|
|
docelk Veteran user St. Pete, FL 362 Posts |
Any suggestions for picking out specific people who might appreciate your magic, vs. performing hit or miss in front of a group that is non-plussed by magic. Have found that the same routine performed the same way can wow one person, and produce a sympathetic sigh and a courteous smile from another, both occuring before they walk away never to return.
Specifically (male-female; young-old; outgoing-shy;, etc.)
Life is a test. It is only a test. If this had been a real life, you would have been given further instructions on where to go, and what to do.
|
calexa Inner circle Germany 1635 Posts |
Hey, good question. I would also be interested in answers and advice.
Magixx
Optimists have more fun.....
|
bigchuck Veteran user Nothing clever has ever been said in my 400 Posts |
From what I can tell there is no real universal demographic -- its a hit and miss thing ...
Some of the people that I thought would really get into it sometimes end up giving the 'ok' reactions and sometimes when I saw someone who looked as if they might not be the best spectator, but I just went ahead anyway; well sometimes he ends up loving it & asks to see more... Don't be afraid to give it a go -- When I was in sales it was the same thing -- the guy in the suit might be the biggest cheapskate you've ever met, while the guy with the gravy stains down the front of his shirt, and the obscenely-bright, sky-blue colored sweatpants COULD be a millionaire. The key is not to worry about it all that much, after an effect you will definitely get an idea of what you are up against... SOME people look at all magic as something geeks do -- and even though that is 100% correct, MOST people do think its neat to watch I havent found a formula for doing impromptu stuff other than when I bring an effect in 'naturally' it usually gets much better reactions than by saying 'check out this trick' or something like that -- bring them in with something totally unrelated to magic and then do the effects with the object or whatever.
"The computer can't tell you the emotional story. It can give you the exact
mathematical design, but what's missing is the eyebrows. - Frank Zappa" |
Mrbimble New user Tucson, AZ 56 Posts |
Bigchuck there prety much said what I have experenced. There are some that I though were going to be very impressed and were apathetic and others that seems "too good" for magic were impressed and asked for more.
Sadly it is a hard thing to get a feel for. If anyone comes up with a demographic formula, let me know.
Jerry M.
Mundas vult decipi ~The world wants to be deceived Multum in parvo ~Much in little(packs small/plays big) |
Frank Tougas Inner circle Minneapolis, MN 1712 Posts |
I don't think there is any formula.
One question I'd ask myself is am I doing this trick to entertain another or others or am I doing it because I thnk it is neat and I want to get some feedback. Doing it for yourself is problaby going to get you into trouble far more often than doing it for others. Here are other things upon which to ponder: Did you ask if anyone wanted to see magic or were you asked? If you asked was their "..uh...okay, ah sure fine." really a mandate for you to perform or are you only hearing the answer you wanted to hear? Did you interrupt something to show them a trick? That can be quite annoying, but most people are to polite to say that outright, they say it through boredom or casual interest. Did you do a trick, sense they were not that interested and then continued to perform? Are they perhaps embarassed by your performance? Did it make them the center of attention when clearly they wanted to blend into the background? Are they people who would prefer to watch passively and you engaged them into helping you do a trick? There are many factors that can make a trick range from spectacular to hohum. It may even have to do with your mood going in or expectations about an effect that failed to occur.
Frank Tougas The Twin Cities Most "Kid Experienced" Children's Performer :"Creating Positive Memories...One Smile at a Time"
|
TheCaffeinator Regular user Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada 126 Posts |
Not only is there no easily-identified generic set of "magic appreciation demographics," but there are also issues of context. Where you are performing can affect the mixture of interested/non-interested, threatened/threatening, etc. types among your spectators.
For instance, if you are up on stage doing a magic show for folks who had to buy tickets to get in, chances are you're dealing with an audience made up mostly of people who appreciate magic. You have a captive audience of willing prisoners. By contrast, if you're performing at a banquet or some other event such that your presence is secondary to the reason for the event in the first place, you can't make the same assumption. Once again, you have a captive audience, but you may well have to take them by force. If you're doing walkaround in a restaurant, you're the actual captive. You've been hired to perform for whoever shows up. You get to pick your battles to a certain degree, but if you "retreat" too many times, particularly if management notices, you likely will have a rather short run. On the street, you have more freedom overall, but the odds here are perhaps highest that you'll encounter folks who don't give a snit for what you have to offer. Are you asking about a specific context such as those above or do you have something else in mind? |
stuper1 New user California 100 Posts |
This may be somewhat off-topic, but I think I am just reinforcing the point that sometimes the person you think wouldn't be interested in magic actually would be. Regarding restaurant magicians, more than once I've gone to eat at restaurants specifically to see a magician perform and basically gotten the cold shoulder. I won't go back to the last one I went to. We went specifically to see the magician perform, because the food isn't all that great. He made us a couple balloon animals for the kids and then retreated to talk with the wait staff most of the time we were there. Finally, when he was walking by to deliver some more balloons to another table, I had to stop him and say that we would love to see some magic. He came back and did one routine (which was quite good, by the way) and then hurried off. As we were leaving, he apologized for not having more time to spend with us.
