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mastermindreader 1949 - 2017 Seattle, WA 12586 Posts |
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On 2013-10-11 16:46, geraldbelton wrote: Just remember, you've got to get their attention almost immediately. It doesn't have to be an effect, just an effective introduction and opening remarks directed to the ENTIRE audience. Don't just walk out and start selecting volunteers. |
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Voodini Inner circle 1783 Posts |
The choosing of the volunteers can be, and should be, a lot of fun.
Voodini - cold reading, past life regressions, remote viewing, Q&A, palm reading, bizarre & seance...
www.readerofminds.co.uk |
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Shrubsole Inner circle Kent, England 2455 Posts |
Remember you are there to entertain THEM and keep THEM entertained. If you practise something down to the Nth degree and think that you can just turn up and do Mentalism at them, then you will be in for a shock.
The best way to keep their attention is to involve them (Literally) and the more people you can involve at one time, the better. But if the routine is a one on one, pick the ring-leader of the biggest group in there. (Provided they are not a complete **** ***!) You have to 'up-the-volume' of the routine in a bar as small, one on one, highly personal and intense things that last hours will lose the rest of the audience in record time. Make it fun and enjoyable without turning it into circus act. Write a script that allows for interruptions of any kind as you will get them throughout your career.
Winner of the Dumbringer Award for total incompetence. (All years)
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mastermindreader 1949 - 2017 Seattle, WA 12586 Posts |
Yes, it should be. My point is that he shouldn't just walk out and go straight into the selection process. It's important to engage the entire audience before focusing on individuals.
I've seen far too many guys walk out and simply go into a one on one effect before anyone has any idea at all about what their supposed to be doing. Even a seemingly off-the-cuff humorous remark can serve to get an audience's attention before you get into the first effect. |
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Voodini Inner circle 1783 Posts |
Absolutely Bob. I think the point needs making that the selection of the volunteers is as important, if not more important, than the effect. The effect is where you're heading, but it's the journey to that point that will dictate whether or not the routine as a whole is a success (and is seen as a successful piece of entertainment by the audience).
Voodini - cold reading, past life regressions, remote viewing, Q&A, palm reading, bizarre & seance...
www.readerofminds.co.uk |
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Mindpro Eternal Order 10586 Posts |
Quote:
On 2013-10-11 15:55, geraldbelton wrote: Seems you've taken my posts and question wrongly. Especially for someone who has been been reading and following the past months posts here in Penny. My question was legitimate to offer you practical advice. If you were just wanting to perform mental tricks, I would say go for it, no problems, no questions asked. However, if you are claiming mental abilities, I feel it's just as important, actually more important than the actual effects you perform, to make sure you have tended to other aspects FIRST, established a way to get the audiences perception where you want them to be to get the results and effectiveness you would be seeking. My next thought as several others here have said, in a typical open mic format you have 5 minutes , maybe seven. That time needs to include becoming established, credibility and believability, then the execution of your performance material to get the full effect desired results I would think you were seeking if you are claiming to be a mind reader or psychic entertainer. The open mic format is really not most condusive for this. Most open mics are a casual unprofessional setting where you do not have the full and direct attention and support of the audience. If you don't care what the audience thinks, and don't care how you are perceived, you are simply a magician doing mental material. Much different than trying to perform mentalism. So I had reason to ask my question to offer the advice you claim to be seeking. As it appeared you were coming in and immediately talking about two effects and performing them. That's the reference you may have been making. Mentalism is about many things other than the effects, which is where I was going in trying to assist you. If you want warm and fuzzy, sorry I'm not our guy. I'm a realist not a confectionist. If you want perspective from experience I was willing to help. If you've been reading this forum you would know you would get a legit answer from me - that's what you should have expected. As I told you in another post, your approach can be quite off putting for someone new seeking assistance. You are likely in your 40's or 50's, and not the typical kid coming in with an unwarranted attitude, which makes this seem even more uncalled for to make such comments as someone new here to our community. I would think you should understand and know better. Perhaps you shouldn't be "expecting" anything, that may be where the problem begins. |
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robwar0100 Inner circle Buy me some newspapers.Purchase for me 1 Gazette and 1747 Posts |
Not sure Mindpro and I always agree, but he always gives solid advice. And, he takes the time to give thoughtful answers. You ask; he answers. That's been my experience.
Bobby
"My definition of chance is my hands on the wheel," Greg Long.
