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7th_Son Elite user Australia 437 Posts |
After spending many hours practicing a routine, in front of a mirror and then in front of a video camera, I find it's time to show the routines to real people.
This is my big problem. Finding real people to practice a routine on. I can find people to perform to (complete strangers in the streets!), but I feel I need to show it to some more familiar people a few times before I can perform to acquaintances and strangers. Family and friends are ok, but after a while I find that I'm imposing on them. They want to see a polished presentation, not a routine that 90% perfected and needs some fine-tuning. There's no magic club nearby. How do you guys find a real "practice" audience?
"Here's to our wives and girlfriends...may they never meet!" - Groucho Marx
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Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts |
That's a tough one, 7th Son.
You say you don't want to perform for family and friends, but you want a more familiar audience than strangers, not wanting to perform for them, either. Actually, other than family, friends, and strangers, there's nobody left! So the trick would seem to be to find an audience that doesn't care if your work needs fine-tuning or not. And that brings us to many, many places that would appreciate entertainment but simply can't afford it: Seniors' homes, veterans' hospitals, some schools and libraries (but be sure you aren't taking a paying job away from a working magician on the latter two.) and so on. Depending on what you do, you can try busking on the street, although that's a little tough for someone just starting out! cheers, Peter Marucci showtimecol@aol.com |
Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
Quote:
On 2003-11-25 04:22, Peter Marucci wrote: 7th_Son, Listen to Peter about this. He always knows what he is talking about. He is experienced and has been in several magazines. |
espalding New user St. Louis 59 Posts |
I'm fortunate to have a wife who enjoys magic, and doesn't mind when I say, "okay, let me show you just one more." She's knows enough that there's very few tracks that really amaze her, but she's a good critic for the same reason. She can let me know if my hand looks too unnatural or if I flashed a coin I was trying to palm. She'll even walk around me a little to check for any angle problems.
So the bottom line for me is that it's great to have someone close to help you get through that last 10% of your presentation. Eric. |
Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts |
Eric is quite right about having someone close to help you through the last 10 per cent.
My wife is much the same. Few tricks can still amaze her, and that makes her a good critic. But, when I can, in fact, amaze her, I know that I've got a winner! cheers, Peter Marucci showtimecol@aol.com |
7th_Son Elite user Australia 437 Posts |
You're all very lucky having a supportive wife.
My wife is not impressed when I spend time practicing magic. She sees it as a total waste of time. She would rather I spent less time doing magic, and more time doing housework. LOL! Actually, she's not that bad. She just doesn't see magic practice as a good use of time.
"Here's to our wives and girlfriends...may they never meet!" - Groucho Marx
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Leeman Special user Hollywood, CA 709 Posts |
It sounds like you are an older fellow so telling you that a schoolyard can be a good place to show off some new tricks wouldn't really help. Maybe you could show off for some coworkers during your lunch break or during a coffee break. This depends on the job you work at though.
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bigdunk007 Regular user 138 Posts |
Do it at a youth group, cubs, football club, school, or if enough confidence, random people.
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Sven Rygh Inner circle Oslo, Norway. 1945 Posts |
Red Cross organization is a good choice.
That's where I do this. It's ok to do a few organizations, but not to many though. The word that you do this no charge, spreads easily, and might ruin your future business. Sven
WWW.SVENRYGH.NO
"Keep it as simple as possible, - but no simpler" http://www.svenrygh.no/sven-rygh/presse/nrk-forst-og-sist/ http://www.svenrygh.no/video.html |
Vanished Zauberer Regular user Canada 147 Posts |
Yes, I always do tricks for groups of people in my school. If you're not in school then try work, and if your work is magic, then try busking. My mom never cares about magic tricks because she sees them 24/7 but if I can make her take a double look with a smile on her face and say "Wait, wait, wait! Do that again!" it's a gooder!
"Stress is when you wake up screaming and you you realize you haven't even fallen asleep"
MagicTy www.magicty.iwarp.com |
Hawky New user Montréal, Canada 51 Posts |
That's a problem I face often as well. The only thing I did is I found a friend that is also passionate about magic and once or twice a week we meet and critique our techniques.
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Erik Anderson Regular user Des Moines, Iowa 171 Posts |
Children's hospitals (especially around Christmas) are deperate for activities for their patients who are there over the holidays. They are also less likely to be a paying venue for a working pro.
Erik "Aces" Anderson
"I never let my schooling get in the way of my education." ~ Mark Twain http://www.acesanderson.com |
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