the Way of the Showman
Philosophical and esoteric perspectives from a modern day Showman.
Each season is different in its approach. S1 is essays. S2 is one book length attempt at Understanding Showmanship, S3 is conversations with remarkable Showfolk. The brand new Season 4 explores the relationship between Showmanship and Play.
The host, Captain Frodo, internationally renowned circus performer, director, writer, husband and dad lays out, in great detail, his practical performance philosophy for performers who seek to deepen the conversation with their audiences and themselves. You can find him, and more of his writing at: www.thewayoftheshowman.com
the Way of the Showman
113 - Nick Difatte & Audience Volunteers
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We talk about magic and comedy and their intersection before landing on a long explorations of how to select and manage audience volunteers. Nick is an expert at handling volunteers and gets SO much out of the people he gets up, I try to learn from him.
You can find out about Nick Difatte on his website
Nick has written a brilliant book on magic called Offbeat (it's sold out but will soon be reissued) published by Squash Publishing creators of some of the hottest books on magic.
we talk about:
the Great Santini's toaster (my dad's magic invention)
Steen Pegani - danish magic shop owner and all around good guy.
Mortenn Christiansen - link to him on Penn & Teller's Fool Us
Nick blows my mind with the news that he is writing and editing a chapter in Richard Kaufman's re-release of Greater Magic. The chapter will be on comedy magic.
Borrowin/stealing/reinventing
becoming an original performer.
saving the earth with a yo yo
Authenticity
Finding shit no one cares about
costume as character amplifier and definer
me loosing my shit seeing Nick perform for the first time.
worst "emotional speech" in a show ever...
being funnier off sage and how to transfer this to stage.
choosing volunteers
offbeat, Nick's book is sold out.
Amazing Johnatan as example of a masterful use of and control of audience volunteers.
Nick on getting along with older guys and how to harness this in his Shows
...
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