Magical Monday --- Impromptu Lines

The hardest part of adding comedy to any show is being able to come up with impromptu lines and jokes...but they are also the funniest. It is one thing to have several jokes and lines memorized for a show, but when you can make people laugh from "on the spot" comedy, it takes it to a whole new level. I first learned about this at a David Copperfield show I went to. He was introducing a trick and a baby in the audience started crying. David said, "So sit back, relax, and please, SHUT THAT KID UP!!!"...and the audience erupted in laughter! However I soon lost some respect for him when I watched his next TV special and as he introduced the same trick, a baby started crying...and, you guessed it...he said, "So sit back, relax..." The baby crying was just an audio recording so Copperfield would appear to have some impromptu comedy in his act. What it shows, is that even the top professionals know the value of this type of comedy and will even "fake it" to have it in their show.

Later on, I met a guy names "Amazing Johnathan" (pictured above). He was my favorite magician and his act was 2% magic and 98% comedy. And he is funny!!! Mainly because most of his comedy is impromptu with volunteers he brings on stage. I met him when he was a professional at my level (traveling around doing fairs and colleges), but now he is a headliner at several vegas hotels and casinos.

So how does this play out in my show? I have 3 tricks in my act that I try to leave space for some fun and laughs with volunteers that are not planned. You must leave some space, or it will never happen. Some magicians will say word-for-word the same thing EVERY show without fail. But I think that leaves out a component that can help make them more respected (just don't cheat like David!).

My favorite memory of an impromptu line in my show was at a corporate event I was doing. I was going to slice a volunteer's head off with my head box. I had one of the swords in my hand and asked for the CEO to come on stage with me. As the audience cheered him on, he made his way up front. I reached out to shake his hand, but when he raised his...he did not have a hand, he had a hook. You could tell it was a tense moment as everyone got quiet and wondered what I would do next. So I looked at his "hook", glanced over at my sword, looked out toward the audience and said, "Oh, I see you've helped me with this trick once before". Of course the audience laughed for a LONG time, and several commented on that moment after the show. Of course I was invited back the following year as well.