Have you ever thought, “What can I do to improve my existing show?” Well, before we tackle that let’s see what we should be doing before every show and maybe that will help us improve.
We could just make a list but that does not look good in an article. First, what is the condition of our props and how do we spruce them up (spruce is a word us old guys use to mean sharpen). If you have any chrome pieces you need to carefully clean all fingerprints and dirt or whatever off by using a “Windex” type cleaner and a soft cloth. Next polish the chrome piece with a flannel cloth. Natural wood finished products need a good coat of wax and again polish it. If you have painted finishes, you need to wipe them with a damp cloth and dry them (polish) with a dry soft cloth.
Feather flowers can be cleaned by holding them about 6-8 inches over boiling water (steam), this also gives them shape and brings out the shine in them. All silks can be washed when necessary in a solution of very mild soap (like Woolite) 1/2 teaspoon of soap to about 1/2 gallon warm water, place silks in solution and swirl gentle with hand foe about 15-30 seconds. Rinse in cold water until silks are not soapy any longer. Dry them by rolling them in a dry towel and gently squeeze dry. The silks can be ironed with a warm iron and a spray of clean water to crisp them up. If you have props that have slides, you can use bar soap (dry) to ease the sliding mechanisms. All hinges should be lubricated regularly with a silicon lube. Locks should be lubricated regularly with either WD-40 or a dry graphite powder. Your glass or plastic items like glasses, milk pitchers, bowls and/or light bulbs should be clean and they should sparkle. Any paper items should be crisp, and new unless old is the look that you are going for.
There are books on how to repair your props if they become damaged or broken. If you are not handy with tools you can always take to “The Amazing Magic get together” and he has a service that will repair them. Luigi of LUIGI & Co. has the expertise and not how to fix almost any prop (wood, plastic and some metals). If your electronic parts are not working he knows people who can fix that also.
Some of the most overlooked pieces of equipment that need tuning or special care are your sound system, music and lighting (if you provide). The most important piece of equipment that really needs a lot of care is you.
Always make sure your attire is clean, sharp creases in pants, nicely starched shirt (if that’s your style), shoes clean and shined, no holes or cracks in them, jewelry polished (cuff links, rings, chains and etc.) and coat crisply pressed. Your personal appearance must also be immaculate. That would be; fingernails clean (does not hurt to have a clear polish on them), hands moisturized, hair combed, teeth brushed and breath acceptable (no chewing gum while performing).
Here is the best tip I know to give a performer who sets up his own show; wear some kind of gloves (latex or cotton) while carry your props in and setting them up. This keeps your newly manicured nails from getting dirty underneath and looking bad.
I know most of you think this sounds like your mother talking or you think these tips are a given, But I assure you I see these mistakes being made all the time. As one of the entertainment performance reviewers I see entertainers perform in battered and torn clothes, finger nails so dirty you could grow vegetables under them, their breath could kill a horse and even worse, their props look and function horribly. Just the other day, I reviewed an entertainer, who was using worn out props; his clothes were wrinkled and sort of smelly (it could have been him?), fingernails were really dirty (but he did have a clear polish on them) he had a prop that the gimmick squeaked. He wore tennis shoes with a suit, how sharp is that? He had potentially a great show but the simple but overlooked things ruined the act. The “one last thing” is if you sweat a lot and know this, please bring a towel or clean handkerchief with you and use it regularly.
Here’s hoping your next performance is truly a great one.
Bono Fortuna
Massimo
The Mental Institution™