|
|
Go to page 1~2 [Next] | ||||||||||
Tom DV Special user 694 Posts |
Hi everyone, I'd like to know about your responses to being asked 'can you show me a trick/something' in a non-professional environment. I often feel like jumping to oblige the whim of anyone diminishes my stature to a dancing monkey or magic trickster.
Reading a recent interview with D Brown, he said 'I do get asked to show people tricks sometimes, and always decline, and normally that's with businessmen in groups or people who want to show their status to the people they're with.' I'd very much like to know your thoughts on this, whether you feel happy to share your talent with all, providing entertainment where and whenever, or if a certain esteem or regard is lost to some degree by leaping to perform at command. Best, Tom. |
|||||||||
martin king Elite user 416 Posts |
Refuse, refuse again and refuse once more...
make them really want you to show you something, make them get on their knees and beg... then blow their minds away (with just one effect)... (or, preferably with a sawn off shotgun...annoying mentalism-hunting critters!) We're meant to have special powers (whether it be pyschic or psychological) and they're exhausting to use...no? Unless of course, the asker in question is a multi-billionaire and might book you for his birthday bash...then bore them to tears with virtually every effect that you've ever learnt...even the ones that you're no good at! |
|||||||||
IAIN Eternal Order england 18807 Posts |
Refuse twice in a pleasant way...then if asked again say "Ok - but later on..."
that gives me a little time to prep either people, things, or myself...then I'll make myself available for them to ask once more and then do something...even if its a simple "them" as mindreader and sw**i...
I've asked to be banned
|
|||||||||
Jim-Callahan V.I.P. 5018 Posts |
I never do.
That goes for magic also. However I will disscuss odd subjects at length having found people are more interested in sharing their own strange story and wanting my opinion of it as a person who deals with such things. Sometimes I will do a numberology reading using a birth date becouse I have written a book on it. But even that is extreamly rare.
“I can make Satan’s devils dance like fine gentlemen across the stage of reality”.
|
|||||||||
themindreader Loyal user 254 Posts |
Me too. I think that performing when you're asked to (in a non-working environment) looks extremely unprofessional. If I were to bump into a stand-up comic I wouldn't demand that he should 'do something funny'. If I were to bump into an opera singer I wouldn't demand that he should 'recite Karl Jenkins' The Armed Man'. Why should it be any different for a professional magician?
There is nothing wrong with performing as an amateur magician; but I think that performing when asked to reeks of amateurism. |
|||||||||
Alexander Marsh Inner circle England 1191 Posts |
I'd agree with abraxus...
I really dislike performing in a 'social setting' the mood is always wrong, and you have to stick around for the "How'd ya do that then?" comments, or "So have you ever, like, robbed a bank using your powers". I did once do this: They asked and I kind of evaded it a bit but after everyone else encouraged me, I said "Ok then". I got them to write the name of a school friend down, fold it, la dee da and attempted to get it purely by guess work. I failed of course so took the paper and tore it up and threw it over my shoulder in frustration... and I'm sure as I mention the word tear you know what I mean. I didn't really have a specific plan. If he had told me the name afterwards I would have just left it there but he didn't. I thought about having him whisper it to someone else, someone I could 'read'. The conversation moved on however and as he left he happened to bring up that maybe I would have better luck next time... So I tried again... somehow I did it this time.
My stuff: AlexanderMarshMentalism.co.uk
|
|||||||||
John C Eternal Order I THINK therefore I wrote 12945 Posts |
This is where a fire wallet comes in handy.
Say, "How come when you meet a doctor they don't pull out a scalpel and start cutting? Or, when you meet a Priest they don't immediately begin praying or when you meet a lawyer he doesn't _ _ _ _ _ you ... well you can fill in the blank on that one. But when you meet a magician everyone wants to see a trick. I just don't carry around stuff all the time to satisfy people (pull out fire wallet here and let er rip!) That's the extent of magic on demand. J |
|||||||||
chichi711 Inner circle 5810 Posts |
It really depends on who is asking and where I am.
|
|||||||||
Ringo Loyal user 287 Posts |
...and Derren of course has the advantage that nearly everyone knows what he can do. He does appear on tv occasionaly. As far as doctors, lawyers, etc. are concerned, it's common knowledge what they do. Not so with most of us.
