:D I'd watch!

"They'll be muscular"

Wow let us know how they fit into the Zig Zag!

-Jared

Male assistants... I say yes. I've worked with them! Also, Andre Kole does a nice bit where he turns a male into a female. If it makes sense in your show, do it!

The magic of Helene is one of most successful magic acts in the Philadelphia area, and Helene has used her husband as her lovely assistant for at least 20 years.
HAVE FUN
Al Angello

Your audience needs to have the final say. The fact that they are men should make little or no difference. The question is how you use them. The audience either will or will not be entertained by this aproach. I wouldn't begin to say which it will or should be.

I think its a great idea! Like many posts before me....it's all about the entertainment! If its done well, the audiences these days will not care about who is in the box!(Look at how much conversation is going on about Chris Angel sawing himself in half (with the camera trick...but that's ANOTHER thread! LOL!).

I know that I created a Yahoo group called "Male Assistants in Magic". Whether people agree with the idea or not...it is a strong group with a lot of participation.....Strangely enough..many of the men who "volunteer" to be an assistant or talk about it are straight.....It just doesn't matter about the sexual orientation. Again, if people like the presentation, they will watch! Just my two cents!

I have been intrigued by the idea of using male assistants in illusions ever since I saw the host of a children's tv-show getting sawed in half many years ago. I just love the idea of a guy taking the role of the damsel in distress, and if that guy really is an "eye catcher" and "muscular", that's even better...

Jeff Hobson's entire show, persona, and act is played by a stereotypical gay character. The funny part, he isn't. He's married with kids. Boy, he sure knows how to bring down the house. Just make sure "you" feel comfortable on stage and the audience will respect and appreciate whatever you do.

-Matt

I have read that Hobson did a show where his opening joke was: "Anybody in the audience gay?" One raised his hand. Jeff took out a toy gun and shot him. Then he said, "Anyone else?"

Is this true???

I just saw David Copperfield's show tonight. First thing I want to say is, "Go see it!" It's REALLY fantastic. Second, most of his assistants on stage were men. He didn't do tricks "to" them; they functioned more like stagehands, you could say. They had some VERY funny bits they did, too. Really entertaining.

Here is a great use of a male assistant in the slicer. Great set-up. Great performance.

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=38UIf7fxwp8

Lothar , no matter what other magicians think ,if your audience enjoys the show and it works for you then use male assistants. Some magicians don't use assistants at all.In the end your audience is coming to see you not the assistants. If it fits your show and your style use it.
Angel

Live magic at the end of the day is about theatre. If you play your cards right, are well prepared, and have an entertaining show, you'll be successful no matter what sex is helping out. As already stated by many, this is for your audience, not your fellow magicians.

So, if you have a unique idea, by all means, work with it! It will always fare better than the same old clap-trap we see day in and day out...

So, I remember asking about being a male assistant years ago. I still want to be a male assistant (At least for a while), and while trying to find stuff out I joined a yahoo group for male assistants. Wow... SOOOOOOO not what I was looking for, if you catch my drift.

I'm VERY confused by your posting Alex! that's MY yahoo group you are talking about and you seemed to enjoy it VERY much (if you catch MY drift!)

I thought it was gonna be more like a bunch of help wanted ads. You know?

I mean, I know I'm not bursting with professional experience as a helper, but I was expecting it to be mostly magicians and assistants talking about business stuff. Even if it's less assistant and more good natured box mover who has to clean up messes and make excuses and be the one to say thank you when the magician's in a hurry, I just wanna do something.

In terms of the idea of female magicians using male volunteers/assistants, I've recently watched Oz magicians Tim Ellis and Sue-Anne Webster and there are clips of her cutting a bloke in half (might be Tim I can't tell). I think they are partners I don't know them so well but its pretty cool seeing the reversal of gender roles. She looks pretty good with a chainsaw.

Make sure you make him wear something nice . I almost feel sad for him already.

Yep, it's me she's slicing through!

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=SNz3d1TFSws

And she LOVES doing that trick! (You should ask her about the time the chain came off the saw while she was cutting through me during a show! Or the time she used a client's chainsaw and sliced through the metal table causing red hot sparks to burn through my clothes! She LOVES doing that trick!)

On a side note, I was an assistant to Terry Dansic back in 1981 in 'Star Magic Show'. I played his "apprentice" and was Zig Zagged among many other things.

Also, I had Michael Boyd play my assistant in a show called 'Pure Magic', and he played a role that was sort of like my butler rather than my assistant.

I think it's very important that your assistant, whether male of female, has a character or at least some kind of identity that takes them beyond the standard two dimensional helper.

Any video of the zigzag performance available, Tim? Would love to see it!!