So, the restaurant got us in by having the magician. But his behavior is the reason we won't be going back. It was odd to me, because we actually wanted to see magic, and he apparently thought that we didn't. Keep in mind that this guy has a reputation as a magician, not a balloon guy. |
docelk Veteran user St. Pete, FL 362 Posts |
Helpful answers...thank you all. Any further suggestion for a "lead in" line when noone knows that you are a magician, yet you are in the right situation to perform some magic? "Anyone want to see some magic?" is a little corny.
Life is a test. It is only a test. If this had been a real life, you would have been given further instructions on where to go, and what to do.
|
Josh Riel Inner circle of hell 1995 Posts |
I think that you will probably get negative responses at times no matter how you approach it, there are just too many different types of people. I understand the question, I don't do it because I hate rejection.
I have been kicking around an Idea for a lead in though: With coins, have a scotch and soda aproach a person and ask if they have seen a mexican 20 centavos lying around. say they keep disapearing do the S&S routine in your own hands and show the quarter in its place. It can be done quick so if they are disinterestd you can say " you have a good day, thanks anyway " and no harm no foul. I figureits a 20 sec lead in. or w/ a TT and silks: ask if the stuff floating around is bugging them (of course nothing is floating around)reach into the air pull a silk from nowhere... I suppose you could think of a hundred ways to do it. I would say use a trick you don't plan on using again, and have it setup so you could continue on the theme if they seem to enjoy it. Of course that's just an idea it may not be any good.
Magic is doing improbable things with odd items that, under normal circumstances, would be unnessecary and quite often undesirable.
|
TheCaffeinator Regular user Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada 126 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-01-21 12:41, docelk wrote: I like to try to catch a snippet or two of conversations going on at various tables and use something that was said to form a lead-in. Of course, you have to cast it in a manner that doesn't make you look like you were "eavesdropping." My "Card Warp" patter, for example, begins with a discussion of the Austin Powers movies, so when I catch someone talking about film or comedy, I jump at the opportunity. On a similar note, I try to get a look at what objects might be laying around on the table or seats that could give me an opener. I had an interesting moment at a walkaround gig last weekend when I noticed an elderly woman sitting alone reading a copy of Dr. Seuss' Cat in the Hat; you just can't let stuff like that get away! There are many alternatives to "Want to see some magic...?" You can be the inquisitive pro..."Did anyone tell you there's a magician here today?" Make it a gag by saying, "Okay...I'll get him for you..." then doing a little turn-on-the-heel thing and saying, "Poof! Here I am...!" Can't remember where I saw this one... "Is this the fun table? Great! Let's have some fun." You can appear as a concerned staff member, then turn it around: "Excuse me, has the waitress/waiter taken your order yet? Yes? Well...how 'bout a little entertainment to pass the time while you wait?" Sometimes, I'll just go right into an effect. I'll walk by a table, then stop suddenly as if struck by a thought, then turn to someone at the table and say,"Excuse me...do you have a good imagination?" (B'Wave intro) or "Hey...would you like me to make you a little yellow bird?" (Ooh-Ah Bird) or "Pardon me...have we met before?" (Untouched, or some other mentalism thing). It's fine to have a "stock" opening or two, but I prefer to go with the flow of the moment and try to make each performance as unique as the people I'm entertaining. BTW, I think there's a thread somewhere on this topic with a few goodies in it. I'll post a link if I can find it. |
edh Inner circle 4698 Posts |
Stuper1 says:
Quote:
This may be somewhat off-topic, but I think I am just reinforcing the point that sometimes the person you think wouldn't be interested in magic actually would be. Regarding restaurant magicians, more than once I've gone to eat at restaurants specifically to see a magician perform and basically gotten the cold shoulder. I won't go back to the last one I went to. We went specifically to see the magician perform, because the food isn't all that great. He made us a couple balloon animals for the kids and then retreated to talk with the wait staff most of the time we were there. Finally, when he was walking by to deliver some more balloons to another table, I had to stop him and say that we would love to see some magic. He came back and did one routine (which was quite good, by the way) and then hurried off. As we were leaving, he apologized for not having more time to spend with us. you should have notified the manager that the magi was not doing his job and that you will not be coming back. In my opinion this magician was acting totally unprofessional. edh
Magic is a vanishing art.
|
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » New to magic? » » Picking an audience.... (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.03 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |