|
|
Go to page 1~2 [Next] | ||||||||||
chrom Regular user 112 Posts |
Hey all. I am new to the forum and besides some posts in the new user section (which do not count) this is my first official "counting" post. Anyway, I am brand new to performing magic but have been in love with it for years. For the past few months I have been practicing every chance I get with cards and am now also including practice in cup / balls and sponge balls. The question I have for you amateurs out there is if you have ever had any problems / complaints from practicing at work. I work in corporate America, and as many of you know, it is not always the most understanding environment. People are quick to take offense to the silliest things and I am interested to hear if any of you have ever had issues practicing your craft on co-workers?
Shane |
|||||||||
Bob Sanders 1945 - 2024 Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
If I had any second thoughts about it, I would avoid doing magic there. (And I'm an old graduate business professor.) There are safer opportunities available.
|
|||||||||
chrom Regular user 112 Posts |
Thanks Bob, I definitely keep it to a minimum and only practice with those close to me. Even with that I try to ensure no one is overlooking while we do it.
Shane |
|||||||||
Athelus New user Aberdeen, Scotland 59 Posts |
Well as a croupier in a casino it is slightly forwned upon to demonstrate card manipulation and then turn to a customer and expect them to not think cheating is involved.
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
|
|||||||||
chrom Regular user 112 Posts |
- Athelus - how could they possibly not enjoy the free show! But your right I think I would walk quickly away from the table after seeing someone demonstrating.
|
|||||||||
bowers Inner circle Oakboro N.C. 7024 Posts |
I work in a plant with around 200 people.i perform magic quite a bit at breaks and lunch. if I don't bring something with me. they get on me about it.they really
look forward to it.and it gives me plenty of practice. todd |
|||||||||
whiteoakcanyon Special user 899 Posts |
If you work at a desk job you can easily practice palming a coin or various coin sleights without raising any attention. Similar to Todd, I do perform at work. Every Monday, I do "Magic Monday" with the Marketing Department. It is usually a quick effect and then back to work. In our case, it helps ease the stress of the working environment.
|
|||||||||
Bob1Dog Inner circle Wife: It's me or this houseful of 1159 Posts |
A quick trick in the office isn't a bad thing at all. (Get your minds out of the gutter)
But I wouldn't do more than one or two. When you get more experience you might talk to your HR folks and tell them you would like to do a lunch time walk around show for about a half hour, which doesn't cost the company a dime. You also get experience and might get a gig or two out of it. It might even help you climb the corporate ladder, since everyone loves an entertainer. Such is life in corparate, as I'm sure you know. I'm a retired corporate guy and I wasn't into magic back then or I would have taken the same advice I'm giving you.
What if the Hokey Pokey really IS what it's all about?
My neighbor rang my doorbell at 2:30 a.m. this morning, can you believe that, 2:30 a.m.!? Lucky for him I was still up playing my drums. |
|||||||||
bowers Inner circle Oakboro N.C. 7024 Posts |
Since I do mostly kids shows. doing magic at work has landed me a lot of gigs with the childrens parents or grandparents from work. and school shows also because the men at work there wifes some are teachers also.
|
|||||||||
djurmann Inner circle thinks time to practice and stop writing 1481 Posts |
Are we talking practice or performing? I do both....in the lunch breaks or after work. ONLY in the breaks.
|
|||||||||
bowers Inner circle Oakboro N.C. 7024 Posts |
I'm performing which gives me practice. but like I said only at breaks or lunch.
|
|||||||||
Albatros Regular user Germany 132 Posts |
Hey all!
Despite being pretty new both around here and in magic this topic covers some thoughts I had of late. As I said I am a newbie in magic and not yet confident to perform, so I stick with practice. At work that is limited to basic exercises, mostly palming little objects such as coins (living in europe the small size of even the 2€ coin makes it a worthwile exercise) or little balls. Just the stuff that hopefully nobody will notice and that wont distract me too much from the job at hand Sven
"Palming cards... Like sex, it can be learned by almost anybody,but doing it well requires some native talent and assiduous practice." (John Scarne)
|
|||||||||
Payne Inner circle Seattle 4571 Posts |
There can be benefits to performing magic at work. Years ago I was a receiving clerk in a warehouse. I never performed magic at work but everyone knew I did shows on the side. One year I was asked to perform at the Holiday Luncheon as the were too cheap to actually hire someone to come in.
