We all talk a lot about openers, because it is important to get the attention of the audience and get the show off to a good start. It's vital to make a good first impression.

But, your closing is what they’ll remember. You want to leave the audience with a good happy memory.

GENERAL RULES

1. In most cases, a production type of effect is much better than a vanish. Especially with using livestock--if you vanish a bunny, the kids might get worried.

Vanishes happen quickly. A vanish may stun and baffle the audience, but won’t get applause. Subconsciously, audience associates a vanish with loss, emptiness--it’s a downer.

On the other hand, a production is exciting! You’re creating something out of nothingness. Productions fill the stage with color, so they're very uplifting and positive.

2. If you can add music to the closing routine, so much the better. Music helps to bring the production value of the show up a notch. And, if the music hits a high point right at the end of your routine, it helps generate applause.

Also have playoff--or bow--music you can hit right after your closing routine to keep the applause going.

3. For the closing routine, it is best to do it solo--no audience participation. All attention should be focused on you. However, I’ll break this rule once in a great while. But if you do use an audience helper for your closing routine, then after they are dismissed, have something funny or nice to say then say goodbye and hit the exciting playoff music as you take your bow and exit.

HERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES OF CLOSERS I’VE SEEN THAT WORK:

1. Patriotic closer, with productions of large flag or string of American Flags

2. Big silk productions--like 6 foot silks. Long streamers are also good.

3. Livestock productions

4. Sucker trick--but don’t make audience the butt of the joke. I've seen some magicians use  the Hippity Hop Rabbits or Fraidy Cat Rabbit very effectively.

5. Quiet Closer, where you tell a touching, warm story. Something like the Gypsy Thread or the Snowstorm in China can be themed to illustrate the points from your story. With quiet closer, put the strongest trick next to closing, then go into quiet closer.

6. Recap closer--good for educational show or show with message with several points. Use something like Rabbit in Hat Puppet and have rabbit whisper to you different points from the show.

7. Illusion closer. If you're working with an assistant, closing with a strong illusion works well. For the one man smaller show, a chair suspension or even the two hole wrist chopper works well. This does break the no audience participation rule.