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scoobyhewitt New user 9 Posts |
Hello again everyone!!,
Right so I'm new to magic and have 2 very basic trics that I can nail everytime without fail (very basic stuff). Anyway thought I'd perform these couple of tricks for 2 colleagues at work today. Long story short the first one didn't seem at all interested, she made it clear she, which did surprise me. The second colleague then decided that the card she picked wasn't her card anymore!! It was at this point I wrapped it up and got back to work. Has anyone else had a similar experience?? Seems to me that there was a bit of a pack mentality. Thanks for listening |
Keith Brock New user 57 Posts |
I'm sure almost everyone has had a similar experience sometime in their magical career.
Just keep your head up, Keith |
djurmann Inner circle thinks time to practice and stop writing 1481 Posts |
This is why I get cards signed and back off if it just isn't working :o)
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55Hudson Special user Minneapolis 984 Posts |
90% of magic is presentation and atmosphere, only 10% is technique. (maybe a bit of exaggeration, but you get my point). Wait till the time is right before you try to do some magic. Don't ever try with some one who is not interested or present it as a challenge - you want the audience on your side, wanting you to do well. There are a number of great books on this and related subjects. I like Darwin Ortiz, Strong Magic.
Hudson |
Ed_Millis Inner circle Yuma, AZ 2292 Posts |
Generally, for magic to come off well, you must be able to enter the character and put on the personna of a magician. And the audience must accept that. That's something that's going to take time to work out.
To these people, you weren't a magician - just a coworker with some tricks. Had they paid ticket money to come see you, it would have been totally different. But at work, that perception is difficult to change. Even with a great magician personna. Ed |
scoobyhewitt New user 9 Posts |
I'll look out for strong magic!!
The thing that got to me is that these are people I thought would be supportive\encouraging, if I'd have had any doubt I would of left my cards at home. Sorry for all the questions but one seems to lead to another, do you find it easier performing for strangers than for people you know ie colleagues?? Apologies again if these questions seem a bit silly. |
satellite23 Elite user 424 Posts |
For your first question:
When it comes to cards, I like to keep reminding them to look at their card one more time. I usually mess around with them a bit, say something like: "Okay. You know what your card is?" "Yes." "Are you sure?" "Mmhmm." "Okay, just don't forget it." This basically uses suggestive hypnosis to make them look at and remember their card numerous times. Just keep suggesting that they look at their card a few times. Then they'll remember it, unless they just "accidentally" forget it to mess with you. 2nd Question: Yes. I hate performing for people I know. I don't really know why. I guess it's just that strangers are less likely to mess with you. Also, if you mess up in front of strnagers, no big deal. You'll probably never see them again in your entire life again anyways. |
bbarefoot Regular user Johnstown, PA 122 Posts |
The best advice that I can offer you is figure out what you want your magic persona to be. This basically means you want to figure out how you want your audience to see you and your performance, do you want them to see you as their friend doing party tricks, are you more of a comedy entertainer, or are you a serious performer that wants them to experience something magical. Any of these can work for you or you can go a completely different route. As long as you develop your tricks around that concept it will put you in the right direction.
After you decide on the character you want to be, then you create your patter accordingly. Constantly ask yourself why? Why am I looking here? Why am I holding my hands like this? Why am I saying this? Etc. These tactics help you prepare to be able to be in control and keep control of the situation. With the situation under your control, you just lead your audience by the hand to the responses you want from them. For me, I am kind of a jokester and prankster normally, so I adopt a more serious persona while doing tricks so people that know me, know there is something special going on, and it’s not me just joking around. Use every performance as a chance to write down notes on what tricks you did, how the reaction was, what was the reaction you wanted, was there a difference between what you got and what you wanted, did the effects work out, where was it weak, and where was it strong. This gets you some help creating the character you want to portray, and allows you to practice with some guidance instead of going at it blindly. Last but not least, the most important advice, Never Give Up. Good luck, and keep at it, Bradley |
55Hudson Special user Minneapolis 984 Posts |
Good question. I think Ed hit it when he said, "To these people, you weren't a magician...". This is the challenge with friends and coworkers and why magic clubs are so important. At the club you can practice till an effect is powerful, with great insight on how to present. People who know you will be more impressed with one killer effect than a series of so-so tricks.
I am in a work situation where people would never suspect that I am a magician - think suit & tie, conservative office. I also have a firm rule never to do any magic before 5 pm (in or around office). My work magic is typically at Christmas party or something like that. It must KILL - otherwise no impact because they cannot believe I am a magician. Learn a few effects that have lots of audience interaction - signed card, card in the hand, sponge balls, etc - practice with club members till you have it perfect. Then wait for work party - Friday after work drinks, Christmas party, etc - and then kill them. They will talk about one effect done well for months! Hudson |
DWRackley Inner circle Chattanooga, TN 1909 Posts |
It’s MUCH harder to perform for someone who knows you (family or friends) than it is for total strangers. Ed’s right; friends know you when you’re not being magical, and it’s hard for them to change their perception of you.
