On Sep 19, 2023, Yellowcustard wrote:
I've been a hobbiest magician and a weekend warrior busker for about 17 years. At the age of 48 I've decided to make magic a secondary income. As a result I sat down and pulled together a walk round set.
Here's what I have,
- Sponge stars and purse frame,
- Rubber bands CMH/ Alex Adler's Friction/Jacobs ladder.
- Chop cup- I use the GRUM dice cup and Micheal O'Brien Routine

Its still early days for me and I'm doing a few low key gigs just to get use to the environment. Also in the process of getting a bar residency for building up skill and martial as well as promoting my self.

Im mainly looking for any advice from late starters or older workers. But really any comments welcome.

On Sep 19, 2023, charliemartin wrote:
Welcome. I'm a working bartender/ magician. My advice, find tricks that strengthen your personality. Tricks with money, napkins and yes a deck of cards. Just have fun, in a bar environment, you are selling the experience.

On Sep 20, 2023, MeetMagicMike wrote:
Get Richard Sander's Fiber Optics. It's a great rope routine, basically the professor's nightmare with a lot more phases. It works on stage or close up, kids or adults. Easy to carry, no reset.

On Sep 20, 2023, Dannydoyle wrote:

Here is a bold strategy. Find out what everyone else is doing, get all kinds of recommendations, then discard them all and select different effects. No joke. Don’t get wired into what everyone thinks. Put in the work and have routines and effects that are all you. Yes this takes more time but is worth it.

On Sep 20, 2023, bunkyhenry wrote:
What is a purse frame?

On Sep 20, 2023, Yellowcustard wrote:

Quote:

On Sep 20, 2023, Dannydoyle wrote:

Here is a bold strategy. Find out what everyone else is doing, get all kinds of recommendations, then discard them all and select different effects. No joke. Don’t get wired into what everyone thinks. Put in the work and have routines and effects that are all you. Yes this takes more time but is worth it.

The set I mentioned in my original post is in some ways a very common set. But I've worked on the patter and jokes so the prestation of those effects is more me and different. Its took a while for me to find a Chop Cup and routine to suite me. Believe me I have owned so many cups. But the Grum Dice cups with dice and O'Brians routine has given me something that really works for me. Also weirdly it given me a avenue to get creative.

As I explore what this new adventure looks like I've started to think about the completive field and what make me stand out. Sometimes I wonder if I over think this but your comment is just going to fan my flames. Thank you so much.

On Sep 21, 2023, Dannydoyle wrote:

Quote:

On Sep 20, 2023, Yellowcustard wrote:

Quote:

On Sep 20, 2023, Dannydoyle wrote:

Here is a bold strategy. Find out what everyone else is doing, get all kinds of recommendations, then discard them all and select different effects. No joke. Don’t get wired into what everyone thinks. Put in the work and have routines and effects that are all you. Yes this takes more time but is worth it.

The set I mentioned in my original post is in some ways a very common set. But I've worked on the patter and jokes so the prestation of those effects is more me and different. Its took a while for me to find a Chop Cup and routine to suite me. Believe me I have owned so many cups. But the Grum Dice cups with dice and O'Brians routine has given me something that really works for me. Also weirdly it given me a avenue to get creative.

As I explore what this new adventure looks like I've started to think about the completive field and what make me stand out. Sometimes I wonder if I over think this but your comment is just going to fan my flames. Thank you so much.

I in no way meant to fan the flames of anything. I just get sad when magicians all become interchangeable. It is what devalues them individually. Want to know the best way to find a chop cup routine that suits you? Easy. You know the prop and the working. Just sit with it and work it out. Your own lines, your own ideas and most of all your own personality.

Don’t worry so much about if you “stand out”. Not important. Be you. Nobody else can do that. Certainly nobody can do it as well as you can do that. Don’t make comparisons at all.