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r4bid Veteran user 386 Posts |
Ok, I wasn't sure where else to put this, so I am posting it in this forum.
I am considering starting a magic club at my high school. I think it would not only help to make my magical abilities more visible to the student body, but it will also give me the ability to meet other magicians at my school (if there are any). The fact that it would look good on a college application is just a plus. Now I know where to go to get an application to start a club, but I have no idea how I would go about holding meetings and such. I belong to the SAM but have never attended a meeting and I havn't really had a whole lot of live contact with other magicians. So here are some questions I have 1) What would be some good ideas for topics of discussion? Remember not everyone showing up will neccesarily be a practicing magician, they might just have interest in magic. 2) How do I handle the whole layperson thing? I have no way to exclude people under school rules, so anyone can show up. This means that laypeople might show up with the hopes of learning the secrets behind some tricks. |
Brian Proctor Inner circle Somewhere 2323 Posts |
I was planning on starting my own club this year too. But I was too busy with my senior project. Now, I can't do it because I have 5 days left of highschool forever. But maybe I could start one in college.
I was thinking, if you get a group started, talk about small basic stuff first. Don't get into heavily guarded secrets until a while later. If they have a true heart for learning that is... I say this only because people will just stop coming if they don't have the heart for it and the point of just coming to figure out secrets will disappear. People who want good advice, good discussion, and other stuff will stay. I feel like I'm being redundant on myself. Someone tell me if I am. |
Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts |
r4bid,
If you want to start a magic club at school, let me suggest that you PM Darryl the Wizard (he posts frequently at The Magic Cafe). He's been doing this for many years and, I'm sure, would be a gold mine of information and tips. cheers, Peter Marucci showtimecol@aol.com |
r4bid Veteran user 386 Posts |
Thanks a bunch Peter
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P T Flea Regular user Engelfield Green, nr Staines - innit 194 Posts |
My youngest brother actually attends a magic club at his school which is ran by one of the staff, who is a member of the magic circle.
Anyway, he is expected to turn up every week and bring his own rope and cards. The teacher shows them something new every week and expects them to go away and practice it and so forth. Anyone who doesn't take the club seriously i.e. rarely turns up or doesn't bring their own materials is thrown out. Then again, he has the power of a teacher and can throw people out. You might just have to put up with them. I hope this gives you some general ideas on the format of his club. PT
Good judgement comes from bad experience, and a lot of that comes from
bad judgement. |
DarryltheWizard Loyal user 238 Posts |
I have operated a Rabbit and Hat Magic Club for the last 15 years at our school. I teach close-up magic from September to Christmas. Just before Christmas the club presents a Cavalcade of Close-Up Magic.
I have two performers in each class with no more than four spectators for each performer. Each peformer is given about 8 to 10 minutes to perform and then the spectators then move onto the next performer at the other end of the room. After this, we move clockwise to the next classroom. At the end of the sessions each spectator votes for the act they liked the best, and then prizes are awarded. In the teaching sessions, I seperate the kids according to grade and try to teach each grade one new effect per week. After Christmas until about the Winter Break in March, we study stage magic, and all the grades put on a 45 minute stage show for the student body and many of the parents as well. What I love is that the kids come up with some really fresh presentations that don't always follow the hard and fast rules of magic as we have learned them. Two of the kids I've assisted are touring professionals today! Darryl the Wizard
DarryltheWizard
"Life without mystery is like a candle with a snuffed out flame." Albert Einstein |
Cornelius Loyal user Canada 213 Posts |
Yeah. Maybe you could try to do a kind of "magician's test". You could ask the magicians what their area is and then give them a test in that area for them to get into the club.
Hope this helps. From, Cornelius. |
r4bid Veteran user 386 Posts |
Unfortunately I can't descriminate based on skill. Anyone who wants to join can, under the schools rules. It's now too late for me to start one this year, but maybe next year.
If there are any more suggestions, feel free to post them, as I will gladly take them under consideration next year. |
mclare New user 94 Posts |
I don't think you should worry too much about the 'layperson' issue - your members will be of the age when they'll be deciding whether they want to follow it seriously or not.
Few of them will already be into it - you'll be providing a spring board, and should think about encouraging rather than guarding. In my opinion. |
r4bid Veteran user 386 Posts |
Thanks mclare, I guess that unless I get really unlucky I should not have any real big problems with exposers.
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Pokie-Poke Special user Bensalem, PA 883 Posts |
I belong to SCA and part of that is teaching others. A group of us have picked 3 tricks to teach to new people, to get to the advanced class you have to audition.
And the moto: "I'll show you mine if you show me yours" is a good rule of thumb. (I would probably not use this for your school moto, people may get the wrong idea) you show me a trick and I'll show you a trick. If you teach each other, and the price of a lesson is a lesson you should do ok
www.pokie-poke.com
The Adventure cont... |
jasonmagic New user Jason Magic Productions (Martinsburg,WV) 64 Posts |
The idea sounds wonderful! The only thing I would be wary of, who would be let in. I find most people just want to learn the secret. But, then you run into the discrimination issue. The school system could jump in and it could get messy. Fat chance but it could happen.
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Stuart Hooper Special user Mithrandir 759 Posts |
Yes be careful who you let in. Many of the kids who like magic type things at school are also not right for magician performers. You are likely to get many gamers and other types that are wierd or hecklers or whatever. Not to say anything bad, but you can't really discriminate against people in a school club, so it may not be a good idea.
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mclare New user 94 Posts |
There are plenty of adult magcians in magic clubs who are not right as performers too, and weirder than any kids.
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Stuart Hooper Special user Mithrandir 759 Posts |
Yes but can't you tell em to get lost?
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John Clarkson Special user Santa Barbara, CA 749 Posts |
Quote:
On 2002-06-17 19:51, mclare wrote: Great points raised in this message and others! When I was in high school (Gosh, can I remember that long ago?) I used to hang out in the local magic shop. I didn't know anything, but I was fascinated with close-up magic. Some of the older guys "tipped" simple tricks to me. It served two purposes: (1) Made me respect even more the skill required. (2) Made me feel like a part of the group. Both of these things motivated me even more to learn and respect magic. I think that most people who really aren't interested will simply go away if they realize they will actually have to WORK to make magic. Nearly everyone, for example, knows that a magician can palm a card. But, when they see how much practice it takes to to do it well, they'll simply vanish. Talk about good magic!
John D. Clarkson, S.O.B. (Sacred Omphaloskeptic Brotherhood)
Cozener "There is nothing more important to a magician than keeping secrets. Probably because so many of them are Gay." —Peggy, from King of the Hill (Sleight of Hank) |
magiciandude New user Utah 67 Posts |
I would personally talk to the head of your school about the layperson problem. I dont think that if someone is serious about magic that they should be able to attend meetings. Magic is more than a trick but a heavily guarded art that should be taken seriously.
Hope my words were of help! Lance R. Wilson
Magic is the psychology of the audience.
-Lance Wilson |
BPrice New user Caterville, Illinois 4 Posts |
As a High School Chem teacher I thought about hosting a magic club. Just from me doing some small things in the classroom has made students interested. In fact I have met a couple of students that are actually helping me with some effects. All in all this is a great idea and incourage any student to start! Good luck.
--Bill |
r4bid Veteran user 386 Posts |
Thanks Bill. Good luck to you too.
Unfortunatly my history teacher left the school after last year and he was the club organizer person. Now I will have to find out who is taking over and contact them when school starts in three weeks. |
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