The Comedy Magic Textbook

By David Roper

Edited & Published by David Ginn

A wonderful, informative, and inspiring book! Excellent Reviews.

Over the space of 248 pages hardbound, author David Roper looks at comedy magic from every possible angle, backed by 20 years of research and experience, putting down his conclusions in theory as well as practical application. You’ll learn not only how to mix comedy with magic, but you’ll find dozens of tried, tested and polished routines in the book, well-illustrated with 80 Jim Kleefeld drawings and 30 photos.

The Comedy Magic Textbook is for magicians, clowns, comedians, ventriloquists, public speakers, story-tellers . . . stage or close-up entertainers . . . in fact, anyone who wants to entertain people with funny FAMILY-ORIENTED magic. This is a book that will INFORM as well as ENTERTAIN you . . . it’s a volume that will make you THINK CREATIVELY . . . and it’s a REFERENCE book you will consult again and again as you CREATE new routines for your own funny performances year after year!

The Comedy Magic Textbook contains 12 chapters: (1) Why Do Comedy Magic? Eight good reasons that make sense. (2) What IS Comedy Magic Four basic types, lots of examples. (3) How to Do Comedy Magic Effectively: two ways possible, plus lots of gags and routines for examples. (4) General Suggestions: Nine excellent methods including character development, writing routines, avoiding cheap laughs, and mixing magic with comedy. (5) A Controversial Question: using other’s routines and using routines from books and magazines. Honest, yet deep.

The second half of the book is devoted to routines. (6) The Polish-Irish-Aggie Award-Winning Trick. (7) Comedy Opening Routine: a funny chain escape & suitcase jag. (8) Tumbleweed tidbits: good rice bowls. (9) Comedy Car Mat, a close-up worker’s dream. (10) Hippity-Hop Rabbits in a routine you can play for kids or ADULTS. (11) Patriotic Professor Cheer: a happy ending. (12) Less-Than-Perfect Magician: powerful pullet production, stage comedy MIKO and the craziest head chopper you’ve ever seen!

Highlights of The Comedy Magic Textbook: I convinced David Roper to write this book based on the philosophy part alone. I had no idea he would share so wonderful and funny routines. My personal favorites include:

JOG HANK CLEANING, based on a TV detergent commercial

APPLAUSE SIGNS. Several very creative versions you can make, adapting your own message.

WOOFLEFEATHER BIRD EGG. I don’t do a die box but if I did, this is how I’d do it. Clever patter. CHINESE TORTURE TUBE. The spikes through balloon routine in which the magician lets a balloon pose as an arm, complete with the glove. Corny, but hilarious.

COMEDY CARD MAT. The selected card keeps popping out from under the close-up mat.

STAGE COMEDY MIKO. The 3 and 1/2 of Clubs becomes a super stage size accompanied by a 9-inch die and a 4-foot magic wand. The subtle humor is funny for adult groups, but you can play this at PTA and church family nights with equal success.

The Comedy Magic Textbook is the only book ever produced tackling the subject of FAMILY-ORIENTED COMEDY MAGIC.

Contents (from book ToC):

My Name is David Roper

Section One – Comedy Magic

Chapter One – Why Do Comedy Magic?

Chapter Two – What is Comedy Magic?
28 Routine – Do-As-I-Do Burn-the-Handkerchief
34 Routine – “Jog”
38 Routine – Non-Cut-And-Restored-Rope Trick
39 Idea – Applause Sign
44 Bit – Melodrama Comedy Rope Bit
45 Routine – Wooflefeather Bird Egg

Chapter Three – How to Do Comedy Magic Effectively
54 Idea – Condensed Chicken
64 Routine – Chinese Torture Tube
67 Idea – Ooey-Gooey Dairy Routine
68 Ideas – Square Circle TV Set
72 Idea – Foolaroid Camera Production
78 Supplementary – Three Tests

Chapter Four – General Suggestions
85 (1) Develop a Basic Character
88 (2) Develop a Notebook or File of Comic Materials
92 (3) Don’t Neglect Your Magic
94 (4) Be Serious About Comedy
100 (5) Don’t Be Afraid to Try Writing Comedy
101 – Routine – The Mindreading Chicken
105 – Routine – Burn the Bill
111 – Laugh Lines
113 (6) Learn to Speak Well
114 (7) Avoid Cheap Laughs That Leave a Bad Taste In the Mouth
118 (8) Work on Putting the Magic and Comedy Together
120 (9) Be Prepared for Anything
120 – Out Lines
121 – Responding to Flowery Introductions

Chapter Five – A Controversial Question

131 Section Two – Comedy Magic Routines

 Chapter Six – The Polish/Irish/Aggie Award-Winning Trick

Chapter Seven: Comedy Opening Routine
148 Opening Remarks – including Comedy Chain Escape
153 Opening Rope Routine
167 Running Gag Using a Suitcase

Chapter Eight: Tumbleweed Tidbits

Chapter Nine: Roper Comedy Card Mat
196 “Two Minds in Tune” Comedy Routine

Chapter Ten: Hippety-Hop Rabbits — Plus

Chapter Eleven: Patriotic “Professor Cheer”

Chapter Twelve: The Less-Than-Perfect Magician Routine
226 Comedy Opening: “The Powerful Pullet Production”
230 Stage Comedy “Miko”
239 Comedy Headchopper Routine

A Closing Word Or Two

Details: The Comedy Magic Textbook

248 pages, hardbound with dust jacket, size 6" by 9".