Patter, Plots & Scripts

Finally, the long awaited ebook on how to MC is here! This is the professional MC’s handbook that teaches you how to be the perfect host for your show. It includes tips, funny bits of business and invaluable information. 30 years of experience all over the world condensed in dozens of pages full of advice. The importance of rehearsal, how to perfectly introduce the acts, know the acts, handle the end of the acts, how to manage... stage managers, sound and lights, don’t get trapped in the curtain, openings, stage standing ovations, intermissions, closing, curtain calls, life-saver lines,...

This manuscript explains the art of "Double Talk" and how to use this to your advantage in magic shows.

PDF 8 pages.

Music is an element that can take a simple show and make it fantastic. This text will identify the various uses of music. I will go into detail on a simple "start up" system you can use. Sources for music will be identified as well as editing materials. A system you can control while on stage, using music that has been edited to fit your performance might already be near your fingertips.

• Uses of Music
• Legal Issues
• Emotion
• Getting Started
• Background
• Choreographed
• Looping and Editing
• Back Up
• Wrapping it Up

1st edition 2016, 22 pages.

A magical mystery in one act.

From the introduction:

The next time you select a volunteer for one of your magic routines, why not play a quick game of chance to decide who the volunteer's going to be? Yet . . . do so with total confidence that the person you want to use in your show is always the one who wins the game.

Here are two different versions where numbered word cards are selected by various members of the audience and then read aloud in numerical order by the audience members. From experience, it is strongly suggested that you consider using both versions in the same show. Both times you use these cards the audience laughs louder...

Did you know that Doug Henning and his Broadway play, "The Magic Show", was not a new idea? Do you know about the hundred or more years of Magic Plays that preceded Doug's triumph? If you truly are a magician, you should know all about the background of your hobby or profession - and here's a very pleasant way to find out about it.

Sam Sharpe (M.I.M.C.) has done extensive research to produce this volume, The Magic Play. 150 pages of absorbing reading, all about the use of magic in dramatic plays, what tricks were used, what famous personages used them, where they were used, how they were...

An attractive rapid sketching act suitable for any entertainment. Easily acquired by means of the guide to presentations, non-technical self-instructor. Includes 30 exclusive lightning, reversible, and plain line sketches. Accompanied with the appropriate and witty patter. Anyone can do it. Little practice required. No preparation necessary.

• A Triangular Yacht
• Oval Oddities
• An Animal With Points
• The Cat
• A Fruitful Pear
• A Full Man From An Empty Coffin
• Reversible Sketches
• Line Sketches
• Suggested "Patter" For Lightning Sketches

Timothy Hyde, international mentalist and founder of the MagicCoach.com project has a big secret. Over half of his business, is actually as an MC at corporate events world wide. His clients have used him in - South Africa, New Zealand, USA, every corner of Australia and he is about to head off to an assignment in Cambodia.

Many magicians have crossed over into this exciting and lucrative market, using the skills they already have to create fun and impact at a huge range of events. The market is vast and expanding. Assignments can include - Corporate, Association, Government, Social & Sporting...

The Center Tear Papers is a collection of graphic, plot lines and scripts to help make the classic center more engaging and meaningful.

"In this book TC Tahoe explains his unique approach to the center tear and how he uses it to create strong and memorable routines that empower and help others. TC's empathy for others is visible in everything he writes, and it's hard to imagine anyone who would not be moved and helped by these routines. Highly recommended." - Richard Webster

"Well done TC. The scripting here is amazing. Using any center tear, it's a journey you take with your spectator. It has taken...

... or the Wonder Mouse Pitch.

One of the greatest pitch items of all time has always been the magic wonder mouse. I'm sure that most of you at one time or another have seen a wonderful pitchman at a fair with a baffling little mouse running all over the back of his hand. At the end of his demonstration of course you are allowed to purchase one and take home this mystery to baffle your friends. The wonder mouse can be sold at the end of your performance, or if you do a full evening show, it can be sold during the intermission. Or wonder mouse can be sold on its own at any number of venues...

Re-Thinks is a new series of eBooks from TC Tahoe.

