|
|
gourdini New user 76 Posts |
Hello again, have enjoyed some of your ideas re: openers and "performer's w/ charm". Just wondering- would you care to offer any advice as to how you go about getting a laugh early on in a strolling situation.
I feel the experience of being approached by a magician is still strange to most people. Regardless of the performer's "charm" as you say- I now feel there needs to be a joke or something funny early on in the introduction/ opener, to release this tension. I don't feel it needs to be hilarrious- not really comedy for comedy's sake but something to release that slight bit of awkwardness I some times experience after I have just introduced myself to a group. (BTW I do NOT begin by asking if people would like to see some magic- I just "flow- in") |
Norman Beck V.I.P. 106 Posts |
You ask a very good question. I am not certain that a laugh is what one should be working towards. My goals in the first few seconds are as follows:
1-I belong at the event 2-I am harmless 3-I am fun 4-I am not out to steal a girlfriend or wife 5-MOST IMPORTANT- I have something interesting for them to watch and spend a few min of time with me. I don't have a specific joke I tell when I start. In a formal close up show. I get a laugh every time with my opening line but that is set up by the person who introduces me. I know I am going to get people to laugh 4 times in less than a minute before I do my first trick. I want the ball rolling and the words are crafted in such a way that I can do that. In walk around it is less structured and the venue's vary so much. |
gourdini New user 76 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-12-17 15:49, Norman Beck wrote: OK- "Something interesting"- just to play devil's advocate for a minute- or rather to take the position of a kind of misanthrope- What do layman find interesting in your oppinion- I think maybe one probelm some of us may have is that we have all been "magicians" for so long that we loose touch of what might interest real people in this situation. Many debates have taken place on the here on the Café centering around- wheather one should open with cards or not- some guys say, "I open with cards all the time" Other's say- I never open with cards- they are death. Really what is itnteresting about seeing a guy come up and say "Hi, Yall...while he pulls a pack of cards out of his breast pocket... If you can offer anything to expand upon what you have already said that would be great. In other words what does Norn do to accomplish items 1-5 on his list? |
Norman Beck V.I.P. 106 Posts |
Well,
The first thing is that I perform as Norman Beck and with any luck Norman Beck is an intersting fun guy to hang with. Here are some things that I do and do not do to get those 5 things done. 1-I look better in dress than the people who are at the event. I am not a GQ kind of guy but I find out what they want me to wear and I dress a step up from that. My shoes and nails look good as does my haircut and from time to time I dress as an old time gambler with the hat an boots. In that getup it is all expensive. Dolly Parton once said it costs a bunch of money to look this cheap. 2-I Have a great amount of confidence when I approach people in that when I step into a group I am not overbearing but yet I am not timid. I think people can sense fear. 3-When a close up guy performs if he is good you will hear him and know he is good. Its like I don't know what he did at the last table but he must be good. 4-If I am working tables and I catch people watching from the next table. I walk up to the table and say "Hi I saw you folks watching from the cheap seats a moment ago and thought you should have a front row seat. I am Norman the entertainment that Mr. Brooks hired this evening or something along those lines. 5-I don't use a question that is a yes or no in regards to performing. 6-I don't wear anything that looks stupid as in a weird hat or vest. 7-I carry nothing with me- NO table, no bag, nothing. 9-I do everything out of my pockets 10-I WOULD NEVER DO ANYTHING WITH A BALLOON. ever. If you are a balloon guy don't argue this with me or say that balloons are great. They may well be but not for me. I also do no effects ever that use two decks of cards or two or more colors for the backs. The only exception to this rule is the color changing deck. 11- I do no mouth coils, card from mouth or ringflight. Yes I know ringflight is a fine trick but I can make a good case why it should never be done. The risk is not worth the effect 12-Often times at coctail walk around I start off talking to the people before I mention that I am also the Magician TIP- Get to the venue early early early. I want to meet with the person who hired me and do magic for them one on one or two on two so they know what they paid for. I want to be back and often times the person who booked you is busy busy and may miss out later in the evening. Lets say I am hired to work 6-9. In Normans time table that is really 530-915 or 9:30. YOu should give them more than they paid for. I also always send a thank you card to the person who booked me and one to the person who hired me. I also find out as much as I can about the event and the company before I get to the event. I hope this helps. |
gourdini New user 76 Posts |
Great, thanks for taking the time to really answer the question.
Recently, I spent some time thinking about the performers I have seen at lectures/ meetings in the last few years. I spent sometime thinking about which one's I thought layman would like the best- and while I don't remember all that much about your magic you came across as very likeable- more so than most performers and that's why I have hounded you with all these questions. I took a little break from magic for about a year and half- I hope this time around I can improve by trying to think like a layman- but pretty soon a few weeks will go by, I'll go to some more lectures and meetings- start spending too much time on the magic Café- and I will become one of the "borg" again- so have to take advantage of this critical time period. Thanks "Gourdini" |
Norman Beck V.I.P. 106 Posts |
You are very welcome. I will take the time to respond to any question that a person might have. I was very lucky in that people take the time with me when I ask. I think it matters and hope the week has been fun for all.
Regards, Norman |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The December 2010 entrée: Norman Beck » » How to get a laugh in the first 30 seconds » » TOPIC IS LOCKED (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.02 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |