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Bill Nuvo Inner circle 3094 Posts or 2742 Posts |
In my response...I always make sure I know who it is on the other line as I ask.
again though as state by me (and commented by Michael) in a table hopping venue...doubtful I would use that. I do use it in a street performance and much to the fun of all including the cell phone users (who stay and tip well by the way). |
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hbwolkov Inner circle 2947 Posts |
If you approach a table of 10 and 3 or more individuals are texting it is reasonable to smile and quickly announce you will plan to stop by the table in a little while when some of the phone activity dies down. The message will be received and crowd control will generally be done by the other guests at the table.
If there is one individual at a table on the cell phone or texting I would carry on. Most adolescents will get off the phone if there is a disapproving adult around.
Northern California
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bunkyhenry Special user NYC Metro 828 Posts |
One thing can be learned by this experience. The performance is not interesting enough to compete with the texting. Make the attention getting phase of your act better or please do not interrupt.
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Oh wow I have to stop skimming posts. The original poster said they are texting EACH OTHER AT THE SAME TABLE.
Oh my lord. I think maybe working on the act is in order. By the way it has never happened to me, or to anyone I have ever known. My guess is Michael is right about this with a fantasy league post. But I gotta ask. How DO YOU KNOW they are texting each other anyhow?
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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Alan Munro Inner circle Kentwood, Michigan, USA 5952 Posts |
Considering the direction that civility and manners are taking, I think people are gradually turning... French. Cellphones only hasten the backward slide.
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Bad to the Balloon Inner circle Clearwater Florida 2116 Posts |
Electronic lines:
Kid playing a game "I'm 3D that is 2D I win..." Two people texting at a table "Are you texting each other????" Follow up "Are you talking about me" Paranoid Obnoxious person on phone I make a balloon blown 1/4 full then put a slight bend in it. It looks like a cell phone. Then I pretend I am on the phone too ... I do this until they notice or get up and walk away. Anyone talking on a phone in a restaurant or public place knows they may be construed as rude when there is service being rendered, waiter getting an order or a performer asked to work at a table. I always get permission to be at a table.
Mark Byrne
AKA Mark the Balloon Guy As seen on the TODAY SHOW www.balloonguy.net Creator of Bad to the Balloon DVD series Go to my store: http://tinyurl.com/Bad2theBalloon |
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Scott F. Guinn Inner circle "Great Scott!" aka "Palms of Putty" & "Poof Daddy G" 6586 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-11-19 13:42, bunkyhenry wrote: Best post I've read in a while!
"Love God, laugh more, spend more time with the ones you love, play with children, do good to those in need, and eat more ice cream. There is more to life than magic tricks." - Scott F. Guinn
My Lybrary Page |
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Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-11-19 14:37, Alan Munro wrote: A backward slide at the speed of thumb?? Speaking of thumbs... (how's that for a segue?)... On one hand we have magicians whose rule of thumb is to only perform by request. Certainly a smart move to go only where you know you are wanted. Really. On the other hand, we have magicians who interpret their job description to mean converting as many souls as possible into yet even more magic lovers. We need a third hand... this would be for the magician who doesn't think about the clever intro lines that are going to assure his "in" to any table, regardless of the customers' ignorance about the goodness of magic tricks. He also will somehow manage to entertain SOME of the people who are perhaps too shy to ask, for sundry reasons, ranging from "I'm not sure what it is", to "I'm broke and too embarrassed to ask if it's going to cost me money." This third hand guy has learned to pay attention to people, and put them first, above a bunch of stupid magic tricks. He learns not to take himself and his magic as seriously as he takes the time to read and evaluate the tone of the table or group. Once he becomes masterful at living in this idyllic manner, he also learns that certain rules may or may not apply, when dealing with peripheral events and distractions. And in the end, it is after all, his show... and the rules of one do not necessarily apply to the other.
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
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jiayi Veteran user Canada 313 Posts |
Danny, truth is I don't know. it was just a guess based on how one kid stops texting and the other one picks up, vice versa. they kept going back and forth at it. so my guess was they were talking about the magician or the tricks. they weren't texting before the approach it was happened during the show so I didn't think I was intruding. like I said, these are usually teenage friends sitting together (usually without adults). other than the texting part, they were good audience and enjoyed my presence. it is annoying because you feel like they are talking about you behind your back and in your face. next time it happens, I will do the pressure 2.0 or politely excuse myself if they don't put their cells away.
btw, this is not a fantasy league case, I work 3 restaurants a week and it has happened. I think sooner or later it will happen to you too. |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Well in 25 years it hasn't happened yet.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-11-19 17:12, Dannydoyle wrote: In fairness, texting hasn't been around that long, but at the same time, I suspect you work places where people exhibit a bit more decorum than they do in other places. Those are the perks of having done a job well enough to have done it for 25 years. (salute!) So, while it may not happen to you, it surely will again to other magicians. Trenches are not always dug to the same depth. To address an earlier post... Even though self-examination is prudent, I'm not sure it's always about the quality of the performance. Contrary to what some would have us believe, it sometimes IS about the quality of the audience. Some people just do not have the manners to blend well in polite society. In groups, they exhibit a mob mentality that, while perhaps not exactly dangerous, can be quite irritating.