I'm not saying that you should become a "monkey boy", but I don't see the value of the "I never show anyone anything" approach either. There is a middle ground to cover. Chichi summed it nicely up above. |
|||||||||
mesmer Inner circle 1186 Posts |
Depends.....if the one who asked the question I consider is not worth my time let alone my pet effect...I wont do it.....
but there is a time when I get annoyed by this girl with her friend who out of the blue approach me when I'm in a book store searching for the latest best seller.....and she said "...can you hypnotize me?...." (in a Cynical tone and gesture) before I had a chance to answer she said "...I'll bet you can not..." luckly I had Electric Touch ready and set at HIGH then I say to her "...ok then if you don't believe taht I can Hypnotize people....I want you to imagine the taste of a Chilli in your tounge....can you feel it now?..." She said "...nope..its not working..." I said to her friend "...ok this time extend out your index finger...and look my hand is empty, I don't have any chemical or any chilli..." then I said to her "...I'm going to hold your Friend hand so she can touch your tounge with her own finger...." and at the end....she regrets that she asked the question...and I'm Glad I never leave home without my ET now I can say....Dance you Monkey Girl! |
|||||||||
burst Veteran user Memphis, TN 308 Posts |
Like Nate (chichi) said, it depends on who asks me and where. I have a set of rules I follow so that it doesn't appear that I perform when asked. For the most part, I am most likely to decline, but there is the rare occasions when I will. It's usually my idea to perform when out with people. That doesn't happen often either, but is more common than performing when asked.
I think we should all be prepared for answering questions about how we accomplished it. It makes the performance stronger. For a name revelation, even a simple answer like, "I'm not too sure. An image of a childhood friend just jumped into my mind. She had the same name, so I just trusted my intuition and went with that," is better than nothing. Following it up with something else along those same lines would be a billion times better. I mean, if you know people are going to ask you questions, find the best answers for them. Or structure your performance in such a way that you answer them before they get a chance to ask them. Depending on the routine I am swinging with, I will do it either way. Like Mick and Rick mentioned lately, I like to be conversational with my audience. It can be fun to have them ask you something, you all spend ten minutes talking about your answer, and then you go into your next effect when someone says just the right thing you were waiting for. They gave you the lead in rather than you giving it to them. You can always make this happen. There has never been a single time when I wasn't given it. Something is extremely gratifying about writing a script and getting a person that has never seen it, heard of it, or even met you previously to perform part of your set for you. And they seem to enjoy it so much more. I've recently had doctors offer me advice without my asking it of them. A few years ago, I hung out with some stand-up comedians. They tested their material out on people often. Most of my friends are musicians and they perform a hell of a lot more on demand than I do, and some of these friends are actually well known. One of them was on a CD that won a Grammy a couple of years ago. One group was heralded by pitchfork. I've seen car mechanics offer their expertise out of shop. I had a party once and the bathroom sink messed up. Some guy exclaimed, "I'm a plumber, I'll be right back with my tools." And then he fixed it and refused any type of payment. I don't do it for a living anymore, but I'm a cook and somewhat of a pastry chef (I only have a few deserts and pastries good enough that I would make them often or get paid for it), and when I go to someone's house, they usually invite me to take over (I only help as to not insult their skills, and teach them along the way). I don't feel that it is unprofessional to perform in a non-working environment. It's how it is done that can be unprofessional. Declining in a certain way can also be viewed as unprofessional. /paul.f |
|||||||||
Jay Are Inner circle 4186 Posts |
Why would a client pay $$$ to see something he can just ask you to do and you will?
I never perform when asked... J
xxx
|
|||||||||
Dr Spektor Eternal Order Carcanis 10781 Posts |
"Ok, I'll read your mind....." (remove switchblade knife)... "but first I must dice it...."