Learning to Host a show, I mean to do it properly, lead to so many improvements in TC's own show, that to this day he still hosts shows whenever he can. Learning to MC will not only improve your act, it will make you stronger and more confident on stage, oh and of course it will open up new avenues of work too.

"TC never ceases to amaze me. Not only is he one of the strongest headliners we have, but he is one of the best Show Hosts I have worked with. Whether he is hosting our guest talent show, (which he volunteers to do) or hosting special...

This ebook is a "Panorama of Professional Prose Palaver and Polished Poetical Patter". It is a collection of six previous Abbott publications:

• Practical Patter by Percy Abbot
• Patter Punches by Sol Stone
• Routines In Rhyme by Bill West
• Merrier Magical Chatter by Don Rogers
• 202 Ways To Stop Hecklers by Otis Manning
• Punch And Judy by Sydney de Hempsey

PDF 127 pages

Once a script writer for Jack Paar's show (1962-63) and Red Skelton's show (1964-70), has also written for Dick Gregory (six years), and was a speechwriter for President Gerald Ford in 1973-77.

One-liners, flip lines, gags and patter. Many of these one-lines are still good today. Others just need some updating but still very funny stuff.

The real benefit of having this material available in digital form is to be able to search for particular words and phrases which related to your performance, occasion or venue. This makes it much easier to find suitable comedy lines.

1st edition 1954,...

This PDF encapsulates Cara's practise on storytelling and how to turn a trick into a piece of theatre. It encompasses setting, attitude, sound, crafting a tale, inspiration, hints, tips, getting the most from your verbal presentation and much much more. It also includes essays by professional storytellers revealing facets of their art. This is not a work for someone looking for tricks. It is however a work that will take your Magic to the next level.

Chapters include:

• Isn't storytelling just for children?
• Storytelling is a 5 pointed star
• Finding a tale
• Scripting your tale
• Words from...

A manuscript of meaningless meanderings on the subject of meaningful magic.

Above all this is fun to read. Master Payne has an engaging and fun way to write. His intention with this ebook is to impart on you the skills to be able to create a theme specific show from the knowledge of performing character driven magic. He calls it Thematic Thaumaturgy.

Master Payne teaches primarily by example. He takes an effect that he adopted for one of his themed shows and he explains how, why and what he changed. The first such example is What’s Next?, the classic spot card trick from Tenyo. In his...

This ebook contains lots of comedy for any age group with new patter and routines with apparatus, which you may already own. Entertaining children is generally known, to be one of the most lucrative branches of magic - and this contains plenty of kid stuff. Also contained herein are Gospel Lessons, Mental Effects and Escape Ideas. Everything with a novel setting for some of our most popular standard effects - such as: The Milk Pitcher, Egg Bag, Dove Pan, Vanishing Canes, Liquid Appear, Bang Gun, Six Card Repeat and more. All audience tested.

• Introduction
• What Is An Orange Made Of???
• Polluted...

This is quite an interesting booklet with very nice ideas for patter, as well as some card effects. Particularly noteworthy is a hilarious burlesque mind reading act. You have to check this one out!

1st edition, 1919, F. G. Thayer, Los Angeles; 45 pages.

5. A Few Remarks
6. Opening Patter
10. Some Card Effects and Accompanying Patter:
10. Four Ace Combination
13. The Wrapped Cards Divided by a Knife
16. Transposition
20. Miscellaneous Patter:
20. Kling Klang
20. Solid Through Solid
22. Straight Jacket Escape
23. The Rabbit Pan
25. The Spirit Hand
28. The Egg Bag
32. The Twentieth Century Handkerchief Trick
33. Cards from the Pocket ...

Among the most essential but least addressed subjects in Magic's vast literature is how to make you, as a performer, and your magic performances stronger, better appreciated, and more memorable. Far too little has been offered to the magic community beyond largely narrative patter and lame gags, too often juvenile and sadly insulting. Apart from Make Me Care (2003) and Remarkable Ruses & Ruminations (2007), in 2014, Wesley released So Much More (2014). Building on his two earlier books, the original text explained some of what magical performers could do to improve their performances. However, in that 20-page book he could not address...

