How to Stand Out On Fool Us
By Vanishing Inc. - Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Genii magazine asked Executive Producers of Fool Us, Andrew Golder and Lincoln Hiatt, about what it takes to succeed on Fool Us, and they've allowed us to share their answers with you!
What are you looking for this season?
"Great performances that will get people talking. We want every act to be memorable and clear—these are vague notions, I know, but they are still important. We like to be surprised, we like to be fooled, and we like to see things as they have never been presented before. It's important for a trick to have a clear premise and a spine. Sometimes I look at a trick like a screenplay or a movie—a good movie doesn’t make you guess why you are watching it, it keeps you on the edge of your seat in anticipation. Yes, good tricks create wonder when they pay off, but great tricks create engagement.
"On the performer side, we are actively looking at familiar faces and brand-new ones. We like introducing new magicians to our audience. And, as we always have, we seek diversity in our bookings because it makes the show a richer and deeper experience. It also encourages more people to get into magic or take a shot at sending us a video because they can see themselves in the magicians that came before them."
What does it take to stand out and succeed?
"Voice. Presence. Guts. Being comfortable on stage. A meticulously written and practiced routine that is so ingrained in the magician’s bones they can actually be loose when putting it in front of the cameras, and make it feel fresh for the audience every time.
"We like tricks that feel contemporary. We like classics with novel presentations—familiar tricks with unexpected twists. We like tricks with surprising, ingenious, and simple methods. We have put on tricks that have some pretty sophisticated technology behind them, but after a few of those, seeing tricks with great, old-school, manual methods is really refreshing. We all know the famous quote about technology and magic, but I’d say low-tech magic is the most astonishing on a regular basis.
"Tricks aside, we like performers whose personality shines through.
Usually, people play a kind of intense version of themselves and this works. Sometimes characters work. Sometimes a character isn't inculcated enough to hold up under the hot lights and the video package and post-trick interview and discussion. I know there is a lot of emphasis out there on branding yourself but be careful to make this more than just a veneer if you are going to go that route. Anyone who thinks they have a great trick and a solid performance under five minutes should send it to us at fooluscasting@gmail.com."
Audition for Fool Us at The Session and Magifest.
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