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In Memory of Bob Nixon |
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Chung Ling Soo Stage Magic Competition
Registration and Technical Requirements
The fourth annual
Chung Ling Soo Stage Magic Competition will be held on Saturday, May 15, 2010, at 7:00 pm at the
Next Generation Theatre in Brewer, Maine.
The performance is open to the public. General admission tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children 12 years and under.
For advance ticket sales (recommended) call Next Generation Theatre at (207) 989-7100.
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.
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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 15, 2010.
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:
- Chinese Rings
- A Dream of Wealth
- The Magic Cauldron
- The World and Its Peoples
- etc.
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
Next Generation Theatre is a low thrust stage with no proscenium or front curtain.
Performers are exposed to the audience at a wider angle than is typical for a proscenium stage.
The stage of the
Next Generation Theatre is shown in the diagram below to indicate dimensions.
The working part of the stage is twenty feet wide and ten feet deep.
For the Chung Ling Soo Stage Magic Competition, we will place two portable drapes on the diagonal sides of the thrust stage
(shown in red in the diagram) to restrict the viewing angles and encourage the audience to sit in the center section.
This approach worked well for the appearance of Theater of Marvels on March 27, 2010.
Access to the stage is best through the stage left entry shown in the diagram.
This entry connects to a tunnel that runs the length of the theater.
The tunnel has mirrors, backstage lighting, and benches for the placement of costumes and props that can be easily carried on.
It is possible to enter from stage right, but the backstage area is cramped.
Any larger props, roll-on tables and the like, can be placed on stage behind the side drapes.
All props will have to be set in full view of the audience.
Here is a photo of the stage at Next Generation Theatre.
For the Chung Ling Soo Stage Magic Competition, the sparkle curtain will not be in place over the upstage entrance.
The backdrop will be brick as seen through the curtain in the photo.
Red side drapes will extend from the front pillars on either side of the stage to the pillars at the back.
Contestants are free to contact the Contest Official,
Paul Szauter (207-288-0388) with any further questions and concerns.
Every effort will be made to provide performers with the best possible environment for the presentation of stage magic.
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:
- When the performer walks on stage to begin the performance, start track 1.
- After the silks are placed in the box, I will pick up the fan. At that point, start track 2.
- As the snow fills the stage, I will pick up the sword. At that point, start track 3.
- etc.
Lighting.
Next Generation 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.