Want to make your show different? Can't figure out how? We all do some of the same basic skits in our hypnosis shows and it is time to stop. It is time to take control of your show and make it DIFFERENT! In this skit building workshop you will discover the secrets of making your show Unique and creating a show that uses classic skits but in a different way than everyone else.

Price is Just $7 You cannot go wrong!

[You will receive a PDF workbook and an MP3 audio file. Download both from your digital shelf.]

workbook 10 pages, audio length 18 minutes.

"Sid Lorraine has always been an idol of mine. Oh, I've been through fads like: Ed Marlo, Leo Behnke, Bro. Hamman, Tom Palmer, Don Alan ... even Jay Marshall! But, I always come back to Sid Lorraine. Whenever I've needed an idea or inspiration, my library of Sid Lorraine books or my files of his tricks and variations have provided both and more." - Ron Bauer

This...

Imagine being able to control coincidence. Where the time and location of two events determines the outcome of the events. This script and full instructions explains how.

Imagine being able to control coincidence. Where the time and location of two events determines the outcome of the events. Now you can!

The magician removes a BLUE backed card from his pocket as he talks about coincidence, and how coincidence is decided by two factors: physical proximity and time. He has someone sit on the card. He then removes a RED backed deck from his pocket, and spreads the cards out front and back...

This is a complete script and revised handling for the COUNTING ON LOTHAR trick, perhaps one of the strangest and mystifying card tricks around. It allows the magician to predict the past, the present, and even the future.

One of the more difficult tasks facing magicians is coming up with scripts – of any sort. Especially a script that has to account for dealing and counting processes, unusual display processes, and a trick that has no climax. This is a complete script and revised handling for the COUNTING ON LOTHAR trick, perhaps one of the strangest and mystifying card tricks around....

A reworking of the 6 Card Repeat like none other. Using no gimmicked cards, the trick has a funny and visual plot, and for once a true climax.

Are you looking for a methodology and script for the 6 Card Repeat that steps outside the usual plot of "I saw a guy count 1,2,3,4,5,6 cards, throw away 1,2,3 and he still had 6 cards"?

Because let's face it, the story is silly, doesn't have any spectator 'hook' nor does it have a recognizable climax beyond the weak ending of "And I still don't know how he did it."

Well, the author of How To Write A Script shows you how he used his methodology to adapt a script...

Imagine a self working trick that uses 4 objects and only three questions that allows you to determine which object or objects the spectator(s) are thinking of. Now add fun, misdirection, and a performance video.

One of the more difficult tasks facing magicians is coming up with scripts - of any sort. Especially a routine where you have 1 or more audience members mentally select any of 4 objects and then answer 3 questions with either lies or the truth. And you identify the truthtellers -vs- the liars, and you discern which object they were thinking of.

How do you explain to an audience,...

Nick Trost's Automatic Lie Speller turned into two different scripts complete with by-play, jokes, and mystery.

One of the more difficult tasks facing magicians is coming up with scripts - of any sort. How do you explain to an audience in a reasonable manner how and why a deck of cards can detect and correct lies? Well, the author of How To Write a Script shows you how he used his methodology to write a script that successfully explains the power of Nick Trost's Automatic Lie Speller.

There are actually two scripts given. One is for groups where you want to involve more than one person, and whispering would...

A free e-Manuscript that illustrates how scripting, routining and analysis can turn even the oldest and most well known trick into a true performance piece.

Who doesn't know the 21 card trick?

Nobody, that's who. And that unfortunately includes many laymen. So, the author of "HOW TO WRITE A SCRIPT" decided to tackle this trick - in it's classical format - as a challenge to create a script and handling that disguises the mathematical method while entertaining the onlookers.

This ebook supplies the script and simple moves that resulted from that challenge. The script has audience involvement,...

A combination of "Disposable Color" and "B'Wave", both classics by Max Maven, makes each trick stronger and more fool-proof with just the addition of some scripting ideas and a few simple handling changes.

1st edition 2022, PDF 25 pages.

