What Does An Illusionist Do Off-Stage?
Many people don’t think about what I do off-stage and I can’t blame them.
If I do my job properly, the audience will never know about all the blood sweat and tears that go into producing an illusion show.
Although not every show I perform features large-scale illusions and theatrical lighting, when I perform the Grand Illusion Show, a ton of effort goes into the show.
Five hours before the audience takes their seats, my crew arrives at the venue to start setting up the equipment. Aside from the large illusions I perform on stage, (some weigh 400+ pounds) most of the trailer is filled with technical equipment. I provide my clients with a push-button solution, which means that my company does everything needed to produce my shows. We set-up a sound system, theatrical lighting, atmospheric effects, drapery and truss. It takes a crew of five around four hours to set-up my largest show; that’s twenty hours of labor to set-up for a 90 minute show!
However, that’s not what i’m doing today. I’m neither backstage, in a hotel or driving somewhere. Today…I’m in my office. I’m working on ideas for new illusions and making plans for business ventures I want to pursue. Lately my focus has been on improving four of the illusions in my show. It’s a unique process… naming something impossible, then figuring out how to make it happen on stage. Despite the challenges, it’s going well.
This year I will be reintroducing an original illusion that was built three years ago for my 2008 tour. I don’t want to ruin the surprise for anyone who will be seeing one of my shows this year, but I will say that i’m very excited to have this incredible illusion back in the show. Not only do I create new illusions for my show, i’m always trying to improve the magic I currently perform. For instance, right now i’m working to improve upon an act I’ve been performing for 11 years now.
In the middle of all this, i’m also planning rehearsals which are coming up in less than a month; It’s organized chaos here. Before rehearsals start I need to iron out all the details and tie up any loose ends. Routines need to be choreographed and lighting needs to to programmed. I have everything planned out in my head, I just need to make it all happen.
The next blog post I write will be one month from now, during rehearsals. I’ll fill you in on how the crew and I are progressing.
I’ll see you then.