A stranger (at first) has no reason to believe you are anything other than what you present. (Dress appropriately and use a breath mint!) Stranger: You say you’re a magician? Ok, cool, show me something interesting. Family: You? A magician? Yeah, right! Can you make yourself disappear? And Hudson nailed it with waiting for the appropriate time. A wise Magus once said, “Always leave them wanting more.” You don’t want them to see you coming and think, “Oh, God, here comes another card trick.”
...what if I could read your mind?
Chattanooga's Premier Mentalist Donatelli and Company at ChattanoogaPerformers.com also on FaceBook |
scoobyhewitt New user 9 Posts |
Thank you all for the great advice!!
I'll be taking 55Hudson's tip of not using my cards before 5pm (I also work in a suit and tie office environment) I've heard a few references to the sponge ball trick, I may be being stupid but what is the effect of this trick? |
55Hudson Special user Minneapolis 984 Posts |
Go to YouTube, search "sponge balls". Watch. Then go to local magic shop and pick up a set along with sponge bunnies and reference material (books/DVD). This is close-up 101.
The impact is the magic happens in their hands. Not just watching a magician , but becoming part of the magic. Hudson |
Aus Special user Australia 996 Posts |
In my high school days I had some similar experiences, and I had come to the realisation that there are some people who just don’t want to be entertained by magic and there is not much you can really do about it. Also be prepared that some people will also view magic as a puzzle that needs to be solved and they will watch it from that mentality and if you really want to continue to perform for these types of people then your magic will mostly have to reflect the same theme. Of course you can try your best by taking the challenge and puzzle element out of your presentations and present them in a more contrasting way in hope that you help alleviate or at best prevent these attitudes, but you also need to make your own personal judgement to know when it’s a lost cause and when to walk away.
Magic isn’t a right, it’s a privilege, and if they can’t respect that, then they don’t deserve to see it. Magically Aus |
scoobyhewitt New user 9 Posts |
The one colleague in question would have been quite receptive on her own or even with a different colleague, its just a pity (in my oppinion anyway) that she felt the need to sabotage the trick, if that's the right word!
I'm going to invest in the sponge balls after I feel I can perform some stronger card tricks with the skill needed. How long have you guys been practicing magic, the reason I ask is that I feel I have started fairly late in life at the age of 22. |
djurmann Inner circle thinks time to practice and stop writing 1481 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-07-05 07:20, scoobyhewitt wrote: lol -I started at 42. but who cares? |
McCoy Regular user Scotland 136 Posts |
Any performance with work colleagues is a completely different beast to working with friends/family or paying audiences.
I don't know if it's the work environment, the natural competitiveness, the daytime intensity, perhaps the psyhcology of work perceptions and error avoidance, versus the evening motivations of enjoyment and suspension of disbelief... I do a lot of stuff - albeit covertly - for colleagues. Participation requires them to invest in the process in some other way.. I have to appeal to their ego or their work prowess. Compliance is very difficult - and techniqyes vary depending on situation and context. And on a practical note, I think I have layers and layers of safety nets! Multiple outs for everything. |
Ed_Millis Inner circle Yuma, AZ 2292 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-07-05 07:20, scoobyhewitt wrote: I'm 53. Dabbled for several years, but gettin' down to business over the last three or four. Most of my magic is parlor / stage, family-oriented, kid-centric, mostly props with few sleights. So I've determined to learn sponge balls. Sponge balls is not a single trick, but more a set of skills, similar to card moves. Once you know these, you can put together your own routines. On YouTube, look for: handcmagic; Finger Pain Relief; Browser's Den; R.J. Cantu - nice tutorials. ("handcmagic" is a kid, but he's got some decent skills - not perfect, but he'll get you going!) Ed |
55Hudson Special user Minneapolis 984 Posts |
Scooby:
Age is not the relevant question - the right question is, How many years are you prepared to spend to be me a "magician"? Note I say years, not months, weeks or days. There is a theory, called the 10,000 hour or 10 year rule that says, regardless of field, it takes 10,000 hours (or 10 years) to become an expert in any field. This theory has been tested over many fields from music to mathematics to sports. There is no reason to believe it does not also appy to magic. Think 4 hours per day for 10 years. So if you are serious, you could be an "expert" - what ever that means - by the time you are 32. Still very young to think that you could be recognized as inexpert, or at least a serious contributor, to the field of magic. Conversely, if you think you will be performing corporate gigs for several thousand dollars in six months you are dreaming. Just like any other field, magic takes work. If it were easy, anyone could do it. Hudson |
Leland Inner circle St Louis 1180 Posts |
Work magic, for me has never worked. To much going on.
If I come across someone in the break room they may not want to be bothered they are on break and want to wind down or are still in work mode and not in relaxing mode. On the other hand if someone comes by and says show me something, then I am prepared with a simple coin flourish. Keep it simple and short.
Life of Magic!
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Ed_Millis Inner circle Yuma, AZ 2292 Posts |
Quote:
There is a theory, called the 10,000 hour or 10 year rule that says, regardless of field, it takes 10,000 hours (or 10 years) to become an expert in any field. That's a little bit longer than I had hoped for! But it does mean my retirement business should be better than it is now!! Ed |
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