How to Be An Illusionist: A Fundamental Guide to Performing a Modern Illusion Show - Paperback

by J. C. Sum (Author)

Have you always wondered how to be an illusionist?

Do you wish to perform on a large stage for thousands of people?

Maybe you are a working magician specializing in close up or stage magic and are looking to put together a bigger show for a special event?

"How to be an Illusionist" is a first-of-its kind introductory reference guide on performing a modern illusion show in today's entertainment & pop culture market.

In this comprehensive guide, you will learn step by step how to put an illusion show together, regardless of whether you perform illusions for fun, as a hobby, part-time or professionally.

You will receive a goldmine of information that will empower you with practical knowledge to take on the world of grand illusions; including a primer on over 100 well-known illusions performed today with credits.

The reference guide consists of 10 modules of information that is worth thousands of dollars' to the performing illusionist and has taken years of experience to learn and develop.

Contents include:

PART 1: BASIC ILLUSION TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE

• How to Learn Illusions
• Basic Illusion Utilities
• Understanding Basic Illusion Design & Deceptiveness

PART 2: OVERVIEW OF POPULAR ILLUSIONS

EFFECTS

• Productions
• Disappearances
• Transpositions
• Double Transpositions
• Transformations
• Suspensions
• Levitations
• Penetrations
• Mutilation
• Escapes

PART 3: HOW TO CHOOSE ILLUSION SHOW MATERIAL

• Experiment with Simple Illusions
• Choosing Your First Illusion
• Choosing Supporting Material

PART 4: HOW TO GET THE ILLUSIONS

• Buying the Illusion
• Financing the Illusion
• Building the Illusion
• Building an Illusion from a Set of Plans

PART 5: CASING THE ILLUSIONS

• ATA Flight Cases
• Basic Flight/ Road Cases
• Advanced Flight/ Road Cases
• Canvas & Poly-Fiber Cases
• How to Store & Transport Illusions
• Freight Forwarding Illusions

PART 6: HOW TO PRODUCE THE SHOW

• Show Structure
• Show Format
• Alternative Show Concepts
• Different Ways to Open an Illusion Show

PART 7: SHOW SUPPORT

• Show Support Team
• Prop Movement & Staging
• Basic Sound for Illusion Shows
• Music Design
• Basic Lighting for Illusion Shows
• Show Cue Sheet
• Costuming

PART 8: PRACTICE & REHEARSAL

• Practice
• Rehearsal
• The Illusionist On-stage Cue System

PART 9: ILLUSION PERFORMANCE & PERFORMING

• Performing Tips
• How to Improve Your Performance & Show
• Differentiate Your Illusion Performance
• Perform Your Show

PART 10: THE MODERN ILLUSIONIST

• The Illusionist Versus the Magician
• Four Ways Performing Magic & Illusions is Different Today
• What the Modern Illusionist Needs to Do to be Successful

BIBLIOGRAPHY & REFERENCES

It features over 80 full-colour photographs of a dozen international illusionists in performance including David DaVinci (USA), David Haines (USA), Kyle Knight & Mistie (USA), Miguel Gavilán (Spain), Hector Ruiz (Spain), Rémy Savary (France), Adeline Ng (Singapore), Daniel Ka (Spain), Sam Powers (Australia), Jason Bishop (USA), Jay Mattioli (USA) and Sean Alexander (U.K.).

Author Biography

Based in Singapore, J C Sum is an illusionist, magician and illusion designer working in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. He has 20 years of international experience performing for corporate & special events, luxury cruise liners, theaters, showrooms and television. J C Sum's work and celebrity have been recognized by both the regional Asian mainstream media and the international magic trade media. More than 120 million people have watched J C's magic in 27 countries. J C has been called "Singapore's most famous magician" by The Straits Times and "Singapore's Celebrity Magician" by TODAY as well as acknowledged as "truly one of the world's top illusion acts" by MagicSeen magazine. AsiaOne notes that he is "one of the most celebrated magicians in Asia" and The Business Times credits J C as "bringing magic to the mainstream in Asia." Offstage, J C is a creative entrepreneur, content creator and investor. He holds a B.A. in Sociology and English Language with a minor in Philosophy from the National University of Singapore. J C is world-recognized for his contributions to the illusion arts with his critically acclaimed books on original illusion designs & presentations that have been bought by hundreds of magicians in over 40 countries. He is also the creator of three extensive resource websites for the theatre and entertainment industries: Illusionbooks.com - An extensive online resource for illusionists. BackstageBusinessAcademy.com - A website dedicated to educating entertainers in business, marketing and investing. MagicKabukiDrop.com - The world's most comprehensive resource site on Kabuki Drops, a stagecraft technique and curtain release system. Since 2008, J C has given numerous talks locally & overseas on his perspective and approach to his business including TEDxNTU, TEDxCQ and Passion Unleashed talks. He also has a presentation entitled "Technology, Engineering & Design in Magic." He has been nominated for a "Spirit of Enterprise" business award and has been featured in leading business publications such as The Business Times and The Edge.