OR "You mean you want me to say in public that sexual fetish of yours? Nothing wrong with consenting adults... but I also am picking up from others they would react as if you are a freak...." OR "Do you have a pack of cards on you? No? Go buy me one and I'll see what I can do...." (If they do buy it or give you a pack - proceed to do the destroy the deck effect of your choice and leave a mess behind) OR "Sure! But pay me first! What do you want? A trick? $10, an effect $100, a miracle $1000, something beyond $10,000. What, you don't work for free do you?" OR "No speekee da (insert language)....." repeat.... then touch finger to asker's forhead and say "ah... thank you... I just needed to absorb your knowledge of the language... by the way, I not a "shmuck"" OR Smile and say "Why?" And interrogate the hell out of the person.
"They are lean and athirst!!!!"
|
|||||||||
Tom Jorgenson Inner circle LOOSE ANGLES, CALIFORNIA 4451 Posts |
Always, if a child asks. Some of the time if an adult asks, but never right then, they're psychologically tensed up for it, which minimizes the reaction, the surprise. My universe, my rules.
I never use the "Well, then, fix my car" type of response. Even tho it is an enlightening response, (they've never thought of it that way before) it ALWAYS comes across as a rude and W.A. answer. I do, however, generally answer in the exact same attitude as asked. Serious to serious, joking to joking. And honestly. I don't cop an attitude because I am asked to do what I do well, and am known for. Their curiousity is most often, in their minds, a compliment, and to take it otherwise is less than courteous, IMHO.
We dance an invisible dance to music they cannot hear.
|
|||||||||
Philemon Vanderbeck Inner circle Seattle, WA 4694 Posts |
I believe in committing random acts of kindness.
I'll perform for them; then I'll collect their soul. Win-win! :devilish:
Professor Philemon Vanderbeck
That Creepy Magician "I use my sixth sense to create the illusion of possessing the other five." |
|||||||||
jackcurtis New user 18 Posts |
I decline but I give in very easily when an attractive woman is in the equation!
|
|||||||||
IAIN Eternal Order england 18807 Posts |
David Berglas suggests that if you are a mentalist - then you are always "on"...
I would class performing for someone when they ask, just to be charming and sit with them a little and chat about how they think the mind works...and maybe just build in a couple of quick psychological/cultural archetypes along the way... Anyway - its fun, and you never know who they may have connections with, or who else is at the party...why not?
I've asked to be banned
|
|||||||||
lane99 Elite user 421 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-05-02 07:21, Tom DV wrote: Perhaps he said this. But, on the other hand, in Devil's Picturebook he gives an example of the type of effects he does when he's "at a party and somebody asks me to do a trick" (not a verbatim quote, but words similar). I agree with those who've suggested different circumstances dictate different actions. |
|||||||||
burst Veteran user Memphis, TN 308 Posts |
Those examples were written at a time when he was still unknown. I'm sure with all of his fame people try to get him to perform all of the time. And that is one of the main reasons that I decline. I don't want to be asked and expected to perform at the drop of a hat. I always have something I can do, the question is if would be good for me to.
Test out new material I've been rehearsing? sure; Make connections? you bet; Create more interest for egotistical expansion? I'm all in; Please everyone and become the puppet entertainer? never. I'm a decently enjoyable human being. I don't mind letting people see and know the multiple aspects of what makes up who I am. Thing is that there are many layers of what creates my personality. I don't have to limit myself to this, nor will I. Just as I want to find out as much about a person that I can, I want them learn the most about me. They won't ever do that if I let myself get pigeonholed. Conversations are totes awes. /paul.f |
|||||||||
DerZauberer Elite user Southern California 468 Posts |
It depends on the individual situation. If it's a friendly social event, I am usually "armed", so when asked, I can mystify them and also appear impromptu.
In unique situations, these impromptu performances have turned into lucrative gigs. I heard a comedian make a clever remark to a woman at the Magic Castle a few weeks ago. She had one too many drinks apparently. She asked him to tell a joke and he retorted, “If I was a dentist, would you ask me to scrape your teeth right now?!” |
|||||||||
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Penny for your thoughts » » Show me something, monkey boy... (0 Likes) | ||||||||||
Go to page 1~2 [Next] |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.03 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 < |