually a bit better than I was (think Sankey on Crack) but I still need to improve that. Thanks!

Thanks for the tip on the ring magic, like I said it was a spur of the moment thing so I kind of got caught up in the moment lol

Thanks a lot for your feedback, it def helped!

Chris - I've never had anyone complain about it being too long but I didn't think about it that way... I'll have to see if I can come up with way to change that.

Thanks a bunch! haha yeah I don't know why the camera was like that at first

Casey - Thanks for the info... yeah I didn't realize people were watching at first (when I started it was juts me, the girl, and my camera guy lol) I'm working on slowing myself down and projecting more

Thanks everyone for the AMAZING feedback!
 
Searching...
0 Results