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The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » New to magic? » » Performing for Friends and Family (0 Likes) Printer Friendly Version

Darren Roberts
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Still considering myself a "newbie" after about a year and a half in magic, I've been thinking about the pros and cons of performing for Friends and Family.

Since these people KNOW you (probably better than you know yourself)...do you find it more difficult to misdirect them than with people you don't know? These people know you're not "magic", so I find they spend a lot of time trying to "catch" you rather than just enjoying the moment.

In my experience, I've been much better at misdirection with people I don't know. I have a few friends and relatives who will not take their eyes off of my hands NO MATTER WHAT I do or say! I enjoy the challenge, though. Getting the attention of these people off of my hands has proven a valuable education. When I can get a trick past these people, I know it's ready to go!

So what are your experiences performing for Friends and Family?
Rob Johnston
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Utah
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Yes, family and friends are not as amazed with your skills after the first while. But that is the challenge, to make the amazed.

People you don't know are not as accustomed to your style and so on, so yes, it is easier in my opinion.
"Genius is another word for magic, and the whole point of magic is that it is inexplicable." - Margot Fonteyn
gocall911
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Salem, VA
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Lately I have been shocking my family pretty bad so that's how I know I'm geting better. I also have a few friends that are not the best "enjoyers of magic" if you know what I meen. I do love performing for these people though besides if I can handle them I can handle just about anyone.
"Use your head." ~Dai Vernon~
Dawai
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Honolulu,Hawaii
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Yes, Doing magic for Family and Friends was not easy, but it was fun trying to get past them. Do magic that don`t need any type of misdirection will sooner or later will get them off your hands. Then they will start to enjoy your magic.
Mirokai
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And odder point to aim is that if you get a mistake in front of an estrange you can just laugh and continue, but in front of someone that you know an see every day, they will always remember your mistake, they will know how the trick is done and you won’t be able to amaze them with the same trick. For example if you drop a coin from the classic palm they will always know that you could have a coin there.

My 2 cents,
"Tout ce qui nous arrive de bien et de mal ici-bas était écrit là-haut" Diderot
Joker 808
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My family hated my magic and still do to this day. At every opportunity I show them a trick and they are extremely critical and harsh towards it.

This is exactly why I relish the challenge and as long as I make it entertaining for them then others will be amazed.

By performing on my family, it has given me a bit of the performing edge (although its not the same as on strangers) and I have corrected any mistakes that have occurred. Use them as a tool to progress into a greater magician.

Joker 808
What's that rabbit doing on your face?
Reis O'Brien
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Seattle, WA
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My old man was all kinds of impressed when I first started doing magic. However, 200 or so tricks later he is less that amused. Oh well. I can understand. As soon as he starts talking about golf, my eyes glaze over and I go catatonic.
Homo vult decipi; decipiatur

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Showmethatagain
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My family are like here we go again everytime I show them a new routine/trick but they are always happy to watch me make a fool of myself when on an occasion it goes a little wrong.
digimaestro
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My wife is starting to glaze over whenever I talk about magic, much less show her a teick I've been working on.

The 400th time I show her a trick, she's figured it out. All she has to do is keep her eyes closed, and I wont offer to show her the trick anymore.

My friends are starting to become impressed with my magic skill, but that's because I have performed it for my wife 400 times by the time they see it.

I could get a new hobby, but I love the one I've got. I could get a new wife, but I love the one I've got. I think I need to get a magic friend.

-digimaestro
Oz Fan
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My brother hates when I try to do magic to him because he hates magic. My mom and dad really enjoy it though. When they try and figure out a trick and are watching my hands I just say " Watching my hands isn't going to do anything ".

-Blake-
Blake S.
abc
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South African in Taiwan
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I enjoy performing for family and friends but only if requested to do so. I used to perform for my ex wife but she divorced me when she caught me cheating. LOL
RBerteig
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Monrovia, California
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At least part of the trick is to use your friends and family as sources of opportunities to perform. Yes, they will always be the hardest audience to impress. And yes, they usually know you well enough to be far more effective hecklers than you would ever encounter among the general public.

However, they are also the easiest (and cheapest) form of marketing for your new talents at a time when you desperately need new audiences. Most of them have contacts outside your immediate circle, some of whome will need entertaining from time to time. You can begin by doing magic for the other guests at events you attend. (Just don't upstage the guest of honor, the bride, the paid entertainment...)

