Hey all, my mom is having a party at the house on saturday and she told me that she thinks the guests would like it if I did some walkaround magic at the party.

I do all sorts of magic. I have been practicing an extended ambitous card routine, it's a mix of a lot of different moves and ideas from many different places. I've been keeping up on two coin routines, spongeballs, professors nightmare, bill switch and I want to try Richard Sanders "Identity" out, I have practiced it but not used it on the public yet.

So basically, do you all have any ideas, pointers or anything reguarding performing at a house party?

Ari

It sounds like you have a pretty good start there already. If you can, do something with borrowed objects, as those play really well in a walk around situation. It's nice that it is your mom's party as that will give you real world practice without all the pressure of a paying gig. Good luck and be sure to let us know how it goes.

Mingle, have fun and charge your mom a lot.

-Ron

Be careful with "extended" versions of things. A few phases of an ambitious card routine will do for a lay audience.

Agreed. If I do an ambitious card routine I keep it to a few phases. After that you'll start to see their eyes glaze over with boredom.

At events like this I have always tried to keep it light and happy. Always doing this because it's fun.
Then I'll throw in a heavy effect, like say Stigmata.
That will keep them talking for a awhile so I can take a break for a bit.

Your mom's party sounds like a great place to start and cut your teeth working with the public.

Cards for men

spoonge balls for woman

everyone likes coins

Not a rule just a hint.

Great advice!

I totally agree.

Mike

Really good advice. If you have sponge bunnies the women, and men for that matter, get a kick out of them.

My advice... just have fun!

Not everyone I hate coins.

Why do you hate coins?

Leave them wanting more. Do a few tricks and then move on to another group.

Make sure that your routine can bear a bit (not a lot) of scrutiny. I've done a few parties for friends and sometimes there is someone who follows me around so that they can figure out what I'm doing. In this case I try to do something else, or I make sure that if there are angle problems that the person following is least likely to see anything.

I find that some folks who know me are more than willing to help me out by telling me that they know how I did something.

One of my first routines was,
ACR,
Sponge bunnies,
Professors Nightmare,

I did the 3 effects as the history of magic and wahts nice there aa great involvement for guys with cards then the girls love the bunnies. But then you stand alone at the end with PN. This was a start for me and it lead in to other things I use the similar routine when I an out on the streets.

Hope this helps an have fun.

always have for some reason. Never liked them as a laymen. Still don't like them. I have tried to get into it, so I got a few coin dvds....never slept so good.

I'm not a huge fan either but they are just so practical so I do a couple routines. Usually a coins across and maybe a hopping half.

I know how to make a coin vanish for a kid and I actually do love one coin effect. Sankeys coins across. That one I am always ready for and people and myself love. Outside of that I prefer other things.

So Ari how did the party and your performance turn out? Let us know.............

Tony

Maybe if you get a CSB set and learn a good routine you will change your mind. This is visual magic at it's best! The routine doesn't take long and the reaction is strong.
So, Ari, how did it go?
Cheers,
Sammy

It went well. I started after everyone was just about done their meals. I did three card tricks, 2 card monte into the biddle trick into an ACR where at one point the card is in my pocket which always seems to "wow" the onlookers.

I then did a spongeball routine for the lady closest to me at the table (I was standing and the audience was sitting for the whole performance).

I then did professors nightmare (rope trick.) after I did this I took a bow as to say "that's all I have to show you right now" and I goty an applause from all ten or so people at the table.

I then later came back into the living room (claiming I was back for the encore) At this point I performed a new trick by Richard Sanders called "Identity". That went over really well and was fun because it was the first time that I had performed this trick for a real audience.

The last trick I did was a haunted deck trick. I did the version done with loops. When the deck started moving opened by itself the audience really didn't know what to say or think. But they were genuenly amused.

It felt good to try new material and it felt good to see the amazement on their faces. I felt like they were entertained and wanted more, which meant a lot to me. Because that is the point right, to entertain?

I also had a nice moment where the sleights came so natural and I was able to just focus on interacting with the crowd and being personable. It felt so good to not have to worry about doing all the sleights well and unseen.

All the practice deffinatly pays off....

What do you all think??

Ari