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Prophet Regular user Caledonia, NY 184 Posts |
I was thinking of going out and testing some of my close-up on people at the mall. I want to hone my skills over the next 10 weeks so that when I am done healing form surgery my magic and spectator interaction will be top notch. How would you approach people in a public area like the mall? I have my approach down for table-hopping but not random public interaction.
Yours In Magic
Mike If you are new to Magic check out my article http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=462185&forum=41 Duct Tape is like the Force. It has a dark and a light side and holds the universe together. |
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davidpaul$ Inner circle Georgetown, South Carolina 3086 Posts |
This has been discussed in the past and the recommendation was to FIRST get permission from the main office in the mall. There are legal and insurance issues that malls have to adhere to. It's a great idea especially in the food court and lounge areas. Just get permission first. Good Luck
Guilt will betray you before technique betrays you!
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Christopher Lyle Inner circle Dallas, Texas 5698 Posts |
First and foremost, you need to get permission from the mall before you try this out or plan on being escorted out by their rent-a-cops. Malls frown on random acts of entertainment like this. Many years ago, my Barbershop Quartet just showed up at a local mall and began singing for people on Valentine's Day. By the 4th time we stopped and took pitch, mall security was on us and quickly ran us out. We weren't busking or asking for money, we just thought we'd make people happy on Vday. We were told we'd have to apply for a permit from the mall to be there.
Another time, one of my friends showed up at a mall to twist balloons. He went to one of the stores and asked if he could stand out front of their store and twist for people as they walked by. It would bring people to the front of the store and entice them to enter after receiving a balloon and he wouldn't charge them anything. He just wanted to pass out his cards to try and scare up some work. The store said AWESOME!...free entertainment and we'll make money on it. Do it! He had made 3 sculptures and mall security showed up and told him to leave. He said that he had permission from the store to be there and they didn't care...b/c the store didn't have permission from the mall. So he got thrown to the curb. Just an FYI...call the mall and make sure that they're ok with you being there or expect drama!
In Mystery,
Christopher Lyle Magician, Comic, Daredevil, and Balloon Twisting Genius For a Good Time...CLICK HERE! |
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Christopher Lyle Inner circle Dallas, Texas 5698 Posts |
David posted his while I was writing mine...DOAH!
In Mystery,
Christopher Lyle Magician, Comic, Daredevil, and Balloon Twisting Genius For a Good Time...CLICK HERE! |
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jay leslie V.I.P. Southern California 9498 Posts |
And don't forget to get permission from the mall manager.
Jay Leslie
www.TheHouseOfEnchantment.com |
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Mary Mowder Inner circle Sacramento / Elk Grove, CA 3659 Posts |
You may try "The "Sidewalk Shuffle" or "Street Magic" as well. While neither may be the perfect fit, they may have suggestions for if the Mall thing doesn't work out.
I've never been to "Street Magic" myself but "The Sidewalk Shuffle" gang is very friendly and helpful. -Mary Mowder |
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Daz Buckley Elite user Australia 469 Posts |
Echo the advice here............
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Lundonia Veteran user refuses to read more than 321 Posts |
It never hurts to ask permission but all the stories here are about people trying to draw crowds (big or small) and of course they won't like that since it draws the customers away from the shops. This guy is going to do close up and I guess he won't be keeping anybody for long.
I'm from Sweden and maybe it's there's some kind of difference with the legal stuff but I can't imagine that anybody would be asked to leave a mall if they did close up magic here. Of course, as always, we need to use our common sense and the situation I'm imagining is that you go up to people who are not in the process of buying something or even window shopping. If I would do it I would go about it as a normal table hopping gig and approach people in the food court or at cafés.
"Only two things are infinite; the universe and human stupidity - and i'm not sure about the former" - Albert Einstein
www.jensmagi.se |
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Christopher Lyle Inner circle Dallas, Texas 5698 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-04-15 19:04, Lundonia wrote: There's a BIG difference...people on your side of the world (in general) love live entertainment. People over here think that we're all a bunch of beggars and they think if they stop to watch something then they'll be scammed or we're doing something illegal. Malls don't mind if you wish to do something but you must get a permit to do so and pay for such a permit. It's all about turning a buck! Sad but true.
In Mystery,
Christopher Lyle Magician, Comic, Daredevil, and Balloon Twisting Genius For a Good Time...CLICK HERE! |
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Prophet Regular user Caledonia, NY 184 Posts |
OK we'll I don't want to buy a permit just to get some live practice, I know of a bar I can go to and "hang out". Maybe that will work better.
Yours In Magic
Mike If you are new to Magic check out my article http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=462185&forum=41 Duct Tape is like the Force. It has a dark and a light side and holds the universe together. |
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ThatsJustWrong! Special user My flying monkeys are perched on 629 Posts |
Try craft fairs, Prophet. A lot of folks hate malls and go in, get what they want, and get out: we call them Men. People come to craft fairs prepared to stroll and browse or get dragged along and are looking for distractions (We call THEM husbands). Unlike other kinds of fairs, craft fairs rarely have entertainmment lined up that you might conflict with.
