I just had a call from someone that needed entertainers for a winter karnival and everything will be outside. I told them that I couldn't perform outside because it would be too cold for my hands and my props. I am still thinking about any possible way to perform good strolling magic outside while keeping my mittens. What do you guys think?

I would go and buy some of the re-useable or disposable hand warmers and keep them in your coat pocket, one on each side. You can keep your hands in the pockets between sets to keep them warm and nimble.

As for the props, the cold should not cause most of what you would use for strolling magic to fail, maybe with the exception of your hands.

MAN UP!

Get some of the gloves with the fingertips open.

Thanks for the tip Dr J Ayala!

Pete, I don't think it's about maning up. Have you tried performing in the cold when it's 5 to -5°F?

Then again... there are just some events you have to pass on.In that case, pass it to someone else

There's a condition called Raynauds Disease http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/raynauds-disease/DS00433 which can make it impossible for some people to function when they are cold.

I'm with Jay on this, PASS.

-Mary Mowder

I've performed in cold weather, well below freezing. It's not that bad. You're moving around and the crowd keeps the heat in and the wind out. Listen to Pete.

Also, choose material that isn't knuckle busting. You can do an invisible deck routine with your hands in your pockets for most of it.

Joey D

I had to acquire my common sense over time. I pass on gigs that are either too cold, or if the heat would be stifling. I always used to believe that the show must go on, but my health matters more than a few bucks.

Of course, you could always juggle fire. Then you'd have your own personal heater!

I'd pass on it...

Heated close up table.

http://www.firepitsdirect.com/lacosta-fi......ight.php

hahahaha

Linking rings can be performed with gloves on, I would think.

Some mental/mind reading effects contain nothing but asking questions and then revealing what the volunteer is thinking. Several math equation effects are this way.

If the goal of a strolling magician is to entertain the crowd, then focusing on that goal opens up a lot of possibilities other than cards, sponge balls, etc. (your audience will have a hard time picking a card with their gloves on) Cracking jokes and engaging in light conversation is entertainment. Some comedy emcee bits aren't really magic but are entertaining nonetheless.

Passing/referring on a gig you aren't comfortable with is preferable to taking the job and "bombing".

I've done outside strolling in single digit temps for a suburb near me that throws a New Year's Eve celebration during the day...outside. Of course, not the greatest conditions, obviously, but I got through it. I realized early on that coin tricks and most pick-a-card tricks weren't going to be possible. I just made the best of it...had some fun...got paid...and stopped for an extra large hot chocolate on the way home.
patrick

I did a series of strolling gigs last Oct and one day it was just a little over the freezing point. I could hardly do any close up magic with freezing fingers. Besides, when I tried to stop people, they were too cold to watch or wouldn't want to take their hands out of their pockets to participate in the magic.

Pass....pass....passs

You forgot to mention that it's portable.

Almost anything can be performed with gloves on.

Find a high school close to you that has a marching band, and find out where the drum majors get their gloves. I bought a dozen pairs several years ago for about $6.00 apiece. They're lightweight cotton, somewhat elastic, and will keep your hands warm. They're white, and look pretty darned good. And they let you do a lot of the sleight of hand you're accustomed to doing (with a bit of practice, of course.

S2000,
the next time I get a show outside in cold weather, I will consider those gloves. Thanks for the heads up.....even if it comes from a magician who lives in southern California....lol.
patrick

It can still reach beyond freezing there and deserts reach freezing temperatures all the time too because there is nothing in them to really hold on to heat.

Speaking of gloves, all the suggestions pointing in that direction reminded me of another idea with yet another pair of gloves. If you look in sporting goods stores, they have gloves with pockets in which you place those hand warmers I mentioned previously, and some of those types have removeable fingers. Flip the fingers on between performances to keep hands warm and you should be good to go.

I too think it would be a good idea to do things that would not require a lot of dexterity and/or extensive use of the hands.

I did an outside event last weekend. It was about 38-36. It's all about choosing the right material.

I knew I wouldn’t be able to do any of the normal slights using normal size cards so I used bigger cards for my card magic. I would force a card using a normal deck then lots of byplay and reveal it with the bigger card. I stayed away from coin work. Spongeballs were easy to handle.

I found that everyone was in a better mood since they were cold trying to stay warm. Best part was since it was cold, people must have felt sorry for me because they were tipping me, even after I gave them the “I’m compliments of the host” line they were still handing out the $$$.

Luckily it was only 2 hours in the middle of the day and it was sunny.

By the way the original plan was to have it indoors and at the last minute it was changed to outdoors. I've learned to adjust.

I remember reading in Whit Haydn's Street Magic book that when it got too cold for him to perform his regular magic on the streets, he would do mentalism. Much of that can be done without much manipulation...