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The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » New to magic? » » Nerves when performing for guys (0 Likes) Printer Friendly Version

Magic Oli
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Hey all,

Whenever I perform I'm always worried that guys will try and mess me up or heckle me, it seems to me like guys are more likely to be rude and try and show superiority than women are so I prefer to perform for women. Do you have any advice for handling things if this situation comes up and how to get over the nerves. It's not that I think women are easier to fool, but rather that they are more likely to see the magic as entertainment rather than a challenge to see who's superior like many male spectators do.

Thanks

Oli
Prometheus
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Hi Oli,

I think you are not meaning that they do that in a stage show or sth. like that, so what I think is, that you approach the wrong people. Try to grade the people and just perform for certain ones, like you already do (women). But you can also see it like a challange, when you can fool these guys then you have nothing to fear. After all this is not easy, because you can't perform with every method for them.
But at first I'd suggest, that you find routines that you can perform especially to these kind of guys. When you want to you can point out that they want to blame you and let them try, while at the end they can't win.

Salutations

Prometheus
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Prometheus
Magic Oli
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What kind of routines do you suggest?
Dick Oslund
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NATE LRIPZIG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
Magic Oli
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I'm confused dick haha
and when am I gonna get a reply haha lol
55Hudson
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Oli - Dick just had a typo. He is suggesting you research Nate Leipzig, a magician long gone, who developed magic that you may find helpful.

I would add that your attitude in a routine is very important. If you present magic as a challenge, then you will be challenged. There are many other approaches that will get the audience on your side, the most common being comedy. also, the 'Magician in Trouble' is a good approach to keep the challenging down.

Hudson
Magic Oli
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Thanks Hudson, I'm assuming he means the tribute by vernon to Nate book
Prometheus
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You need to find out for yourself what you are able to perform, but you need to do it perfect. Which magic tricks you may perform, I don't know, I've just seen once a guy who performed his ambitious card routine everytime like a challange. I am performing mentalism, and there I go for good f****s.

Regards

Prometheus
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Prometheus
Dick Oslund
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Hi Oli!
I was in a hurry, and wrote; NATE LEIPZIG'S name so I would not forget. (At 82, I occasionally forget things! So, I write a "cue" word to remind me.

"55" figured it out, partially.

BTW, I knew Dai Vernon for about 25 years. I met him when I first lectured at the Castle.

Leipzig was "before my time"! Nate's philosophy was simple. He said, "If they like you, they will like what you do."

When, at a party, he was asked to "do something", he would not grab a deck of cards and perform! He would wait until he was asked several times. --To be sure that "they" really wanted him to "do something".

He would then do a trick or two, BUT, he would watch the ladies. At the FIRST "sign" that they had seen "enoough", he would finish his "act". NATE NEVER WENT "PAST THE END"! He "knew when to quit"! Some magicians, in their enthusiasm, go "...on beyond Zebra" (Dr. Seuss) they earn the "Chinese billing" --"ONN TOO LONG".

I'm not "accusing" you of going past the end! but, I'm suggesting that you consider Leipzig's philosophy. Perhaps, in a casual situation, wait until you are sure that they want to see you "do something"!!! --Then, watch the girls!!!

"55" is absolutely correct about the attitude that you project. Be sure that you don't challenge!

From the way that you write (your first post that I replied to) you seem to be enthusiastic. That's GOOD. Just don't be too eager to perform! Emulate Leipzig! when you do "do something", don't do your entire repertoire!

There is an anecdote in one of Somerset Maugham's works. The scene is cocktail party. A young lady asks another young lady: "See that man over there in a tuxedo? --He asked me if I liked card tricks. I said, 'No.' He did six."


I apologize for not replying to your first question (PM) sooner. I do get tired more easily than I did when I was your age!

Best Wishes!

O
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
Dick Oslund
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Egad!

When I hit the "submit" button, this infernal electrisch peckenclacker "edited" enough words that several sentences don't make sense. I'll try to get back and retype some of the above, this afternoon.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
Dick Oslund
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@#%% ! (it did it again!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
Magic Oli
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Haha all good dick I forgive you Smile it's all good I understood
JayFredericks
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Not to be the bearer of bad news or anything, but women can certainly be hecklers and troublemakers too, and when they are, it can be worse than the men. In fact, at an event I was headlining last weekend, the warm up act got into trouble with a group of women in the front rows, and they got so loud and abusive that they had to be removed from the event.

The trick here (pun intended!) is to be bold! What is the absolute worst that can happen if you get a bad one? Just do your stuff - try and get a 'good' spectator if you want, but seriously, when it happens (It will eventually), you'll see that it's almost always manageable. If you haven't experienced a heckler yet, the nerves will remain, but I promise you, after you've faced off a few of these baddies, that will all go away.
Dick Oslund
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Hey! It wasn't MY computer! Jay Fredericks post has the same problem

Jay, BTW is quite right about women heckling.
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MRSharpe
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It's all in the presentation. Don't make the presentation a challenge or puzzle. Try to not present something as if you are demonstrating superior powers. An excellent presentation is to make the spectators appear to have done the magic. Good luck when working for friends or especially family. The can be very difficult because they know your body language very well.
Custom Props Designer and Fabricator as well as Performer from Indiana, USA
Aus
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Magic Oli here is a link to some advice I gave some time ago in dealing with stage fright maybe it will help:

http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......forum=41

Magically

Aus
Magic Oli
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Thank you everyone for your assistance
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