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BerkleyJL Veteran user Chicago, IL 397 Posts |
Hi everyone!
I always carry magic with me (sponge balls, TT, cards, etc.) in case anyone who knows me wants to see something. I also practice pretty much whenever I have privacy and free time. However, I know my skill is pretty much where it needs to be. What I need is time in front of spectators...preferably spectators who haven't seen all my stuff so I can continue to work on the same material instead of coming up with new stuff I won't do very well. So, outside of being asked to do a trick, when is a good time to offer to show someone something? and how do you approach them to not be the obnoxious annoying magic nerd?
I need a stage name.
Joe Berkley |
Payne Inner circle Seattle 4571 Posts |
Volunteer to perform at a hospital or a retirement home. there are plenty of places to work out new material or hone your skills without having to resort to being an annoying "wanna see something cool" inflicter of magic on the unsuspecting.
"America's Foremost Satirical Magician" -- Jeff McBride.
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Father Photius Grammar Host El Paso, TX (Formerly Amarillo) 17161 Posts |
Do you eat in resturants, doing an impromptu trick for a waitress always works, or the lady where you pick up ur dry cleaning, etc. I got the idea from Mark Wilson who gave it as a way of promoting yourself as a magician. Doing little tricks for these people you see so often in your every day life not only shares a little magic with them, but they remember you as a magician. It has gotten me many a play date from a referal from one of these people. They have contact with a lot of people every day, and often find an opportunity to suggest an entertainer to them. The key is to be known in your community as a magician. It doesn't have to be an elaborate trick, just simple things. I've done it with color changing knives, loops, thumb tips, etc. They love it and even look forward to my next visit to see what else I'm going to show them. Good performance opportunity for you, and good promotion for you as well.
"Now here's the man with the 25 cent hands, that two bit magician..."
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BrianMillerMagic Inner circle CT 2050 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-12-11 13:00, photius wrote: Right, this isn't the time to try out your new 15 minute mentalist routine. It is, however, time to produce and vanish a coin, use a TT for some simple vanishes/appearances, or under the right conditions break out a deck for an extremely quick trick. People will remember you and as Mark Wilson says, you'll get invited back to parties and be the most popular person around. I just hesitate to let that become my personality, instead of my passion/profession. What I don't like is getting invited to parties (not hired) just because I do magic, and being expected to perform whenever and wherever people feel like telling (not asking) me to perform. So exercise caution when performing "guerilla style." |
airship Inner circle In my day, I have driven 1594 Posts |
If you choose to perform for waitresses, clerks, and others you transact business with, please be sensitive as to the time you take. Make sure it's a slow time for them and you're not keeping them from doing their work.
A good friend of mine is a bartender, and her bane is some half-drunk customer trying to tell her a long, drawn-out, unfunny joke when she has a dozen drink orders to fill.
'The central secret of conjuring is a manipulation of interest.' - Henry Hay
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BerkleyJL Veteran user Chicago, IL 397 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-12-11 14:04, airship wrote: Airship, you hit the nail on the head! Last night at dinner my girlfriend expected me to perform some sort of trick for our waitress as a flashy way of leaving the tip. Ugh! I would have felt like that was dangling her tip in front of her like a carrot while making her indulge me in my own hobby. She wouldn't have been impressed OR entertained. It was a busy night and she had already done a wonderful job. I felt the best thing I could have done for her (which is what I did) was thank her for the great service, leave a respectable tip, and clear the table for her next customers.
I need a stage name.
Joe Berkley |
AAC New user 55 Posts |
I suggest going to your local mall, or where ever people are found in numbers, look for somebody that is obviously waiting for somebody else, or just not busy in general, walk up to them, introduce yourself and ask them if they have a moment/if they want to see something.
If they say sure, there you go. It's that easy...easy being a very big word here, as getting the guts to actually do this is the hard part, you of course, WILL be nervous...only way to do it, is well...to do it. If you do it right, I promise you, you will want to do it again. Doing it for strangers can be the most rewarding part of magic of all, as the people you walk up to, have no idea that your about to amaze them. The smile you put on their face, the reaction you get, is simply, what magic is all about. On the other hand. The bad side of the fact that they have no idea what you're going to do is that they might think you are trying to get money from them, annoy them or you may be some other sort of soliciting act, and tell you they do not have time. This is just theory, as I haven't done it yet...BUT. If they say this, as you say, "Ok, thanks anyway" or whatever, preform something that is very visual, easy to do and quick. You might get enough of a reaction to where you find they do indeed have time to watch you. |
Suppo Regular user Indianapolis 101 Posts |
So, do not bother someone during a busy time, but do it when they are not quite so busy. Still sage advice from Mark Wilson and Photius.
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Bill Thompson Elite user Mississippi 422 Posts |
I cringe at the thought of foisting my magic off on those with better things to do than watch me perform... I have worked in retail and at the time I really didn't have time to stop and watch some guy do a magic trick at my register. I am not a professional so I get my practice in front of others at my local I.B.M. Ring meetings. Occasionally when we are invited to a party or a get together with friends the hostess will ask if I will show some magic and I will. It works for me.
But, as Mr. Palmer would say, "Do what you want to, you will any way."
"To let understanding stop at what cannot be understood is a high attainment.
Those who cannot do it will be destroyed on the lathe of heaven." - Chuang Tse |
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