I had a show today for a Christian "in the park" set of concerts. The Kids' play area, with jump houses, was over 1/4 mile from the kids' stage for performers. This is the first year and the attendance was low. In 3 hours we only had about 12 people walk back to the kids' stage.

I told them that I would drive home and get a battery powered P.A. so I could set up in a corner of the play area and have story time. Four 15 minute shows instead of two 30 minute shows. They liked that idea. We couldn't do it today because I did not have a battery powered P.A. and with the noise of the jump house generators (gas powered motors) and the concert across the field I knew I couldn't be heard without at least a small system.

I have decided to learn more walk around where I actually have to walk around, because that would have worked perfectly for today.

Tony, I second your (e) motion that stage shows are the way to go. Yet back in the day were you ever in a variety show (small time) in which "acts" were hustled on and off?
I ask because I wonder how you could ever really set up the things you usually use and then tear down in in another 15 minutes. I wonder did you just do primitive vent without any of the normal show aids?

Walk around with a portable sound system, if only a belt amplifier is very successful for many people. I have a small walk around unit which is on a shoulder strap or sits on something nearby, but I'm looking seriously at an amplivox belt unit or the PAS 787 from Florida Magic.

A 15 minute show will probably have two puppets and two magic tricks. Better yet, would be one puppet and the magic drawing board, but there off often people in the back if it's outdoors. That means a vent stand that also holds tricks, plus a container for the two puppets. I generally pull the bear out of a bright yellow trash can, but again, for outdoors I'm afraid someone may dump their half empty cup of coffee. (Yes, it's half empty if it's being tossed, half full if it's being filled. Next week we'll give you the real answer to the riddle of the Sphinx.)

Tony, I'm familiar with your garbage can. By the way, do you use it as a dump for done illusions?
Yet I can't visualize a vent stand with available magic tricks. Thanks.

I use a mic stand with a square platform for a vent stand.

If I were to cut a second board the same size, and drill a hole in the center slightly larger than the cirumfrence of the stand I could then.

Take a 12 inch strand of material and attach it to the vent stand on the front and sides
at the bottom of the material, I would attach the second board, with the hole in it.

The material would hold the weight of the board and I would have approximately a 10 inch shelf or box to place tricks on during the show,

It would collapse for storage. What do you think -- by the way it isn't my idea, I saw it someplace else.

The stand you mention is exactly what I use, but I didn't know how to describe it. Great job. There is also fabric on three sides (with my name on the fabric) and the opening toward the back so I can easily get the small tricks. I can't always fit ALL the tricks in there, but it holds things like a change bag, rope and ring, t.tip and scarf, professor's nightmare, etc., with no trouble.

The stand was sold by One Way Street for awhile.