Anatomy of a Routine: Part 1

John Guastaferro's new book, Final Degree, releases in just a few short weeks! To whet your appetite, we're sharing our favorite essay from the book for FREE. Please enjoy the Anatomy of a Routine!

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The Anatomy of a Routine

Shortly after releasing One Degree in 2010, Joshua Jay and I had the pleasure of catching up to celebrate over dinner and drinks in Los Angeles. We became engrossed in conversation about crafting routines. I shared a few travel-themed aesthetics, which continue to be part of my shows. At the time, I was performing the Postcard Act, featuring effects from Brainstorm and One Degree.

Over the years, I’ve refined elements of the routine. My scripting and audience engagement have also improved, no doubt because of my countless shows at The Magic Castle and other venues. Sessioning with people like Josh has also been instrumental. From this dinner in 2010, we have both progressed in profound ways. Josh has gone on to do many high-profile signature shows that continually demonstrate his uncanny grasp of what it takes to weave powerful moments and pique the audience’s curiosity. I have gone on to write more books, lecture in fourteen countries, and hone in on my strengths to bring ideas and effects together harmoniously.

All of these experiences have helped me develop core strategies on crafting routines. I’d like to share a few tips that may be helpful in crafting your own routine.

Guiding Principles

When crafting a routine, I begin with four guiding principles: clarity, cohesiveness, creativity, and connection. It’s not just about stringing tricks together; it’s about designing a performance that flows naturally, tells a story, and resonates with the audience.

Clarity

Set a clear and engaging path for your audience. To do this, you have to know what you want them to see and how you want them to feel.

Cohesiveness

Focus on the structure and selection of effects, each building on another with inherent transitions and escalation. The effects should connect in a way that naturally progresses, whether through a shared creative premise, similar props, or storyline.

Creativity

Look for ways to infuse creativity into the props you use and the presentations you share. For me, this means integrating my love for art, music, and writing.

Connection

This all leads to the fourth principle of connection. This is all about authenticity, eye contact, and audience rapport. No matter how clever the method is or how surprising the kicker is, your actions should support the human connection rather than detract from it. This is where the A.I.R. framework (see Power of Agility essay) helps to reinforce audience engagement through actions, interactions, and reactions. The ultimate goal is to have the audience feel connected to the person behind the magic, not just the tricks themselves.

Hiding in Plain Sight

One of my favorite creative strategies is to have something hiding in plain sight until I’m ready to make a big reveal. There are several examples in this book where certain conditions stay hidden until the surprise is unveiled. These include the mystery card in Mr. E. In Technicolor (Chapter 3), the blank deck in Bets In Show (Chapter 4), and the odd-backed deck in Wonder Aces (Chapter 5).

The Drawing Room

It’s no secret that I love to draw. As I plan for a show, I enjoy sketching every nuance of the act, from my view of the room to each key moment of the routine. I’ve been using my Kindle Scribe as my digital drawing pad. I realize that we can’t all be artists, but I encourage you to have an outlet to plan your own show.

You can type up your routine, recite your script as a voice memo, make doodles on a napkin, or find other creative ways to plan. Another strategy is to write each of your favorite effects on a billet or Post-it Note.

Then, you can have fun physically arranging them to see how different effects might flow as a routine.

Create Dynamic Duos

Another strategy is to pair two effects that come together cohesively, enhance flow, and become stronger together. Examples include Either Or with Palm Reader Plus (One Degree), or Handout Aces (Chapter 4 of this book) with Homage to Homing (One Degree). Search for uncommon connections between tricks and plots. In my Signature Close Up Act, I pair Blank Slate (The Nth Degree) with Ignacio Lopez’s effect, Thin Air.

Be An Architect

As you structure a routine, you are serving as its chief architect. Great routines require specific building blocks. Here are a few to consider:

Open Strong

Your first trick should establish your skill and presence immediately. Consider a visual appearance, an impressive sleight, or something that immediately piques the audience’s curiosity.

Build Momentum

Select subsequent effects that increase intrigue and build upon the audience’s energy. Be sure also to look for seamless transitions that tie in thematic elements.

Evoke Emotion

Whether your goal is to spark laughter or mystery, don’t just go through the motions. Use dramatic pauses, changes in inflection, compelling narratives, and emotional hooks to draw your audience in.

Create a Crescendo

As you progress toward the end of your act, build toward a crescendo. If you’ve ever seen a good fireworks show, you can feel when the end is coming because the bursts of light in the sky begin exceeding our expectations. Think about how your penultimate effect delivers a peak moment that leads into your closer.

Leave a Lasting Impression

Your finale should feel like the definitive and inevitable ending of the journey you’ve crafted. The common adage of “saving the best for last” works wonders here. It should also be something you are proud to perform. We can’t fake authenticity, so choose something personally meaningful to you. The audience will feel the power and emotion behind it.