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jmathai1 New user Alexandria, Virginia 85 Posts |
About a year ago, I posted about a strolling magic gig I performed at (I do not do a whole lot of formal gigs) and the lessons learned from it and I think it received a good response so I thought I would do it again for a gig I worked last weekend.
A friend of mine was hosting his top 20 business clients to a nice dinner in a restaurant private room and asked me if I could perform; I said I can either just walk around and do magic for groups individually and/or I can do a 15 minute parlor type show for everyone all at once. My only request was that I preferred to be introduced personally by him to avoid the usual challenge of strolling magic. He preferred to keep the magic a show a surprise and wait to announce the ‘secret performer’ when everyone was seated and ordered their entrees. In part, he did this because he wanted to make sure I had a good performing environment and said he wanted to make sure the guests gave the magician their full attention (which most working magicians will know is not always the case when booking a gig). Below is a breakdown of what I performed for an audience of 20; I think it all worked well (as I learned from some great creators listed below): A. A quick and funny introduction (when they laughed at a few things I said in the beginning, I knew this would be a great crowd). I think saying or doing something funny up front and assessing the laughs is a good way to size up how things will go. B. Steven Brundage Imagination Solve and Toss-up Solve. I personalized the patter to the environment (i.e. solving a Rubiks Cube is like solving your customers needs). You can’t beat some Rubiks Cube tricks as a visual opener. C. Kev G Cube Cards. I performed this mostly as taught (solving a Rubiks cube to match a picture of a random cube combination) but I added a blindfold element. I could not find my blindfold at home so I ended up just asking a lady to stand behind me and cover my eyes and that ended up being much more theatrical and naturally funny (which means I can stop looking for that lost blindfold). D. Joshua Jay Back-in-Time Triumph. This has been a workhorse for me for years and this plays big for a parlor audience. Impromptu, in the hands, has a good story – I will be doing this the rest of my life. E. Wolfgang Moser Miracle Monte. I hesitated doing something that would require a table and focus all the attention in a small area but this trick is just too good. This close-up trick has a huge impact and if you think the method is too easy to figure out, then please keep thinking that, and I will keep performing this all to myself. Lol. F. Larry Jennings Prefiguration. I came across this trick in either a Magic or Genii column and it is one of those tricks that is just so impossible to figure out. It does involve dealing so I only do it after I successfully have everyone’s attention and everyone believes I can do anything. The presentation angle I give it is that I am going to try to psychologically influence the spectator to do what I want them to do. As a simple as the method is, this was my closer for the show and the reaction was over the top when I revealed the four of a kind. My volunteer for this later offered me many wild theories of how he think I influenced his choice (which was fun to hear). I got all good feedback and was asked if I was available to do the same show for their next client event, so I would definitely say it is a success. The best lesson I learned from this and can humbly offer (coincidentally was also said by Joshua Jay in his Penguin lecture last week) is to get a good introduction from the host before performing, if that is at all possible. This is nothing new but I think had a huge impact on the audience accepting me from the beginning and helps calms normal nerves that comes with performing for new people. As I said in my previous similar post, in addition to the creators I mentioned already, I would recommend Jamie D. Grant “The Approach” for some good thinking on the subject. Hope this post helps anyone who is new to working in the real world.
John Mathai
Alexandria, Virginia |
davidpaul$ Inner circle Georgetown, South Carolina 3086 Posts |
Thanks for posting your experience and the detail of the effects you performed.
So like everyone enjoyed your show. Now I want to go see you in action..
Guilt will betray you before technique betrays you!
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Kyoki_Sanitys_Eclipse Inner circle 1513 Posts |
Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Only a giving man is willing to share what he payed the price for
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Nuno212 New user 42 Posts |
For trick D, do you happen to mean Back In Time Triumph by Jay Sankey ?
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jmathai1 New user Alexandria, Virginia 85 Posts |
You are right that Jay Sankey is the original creator of Back In Time Triumph (and probably deserves the mention here). Joshua Jay did publish his own handling that uses a faro shuffle and the Jennings Goodwin display (looks amazing) instead of a slop shuffle. The presentation is completely credited to Jay Sankey. I think both methods are worth learning.
John Mathai
Alexandria, Virginia |
Nuno212 New user 42 Posts |
That's nice, I didn't know that. You learn something new everyday I guess.
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warren Inner circle uk 4138 Posts |
Nuno212, Joshua Jay's handling is definitely worth checking out.
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Xcath1 Inner circle 3053 Posts |
Hello, where is Joshua Jay's handling found ?
Thanks |
jmathai1 New user Alexandria, Virginia 85 Posts |
I think he has taught it in more than one source but I learned it from his early DVD set (Close Up Up Close Volume 3).
John Mathai
Alexandria, Virginia |
Xcath1 Inner circle 3053 Posts |
Thanks
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warren Inner circle uk 4138 Posts |
Quote:
On Feb 4, 2017, Xcath1 wrote: It can be found on the Joshua Jay Methods In Magic dvd. |
kevg Regular user UK 171 Posts |
Thanks for sharing and thanks for performing Cube Cards - I'm glad it made your set!
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