Be More Funny is your go-to guide for crafting comedy magic routines that’ll have audiences rolling in the aisles. In a hefty 492 pages, Christopher W. Barnes (better known as Christopher T. Magician, and no, he’s not just a bloke in a top hat) breaks down twenty-nine comedy magic tropes you’ve probably seen in the greats. Mix any trope with an effect of your choosing, and voilà! You’ve got a unique routine that’ll leave them in stitches.
But wait, there’s more! Along with the twenty-nine tropes, Be More Funny serves up twenty-nine fully-scripted, side-splitting routines, each one refined through years of performances in comedy clubs, festivals, variety shows, and other venues where laughter is currency.
Routine highlights include:
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"Lemon Party." The magician attempts to make a vanished bill reappear inside a lemon, but let’s just say the outcome is as unexpected as it is hilarious. Magicians who’ve witnessed it claim it’s the best Bill in Lemon ever. (And they’re not just saying that to be nice.)
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"A Cheesy Trick." Honestly, worth the price of admission! Hand a pack of American cheese slices to a volunteer, and watch as the audience erupts in laughter. (No, really, they won’t be able to help themselves.)
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"Nail-Biter." This isn’t your average Smash and Stab routine. The audience is in on the secret, fully aware that there’s zero danger... or is there?! (Cue suspenseful music.)
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"Deck to the Future." The classic Card Story plot gets a makeover that actually involves the audience, making it relatable and much more interesting. And it wraps up with a kicker that brings a sprinkle of magic to the comedic chaos.
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"Vaper Caper." Forget money and watches. Christopher takes the Borrowed and Destroyed plot up a notch with a borrowed vaporiser that meets an untimely end during a botched card trick, leaving the volunteer less than pleased but the audience in uproarious laughter.
As if that wasn’t enough, Christopher also dishes out forty-two "Card Force and Reveal" ideas to showcase the flexibility of each trope. Not scripted, but they serve as a fab starting point for some potentially hilarious card routines.
And hold your horses! Be More Funny is jam-packed with essential advice on discovering your onstage persona and crafting comedic dialogue to spice up your routines. No stone is left unturned here.
In short, Be More Funny is a must-read for any magician serious about infusing a bit of humour into their acts. No BS, just pure comedic magic!
