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Chung Ling Soo Stage Magic Competition
Registration and Technical Requirements


The third annual Chung Ling Soo Stage Magic Competition will be held on May 17, 2009, at 7:00 pm at the Alamo Theatre in Bucksport, Maine. The registration deadline for contestants is midnight on Thursday, April 16, 2009.

The Chung Ling Soo Stage Magic Competition is open to all members of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, who need not be members of Ring 362.


Registration

Please see the official rules for the Chung Ling Soo Stage Magic Competition. Contestants are reminded that performances that exceed ten minutes will be disqualified. Any use of speech, written or recorded language (other than song lyrics) will also result in disqualification.

Contestants must register with the Contest Official ( Paul Szauter, 207-288-0388) 30 days prior to the Chung Ling Soo Stage Magic Competition, that is, by midnight on Thursday, April 16, 2009. In order to register, contestants must send to the Contest Official:

The Registration and Technical Requirements Form is available as a PDF.

Name (or Stage Name). This is the performer's name as it will appear in the program distributed to the audience and judges.

Title of Act. This is the title of the contestant's act as it will appear in the program distributed to the audience and judges. Here are some examples of titles:

The title should be short and descriptive of the act, as it might appear in a theatrical program. The name of the performer should not be used. Titles should not be blatantly commercial ("Amazing Magic Party Machine, Call for Bookings") or in poor taste. The Contest Official reserves the right to reject or edit titles.

Proof of I.B.M. Membership. Minimally, this will be the contestant's I.B.M. member number. If the contestant is not a member of Ring 362, a copy of the member's current membership card, a letter or email from the TVP of the contestant's territory, or similar proof should also be supplied.

Completed Registration and Technical Requirements Form. The Registration and Technical Requirements Form is available as a PDF. If you cannot print this form, a printed copy is available by request from the Contest Official ( Paul Szauter, 207-288-0388).

Music on CD. If the contestant will be using music for the act, this must be submitted on CD with the contestant's registration. CDs will be returned to contestants on the day of the contest.


Technical Requirements

A Registration and Technical Requirements Form is available as a PDF from this website. Here are items that contestants may wish to think about. If there is anything else that you think should be covered here, please contact the the Contest Official ( Paul Szauter, 207-288-0388) as soon as possible.

Stage. Contestants should keep in mind that the stage at the Alamo Theatre is shallow. The stage is approximately eight feet deep (backdrops supplied by Ring members will take up some of the depth of the stage). The working stage is about twenty feet wide.

Prop Placement. There is no front curtain, and all props will be set in full view of the audience. Each contestant must supply to the Contest Official a description of props to be placed on stage prior to the beginning of the act. Ring members may be available as stagehands to assist in prop placement if this would decrease the setup time. Setup time does not count against the contestant's maximum time of ten minutes.

Sight cues. Contestants are advised that it is difficult for volunteer stagehands to follow sight cues for music without rehearsal. If sight cues are to be used, the contestant must supply to the Contest Official a cue sheet that exactly specifies the sight cues, for example:

  1. When the curtain opens to begin the performance, start track 1.
  2. After the silks are placed in the box, I will pick up the fan. At that point, start track 2.
  3. As the snow fills the stage, I will pick up the sword. At that point, start track 3.
  4. etc.

Lighting. The Alamo Theatre will supply theatrical lighting to improve the appearance of the show. In general, complicated light cues will not be possible.

Pyrotechnics and Fire Effects. All pyrotechnics and use of fire will be prohibited. No fire, really!

Other Theatrical Effects. Performers considering theatrical effects other than lighting and sound (e.g., fog machines) should discuss any such effects with the Contest Official to see if the proposed effect is feasible on the stage available to us.

Rehearsal. Contestants will have the option of a talk-through, walk-through, or full rehearsal the day of the show to permit the crew to learn prop placement, sight cues, lighting, and any unusual special effects. Judges and members of the public will not be present for the rehearsal, but it is likely that other contestants and some Ring members will be able to witness the rehearsal, unless the contestant makes a strong case to the Contest Official for a rehearsal for crew only.