Music in Magic
Music in magic is oh so important. When the famous Canadian magician, Doug Henning, presented his first national TV special in the States, the music that accompanied some of his illusions was perfect. If you’ve ever had a chance to watch a documentary about Hollywood film making, sometimes they’ll show a film clip without the music and then show it with the music. When done properly, music makes an undeniable contribution to the emotion of the scenes.
Music in David Copperfield’s shows
David was a trailblazer when it came to adding music in his TV special. At the height of his career, MTV was also groundbreaking. David made some of his presentations look not unlike a music video. He combined contemporary music and blended it with fabulous lighting and amazing illusions. The results were undeniable; he was the first rock-star of magic.
Music in Chris Pilsworth’s Magic Shows
When I decided to incorporate music into my show, I began to purchase CD’s from the record store. I would look at all genres of music to pick a piece that would fit seamlessly with the trick I was preparing. Movie soundtracks, jazz and electronic music were all ripe areas to explore. I would try multiple selections for each trick to see what felt right.
Initially, I would record the selection on a short music cassette. For some of my early shows, at private parties, I would play the music on a boom box. After each trick I would pop out the cassette and load in the next one for the next piece of music. The process was primitive, but effective. I was also able to run the music myself.
The next step was a boom box that played CDs. It also had a remote control, so I could burn a CD with all of the tracks for the show and not have to change the music after each track. This method would also work for when I started to perform in theatres. The CD could be played on the house system.
Music in Magic and Computers
Storage of music took another leap when songs could be digitized and stored on a laptop. One magician posted a method to run the show music using off the shelf controllers. A fob could trigger the instructions that were relayed to a receiver, which in turn played, paused or advanced the playlist on the laptop. I would enlarge the font on the screen and be able ot see all the tracks for the show in order. The ports on the laptop could be plugged into the amplifier and you were all set.
Apple was another Game Changer
When IPods came out from Apple, many magicians, including myself switched to the new hardware and also their proprietary ITunes. It was now possible to have all the show music stored in your pocket. I would hook the IPod up to a receiver and with a fob could trigger all of the cues. As my audio equipment shrunk over the years, my back was eternally grateful.
Batteries to the Rescue
These days all of my audio equipment is battery operated. My microphone transmitter and receiver both run on batteries as does my portable speaker. This decision I made was to facilitate working in all environments. I was no longer handcuffed to the length of an extension cord. It was possible to set-up, whether indoors or out, in the optimal position to give the audience the best view.
Music in Magic – Wow
Music tastes and audio equipment have changed immensely since I began performing. Each time the one or the other changes, there is always an adjustment period to the sound and technology. Embracing change allows my show to stay fresh and engaging and I can’t wait to see what new changes will make my show better in the coming years.