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Performances and Lectures
Elementary & Middle
School Students
"Simply one of the
finest Teaching Artists in the Midwest"
“Matthew Brian Taylor Presented the strongest
arts/academic subject program we had this year.”
“The students were 100% involved in the program! Matthew
understands kids and their sense of humor.”
“To show the energy that Matthew did before 8 am was
awesome. Best Program for us this year! Hope to see you
back!”
Backstage Magic: A
Science Spectacular
Science & Fine Arts
Recommended Ages: Grades K-12
Maximum Audience:
Performance 400
Workshop 40
Length: 30 or 45 min.
Science, Magic,
Read It, Do It!
Science & Fine Arts
Recommended Ages: Grades K-12
Maximum Audience:
Performance 400
Workshop 40
Length: 30 or 45 min.
How
to Be an Audience: The Magic Show Assembly
Social Science
Recommended Ages: Grades K-8
Maximum Audience: 400
 Length:
30-45 min.
Workshops and
Classroom Shows include:
Backstage Magic
Science, Magic,
Introduction to Magic
(A how to for beginers in sleight of hand)
Mime
A
Movement Workshop for Beginners
C.L.O.W.N.
History and the Art of Clowning
Lectures for High school
and Adult Students
Warm-Ups for Performers
It is the performer’s job to set
the energy level of the room. You can’t do that unless
you are warmed up and ready to go, physically and
mentally. We will revue a 15-minute standard warm-up you
can do alone or with your group and we will follow up
with an exploration of topics like - I’M DEAD AND THE
SHOW MUST GO ON!- VOCALIZE, VOCALIZE! and - STAYING HOT
BACKSTAGE!
An Introduction to Group
Improvisation
Group improvisation
games and exercises designed to develop skills for
reacting with acceptance and creativity at whatever life
throws at you. These games teach skills
that are timeless and useful for any comedic art.
Improv
for the Solo Performer
Adding Humor to Your
Teaching Presentation
Here’s the scene, the event is late and the organizer
knows you’re a professional entertainer so without
further adieu he/she presents you to the audience and
says under his/her breath “fill 10 minutes” . . . This
is the class that tells you what to do next! Taught by a
full time Entertainer and Master of Ceremonies, this
class will give you practical techniques for turning the
entire room into a one-person show. Improv techniques
like Off Calling, The Interview, Mishear, and Segway
give you the time you need to catch your breath and win
over the audience. Sure fire preparation for
Improvisational Solo Performing.
Don’t Forget the
Audience
The
same way that a conversation isn’t just one person
talking, a performance isn’t just you doing your thing
on stage, the audience is fully half of the transaction.
Learn the rules of performance the pro’s use to insure
that the audience is served and entertained.
Performers’ Etiquette
So
you have an act & you're in the show. What do you need
to know to get along with the other performers around
you? What do you need to know to keep the promoter from
yelling off with his head? This class will help
performers of all types to better interact with the
audience, their fellow entertainers and management.
 Intro
to Conjuring
The performance of
magic, presented for the beginner. Three classic feats
of sleight of hand will be taught, using coins, ropes,
and cards. You will learn the conjuring theory necessary
to take a trick from any book and transform it into a
true piece of magic, which will dazzle and mystify your
audience.
Advanced Conjuring
Advanced Card, Coin and Parlor magic will be taught to
those already skilled in the basics along with a review
of magic theory and stage presence.
A History of Conjuring
Based
on Matthew’s extensive research into the Historical
performance of magic, an overview of some of the
greatest magic to make history will be presented. Magic
Performance from the ancient Egyptians to the beginning
of Victorian England will be discussed.
The following classes can
be taught on my own but were originally co-written and
are generally team taught with my good friend Jack
Strauss.
Anatomy of a street Show
In this class, We will first
demonstrate a 20-minute act under street conditions,
from gathering the audience to passing the hat. Then we
will return to the classroom to dissect the show and see
how it all goes together and why. Get a privileged
insider’s peek at the workings of a professional-grade
street busker’s show.
Takin’it to the Street
(Available as a one hour presentation or a 2
hour master class)
A
class taught by people who have been to the street and
lived to tell the tale. Matthew and John combine their
talents to team-teach this lesson in applied street
performing. They will sum up everything you need to know
and give you good sound practical tips on getting your
act together and making it pay. This is a “must attend”
for performers, in any discipline, looking to take their
art to the next level.
The Performer’s
Emergency Kit
Any experienced
performer will tell you: Murphy was an optimist. Learn
how to plan for the worst-case scenario in your
performances, reducing their likelihood, recovering
gracefully, & maybe even turning disaster to triumph. In
the event of inclement weather, this class will be
cancelled.
Performance Critique and
Rehearsal
A
session devoted to refining your entertainment we will
primarily spend time developing and rehearsing your act
or routine. An actual director and experienced
entertainer will be present to review and critique your
act, providing valuable coaching that will enable you to
take your presentation and display it at performance
grade.
Building an Act
In
this class, we will explore how to take a basic idea for
a performance and develop it into an entertaining act.
Learn to separate the tasks of writer, director, and
performer while creating a one person show all by
yourself. Learn to routine an act from start to finish,
and then learn to polish that act to an elegant shine.
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