What I am trying to suggest (unclearly, I fear) is that you can perform in front of them best when they benefit from your success. You want them urging fresh marks your way, not taking advantage of every past slip or childhood jealousy to become the evil super heckler.

One of the first times I performed anything for my family after taking up magic seriously as an adult, my younger brother watched calmly while I did Card Warp, thought for a few moments, and then announced that he figured it out. He got enough enjoyment at noone else having a clue, as well as the presentation itself, that he didn't bother to spoil the method for the rest of the table. A few days later, he had me show it to some of his friends, and clearly enjoyed their sense of wonder.
Ross Berteig
Wizards in my Parlor
Mike Walton
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I agree that performing for friends and family is more difficult when starting, but where else do you go to practice your performances.

The key is to be able to have your tricks, effects, routines, sleights, etc. bulletproof and nail them 100% cleanly every time before you perform for anyone.

I'm starting to see people who show an effect "because they've spent time on it" but not enough time as it's not clean and it's just a waste of time to watch and for them to perform. It's a waste of time for your audience and it shows you're performing for yourself rather than for them.
protik
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bangladesh
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I think the best way to practice your magic tricks is to perform them for your family and friends.Because you can perform freely without any hesitation.It helps you to achive the confidence of performing these tricks later infront of any audience.
Hushai
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St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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Quote:
On 2004-06-04 19:46, digimaestro wrote:My wife is starting to glaze over whenever I talk about magic, much less show her a teick I've been working on.
The 400th time I show her a trick, she's figured it out. All she has to do is keep her eyes closed, and I wont offer to show her the trick anymore.
My friends are starting to become impressed with my magic skill, but that's because I have performed it for my wife 400 times by the time they see it.
I could get a new hobby, but I love the one I've got. I could get a new wife, but I love the one I've got. I think I need to get a magic friend.
-digimaestro
Bravo, digimaestro! You have a great sense of humor. I would love to see you perform, because I'll bet you bring that humor to your magic. (I admit, though, that I, too, have a longsuffering wife somewhat like yours -- THAT part may not be entirely a joke). Regards.
danedover
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Central Arkansas
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Family is our hardest audience but also our best practice. I think the reason family doesn't always appreciate "all" our magic is that they see "all" of our magic even the stuff we are working on that we never actually perform for anyone else. Sometimes family can be that sounding board that lets you know that a certain routine doesn't work for you.

Dane
Fishsticks
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Greensboro, NC
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My mom loves my magic. I keep fooling her all the time. Sometimes she gets mad. She doesn't like to be fooled. But my cousin says that I'm so good that one day I could be very famous. My mom likes the sponge bunnies.
Thinker
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Brazil
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Family and friends are really harder to amaze. There was this time, when I showed David Cooperfield doing a card trick, in a video, for one of my friends. He really thought it was amazing when David opened a fan with one hand. Then I did the same thing and he couldn't care less, hehe.
Partizan
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London UK
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Hey Firedice! You want to get down that golf course with your old man. Magic (more manipulation), and golf share much in the way of perfection of ones mind to body communication. Plus it is an awesome game to get into.
Seriously, get out there with your Pops and play a few 9 holes.
"You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus."
- Mark Twain
erictan8888
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Singapore
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My wife is the one person I always show my new tricks to.... at least that was what it was initially...

I can't remember when, but it wasn't too long when her frustration started to show. now, whenever she spots me walking towards her with a deck of cards in my hands, a guilty grin on my face, she would immediately say "not another trick... its all the same, your fancy hiding of the cards or whatever."

I have more or less stopped showing her tricks anymore. she used to be observant and critical, and that helped me improve, but now, I think she can't even remember what card she selected the moment she placed in back in the deck.

anyway, I like to thank my wife for those times when she was critical of my performance and that really helped me to improve. but I doubt she will be reading this, the appearance of the word magic in the web address is enough to put her off... hee hee Smile

so, I guess why some family members of magic lovers hate magic is mostly due to the stress they have to put up with: imagine asking you to taste a new dish your wife has just started learning for 20 times within 2 to 3 days!! the first few times is always the worse, and by the time she has perfected her skills on that new dish, I guess you couldn't care less.

eric Smile
"Fill you life with magic by making magic a part of your life." by eric tan.
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