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DWRackley Inner circle Chattanooga, TN 1909 Posts |
Chiming in with another thumbs-up on the 30 second rule. If they like you, you can “get away” with a lot. Take the time to connect with them before you ask them for anything (beyond just their initial notice). Talk WITH them not at them (nobody likes speeches). One-liners or jokes will bomb badly here (for most people); you are not Jay Leno. However, relevant small talk is amazingly effective IF you can do it entertainingly. We’re all just friends here…
In general, if there is a joke, make it friendly/complimentary or make yourself the target, but gently, so as not to lose esteem. Self-denigrating humor can make you into a buffoon if handled poorly, and false modesty is usually too apparent and offends the intelligence of the listener. (If you didn’t think you were good, you wouldn’t be out there, right?) NOW we get to the mentalism effect. Styles vary, but I like to move quickly toward the first reveal. For example, my favorite starter is the “Corinda Opener”, and it usually begins before I’ve even finished my intro, ie. before they know the “trick” has started. I have paper in plain sight, don’t call attention to it, almost as an after-thought, “I wonder if I could get everyone here to think of a number…” and we’re off. Point is, don’t waste a lot of time getting to the first opportunity for them to APPLAUD. Once they’ve validated you, they can’t take it back (unless you really suck ). I don’t “do” bars, because, well, I just don’t go into bars, so I can’t help you there. A magician friend who tended bar once told me that, after three drinks, the billiard balls didn’t need to multiply, He could just stick them between his fingers and hold up his hand and people would go “WOW!” Can’t imagine that would be an optimal setting for mentalism, but I know Dr. Bob has done exactly that. My extreme admiration! And wishes for best of luck to you, Gerald!
...what if I could read your mind?
Chattanooga's Premier Mentalist Donatelli and Company at ChattanoogaPerformers.com also on FaceBook |
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London Special user U.S.A. 769 Posts |
Quote:
On 2013-10-11 11:24, robwar0100 wrote: They are right. Pubs / Bars can be difficult. Even for a seasoned performer. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong here but I believe it was Al Koran that used to open with the linking rings. He would stand on a chair (in pub shows) and bang the rings together to get everyones attention. I myself was very lucky I feel in my first performance of mentalism for the public. It was in a bar. It was actually karaoke night. I did not originally plan to perform. But the spirits moved me I guess and I had the urge to try something out. I convinced the guy running the karaoke event to let me go on without singing. To my surprise everyone in that place shut up and listened. It was a stand up "living dead" type routine I came up with. It was to this day still probably close to the best 5 minutes of mentalism I have ever done. Very well recieved. For the situation and noone being there specifically to hear some maniac rambling on about the connection of the living to the departed. It was pretty awesome. But again I was just lucky enough to have that crowd that night. For your situation it appears they are looking for acts of all sorts. I say if you have a piece that you are well rehearsed with and want to give it a go. You may be new but you have to take a first step out on stage sometime. There will probably be some great performers there and there will probably be not so great performers. I think it is a good place to try out new stuff.
THOUGHTfully,
LONDON |
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geraldbelton New user Durham, NC 63 Posts |
Thank you all for the very helpful advice.
Before I arrived at the club, I knew it was going to be difficult. As soon as I got there, I realized it would be impossible. The layout of the place was simply not conducive to any performance that involved interacting with the audience. The building is a long, narrow storefront downtown. There was a huge (and empty) dance floor in front of the stage, then a long bar. People at the bar had the stage to their left, with their view partially blocked by the sound booth. Then there were two clusters of couches. One of them was occupied by a group of folks playing some sort of board game. From the stage, you can't really see the audience, and the majority of the audience has their backs to you. So I never put my name on the list. But I did perform. I was listening to a guitar player, and a young lady asked me if I was there to play. I told her that I had come intending to demonstrate mind reading, but decided that this wasn't a good venue for it. She and her friends were interested, so I pulled out my deck of index cards and did Dr. Bob's Scary Movie Routine for them. They loved it! I ended up doing the routine for three different groups before I went home. So my planned stage debut turned into a table-hopping debut. It was a very educational experience, and one that left me with a desire to find more people for whom I can perform. |
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mastermindreader 1949 - 2017 Seattle, WA 12586 Posts |
You absolutely did the right thing, Gerald. The conditions sucked, so you did things your way rather than theirs. It's was a valuable lesson to learn.
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Stephen Young Inner circle Thought Illusions 3933 Posts |
Sometimes things just work out in a way we didn't foresee (not good in our profession)
But perhaps this was the best way things could have gone for you. You got to perform the same effect multiple times. That can only be a good thing. You didn't compromise just to be able to say "I did it." And you got valuable experience. Thanks for reporting back. steve |
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matrose9 New user 65 Posts |
Congrats man... support for you
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Mind illusionist Special user Australia 949 Posts |
Quote:
On 2013-10-15 08:18, geraldbelton wrote: Good move! And great to hear you had fun performing. All the best for the future man! |
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landmark Inner circle within a triangle 5194 Posts |
Congratulations!
Click here to get Gerald Deutsch's Perverse Magic: The First Sixteen Years
All proceeds to Open Heart Magic charity. |
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London Special user U.S.A. 769 Posts |
You got the one and only thing (in my opinion) that will make you a better performer.......experience in front of real people. Good choice and glad to read it went well. Keep it up.
THOUGHTfully,
LONDON |
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Shrubsole Inner circle Kent, England 2455 Posts |
All experiences are helpful whether good or bad, but this sounds like a good result. You can't get enough of interacting with people wherever it is, on stage, around tables or elsewhere. More, you turned what could have been a wasted night into a successful one. You performed for people and they enjoyed it - you succeeded in what you set out to do. On stage, off stage, it doesn't matter.
And possibly the most valuable lesson, you learnt how to evaluate a venue and when to say "No". That's far better than my early experiences where I would do it anywhere at any time and could never say "No". That was a bad mistake.
Winner of the Dumbringer Award for total incompetence. (All years)
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