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AndreJ New user 90 Posts |
I have been struggling with how to approach people in order to practice infront of a live audience. I have been thinking about busking, working for free at restaurants, walking up to people "cold" and just do it...but nothing has really felt good. I have of course practiced my material at home, but there is no practice like doing it in the real world, with real people...and for too long I haven't had any ideas on how do do it and still feel comfortable.
But today it struck me, and it worked lika a charm! That magic secret (for me at least) is to let people know that I´m a beginner and want to practice my material. The WAY I lay this out to people is the real secret, and it´s really easy. Today, I went to town and performed for 50 people. that's more than I´ve ever done...ever! This is my exakt words when I approached people: "Excuse me, could you help me with something? I´m trying out new material for an upcoming show of mine and I need to test it on "real" people in the real world. Practicing infront of a mirror just don't do it anymore. It will only take a minute, costs you nothing, there are no hidden charges, trap doors or dangers involved. When I´m finished, you can tell me if it was something I should put in my show or if it should go in the trash. Ok?" Take into consideration that I´m not a native english speaking guy, so the wording may be different in your language. But, the advantages of this approach are many - you come off as a nice person in need of help (people often like to help others) - they immediately realize that the only thing they are risking is a few minutes of their time - you don't say that YOU are a beginner, but that you are working on new material (big difference) - talking about an upcoming show gives credibility (which doesn't need to be the complete truth. In my case, the "show" is my walk around material.) - you can be relaxed since you aren't being paid I learned more in the 2 hours of doing tricks for strangers than in the last year practicing at home. The best thing I learned? The tricks are just 20 % of the show, it´s your interaction with people that makes the show fly.
My background: Loved magic for 25 years, always wanted to do paid gigs but never had the courage. Faced my fears some years ago and went pro.
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David Fillary Special user 662 Posts |
A lot of people say you shouldn't ask if they can help you, as it sounds needy, almost like a beggar. However, I think you counter that immediately my saying it is free.
I like this a lot! By mentioning it is for an upcoming show, you are immediately upping your prestige - if he has a show, maybe he is worth watching? Also the trap doors joke is enough to break the ice a little. It might be worth suggesting to other people on here, who are beginners, that your first trick doesn't have to be a new trick. You can do a trick you know well, then say to them "let me try one more". It's always good to perform the stuff you know anyway - you'll learn how to make it better. |
AndreJ New user 90 Posts |
Great advice there David. My first "trick", or my opener if you will, is the Matchbox Mystery which really is self working. It´s a great opener since it shows something odd (I start with the match already penetrating the box) and I can focus 100 % on my interactions with the people watching.
I then say, as you suggested, "would you like to see something else". Most people say yes since they´re blown away by my opener. I then continue with a trick that I´m not as comfortable with. If I screw up, I can simply say that it´s something I´m working on. When I leave, people have witnessed at least one miracle, which is more than the average Joe get to see in a lifetime.
My background: Loved magic for 25 years, always wanted to do paid gigs but never had the courage. Faced my fears some years ago and went pro.
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AndreJ New user 90 Posts |
On a side note...the first woman I approached was really uninterested. She was not entertained at all, and I promise it wasn´t all my fault. She clearly had a bad day. It could have ruined my day, but since my inner though was to try out new material I just thanked her for her time and left, approaching a couple of people 100 meters away from her.
The third guy I approached was blown away and immediately wanted to know when the show was due. I told him that that´s the next step for me, getting bookings and he then told me he work at a company that plans and organize events. He asked if I had any business card (which I had) and then we talked for a few minutes about what I could offer, where I lived, if I had been doing this for a long time, if I have enough material for a walk around gig and so on. In the end, I got his name and number and who knows, it might lead to a gig in the future. The point is, you have nothing to lose. On the contrary, you´ll never know who you will run into and where it may take you.
My background: Loved magic for 25 years, always wanted to do paid gigs but never had the courage. Faced my fears some years ago and went pro.
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brandontoh New user 56 Posts |
Great advice Andre! Yeah, I've learnt the hard way that presentation and being entertaining is more important than fluency at the tricks performed. Not saying that performing the tricks well isn't important, but with laypeople it's amazing how much we can get away with. Usually instead of of asking for help, I ask 'hey, would you like to hear a story?' or 'hey, let me tell you something interesting'. Those seem to work better than asking for help, unless the request for assistance can lead smoothly into a routine. Since most of my openers involve a story, that's what I use.
I actually approach people to perform quite a bit, especially to test out new material. Yes Andre, there's nothing to lose! |
KirbyKoolAid New user 54 Posts |
I've been wanting to do a little bit like that a few times but just never had the nerve. Thank you very much for a very interesting insight into how to start.
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How Regular user NJ 103 Posts |
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On Sep 7, 2014, brandontoh wrote: I also try to lead a conversation in directions to a trick if I have one on me. |
MichaelJae Loyal user 281 Posts |
That's almost the same approach I use. My line is " I'm a local magician and I'm getting ready for a audition/show/competition (whichever comes to mind first) I was wondering if youd like to take a look and tell me what you think"? As soon as they agree, I start to perform a ring routine. Garrett Thomas' ring thing and a few other manipulations with my ring. Its fast and very visual. Then I proceed onto other quick visual effects.
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Cluckdini New user This stunt chicken telekinetically typed 75 Posts |
I have found that almost anything that makes you, the magician, comfortable approaching a group of people will likely work. Having a great introduction like the ones mentioned above should do the trick but the exact wording is usually not critical.
I personally have three different unusual eye-catching props that I can do a very visual and fun magic trick with. One screams 'Magician' (which I use when I am working, so they know I am definitely a magician) and the other two do not (when I want to practice and/or have fun). I carry one around while smiling, walking slowly and scanning groups of people like I am looking for someone and usually someone will smile at me and ask me about what I have (or who I am looking for). I have some funny responses and then I essentially mention that some fun magic can be done with the prop and off we go. Once a group starts laughing and clearly having fun, everyone else in the area wants to know what is going on and it becomes very easy to approach other groups. |
brandontoh New user 56 Posts |
True, if you make a group laugh and have a good time, others will look and want some of the action.
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1KJ Inner circle Warning: We will run out of new tricks in 4385 Posts |
Andre,
Congratulations on your approach and your early successes. For other's reading this, they may want to consider adding approaches that may be more in line with what they might actually be doing. For example, let's say you want to work restaurant magic. You could walk up to a table at a restaurant right after the waiter takes their meal order and say: "Hi, I am the magician. Would you like to see my favorite card trick?" I learned this one from Mark Mason on his Penguin Live lecture. By the way, the trick he did was phenomenal! I do a variation of what he does, but I don't say "favorite two tricks" as he does. I just say "favorite trick" and combine the two things he does into one in a different way. Then, be prepared to do two more tricks, five minutes max, and move on. By doing this, you are practicing what might be more real situations for the future. KJ |
RogerTheShrubber Veteran user 301 Posts |
I've never asked a group of people like you have, but I really like your approach and will remember it when it comes my turn to do so. I usually ask one or two people, no more, and my approach is "I really want to do a trick for my wife but as you know she's no dummy, so I want to see if it fools you." They take it as a compliment and a challenge; almost everyone loves both. I've never had anyone refuse.
If I'm approaching a stranger, I leave the "she's no dummy" part out because a tacit compliment to a stranger's intellect comes across as if coming from a used car salesman. I just say I'm testing a trick I want to show my wife (or kids) and want to see if it fools them. I'm rarely refused, and I've never been rudely refused. |
AndreJ New user 90 Posts |
1KJ: Thank you. I use Masons Stuck up Monte as my first card trick. I think its a great opener since you are bonding with the crowd (you are teaching them how 3 card monte works) and in the same time showing some amazing skills.
RogerTheShrubber: The problem (in my opinion) with approaching people and immidialaty give them a challenge is that they will try to catch you instead of enjoying the magic. There really is no winner either...if they catch you, you feel screwed, and if they don't, they feel like idiots. I´m not saying its a bad approach, just that I would not do it that way. If it works for you, by all means continue. I like the line about showing it to my wife and kids.
My background: Loved magic for 25 years, always wanted to do paid gigs but never had the courage. Faced my fears some years ago and went pro.
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RogerTheShrubber Veteran user 301 Posts |
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On Sep 14, 2014, AndreJ wrote: Your point is well taken, but in my case because I'm relatively new at this (technically I've been doing magic since I was a kid, but there was a layoff of many years before my recent return) I take their determination to catch me as additional motivation to perform well - not just with technique and misdirection, but with presentation as well. My goal is to test myself under pressure. And if they catch me, they've done me a favor because they've exposed a flaw in my performance. I do this because the people I am aiming to do magic for are friends and family, most of whom are too nice to tell me if they notice how I did a trick. A stranger will have no problem telling me, so if I can succeed in front of them, I feel I have a better chance of succeeding in front of my loved ones. Plus, when I get a stranger to laugh, smile or react in an amazed manner, I have good reason to believe that the reaction is genuine and not just polite. With some of my friends and relatives I'm not always sure. One good example is when one of the strangers noticed a palm I used during a trick. I was reasonably sure I had the move down well but as a short guy I don't have big hands, and the woman I was doing the trick for noticed. She told me. I don't believe any of my relatives would have. Another stranger caught a DL. This is why when trying out a new trick in front of perfect strangers I'll never see again, I WANT them to try to catch me. I have a long, long way to go and I believe this is the best way for me to get better. You and most others in this forum probably don't need that scrutiny as a form of training like I do, but it does work for me. |
Cluckdini New user This stunt chicken telekinetically typed 75 Posts |
There is a large group of 5 to 10 year old kids that go to a local farmers market that I use for a similar purpose to find flashing and attention direction issues. I allow only one at a time to see the trick so that I can do it several times in a row with a critical audience. It also allows me to come back several weeks in a row after working on last week's issues. For the last trick which involves secretly switching in and out a gimmicked card, I got early feedback like 'ah, you switched that', 'I want to see the top card', 'there is markings on that card', 'that card looks odd'. This 'trial by fire' did help me very quickly resolve those issues. By the third week, with four major tweaks to handling and presentation, the new kids response was all positive with things similar to 'tell me how you did that'. Kids rarely filter things like that, so I don't have to challenge them. Of course, I often perform at birthday parties for kids, so if I don't have those things resolved, I will hear about it when someone is paying me (which I do not want).
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1KJ Inner circle Warning: We will run out of new tricks in 4385 Posts |
Quote:
On Sep 14, 2014, AndreJ wrote: Andre, I'm glad you like Stuck up Monte as well. One of my favorites too. The way I do it is I use the Jokers instead of two random cards (I think Mark uses two 9s). I start out the routine by pretending to do an ambitious card routine and the wrong card jumps to the top. I riffle again, and a joker jumps to the top. I then talk about how magicians hate jokers. I then do the "monte" as an explanation of why jokers "suck". I personally don't like to do gambling routines because I don't want to be perceived as a "cheat". I then end with the revelation of their signed card. That is how I can present it as "my (single) favorite card trick". I totally agree with you about avoiding presenting magic as a challenge. I can see how that works for Roger because he is doing it to put his own skills to the test. It's sort of a "magic boot camp drill". However, I wouldn't take that approach because like you, I am trying to work on ways to make people just WANT to sit back and enjoy the magic. I'm trying to remember the magician who spent some time on a DVD discussing how he preps his audience to just enjoy the show. If anyone can remember who that might be, please let me know. It was a DVD that was released recently, within the last year. I don't remember what he did, and I would like to go back and re-view that DVD. However, he demonstrated a routine that he does as an opener that is designed to get people to just sit back and enjoy the show. This allows him to just focus on the routines that follow and not have to worry so much about being challenged. KJ |
AndreJ New user 90 Posts |
1KJ: I think Paul Harris discussed the technique of prepping the audience. I just bought Jeff Stone´s book 793.8 and he also talks about this technique.
It´s funny, because I also use the two jokers in my Stuck Up monte. I then do Clutch (by Oz Pearlman) and end with Ambitious Card. In the end of my ambitious card routine, I put the deck in my pocket and only use three cards, the selected card and the two jokers. At the end of this phase, I use the secret "thing" in Stuck up monte to easily take the jokers out of play and in the same time bring in my omni deck. The finale is the spectator holding the omni deck in their own hands (Shawn Farquar inspired me to work this out from his Penguin Live lecture). I think of this three card trick set as a demonstration of a gambling scam, tricks of a pick pocket and finally how a real magician do I he wanted to manipulate things. Of course, I emphasize that I only use my powers for good...
My background: Loved magic for 25 years, always wanted to do paid gigs but never had the courage. Faced my fears some years ago and went pro.
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1KJ Inner circle Warning: We will run out of new tricks in 4385 Posts |
AndreJ,
Great minds think alike! The beauty of using the jokers, as I'm sure you have already seen, is that you can then set the jokers aside and you are left with a regular deck. In my routine, my patter gives reason to why I would pocket the jokers after the effect. KJ |
tommyellison Regular user 159 Posts |
Years ago when I was working restaurants on a nightly basis I would use one of the color changing knives for my approach to the table. I would simply walk up to the table and say, "excuse me but did any of you happen to drop this white knife." Most people will say no I did not, and then you do a the color change and say "well how about a black knife?"
On rare occasion you would have some smart ass say, "yeah, that's my that's my white knife", at which point I would say well that's too bad because the one I found was a black knife. At this point you are set up to do wherever your knife routine takes you or switch off to different Magic effect completely. If they haven't gathered that you're a magician by the time you finish the simple color changing knives, then you may need to go back and work on the color changing knife moves. This simple approach worked in restaurants, bars as well as trade shows and Street performances. It's a great icebreaker and sets up your audience to know you're a magician without immediately taking out a deck of cards... Tommy |
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