I'm just back home from the stage gig that happened a few hours ago @ MOS, Clarke Quay *yawn* Many thanks to Aloy & Drygin for being such WONDERFUL angels in helping me out for this major show ...and hey, it was nice to see Farbird there at the club as well (isn't SG small!) :)

My 15 min stage performance at the main arena was introduced as a mentalism act, not a magic show. This was to generate the right perception I wanted for my audience. I felt the suspension of disbelief was very important, so all the different segments and patter were carefully streamlined to make sure that this perception (of me being SG's Jean Grey and not a magician who produces colorful magic canes) was kept in check.

The crowd at MOS wasn't very very packed, since it IS a weekday, and I wasn't given a clip-on mic because they only had wireless handheld ones. I was lucky Bob Chua (thanks a million, Uncle Bob!) passed me his spare mic holder the other day tho... however, the mics from MOS was a little large so it wasn't a very good fit.

Lesson #1: If you're thinking of doing shows often, I think it's wise to invest in a good clip-on mic so you don't have to worry about audio issues that would affect your performances.

There were a couple of American audience in the crowd, and I was lucky that they gave reactions... typical Singaporeans just kept quiet with their drinks and steads/ frens and had to be qued to clap :P

To break the ice, I started out with a simple bill levitation, with borrowed money. I was cautious of my IT hookup being seen by the lights but it went ok... it was a strong opener (no flashy fire stunts allowed in MOS *pout*) and got spontaneous applause.

Next up, I did a mind reading effect with 5 random people from the audience, & that went ok but could have been SO MUCH better if not for the mic *internal scream* I also had nerves, because some people at the front were hecklers.

Anyways, I cannot express how important it is that all the audience can hear you properly especially when you're performing mental magic and it's not a 'safe' silent act without lines or memorised patter *grr* Their sound system for the mic was really weak, even the emcee (Radio DJ, Jansen) had to shout into the mic <_<

Anyways, I had one of the volunteers stay after the 2nd effect and proceeded to do metal bending with an iron spike. The iron rods were handed to the audience before and after, and got quite good reactions but believe me, i was trying my best not to panic about the tricky angle problems because it was a surrounded stage (save for the backdrop).

ALL 3 SIDES HAD PEOPLE!!! It was very stressful, because I really don't want to make any mistakes in angles and cause an exposure. I had to rush through a revision of plans with Aloy less than an hour before the gig to make sure it'd all pull through *phew* Good thing Mr. SMC has a lot of brains and creativity :wub:

We used the new positions and stage plans for the iron spike bending effect. Drygin commented that the bending effect was executed ok and the thing is, people mostly came for the booze and to pick up chicks so not everyone was looking on intently (as opposed to say, a magic show you pay good money for) so i just used the side with the most number of people watching. So heh, maybe the more drunk your audience is, the more you can get away with things :rolleyes:

Anyways, I couldn't use my fave pyro closer because the Management of MOS said NO to fire... so no psychic fire illusion, the one i did at the end during my MU'06 stage competition (awww) :( However! :) This gave me the chance to perform my new glass breaking effect and that went really good! The timing was perfect and the glass breaking was so visual, it didnt require much help from the stupid mic *grin* The Americans at the front and some Singaporeans on the side gave positive reactions... one of the Americans even walked over to the stage (HECKLER!) wanting to check the champagne glass beforehand, and with him saying that it was 'yeah, normal', made it more amazing *yay*

Me being me, I was not very happy with my performance because I felt it could have been a lot better but when I was leaving MOS with my props, a stranger at the bar with his friends actually stopped me and asked about it. No... He wasn't trying to pick me up, Aloy was with me :rolleyes: But he was curious to know if it was just 'tricks' because it all looked very real. That gave me a vote of confidence... maybe I didn't do that bad afterall :P Still, on hindsight, i realise there are so many things I forgot to say/ do and can brush up on. Will strive to work hard to make this better ^_^

I'm waiting for the performance vids and photos to reach me (hopefully they do). Will post them up if/when they send it to me eventually :) It may be up on the funky Nightlive portal as well... This gig at MOS was a scary but interesting one for sure. Teaches one to think on your feet and to anticipate and learn.

Righty... Going to get some shuteye now, I'm pooped!!!

ZZZZZzzz...
Ning: Grey matter now on mutiny :lol:

You did NOT invite usssssssssssssss did you? haha

LOL... I considered telling people about this in advance but then I realised not everyone here can get into MOS :lol: Erm, legally... :g:

ning

In all honesty, I think the trouble with the mic really dampened the short act a lot. :(
We didn't get a chance to test the mic till the very last min when she's supposed to go on. And she was really soft over the sound system. <_<
A pity because I think she did get the attention of the crowd with the opener but you can literary see the people giving up once the "wordy" parts come in because it's difficult to hear her over the PA.
And angle sensitive (however generous the angles are) effects are a nightmare. :ph43r: She had to do all sorts of strange performance position to effective block out as much as the bad angles as possible.

Oh well...I did get to be backstage with all the SNAG mag "SNAG Babe" contestants (yeah, it's some kinda beauty pagent) so I guess I dun have that much to complain........ :g:

Basically, it was a show that would have spooke alot of magicians, even for professionals. The stage itself was a funny "cross" design and of all things had a hole in the middle! :mellow: and not to mention, open angles from 3 sides of the stage!!!

However, I must say that Ning managed a wonderful job at doing her act well. The crowd were rather dead, except for the 3 guys in front. Even for the whole entire show, the crowd were dead! Typical Singaporeans! ;)

But there were also some guests whose reactions were like : "How come magicians always can do all this funny stuff?" haha! So it just means to say Ning did an awesome job.

Gotta agree with Aloy though, the mic was really soft, and probably that caused the whole disappointment! Think if they had lower down the volume of the music, and increase the volume of the mic, the show would probably be a huge success.

Just my 2 cents!

Cheers!

P.S. You guys gotta to check out Ning's Glass Breaking effect! Totally Awesome!! n B)

Waaah. Sounds like it was a good show. I mean people come up to you thinking it was for real, heh. Just curious, how did you reply them when they asked that?

And glass breaking!! Must show us next time ok? Congrats on the show, never mind the sound and angle problem - now you know what to check next time. B)

wow, Ms Ning you make it again.

Well done. B)

Are you showing us this Sunday at Suntec CCF Show? if yes, i will try all my best to rush down.

MAD. B)

LOL... I just told him it was as real as he believes it to be, winked and made my exit... was practically starving because I hadn't had a real dinner! :lol:

MAD - No glass breaking act for CCF this Sunday, I'll be doing a new routine... a family show ;)

Thanks for the kind words you guys!

^_^ Ning