Magic at Weddings? Great idea!

“You’re in our wedding album!  You were too good not to have in there.”

We love what we do and as Saskatchewan entertainers we have to be willing to travel…. a lot.  In a single week we can be performing our Double Vision, Twin Magic and Comedy show in Manitoba, Alberta, and British Columbia, then hop a plane back to Saskatchewan to be at a wedding as special strolling or stage entertainment.

Diversity is the key, and the aforementioned wedding entertainment is something more and more couples are looking at now.  Over the years, we’ve noticed a shift away from the usual band/dance wedding events.  Couples want something more creative and memorable for their guests.  The bride and groom are the stars of the festivities and some of our magic is specialized to use the newlyweds names, the wedding date etc…  It helps to create an even more unforgettable day.

Using a professional act is a direct reflection on the quality of the event. In our business of magical entertainment, an audience can sense immediately if the performer on stage or strolling at the wedding reception is a professional.  When an audience realizes they’re in good hands, everyone relaxes and can have a good time.

Every couple needs the big day to “stand out from the crowd” and with our unique talents and experience, we supply that.

We have the talent to ensure every event we’re called on to do is a success,  but diversity without discipline is like marriage without commitment.  It may last a while, but you need actual love to make the trip together.

Mitchell Hrycan

Double Vision

Double Vision Magic – “Amazing!” CNE in Toronto

“A speaker just blew over on the stage!” text message…..

This past summer, the Canadian National Exhibition invited us to bring our act to Toronto.  The CNE is North America’s oldest and one of the largest fairs.   Needless to say, there was never a dull moment.

It was a fantastic eighteen days of entertainment and almost perfect weather.  We did our Twin Magic and Comedy show fifty four times and had the pleasure of sharing the stage with some amazing acts. Mighty Mike the Strongman, The Fire Guy and Juzzie Smith (Australia) brought their “A” game.  The benefit of working with a variety of professional people is learning from what they do.   How each of us work corporate and conference events, comparing Canadian, European and Australian audiences, along with a million stories from the road.

When you’re going to be performing away from home for almost three weeks in one city, it’s important to have a good “entertainment family” you can rely on.  On this run, blood was shed (during our first show), medics were called, fresh batteries and an entirely new PA system were rushed to the stage by fellow performers.

This brings me to the text message at the beginning of this article.  The Fire Guy was just starting his show, when a large speaker on its stand literally blew over backwards onto the stage.  Mike a I rushed down to the area to help, as “the show must go on” and all of the acts worked together to make sure things were ok for the next performance.  The next day, an entirely new PA system was set up.

Keeping your head in the game over eighteen days is also important.  We used some energizing pre-show music before every set and had a whole list of jokes to entertain the crowd that would arrive, sometimes twenty minutes early.  On an outdoor stage, people may have spent the entire day in the hot sun, they might be tired or hungry, but it’s our job to show them something unforgettable.  We want them to tell their friends about this “amazing Twin Magic show” at the fair.  Judging by the audience in the photo, I’d say word spread quickly.

“We were there!” was our closing line for every show, and after the last day we hope “we will return!”.

Mitchell Hrycan, Double Vision

 

 

Music and Twin Magic

Mike and I use a lot of music in our performances.  I know that might seem odd for a comedy and magic show, but it adds another layer that really completes the picture.  After doing this for decades we’ve become experts at combining our comedy and magic with music.

Twenty eight years ago when we did our first “Double Vision Magic” events in Saskatchewan, the sound was supplied via the venues sound technicians using our music cue sheet.  An example:  Cue – 1) When Mike says “and now something using a frying pan, hula hoop and a $100.00 bill” – play #4 song.  Occasionally, the technician wouldn’t be at his station and would miss the cue, or accidentally start playing the music early, or at the wrong volume, or the wrong song or….you get the idea.

Today, we use a remote control system and handle our own cues, volume etc… It makes a HUGE difference and adds to the production value of our show.

However, it does take a long time to find just the right tune.  Like pairing the right wine with a meal, a wrong choice can still get by, but things wont’ taste quite right.  So, along with our own sound system, lights, backdrop, banners and the vital, “twins, magic, LOL”, we also bring that extra element for your ears to enjoy.

Bon Appétit

Mitchell – The Other Twin

January 14, 2018

Twins, Magic, LOL – “That was an awesome show!”

“That was an awesome show!”. A comment from a client last week. If you’re looking for a magician in Saskatoon, Regina, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, or anywhere in North America, you owe it to yourself to check out our website. www.doublevisionmagic.com  We’re constantly working on new illusions to add to our show. Why? Because we believe that you never stop growing as an entertainer.

Without growth, an act gets stale and starts to show its age. We love the challenge of coming up with original magic routines for our shows, whether it’s for stage, strolling, trade shows or fairs. Even when we get together for coffee, it’s a flurry of new ideas being tossed around.

As I write this, it’s Saturday morning, and although we don’t have any shows today, my mind is on next week’s performances and as far ahead as Christmas shows we’re getting emails for. It’s a never ending circle of creativity, travel, marketing, twins, comedy and magic.

Curiosity and the Cattle

Saskatoon, Magician, Cow, comedy, clean, twins, magic show, funny,

Curiosity and the Cattle

We’ve been performing magic for a living for 27 years. Even though we’re based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, we’ve travelled North America, seen a lot of strange things and met some interesting people.

At an elegant corporate awards show, Mike and I were performing strolling close up magic from group to group. Everyone was dressed in suits, ties, beautiful gowns etc… so you get the feel of how upscale this event was.  Right in the middle of a piece of amazing “in stereo” magic, the gentleman standing directly in front of us gets down on the floor on one knee, and looks up at the group.  We ask what he’s doing?  His reply, “I’ve always wanted to see magic from under the magicians’ hands.” The group took it in stride and the entertainment continued.  It was an unusual occurrence, but we couldn’t help but admire this person for just going for it and satisfying his curiosity.

We’ve always been driven to be more than just another magic act. Mike and I work hard so that our “twin twists” will have the most impact possible on our audience. It forces us be more creative. Isla Crawford, the interior designer, lives by, “Make the ordinary, extraordinary.” That’s a great definition of magic.  So be curious and you’ll surprise yourself.

The title of this piece mentions cattle, but this is a vegetarian story, so there’s no beef.  Your curiosity got the best of you. Extraordinary!

Mitchell – Double Vision…Twin Magic and Comedy