Concept: Instead of needing to drink water or cook for yourself food in order to satisfy thirst and hunger, artists can perform selected tricks in order to accomplish that.
Example:
Instead of drinking water, the juggler would have to juggle with 3 balls for 15 seconds. And he would not be thirsty anymore.
Instead of eating breakfast, the magician would have to perform a 10 minute routine.
If one wants something sweet, thy will have to perform something that gives him this taste.
Further Developing the Concept:
One can only know what a respective sleight tastes like only after having performed it.
Depending on how well you perform your routine - your "food" tastes differently.
If you fail an effect/sleight/routine, what you taste is foul/rotten food.
Sketch Template
We are being walked through a community of homeless people. These are seen to perform little effects (like vanishes, cuts, color changes, bouquet appearances) in order to satisfy their vices, hunger or thirst. The camera stops on two homeless guys. One asks the other if he would like some rum. "Rum? Where's you learn that?" asks the other. "A boy gave me a tip the other day and I kept practicing it. It tastes pretty good. Here, I'll teach you." This could be an opportunity for a tutorial inside the sketch, or you could just fade in fade out to the second homeless performing what he has been taught. "Damn. It's strong." The camera switches its focus towards the street, where we see normal individuals minding about their day. On the other side of the street, a mirror reflects the image of our two protagonists. "You one ugly bastard." says the first. After a short pause, the second replies, " It's just the rum, but thanks."
Second Sketch Synopsis: A girl takes an intern job at a medical facility where magicians help the disabled eat. There she finds out how it is all possible.
This sketch happens at a facility for feeding the disable. Mechanisms have been created which allow artists to take control of the disabled persons hands and use these to perform certain effects in order to feed the individual (these people are all artists that are now disable and have never eaten food before, so they must keep on eating in the same way they have until being disabled).
"This method has been resorted to instead of the classical method due to the patients's reflex of spitting the food out, or vomiting it later." the doctor points out to the newly brought in intern. The student is a girl of about 20 with pretty eyes and kind features.
"How is this possible?" she asks. The two move on to the next patient, where another magician is seen performing something with the disabled person's hands.
"We don't ask questions, they don't ask us questions. That's how it works." the students weights this for a bit while observing the magicians performance in the apparatus. After the artist finishes, the girl sees him enter the cafeteria. She excuses herself to the bathroom and enters the cafeteria after the man.
"Hello." the magician says. The girl look towards the ground, then meets his eyes.
"Hello. I saw you perform."
"Did you like it?"
"I did... yes! Very much. But..."
"How is it possible?"
"Yes!" the girl moves in closer to the magician. Her eyes could move mountains, but right now are peering through the magicians smile.
"I will tell you. Here, come with me." She's pretty. Obviously he'll show her. Men will be men. The two are seen leaving the room and entering another where an apparatus is lying vacant.
"Go in it."
"But, I'm no performer."
"Trust me." Hesitant, but still advancing, the girl sits in the machine. The magician connects all the wires and parts to the girls arms and mind.
"I see... Mr Gringer hasn't had his lunch for today. Let's help him then." The girl is seen trembling slightly. The machine is connected. A ring is heard. Suddenly, we see Mr. Gringer picking up a deck and performing some sleights, some small effects and pa-dam-bam his lunch has been served! The girl disconnects from the machine. She steps out from the apparatus.
"So, do you understand now?"
"Yes." short pause.
"It's them. They do everything."
"We just help them believe they're normal for a brief moment. As soon as you disconnect,"
"They forget everything."
"Yes."
"But what happens if you stay connected for a longer time? Not just to feed them?"
"That's something you will have to find out for yourself." The magician pats her on the head, then heads for the door. "Welcome to the company."
The door closes. The camera fades out as we see that Mr. Gringer still has a card palmed in his hand.