Building an Act
$19.00
A treatise on act building and routine construction by Tommy Wonder. Additional material by Tom Stone.
Description
Building an Act should be essential reading for all magicians. It is succinct, insightful and honest. It is a a reminder that we can all work harder and think deeper. It is no surprise to me that a work by Tommy Wonder and Tom Stone would be so inspiring. I can think of no better or more experienced voices to have produced this work.
This booklet is guaranteed to improve your magic and to expand your knowledge of the “glue” that holds a compelling performance together.
Improve your work. Read this.
—Ben Hart
In 2005, Tommy Wonder published a booklet with advice on how to build an act. For some unknown reason, it never got distributed and only a few close friends have seen it.
With the permission of Tommy Wonder’s Estate, this lost manuscript is now finally released as an ebook.
It also contains additional writing by Tom Stone on the topic of how to create a whole show.
40 pages. 19 illustrations.
Building an Act is an inspirational manuscript, from two professionals that know what they are talking about! There is no foolish, academic “theory”, just practical advice on getting started on your creation.
Often, what is lacking in building your dream act, is the confidence and encouragement that you can do it. It is provided here in spades, but you will still have to contribute the courage, hard work, and dicipline.
Rest assured, Wonder and Stone want you to succeed, and even list the pitfalls and setbacks they have experienced in their own efforts. It’s all part of the process, and these professionals have given you the road map to follow.
Get Building an Act, and get to work!
—John Carney
I’ve been involved in theatre and magic for much of my life. One of the most frustrating things about watching magicians is to see how little many of them know about theatre arts: how to act, elements of stagecraft and of dramatic techniques. It’s easy to see why; what intrigued them about magic was the tricks. But magic is communication. Just plunk your trick down in front of an audience and you might find yourself disappointed when you don’t get the reaction you thought you deserved.
Why do I think this book is essential for magicians? Simply because it provides the methods to take “tricks” and turn them into a show. These are the mechanics you need to actually mount a show, to get off your butt and get out there and do it.
—Matt Field
Adam Wilber (verified owner) –
Great and insightful read for anyone serious about the art.
Karsten Dr. Meyerhoff (verified owner) –
Tommy Wonder studied acting, dancing and singing – and it shows! This man surely knew how to construct an act. As always, this a delightful combination of very well-researched and very well-experienced theorectical advice as well as some very down-to-earth, very hand-on practical excercises to get you going in building an act. Mr Stone’s annotations fit into the script like hand-in-glove and add more interesting aspects to the art and science of getting away from: “Here I have a red sponge ball – I will now transfer it to my left hand …” and getting to logically stringing things together, imroving your theatrical skills along the way. At 19$ you are practically stealing this from WARG!
Thomas Dixon (verified owner) –
Really helped me to build my own act.
Always found that most of “how to build an act” lack of practicality.
Like how should I start? Should I write it? How do I write it? Promotion? How to get motivated?
How to structure it? a Theme? What to do, what NOT to do!
This totally helped me to put my own show into reality.
Artemus Wong (verified owner) –
It is great idea for you building act. Step by step. I love it! And you will find your own performance.