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John Long Inner circle New Jersey 2826 Posts |
I have volunteered to help a church that I attend. The intent is to perform some tricks with a biblical theme that will prompt them to stop at the table: pick up literature, talk, even get involved with a local church.
I've not done this before, but think that it has possibilities. I would like thoughts or links to 1) how to initially approach a passer-by 2) what is a good opening trick for quickly sharing the gospel 3) Whatever else you think I should be aware of! For the first, I thought of - asking them, "Can I ask you a question... why do you have this ball in your ear". I'm thinking kids with that type of approach, but I don't know of a gospel themed message to go with my sponge ball routine. - Using a child from the church as a stooge; show them a trick, and expect others to gather to watch and listen - Do some thing flashy to attract attention (but I'm not too flashy ) For an effect, once they are listening, I have a "coloring book" that I converted to a "wordless book". I.m then thinking of having some non-magical "wordless booklets" with the story printed on them for people to pick up. Thanks; John
Breathtaking Magic;
Not Breath Taking |
marD Loyal user 274 Posts |
I just did this last weekend. It went pretty well, but I didn't get to do it very long because I was busy doing other things.
I received a couple tips from a friend of mine that helped me out. First, Do a couple of tricks to get their attention and interact with them. It gets them relaxed and also helps to draw more people in. To start getting people over to the table, just start calling them out of the passers-by. Or, set up close to someone from your church that you know is going to be talking to a lot of people and have them point the people in your direction when they are done. Then, do a trick that presents the gospel. By doing a few tricks first, you have gotten their attention so that when you do the final one with the message, they are watching you and not getting distracted. Also, don't do anything that's not you. Just be yourself and let your personality and the magic reach out with the gospel. One more thing. Don't try to make every trick have a gospel message. It will give people a reason to be distracted("not another gospel trick"). Most of the people you want to reach won't be churched.... When I did this for our church last weekend, one of the funniest things happened. I was trying to think of something that would be quick and easy but something that a smaller child could understand. So I did a DL and then laid "their" card on the table and had them cover it with both hands. I pretended to try and get it away from them and then snapped my fingers and showed them that their card was on top of the deck. It was my most requested trick. I had all of the little kids watching asking me to do it to them too.... I hope that at least some of this helps! Mike
At Ease Tees - Christian apparel and other items!
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John Long Inner circle New Jersey 2826 Posts |
Thanks Mike, that sounds like good general advice.
I would be curious to know what tricks you did, particularly for the gospel. My cards skills aren't to good, maybe I'll bring a Svengali John
Breathtaking Magic;
Not Breath Taking |
Terry Owens Inner circle Ft. Wayne, Indiana 1707 Posts |
To draw attention, if you have a flaming wallet or flaming book, when people draw near set it off. I drew a crowd in my vehicle when I used it going through a drive through...then of course you have the perfect opening about hell, or purity.
You could do Healed and sealed the soda can restoration. Talk about how Christ can restore a crumpled up life and make it brand new. |
marD Loyal user 274 Posts |
Many of the tricks that I did seemed pretty simple to me, but they hit pretty hard. I guess that's just me...
Because I only had about 10 minutes, I did some things like Card in Hand, Jay Sankey's Partial Knowledge, and as the gospel message, I did Paul Harris' Vacuum Cleaner Cards. I was ready to do Sinful also(with a gospel message) but I didn't have the time. An Invisible Deck is an amazing way to talk about faith. As far as card skill, you can do many tricks with just a few basic sleights. I'm looking forward to hearing how things go! Mike
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Payne Inner circle Seattle 4571 Posts |
When I worked the streets in my youth I would just single out a child and start into my cut and restored rope routine. This would build a crowd because of the interaction and the fact that I was waving a very large pair of scissors around a small child.
Basically if you can stop one person to watch you this will become an anchor for a larger group to form around. You need to be big and loud. People have to see and hear what your doing so you need to start out with something flashy or visual. The meek may inherit the world but they aren't going to get a crowd at a fair or festival. I wouldn't start out with a Gospel effect either as this will more than likely cause most of your crowd to dissipate the second they realize what's going on. A few standard effects to build the crowd then pass out your literature or deliver your message based effect.
"America's Foremost Satirical Magician" -- Jeff McBride.
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Ethan the emazing Elite user anywhere but here USA 454 Posts |
I agree with Payne, don't start out with a gospel effect. Last year, when I did street magic in Niagara Falls, I would start out with d'lites. D'lites catch peoples attention pretty quickly, and they draw the crowd for you. Then I would move on to a card effect. Then I would do a sponge ball routine, after that I would hand them a gospel tract.
In your case after your closing effect, just point out to people that your church has a table set up. |
John Long Inner circle New Jersey 2826 Posts |
Lots to consider. Your thoughts are appreciated. Thanks.
I think I will take the attitude that this is an experiment, and try different stuff, but your ideas give me ideas of what those different things should be. John
Breathtaking Magic;
Not Breath Taking |
Bendy Special user Columbus, Ohio 518 Posts |
Gospel tracts can help a lot. Go to http://www.livingwaters.com for some very cool ones. They present ways to "break the ice" with strangers and you can perform some tricks from there.