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
I guess that is true. Working in certain environments will insulate you to a point. Not too many teenagers will hang where an appatiser is $55. I forget my little bubble!
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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Donnie Buckley V.I.P. Cleveland, Ohio 1123 Posts |
Texting isn't going away anytime soon.
I side with Gaddy. They ARE talking about you, and probably making some snide remarks that they wouldn't say out loud. I'm sure they are just making fun of your clothes or your haircut - teen thru 20-somethings are total products of commercialism and fads. My solution would be to do something that fries their minds. |
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TheAmbitiousCard Eternal Order Northern California 13425 Posts |
I agree that they won't go away soon.
Texting, whispering, not paying attention, etc. is going to happen. I notice this at my public events more so than anything. Since I'm a performer, I look around when I'm at plays, movies, concerts, etc., and the theaters are FULL of people scattered around doing anything BUT watching and paying attention. Don't take it personally and take advantage of the situation. Make a joke, learn to be spontaneous. I got a audience full of laughter (from an idea I got from Greg Otto's DVD) when someone was texting at a public outdoor event this past summer. Made it a huge plus for me and I would welcome a texter ANYTIME during my show!!!! In fact, I guess I'd prefer one.
www.theambitiouscard.com Hand Crafted Magic
Trophy Husband, Father of the Year Candidate, Chippendale's Dancer applicant, Unofficial World Record Holder. |
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Mediocre the Great Inner circle Rich Hurley 1062 Posts |
You could get a cell phone jammer....
Of course, they are completely illegal to manufacture, operate, import, sell, and distribute in the United States, and penalties can be up to $11,000 in fines and up to a year in prison. but it might be worth it.
Mediocrity is greatly under rated!
-------------------------------------------- Rich Hurley aka Mediocre The Great! www.RichHurleyMagic.com |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
It would solve the problem huh?
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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Futureal Inner circle 1695 Posts |
If people are texting in the middle of some of you guys' acts, you need to get better acts.
Kids will pick up their phones and fiddle with the keys/txt if they're bored or uncomfortable. They won't if they're engaged and entertained. |
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Bill Nuvo Inner circle 3094 Posts or 2742 Posts |
Some kids are just prone to texting...like pavlov's dogs...when they hear that chirp or feel the buzz, that behaviour kicks in. Heck some adults too...My cousin is like that...no matter what's happening. Look around at the movie theatre next time you go...see how many people are texting.
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Review King Eternal Order 14446 Posts |
If you are getting paid, go find a table that is interested. Better yet, have the staff tell you who requested you. Then if you arrive and they are texting, ask if they'd like to be entertained or would it be better another time. It's their table, their nickel, let them do what they want on their night out.
Maybe texting a real person is more interesting than seeing card tricks? But, there is a way to make this work. Do Nate Kranzo's "Pimp'in". Approach with a deck of cards, they are busy, so...turn the deck into cash. VERY shocking. You'll have their attention. Ask do they want to see more or are you interrupting. They can choose between texting or magic. Either way, you fulfilled your obligation in entertaining the customer. Turn negatives into positives. Once you get paid to perform, it's now a sales job. SELL baby, sell!!
"Of all words of tongue and pen,
the saddest are, "It might have been" ..........John Greenleaf Whittier |
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patrick flanagan Inner circle lisle, illinois 1045 Posts |
Bill Nuvo hit it on the head. With younger people (I'd say under 30 and especially teens), it has nothing to do with whatever else is going on around them. It, usually, has nothing to do with how good someone's act is. If they are not the person ACTIVELY involved in the trick and someone texts them, they WILL text back....period, end of story. It is simply how they have conditioned themselves to behave. To them it is not an interuption or being rude. To them it is accepted behavior.
Once you accept that it is not a personal slam, you have two choices...acknowledge it or ignore it. I usually ignore it. If I've developed a good repartee with the table, I may walk behind the texter "snooping" at what they are typing (in a joking way). Or, same if their phone goes off...text or call...I'll simply say, "If that's for me, just take a message" and continue on.\ Is it annoying, absolutely, especially for those of us in our 40's and up. I'd like to hear from some of the younger magicians on here to get their viewpoint. patrick |
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