A couple of months later I was called upstairs into the Operation Managers office. The new IT director was there and he offered me a job installing the companies new computerized point of sale systems. It easily paid twice what I was making as a warehouse grunt and also came with a health benefit package. Unfortunately I knew absolutely nothing about computers, and I told them so. "No problem" said the IT Director. "You're smart and figure them out. What's more important is you've got great people skills and since you will also be training and supporting the equipment people skills are more important." He had seen my performance at the Holiday Party and erroneously thought because of it that I had good people skills. I didn't tell him that my people skills were somewhat awful but my excellent crowd skills were what he had seen. So they sent me to a couple of night courses in basic computing and the rest I figured out by myself. I'm still in computer support to this day. now doing it for our local electric utility. A career change all because I did a magic show at a company Holiday Party. so yes, there can be advantages to doing magic at work.
"America's Foremost Satirical Magician" -- Jeff McBride.
|
|||||||||
Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
It depends how good you are.
|
|||||||||
chrom Regular user 112 Posts |
So far seems like most of you are doing what I do wi no issue. I practice a lot at my desk where o one can see. I even do the occasional shuffle while in meeting etc. but I only do the erformances for small isolated groups. I would also like to start opening staff meetings with a small effect to ice break which should be no problem.
Shame |
|||||||||
Bob1Dog Inner circle Wife: It's me or this houseful of 1159 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-03-05 15:49, chrom wrote: I'm not sure I'd do a shuffle during a meeting. It could be distracting, and frankly, give the impression that you don't have your mind on the meeting. Just my opinion.
What if the Hokey Pokey really IS what it's all about?
My neighbor rang my doorbell at 2:30 a.m. this morning, can you believe that, 2:30 a.m.!? Lucky for him I was still up playing my drums. |
|||||||||
The MailMan New user 11 Posts |
I work in IT and as you can imagine that can involve a lot of waiting around so I tend to keep a deck of cards on me at all times to practice at my desk to kill time. I havent had any complaints but I have been fairly good about keeping myself from getting too involved.
|
|||||||||
Yellowcustard Inner circle New Zealand 1334 Posts |
If you are performing make it a trick or two you know very well and do them at lunch once a week.
As for practising, That’s fine but people may watch and pick up bit and bobs of what you up to. But not to say you can’t practice. I use to practice ACR while on hold on the phone. You might want have some close confidence you can use for trying new tricks on. So if it does go wrong the office bully don’t label you an egg that screwed up a magic trick 4 years ago. Check out this link it migth give you a idea http://magicfriday.blogspot.co.nz/ Keep going have fun.
Enjoy your magic,
and let others enjoy it as well! |
|||||||||
Albatros Regular user Germany 132 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-03-05 15:49, chrom wrote: wow... somehow I am sure that if I would even dare to have a deck of cards visible during a meeting I would be asked to do that again - for the HR-lady while waiting for my papers :O I rather stick to palming small objects, maybe a small paperball (those look inconspicuous enaugh for the most occasions)
"Palming cards... Like sex, it can be learned by almost anybody,but doing it well requires some native talent and assiduous practice." (John Scarne)
|
|||||||||
Albatros Regular user Germany 132 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-03-05 22:31, Yellowcustard wrote: that's indeed a good idea - Maybe it just depends on the situation and what kind of job one does...
"Palming cards... Like sex, it can be learned by almost anybody,but doing it well requires some native talent and assiduous practice." (John Scarne)
|
|||||||||
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » New to magic? » » Practicing Magic at work? (0 Likes) | ||||||||||
Go to page 1~2 [Next] |
[ 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 < |