Have some tracts on the table. You can hand them out, saying, "did you get one of these?". Don't ask if they want one. You'll have a lot of tracts left over. Ask if they got one. That piques their interest and they're more likely to take one. Living Waters has some with "The World's Funniest One Liners," which are funny. They also have optical illusion ones, which are GREAT for leading into magic. They have a "Curved Illusion" tract, where there are two pieces of different colors, both the same size, but one looks bigger than the other, depending on how you hold them. With those, you can simply say, "Excuse me, can you help me out? ...Which one of these is bigger." No matter what their answer...if they respond, you've got your "in." Hand them the tract so that they can show their friends. You can then perform whatever tricks you have lined up, putting one with a Gospel message in there somewhere. I agree that, for most situations, all tricks should not necessarily have a Gospel message or that all props be some form of Biblical repesentation. I'd recommend getting the "Department of Annoyance" tract, too. For those who seem a bit annoyed with you, just hand them "your" card. It says, "Director, Department of Annoyance." Looks like a government business card. On the back, the Gospel message is written backwards, (to be annoying). That usually will soften up the cranky ones enough where you will have an opportunity to entertain, (and educate), them with some illusions. You could get the "Million Dollar Bill" tract. Looks like a million dollar bill with a Gospel message around the back edge of the tract. You could do a bill switch and then hand them the tract to keep. Using tracts helps break the ice and gives you an opening to do some tricks. And, should you not get the opportunity to present a trick with a Gospel message, those who take one of the tracts will be taking that message with them. Kind of takes the pressure off of you to squeeze in a Gospel message for every person or group of people who you get to approach your table. They also have tracts that look like $100 bills, but that are HUGE. You can hold those out and say, "BIG MONEY! Handing out BIG MONEY over here!" That'll get them there. If they refuse the tract, ask if they'd rather have a little magic than big money, and you'll have your opportunity. If they take it and come over, just ask them how they are today, mention that they apparently like to have fun by their reaction to your "big money" gag and then say, "just for them," you'd like to do something special with their permission. Bet you don't get a 'no' then. At http://www.customtractsource.com, they have some great tracts, too. One that says not to read it because you'll get offended. People can't help themselves...they read it anyhow. They have some that are black with white lettering saying, "What If?" on the front. That gets attention. They have "Zero Dollar Bills," "Million Dollar Bills" and "Ten Thousand Dollar Bills" tracts. They have one that is very colorful that is a ticket to Heaven on one side and a ticket to Hell on the other. You could hand those out saying, "get your tickets to Heaven here!" That could get visitors and provide opportunities. I'm telling you...well-made and clever Gospel tracts are awesome ways to provide opportunities to perform. |
marD Loyal user 274 Posts |
I used the Million Dollar Bill tract as well as the Ten Commandment coins. I couldn't hold onto them. We actually had people run up to us and ask us for the million dollar bills....
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John Long Inner circle New Jersey 2826 Posts |
Thanks all
marD where is the Million Dollar Bill tact obtained from? and how is it used? What do you do with the 10 C coin? and do you also have the 10 commandment coin link (I've seen it before, but don't remember where it is from) John
Breathtaking Magic;
Not Breath Taking |
Joe Marotta Special user Can You Believe I Have 944 Posts |
Try http://www.livingwaters.com and click on their STORE. Their Ice Breakers is where the tracts, coins, etc are located.
Joe |
John Long Inner circle New Jersey 2826 Posts |
Thanks
Breathtaking Magic;
Not Breath Taking |
Ethan the emazing Elite user anywhere but here USA 454 Posts |
The million dollar bill tracts are FANTASTIC... So are the 100 dollar bills. The 100's seem to go faster. My church did an evangelism outing and took about 15 packs of the hundreds and within 2 hrs. they were all gone.
The ten commandment coins are good for some coin tricks. I do a vanishing appearing routine with them and hand the spectator the coin afterwards. |
John Long Inner circle New Jersey 2826 Posts |
I just received the 10 commandment coins, the million dollar bills and the oversize $100 bills from LivingWaters.
I like the look of the million dollar coin, but I don't care for the gospel message being printed around the edge of the bill - it is just hard to read,I also think a better gospel message could have been used. The oversize $100 appears to be a photo enlargement of a true $100. As such, I think holding it up will really attract peoples attention. The back has plenty of room for a lengthy gospel message. I think its message is better than that of the million dollar, but I think it could be improved. The 10 C coins, are what they appear as in the ad. I have a hard time palming coins the size of a silver dollar(actually they are just a little larger than a $1), but am practicing with them. my 2c
Breathtaking Magic;
Not Breath Taking |
Ethan the emazing Elite user anywhere but here USA 454 Posts |
I agree with the print being too hard to read on the millions. The ten commandment coins are pretty easy to downs palm though. I'll give you my routine I use with them.
Start off with it in a downs palm have about 3 more in your pocket. Show the front then back of your hand, then produce it out of "thin air". I then hand it out for inspection. While the spectators are distracted with the one coin take the rest out of your pocket and downs palm them. Take the one coin back. Drop the rest of the coins on top of the one in your hand and make it look like they have multiplied. Then I hand out the coins. |
John Long Inner circle New Jersey 2826 Posts |
Thanks Ethan
I didn't use 10C coins that much - they didn't seem to fit in the setting. But for a few, I showed the coin, did a retention vanish, and comment how people tend to put their trust in money, then showed the coin had vanished. A little hand washing, and the coin was back in the hand, and I quoted that heaven and earth will pass before God's word, and then reopened the hand displaying the 10C coin. For the most part, I used the large $100's which I converted into Wonderland type bills. I would ask people if they were good at handling money. Most would play along, and I would quote from Mt 6 about not laying up treasures on earth ... because they are fleeting .. as the face of Ben disappeared from you... but rather to seek first the KOG... and then gave out the bill if they were interested. It was not a very "magical" afternoon, but I did get to witness more clearly to one person. John
Breathtaking Magic;
Not Breath Taking |
Ethan the emazing Elite user anywhere but here USA 454 Posts |
Sounds like you had fun, and got to witness to a few people. Great job, and keep on sharin the gospel with the lost.
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