Does anyone perform - or have a suggestion for - an opener while moving?

Say you are strolling and see someone approaching from the opposite direction, say an attractive member of the other sex or busy business type. You know he or she is aware of you, but it doesn't look like they will stop to watch.

Is there a good visual effect to hook them instead of calling out an opening line like, "Do you want to see some magic?"

No coin rolls, flourishes and flash.

Just make eye contact.

...smile and say hello.

Mark.

I've always gotten people to notice me by using the Sponge Ding-Dong trick.

Yes, I'm joking. No, don't really do that.

Personally, I agree with the above. Eye contact. Smile. Say hello. If, as you say, they're aware of you and what you're doing, they'll stop if they want to. Though if you're looking for some magic to catch people's eye, floating something could work. Or, though you said no flourishes, even something just like springing the cards might achieve the desired effect.

And just remember that some people don't care to see your magic, and that's perfectly valid.

A fire wallet gets a lot of attention and reaction. You may consider that as "flash", but if not it is worth a look.

In the right venue it will get you invited over! When you get there you can go into "Extreme Burn" or one of the other multiple bill changes. Really works well.

The only problem is coming up with something to follow up with that tops these two!

Sammy

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. A fire wallet is on my wish list Sammy J.

The guy at the local magic shop also suggested sponge balls.

If you are thinking about going with the sponges check out "Sponge" by Jay Noblezada great DVD with an awesome bonus section with Gary Darwin, its my recommendation!

I second that. Re-posting something I posted two years ago:



I used to pitch magic at a flea market... Every morning I would walk the length of the market, all the way down to the food court where I would order an egg sandwich. Along the way, I would naturally greet the other vendors...

"Hi" ... "Hi" ... "How you doing" ... "How you doing" ... "Hey there" ... "Hey"


After a while of doing this, I began to realize that neither myself nor the person I was greeting were actually paying each other any attention. I mean, I would ask a guy how he's doing, and his response was to ask me how I'm doing without either one of us actually answering each others questions - it was one of those major "DUH" moments.

From then on, I began to make an effort to greet people in such a way that they would pay me attention. I was louder, more direct, head up when I spoke, eye contact, and I began looking for ways to be more effective when I greeted people.

And I must confess, it has greatly helped me in approaching people with magic. If you want to be a better magician, then I suggest you walk around and greet everyone you pass...whether you know them or not. Don't worry about showing them magic, just focus on learning how to greet people. Learn how to crawl before you try to walk - just learn to say "hi" in a such a way that they take notice of you and not just respond with a mindless response.

There was a timeshare pitchman that worked the landing next to me...he had an uncanny ability to greet people. He held out his hand (as to shake yours) and just said "hey" in such a way that you would swear you knew this guy and were embarrassed that you forgot who he was... Very few people didn't shake his hand.

-JoeJoe

There's quite a few threads in "The sidewalk shuffle" forum about gathering a crowd that could liely apply. Trouble is if you're strolling, they're walking and all of a sudden you pull out a wallet that bursts into flame...they'll likely walk faster rather than stop. so I think Kirk, Mark and Joe nail it...make eye contact, and say hello.

Well..i know you said 'no coin rolls' but I guess you could stand still first to make sure he/she has seen you,pause and look up into open space and pull a coin out of the air.
It seems to me you only need something to momentarily grab his/her attention then once you've got that you can gain more ground with something else which suits you.

Produce a cigarette, act like 007 lol

RobertlewisIR, that was funny, "Excuse me Miss. Is that a Sponge Ding Dong behind your ear?"

I respect everyone's opinion, but I have to say, my experience with the fire wallet has been less than encouraging. I have used it as an impromptu bit dozens of times, and was shocked that a lot of people just act like they didn't even see it.

Seriously! There is nothing more frustrating than paying for something, let's say, at the local quick mart, doing the fire thing, and the person looks right through you as if you are not even there. You think to yourself, "Are these people brain-dead?" I just had flames shoot up from my wallet, and they act like it's something they see everyday.

For that reason, I myself can't recommend it.

But then again, as they say, your mileage may vary.

When I've tried to smile and say "hi" to random people on the street I usually get one of three types of responses: 1 - they completely ignore me and continue on their way, 2 - they give me the puzzled "do I know you from somewhere?" kind of look, 3 - they look half scared like they're thinking, "who is this crazy person and why is he talking to me?"

Ok.. so I've gotten their attention (at least they're looking at me). Now what?

Is it a for an actual Show or just to stop someone?

If it's an actual walkaround gig then I suggest flourishes, but good flourishes okay?

Social? A strong surrounded levitation, preferably 10 feet off of the ground always stops them dead in their tracks...

Blow a kiss to the person