Now don’t get all touchy. This is just for fun. (Mainly... )

In the Tarbell course (originally published in 1928) Harlan Eugene Tarbell generalized that


While we are cautioned against depending on stereotypes, “demographics” work for a reason.

What do we think, now, in 2010 about who likes what?

What do YOU think?

Just curious...

Who am I to argue against Tarbell?

I like all those categories if the effects are good and well performed.

While I'm not particularly into Poker type effects I do occasionally watch Poker After Dark so I can't guess the why on that. I have seen more interest in Poker effects with men both in watching them and performing them.

Other than that I can't say I've noticed a bias in my audience but I try to choose what I think will go over by my interaction with the people I'm performing for (close-Up). With Stand-Up I generally have a show order written and it's designed to entertain everybody. I think about everybody meaning types or ages rather than genders.

- Mary Mowder

Now in 2010?? What do people like to see?? The IMPOSSIBLE
With the likes of Blaine and Chris Angel on TV I'm asked all the time to levitate.
Some will say; "Make that disappear and end up in my pocket"...."Can you make me disappear?"

Nowadays with the advancement of all forms of technology it takes a little more to impress some people. I'm still a firm believer that if you can make what you do entertaining and involve the audience they will come away from the performance with a good feeling and a fond memory.

There is a world of difference between being "politically correct" and being effective, smart or honestly correct.

The capacity to discriminate is exactly why we pay for professional opinions. "Targeting" is the politically correct term we use in marketing. It is indeed profiling. Knowing the difference between standing under mistletoe and a partridge in a pear tree makes a big difference in the wisdom of the decision.

Knowing the difference between a suspect and a prospect is no different. You can't do a professional job of entertaining without targeting the audience.

This is one old marketing professor who begs you to target, target, target. It is the wiser use of YOUR resources. (An audience is a resource! Look at entertaining from that perspective. It will improve more than just your show.)


Bob Sanders
Magic By Sander

PS --- Yes, you may have to deal with a moving target.

Today's world has women smoking cigars and men getting manicures...

I do not think that in todays world you can apply generalizations like that. We have such a diverse society now that any generalization leaves a vast number excluded.

From a psychology standpoint, men TYPICALLY enjoy things of logic and function. Women TYPICALLY enjoy things visual and of form.

I think generally, people like to be entertained. Sure there are people who love to be fooled and shown an unbelievable miracle, but from my experience the majority of people just like to have a good time.

No-one likes a smart arse or to be made a fool of in front of their friends. You can go to a magic convention and in the various competitions they run, see some miracles of magic and amazing sleight of hand.

Put some of those acts in front of a lay audience though and I bet half of them would be bored to tears with cards appearing or thimbles changing colour.

Sit them in front of someone like Jeff McBride or David Williamson who make their magic entertaining & enjoyable and people will love it.

I think with information being readily available in today's society, the games have changed a little.

With kids I always find quick visual tricks that incolve colors or animals get them excited the most. It has to be short enough that they don't get lost and visully impressive for them to be in awe.

But with older kids (Jr. High, High School) they know how to find out how standard tricks are done (the internet). So, I find the best way to thwart this is to take a trick and present it different and make it my own, so they can't google it. This would be the demographic who would take the time to research how something was done, unlike adults.

For adults I use pretty much the same take on tricks I would show High school and Jr. High kids but without fear of them Googling it! I think really adults and young adults can all appreciate anything visually stunning and of course tricks with a little surprise twist on the end is always a plus (such as NFW).

I think Tarbell 'nailed' it, back when it was written. However, we live in a different time... and we've come a long way in the performance of magic. Bottom line, any magic, performed well, should appeal to all genres. As long as your interaction with the audience and your patter is tailored to suit the circumstance, you should be able to entertain anyone with any magic category at your disposal.
My 2 cents.

Mark,

Keep that up and some guy is going to hit you with his purse!

Bob Sanders
Magic By Sander

PS --- Who is your Avon man?