It's easy enough to find the contact info for upcoming fairs (my wife works a lot of these), and most organizers are thrilled to tell their vendors, "I'm providing entertainment" as long as they don't have to pay for it. Just don't let it cost YOU money with the old, "I won't charge you for a table but I do need something for insurance" scam; carry your own and if they want a certificate naming them, make THEM pay for it. Good luck!
Joe Leo
All entertainers can benefit from some help from an experienced stage director. How about you? www.MisfitMysteries.com |
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Prophet Regular user Caledonia, NY 184 Posts |
I never thought of fairs Thanks Leo. I was also thinking about retirement homes(not nursing) and maybe the children's wing at a hospital.
Yours In Magic
Mike If you are new to Magic check out my article http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=462185&forum=41 Duct Tape is like the Force. It has a dark and a light side and holds the universe together. |
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ThatsJustWrong! Special user My flying monkeys are perched on 629 Posts |
If you're trying stuff out, craft fairs will give you the biggest range of responses because you will run the full gamut of ages to gauge reactions from. Working for kids in a hospital is noble and reqarding but you don't try new stuff with them, you use your polished no-thinkers because if you have any heart at all, you'll be thinking a lot more about them than the workings of a new effect. Likewise, a retirement home gives you a more limited cross section of ages. Good luck!
Joe Leo
All entertainers can benefit from some help from an experienced stage director. How about you? www.MisfitMysteries.com |
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Lundonia Veteran user refuses to read more than 321 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-04-15 19:21, Christopher Lyle wrote: Hehe strange, my experience is that people in the US are more used to street performers, walk around magicians etc and are more open to performers in general. Very often when I've performed for my friends while in the US people at other tables have asked me to come and show them a trick or two. Almost never happens in Europe. Swedes are known to be shy and introvert though so maybe that's a reason for it... But if you just get going they will absolutely enjoy it of course. On the other hand, as a result of people in the US being more used to magicians they are not as easily impressed as Europeans. At least that's my experience although I haven't done any serious work in the US. There's also a tipping culture in the US that we don't have here at all, I guess that's why people on your side of the pond sees us as "a bunch of beggars". I guess there are both good and bad things with tips... Back on topic Prophet - a bar is not a bad idea. I guess it's a better setting and whenever I need practice that's usually the kind of environment I'm aiming for.
"Only two things are infinite; the universe and human stupidity - and i'm not sure about the former" - Albert Einstein
www.jensmagi.se |
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Rindfleisch Special user New Jersey 502 Posts |
Mike just go to the food court and sit next to someone and show them magic. don't ask for money just be friendly and show some tricks to small groups. If a mall cop comes over show him a trick. Sometimes its better to ask for forgiveness then to ask for permission.
Joe Rindfleisch
check me out on facebook #MAGICTOTD
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Aaron Smith Magic Inner circle Portland, OR 1447 Posts |
If you can get permission go for it. I worked in a magic shop in a mall for 3 years, and people don't just want to shop and leave. There were days where I would gather crowds of hundreds. I would go out to an open area, and just stand there and demo certain effects. People had no idea I worked at a magic shop. I would gather a huge crowd and then when I was finished walk over to the shop, and tons of people would follow me and buy products. It was a lot of fun. Don't worry about getting people interested, if you have the charisma.
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Leland Inner circle St Louis 1180 Posts |
I was at the mall earlier this month with my daughter and wife, prom dress shopping, by the way, that was a big mistake!
Found a bench, sat myself down to wait for the 'Ok we need you now' meaning it was time to pony up $$$$, so I whipped out the cards just for my own entertainment and before I knew it, I had a small crowd wanting to see me 'Do that again!'. The ham that I am I couldn't resist the attention. I expected the Mall Cops to surround me, "Sir, step away from the cards" but they never did. Wished they had, it would have saved me money! Any way, prom was this last weekend, that reminds me, I have to go find her boyfriend and beat'em up. Maybe he didn't do anything but I know he thought about it!
Life of Magic!
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Daryl -the other brother Special user Chicago 594 Posts |
I once had a gig in a wine shop at a mall. They were having a special event and hired me to do walk around magic for their patrons. The event started out kinda slow and I suggested stepping out in front of the store to draw people in. The manager said I had to stay on the stores property, even performing out front would be considered promoting the store in the general public area of the mall and could result in a fine.
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Ray Bertrand Inner circle Ottawa, Ontario 1452 Posts |
We appear to be back into POLITICS & 'Petty Jealousy'. No one wants to share because... God forbid... they may lose out on a piece of the action. As Mr. Rogers said: "Why can't everyone just get along?"
Mentalism in Ontario.
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Christopher Lyle Inner circle Dallas, Texas 5698 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-04-19 19:27, Ray Bertrand wrote: Where in this thread is there POLITICS or PETTY JEALOUSY?
In Mystery,
Christopher Lyle Magician, Comic, Daredevil, and Balloon Twisting Genius For a Good Time...CLICK HERE! |
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