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MichaelMason New user 12 Posts |
I am interested in gaining exposure. One way through which I will be doing this is by having a friend record me performing tricks for total strangers in public and creating a YouTube channel. This appears to have been successful for many magicians.
If you are walking down the street, or through the store, then how do you personally, or suggest, approaching potential spectators? I think it would be interesting and funny to act as if I am going about my business then do something completely random and strange with hopes that the individual will notice and say something to me. I enjoy working with the public but do not know how to go about approaching potential spectators and asking them to participate. Should I find individuals willing to participate then should I have them sign any legal contracts in order to protect myself? After all, I will be asking them to participate in some acts (nothing dangerous) and filming them to be distributed on YouTube. |
twillsinc New user Sheffield, UK 19 Posts |
Hi Michael,
I was going to post this myself just because I was intregued what others do. I believe it was a Jay Sankey video I watched where he said people who are sat down are much more receptive. People walking (usually fast paced in the UK) usually have an agenda and feel less comfortable especially with all the charity workers etc around and about also wanting to stop them. Due to this I tend to go to the grassy/fountain areas where people are sat chilled. Small groups of people 3 minimum (I have once gone up to a couple who were discussing separation.. *sigh*....) 3-8 people in general. Apologies for interrupting them and tell them I am working on some filming material for youtube and website, would they be interested in seeing some card magic I have been working on. 80% of the people say yes I just then confirm on the video recording that it will be online they say fine and that's enough (in my eyes) if they say no, I apologise and just walk away - no point in dragging it out. If anyone does anything else or targets certain people due to a higher... happiness? rate let me know Twills. |
wk3 New user 7 Posts |
I agree with Twill. I like to go to a busy park and approach people with a line as simple as "Hey, I'm working on a magic trick and I'm hoping to get some practice performing in front of others." Most of the time, people are open to this. If I'm lucky, other people passing by will stop and watch!
I have better luck with younger groups-- like twenties and thirties. As a guy, I also like to avoid just girls or kids without their parents. I am afraid of giving the wrong impression.... |
JoeJoe Inner circle Myrtle Beach 1915 Posts |
See my twenty minute lecture "The Crowd Goes Wild" (free):
http://magicjoint.com/pages/magic-shop/t......d-promo/ -JoeJoe
Amazing JoeJoe on YouTube[url=https://www.youtube.com/user/AmazingJoeJoe]
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Bin Regular user 124 Posts |
Quote:
On May 12, 2015, MichaelMason wrote: I just want to comment that in my experience with doing random and strange things, people notice far less than you think. I've been talking to someone and casually had a rubber band jumping from finger to finger the entire time. He didn't notice a thing. I pointed it out to him later and he was wowed. Not only that, but people care about far less than you think. I was again, talking to someone else and was casually fiddling with some coins, doing some rolldown flourishes. He didn't care, perhaps didn't notice. Why? Because however eye catching it was, A) his attention was focused on my face, so he was less likely to notice peripheral stuff and B) he was talking to me. He doesn't care about what I'm doing with my hands (unless it looks rude or is irritating). It's the same thing with potential spectators. They are focused on something. And even worse, that something is not you, nor is it in any way related to you. (For the record, I wasn't trying to catch either of their attention - I just like having something to do with my hands.) My point is that you have to really have the person's attention before you can get them interested. Make sure they're watching you, and then give them a reason to keep doing that. I highly recommend (as little as my recommendation means) JoeJoe's lecture that he mentioned. It's aimed at buskers, but there is advice in there that applies equally to all performers. (especially if you're performing out in public.)
Remember Quacky.
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egmorrell New user Bristol, TN 29 Posts |
"Hey guys, do you wanna see some magic?" That's your opening line. I've done it time and time again on the street. You'll get no's, but you'll get yes's. It's blatantly obvious to them that you're about to do magic, so if they want to see it, they'll say yes. Just have some conifidence and make sure your material is polished and solid.
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
A good salesman NEVER asks a "closed question". A closed question can be answered with a "NO". Thus a good salesman would never ask; "Do you want to buy one? A good salesman offers a choice between "this" or "that".
A good magician would never ask: Would you like to see a trick? --or, "some magic".
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Shurikenstorm5 New user South Carolina 75 Posts |
Someone try to be like Evan Cloyd and just approach them and say nothing, communicate with no words and try to make them join in.
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egmorrell New user Bristol, TN 29 Posts |
Dick, I get that. But a salesman is all about selling a product because they want to sell it. If magic is my product I'm not trying to push it on anyone. If people aren't open to it, that is fine. You can't say I'm not a good magician for saying "wanna see some magic".. I've used that as my opening line on the street for a year and at festivals. I don't put so much into selling my magic because there are plenty of people who would naturally want to see it. It doesn't matter what you say as long as you say something.
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Daeld New user So far, I have about 84 Posts |
Quote:
On Oct 28, 2015, Dick Oslund wrote: Wow, really? Works fine for me. Most people like magic. If you ask them an open question, that's fine, but in my case, I don't want to start a therapy session, I just want to know if they want to see a trick or not. if they do, then I engage with them. I'm not generally desperate to get a crowd that I need to con them. Also, I can't remember the last time I said "who wants to see some magic!" and not got a positive reply. |
egmorrell New user Bristol, TN 29 Posts |
Thank you, Daeld.
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Kyoki_Sanitys_Eclipse Inner circle 1513 Posts |
Bring up that you are a magician in regular conversation without any I tenting of doing a trick and you will usually get akded. You can also practice flourishes in public
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