I performed the EXACT same set of magic tricks for 2 different audiences on back-to-back days and received a TOTALLY different reaction. On one day the set killed and the audience loved it but the very next day the audience was luke warm at best. It seemed like the exact same set just flopped and I'm not sure why. Has anyone else experienced this? Are audiences that much different from show to show?

Thanks in advance.
L2L

Yes!

Depends on them and it depends on your reaction to their different reactions. How do you get them more interested?
Did you do anyting different? Actions, Tone, etc.

It seemed like my show was exactly the same. The tricks were the same.

I'm wondering if my tone slightly changed to become more hesitant and nervous because I could sense the reaction initially was different. After my first effect I could tell the audience was totally different than the night before. I just kept moving along in my set.

I'm wondering if I should have more than one set planned and adapt to my audience. I'm not sure if this makes sense but I wonder if some tricks are better for certain people and I use my first effect to judge the audience and then mix it up accordingly. What do you think?

L2L

Most definately! All comes with experience. Keep cranking away!

Hey Hey, You can't please all the people all the time..........Just enough to pay the bills is fine though!.

Keep at it L2L, don't let one mis-hap get ya down!.

Dave

Yes!

of course

it happens to everyone one time or another

You don't get ups without downs (the ups usually outway the downs and is what makes it worth it)

Every audience is different! And one way to experience this is to do a matinee and evening performance of the same show. On the surface it appears that the matinee crowd does not enjoy the show as much. This is due to many factors, one of which is peoples' circadian rhythms. People are just more naturally "up" for performances in the evening.

An important thing to remember is that the audience is at least half of any performance. They have lines in the show too...when they laugh, ooooh, ahhhhh, applaud... these are all their "cues". They just aren't aware of the fact that they're an important part of the show. By learning to read their reactions, you can adjust your performances accordingly.

This is why most of my performances begin with Miser's Dream. For me I can all but do the routine in my sleep. So while I'm delivering my patter and performing the sleights, I am simultaneously getting a read on the audience. How are they reacting? Are they noisy? Excited? Lethargic? Then as I run through the crowd collecting coins I can observe them up close to further guage their reactions. By the time I've finished the effect I know where to take them next in the T&S Newspaper. If they are slow-starters, I know I have to pump up the energy. If they are really into it, I can relax the tone a bit to make it more conversational.

This process continues throughout the performance, making adjustments all along the way. In my opinion, learning this skill is at least as important as learning the sleights.

I worked in Comedy Clubs, some nights you get bigger laughs than others with the same joke. The same with magic, same trick, same patter, different reaction.
It is a fact of life. Doing table side tricks one night, I got killer responses to 8 card B'Wave at one table and a who cares at the next table.

Without a doubt!

Happens to everyone at some stage

Some audiences are more into having a good time & applaud etc all the way though routines

Others don't!! even though its the same routine-whether because they don't care etc or don't know how to react which is alo a common problem

Hence why performing for Magicians they are some of the toughest audiences to perform for

I perform in schools. My show goes over great when I perform it as an assembly in the morning or during regular school time. But when I am hired to perform the show during an aftercare sometimes it's not so great.

During aftercare the kids have been at school all day and they are waiting to go home. They are waiting to be picked up. The worse time to perform in schools is the last day of school at aftercare. Most kids could really care less they just want to get out. They have a hard time getting excited.

John

John Cesta and some others here have done some good analysis and done more than admit that it does happen. Time of day to the audience is important. The night club audience runs on a different clock from a public school student. Also, for a school audience virually all are on the same clock. That my not be true in the mall, a night club, or sales meeting.

Social acceptance of showing approval through applause, etc. is a factor too. Being first to applaud is embarassing in some environments and expected in others. The usual barrier is to getting the first applause started.

What happened before or is expected to happen afterwards is a factor with many audiences. Attending the magic show because you lost your shirt in the casino is not the same as enjoying the show with a pocket full of money and good company with more fun planned for later.

We can only deliver one side of the event. Do it well. Also don't be surprised when you felt unappreciated and they rebook you immediatedly. You've seen more audiences than they have if you are a seasoned pro. They are not all the same. You still may have been the best ever for this audience.

Give them you best show.

Good Luck!

Bob Sanders
Magic By Sander