Seven Reasons to Script Your Act

As you may have guessed from the title, in preparation for my lecture at Magic in the Rockies (Thursday, September 4, 2008) more thoughts on scripting have percolated. Thinking about the lecture has given me an opportunity to organize some ideas which I’ll share with you now…

1. Timing — If you use a set script, you can time your performance. I am routinely asked if I can tailor my magic act to X number of minutes. With a set script, I know how long each segment of my show runs and can adjust accordingly. There have even been occasions when I have been asked (moments before taking the stage), “Can you cut your act from 60 minutes to 40 minutes to help us get back on schedule?.” If you use a set script, you can rise the the challenge, and save the day.
2. Character — When a magician creates a character, it defines what he or she will do and say as performer. But it also defines what what he or she WILL NOT do and say as a performer. Magicians who are reluctant to use a script because it is too confining may have missed the point. A script does confine and restrain the performer. And this is a good thing, because it helps to sharpen and focus the character. To often magicians try to improvise their words, and end up salting their performance with bad puns, insult humor, or crude innuendo — all of which may run counter to the character that they strive to portray. A script gives you control over how you present yourself (and your character) to the audience.
3. Metrics — A script allows you to take measure of your performance. One measure is time (as described above), but there are many others. How many times does the audience laugh during your routine (or your act)? You may make an artistic decision to have more laughs or fewer laughs, but the first step is to work from a set script to establish your baseline. Also, should the laughter come consistently through out your act, or should some sections have more laughter and other sections no laughter? Other things you can measure with your script: How often do you surprise your audience? How many cues for applause are there? How many times do you make use of a dramatic pause? A script gives us a map of the terrain. It allows you to measure your act so you can make decisions that will improve it.
4. Consistency — The great Billy McComb once said (in an interview with Martin Breese) that agents are interested in hiring acts that can consistently deliver the goods. If a performer gives a stellar performance one night, but is flat the next night, agents won’t touch them. Agents have enough to worry about; they don’t want to wonder if tonight will be the night that you give a sub-standard performance. Working from a set script ensures consistency.
5. Improvement — Having a written script will allow you to study your choice of words and improve them. Do you make a habit of qualifying your claims? Are you prone to say, “This is kind of strange,” when it would be stronger to simply declare, “This is strange.”? Do you say, “I feel that this is important,” when you could state, “This is important.”? Having a written script is an important tool for improving your choice of words and improving your act.
6. Precision & Clarity — As magicians, a great number of words that we speak are not that interesting, but they are necessary. “Examine the box inside and out. Are there any trapdoors or hidden openings?” “Give the cards a good mix. Then cut the cards into three approximately equal piles.” If we can’t avoid these uninteresting utterances, then the least we can do is make them brief. Woe to the performer who rambles on and on as the audience succumbs to slumber for want of anything worth listening to. And when we need to give instructions to the audience, let us be clear and use the best choice of words to ensure that the volunteer understands exactly what it is that we are calling upon them to do.
7. Master of Your Domain — Magicians (and others who take the stage) need to look at ease on stage, need to appear to be in control. I can be painful to watch a performer who appears uncertain or seems lost. Fumbling for words or being unsure of what to say can undermine your performance. But a magician who works from a script can hold the stage with confidence.

That’s all for now. More sure to follow…