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Brandon890 New user 11 Posts |
Hello everyone!
I have about 2 years of magic experience, but barely any performing. I practice all the time, always have motivation, but when it comes to actually performing I chicken out. Now I know there has been a lot of posts about this already, but I just wanted to get out there. My idea is just to walk around on the street and perform for random people to get experience in performing so I'm not always so nervous. But let's take today for example, I went to my local mall and walked around doing charlier cuts, fans and all sorts of "eye candy" with cards, hoping to perform quick magic for people, but I never did. never got the courage to actually ask. It is upsetting, because I spend so much time practicing, but I never get to actually perform. Another question I have is where can I even go? The mall was my first try, but Im not sure if that was a good place. Should I volunteer somewhere? and if so how? I just want to get experience performing so I can hopefully one day get a part time restaurant or walk-around gig somewhere. The tricks I know now are more close up and not stage, like ACR, Here then there, triumph, psypher, 2 card monte, rubberband magic, sponge balls, proffesors nightmare. Are these good for just walk around? and if I volunteer somewhere? And if not are there any suggestions that I should learn? It just kills me that I cant actually show people my magic, hopefully I can soon overcome it. Within the next year or so I hope to perform maybe a stage performance somewhere, but I need to build up to that. By the way, I am 19 Thanks for everything! So far this site has been very helpful |
Jaz Inner circle NJ, U.S. 6111 Posts |
Some of the first places I did my stuff was for friends, co-workers, at picnics, wedding receptions, a bachelor party and a kids party (which failed badly but was a learning experience)where I was invited as a guest and not a performer. I had no script or set presentation and the tricks were fairly easy.
There's a right and wrong time to do magic impromptu. The only times I performed for strangers back then was at gatherings and I never approached anyone randomly. I usually 'broke the ice' by asking if they wanted to see something cool or asked if would try something with me.. Make sure your confident in your tricks, be entertaining and have fun. Good luck. |
Greg Collett New user 63 Posts |
Performing for the first time on the street is daunting. I'd suggest offering your skills to a local childrens hospital. The children will be glad to see you. You will get good experience and you will be making a difference in someones life.
"He's a miracle waiting for us to happen."
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Magic MarkR New user 13 Posts |
Brandon! I started performing when I was 13. I made a lot of extra money doing all kinds of magic shows for children's parties, etc. I was so nervous before each show I couldn't eat the day of the performance, no matter what time I was on that day. The best way to overcome your nerves is to book a show and do it. Today I can eat prior to performing. I do get nervous today but nothing close to what I felt back then. My change is part maturity (I don't just mean age), part is experience and part is understanding. The feeling of butterflies is adrenaline. That is actually good, so embrace it, don't fight it.
As Jaz indicated he failed in some of his earlier attempts. Each performer fails. My first "show" 12 of my tricks failed, in front of family, cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. BUT what wonderful lessons. It is not important that something fails, but how you handle it. Look at it this way. You have practiced the tricks. Now you need to practice the performance. Extended family gatherings are excellent. You tend to get honest feedback, more honest than you want sometimes. Nursing homes and elderly communities love entertainment, and usually are very open and appreciative to magic. You could volunteer, even a 15 minute performance to get your feet wet. I created a "carnival" for the neighborhood kids with my brother. We had games, refreshments and, of course, a magic show. These ideas here are to help get your feet wet performing. Do you have younger siblings or cousins? You could perform for a birthday party or for their classroom. When my children were in elementary school my daughter and son somehow roped me into a magic show for their classmates. I never had a teacher turn me down. Just respect the teacher's rules. If they give you 20 minutes, take the 20 minutes, no more.
Mark Randolph
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Ray Bertrand Inner circle Ottawa, Ontario 1452 Posts |
All or the advice above is good. If you are trying to perform at the mall try doing it in the food court. People there are more relaxed and therefore more likely to pay attention to what you have to offer.