If you do any type of an "instant-stooge" trick using cards (for example Karrel Fox's "Gift of the Magi"), you know there's a chance that the volunteer will name the wrong card. This is an "out" for that situation. There are no real gimmicks, no difficult handling, and it almost instantly resets. The out is a non-R/S version of the Brainwave Deck based on an idea by Martin Peirce.

NOTE: This can be used as a standalone effect also.

1st edition 2022, 13 pages.

The trick PictoTranspo by Gene Anderson is a wonderful reframing of a Roy Johnson trick. In the trick, two large pictures - one drawn by the volunteer - swap places, even though the pictures are marked on the back with the volunteer's and magician's names.

A logical and funny script is included that covers why the trick is being done, and even allows you to pick any volunteer.

Note: This trick is not fully explained. You must own the trick to be able to perform it.

1st edition 2021, 17 pages.

An age old penetration of your own thumb using a string or chain has been revisited and reworked into a clever and deceptive trick. Simple. Easy to perform. Surrounded. No gimmicks, no gaffs.

A classic of magic we all learned early on and never do, as it's not a very good trick. Until now. The trick has been transformed into a very cute and clever brain teaser with nothing more than a little modified handling and some clever scripting.

1st edition 2021, PDF 24 pages, video 1 min 48 s.

A multi-phase ring and rope routine using only a regular rope and ring.

Most ring and rope routines don't really look like magic. They look like the rope is looped and threaded and re-threaded, and otherwise fiddled with to account for the "magic". Not this routine. Simple. Easy to perform. Almost surrounded. No gimmicks, no gaffs. Everything's examinable, and nothing is added or taken away. A rope - and a ring. And a killer script.

The author of How To Write A Script reveals his 'Ring and Rope' routine, which he has used to close his act, and is nothing but visual, clean magic. This ebook gives you every...

A parlor/small stage version of the Gypsy Thread that does not rely on florescent thread, but instead uses yarn. It comes complete with a offbeat and funny script.

• Preface
• Effect
• Methodology
  • Materials
  • Preparation
  • Moves
• Scripts
• Analysis of the trick
• Script Insights
  • Fixing flaws
• Performance Notes
• Errata
• Credits
• An Additional Service
• Final thoughts

1st edition 2020, PDF 21 pages.

A script and methodology for doing the classic Clippo trick that will make you and your audience appreciate the beauty and mystery of a small, easy to carry trick.

Clippo is a trick that is wonderful on paper, and useless in reality. For such a clever trick, there never seems to be an appropriate reaction. And frankly, the trick has no ending and occasionally fails.

In this manuscript, you'll learn:

• why Clippo fails to get a good reaction
• how to make Clippo
• the script
• even some of the script writing and design process followed

1st...

A fairly forgotten classic turned into a beautiful performance piece for any group. Includes the script, full instructions, and a performance video.

One of the more difficult tasks facing magicians is coming up with scripts - of any sort. How do you explain to an audience in a reasonable manner how and why this fabulous magic is happening?

Well, the author of How To Write A Script shows you how he used his methodology to write a script that successfully explains...in a bare minimum of script...the Sympathetic Silks.

Part of the scripts' charm is that the audience sees a trick performed in just FOUR words. ...

How to lasso a chosen card. Complete methodology as well as script and performance video included. Full performance rights allowed.

It is a version that makes sense. The magician explains that as a child at summer vacation, he learned how to lasso mosquitoes, and he got so good at it, that he learned to actually snap the knot for the lasso onto the rope mid-air. And he thought he'd turn that skill into a trick.

The magician has a card selected. This card is returned to the deck and shuffled by the spectator. After some byplay, the magician drops the cards into a paper bag, puts one end...

Two complete scripts and very simple handling for the Triumph effect, which not only fools people, but entertains them immensely. No difficult sleights, no gaffs, no problems.

Many versions of Triumph are either complicated and hard to follow, or gaffed, or even a knuckle buster.

Well, the author of How To Write A Script shows how he used his methodology to write 2 different scripts that explains and entertains with the Triumph effect, while technically putting it well within the reach of every magician. This ebook gives you every line, joke, piece of timing, setup and nuance of the routine.

The ebook...