It’s less than 24 hours into the sale of Dynamite In A Small Package. The response has been fantastic. THANK YOU! Most purchases come from previous Dixon Magic buyers. That says a lot about the trust people have in my “stuff.” I don’t take that trust lightly. Thank you.
But for readers that might be new to our products, let me explain something that is not only important to the book; it’s important to every show I do, and I suspect your show, too. And nearly every item I sell.
Whether you purchase the book or not, if you embrace — fully embrace — this core concept of the book. It’s going to do wonders for your show.
The show uses cards. It is not about cards.
That’s how the show in Dynamite In A Small Package succeeds, and to be blunt, that’s how the show I feed my wife and six sons with succeeds. It’s how most shows succeed.
The Dynamite Show (yeah, I giggle at that name, too) has seven audience members helping. The four for the first two routines interact with the show from their seats. The fifth person comes up to help with the fourth trick and the last two are part of the big closer.
The interaction with the audience members IS the show.
The cards are a device to make that entertaining interaction happen.
Now it’s obvious, I think you should buy the book.
Not as obvious, is whether you buy the book or not, I want you embrace the concept that props are better viewed as tools to increase interaction.
Is this approach an all powerful magic wand (pun intended) that will make every routine better?
No. But I am certain this approach can make most props and routines better.
Here are the details on the book:
This Monday sales will open for Dynamite In A Small Package, my new 60+ page book teaching a five routine complete act for stage. All that’s required is a deck of cards, a marker, two minutes of prep, and it’s show time!
More than teaching how to do the tricks, it teaches how and why a typical audience (like an after dinner show) can be entertained for up to 2o minutes with so little in the way of props with the routines taught in the book.
“Dynamite comes in small packages”
An expression meaning that very powerful things can often come from small sources.
So how can a magic act play to big audiences with few props?
One, smart routine selection.
Two (or is it a subset of one?), performing routines where the interaction with the audience members is the source of the entertainment.
Then the show isn’t about a 3-1/2 inch x 2-1/2 inch x 3/4 inch deck of cards. It’s about several feet and and hundreds of pounds of PEOPLE. Last I checked, that’s even bigger than a Zig Zag. And all you’re packing for it is a deck of cards and a marker.
Think about some of the most memorable moments for your shows over the years. I bet nearly all of them are when a audience member – not a prop – did something that was extra entertaining.
Wouldn’t it be best to design an act from the ground up that produced those kind of moments? And as a bonus, the props fit in your hand?
If you enjoyed my book The Show Is The Mother Of Invention — Advice On Packing Small, Playing Big & Living Large, then you’ll love Dynamite In A Small Package. It’s a deep dive into applying those principals in these five routines.
If you want to do some of the Dynamite In A Small Package act or all of it …
If you want this to be your go to emergency stand up set …
If you want to have several stage routines that give the perception of skill …
If you want to learn routines, skills, and concepts that will improve your entire act …
…You want this book.
Table Of Contents
Introduction
Rules & Goals
The (Real) Methods
The Act & Routines
The Non-Pre-Show
Faster Than The World’s Fastest Trick
Seeing Right Through You
Trying Desperately Hard To Find A Four Of A Kind
A Trip With A Signed Card
Cards Across With Selections
Extras