Ray
Mentalism in Ontario.
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Billybonkers Loyal user Diamond Bar L.A 251 Posts |
The good thing I found for performing for kids is that if you do do mess up you can just make a joke of it, laugh it off and even better pretend that you meant to make a mistake. Kids will be the first to point out an error but the first to laugh it off and forget about it when you start your next trick.
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kalin_inkov New user Bulgaria 24 Posts |
Brandon890,
all said above totally right and I suggest you to perform magic with different people. First at family and closest friends, but you've to try with "strangers" or not-so-known people from your neighbour as you can as possible. I think it is a REAL magic expierence. Keep practice, makes it better! Kalin |
Brad Sheppard New user Rogers, Arkansas 69 Posts |
You will gain confidence each time you perform. Start with material that you are 100% confident with.. Each time you perform it will get easier. Remember, sometimes family and friends can be your worse critics!
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RussoMagic.com Loyal user 241 Posts |
Street magic is the hardest sometimes, but a mall would be a good spot to try. As long as, they don't shew you away. I would suggest to put on some free shows at nursing homes, libraries, and maybe free events like a ice cream social. They are were I got my start and you learn a lot from doing them. They are free, so it's easy to book, the elder appreciate the magic (remember from the golden era of magic), it will present challenges, like speaking loudly, dealing with issues of counting cards, or shuffling problems. You will experience them and learn how to deal with them, so when you have a paying gig, your ready.
Hope this help! Cordially, Russo |
Octopus Sun Special user Wiggle Wiggle 586 Posts |
Mall cops will kick you out, be careful, bad advice there russo
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leolaurindo New user 53 Posts |
Well,
I have to say that I had this problem too. But, IMHO, Malls are just when you aren't scared anymore. Because in Malls people usually are with hurry, for many reasons. I think the best is to start on your neighborhood or maybe in a square in a weekend at Day. Because while it's day, some people just like to be doing nothing at the plaza, or just walking aroung the neighborhood... So they're more likely to be without hurry and stop to see your magic. And even appreciate it! |
robsn New user Germany 45 Posts |
My way was the following:
Performing for family then for friends then in a bar then for co-workers then in a retirement home (gosh - that was the first time I got really nervous!) The bar (more the kind with live music, but not on that night) was my first real public performance. And it came by accident. I´ve had some tricks with me to show them to friends. People at the neighbour table caught a glance at some tricks and asked me to join their table for a moment. That caused some kind of chain reaction and I had to join three more tables. Very greatful audiance because I said "Hey - I am just an amateur", so they did not expect much and treated me very politely. In the end noone believed that and I started doubting it for a second, too ;D That gave me a lot of confidence! |
highcard New user 48 Posts |
If mall management gives you the go ahead, just start performing. In other words, don't ask people if they want to watch. Just assume that they do and start doing some tricks. In that type of setting, most people will automatically say no when a stranger talks to them, but if they see someone performing, they'll stop to watch.
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AlexWong Veteran user 371 Posts |
Hi Brandon. In Singapore, we have this thing called "Project Smile". It's a volunteer community where people can sign-up, learn some basic magic and then perform for people as part of a community project. SMILE stands for "Sharing Magic In Love Everywhere". If you have a platform like this in your country, it might be a good places to be in a community of people doing magic together, and do some volunteering at the same time.
Just for reference, the website for Project Smile is http://lawrenceandpriscilla.com/ps/ |
Countage Veteran user Charlotte 361 Posts |
Go to places where people approach you like car dealership lots, the Sears appliance department, time shareholder pitch stands, and newspaper pitch stands. After they say hi to you respond with "Hey let me get your opinion on something."
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JonesingForTruth New user 59 Posts |
If you have a friend who can come with you and get things started, all the better... if you start showing him a trick... and then after the first one if people aren't watching, have him say... wow, did you see that? to someone passing by... and then do the next trick for both of them... the extra support might be a good option.
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