During one of my late night pondering sessions I began to wonder if lay-people (and more importantly lay-clients) really know what strolling magic is.

Many times when I've been booked at a party, I feel that the host is sometimes oblivious to what I do.

As a stroller, I walk the floor looking for groups of people to entertain, and then do so in an unobtrusive manner.

Recently a party host asked me if I'd covered the whole party, when I replied that I had, he went on to "escort" me from group to group to ask them if I'd entertained them yet. When they all answered in the affirmative, he seemed pleased and went back to "hosting".

This got me thinking that about the expectation of hiring a magician at an adult party. Should it be more like a childrens birthday? In that I should capture the attention of as many of the guests as I can, all at the same time, and essentially put as much of the party "on-hold", to achieve maximum visibility. Almost like an impromptu parlor show.

The only problem is, that it's difficult to fill a 2-3 hour booking when you're playing to the whole room at once.

I wanted to run this by other "strollers" at high end cocktail parties, just to see if attention-grabbing is deemed appropriate, or whether I should just stick to the conventional, more discreet approach.

Steve

I don't believe there's a right or wrong answer to this, but at cocktail parties I prefer to first perform strolling magic and then perform a stand-up show.

I contend that a good stand-up show is more effective than good walk-around because it's more theatrical, and because you can take advantage of group behavior to get the not-so-demonstrative people to feed off of the positive reactions of the others. As a result, you can get the whole room applauding, laughing, etc., and the host KNOWS WITHOUT A DOUBT that everyone got to see the magic and enjoyed it.

I also charge more for a stand-up show than I charge for strolling, but when I combine the two, I give the host a "break" over separate pricing and end up making very good money.

Regards, Larry D.

Steve, I'm sorry that you had that experience. I think you were treated rudely by a rude person. He treated you in a manner of mistrust. Just be thankful that you don't have to work for him on a daily basis.

While I think there is much merit to Larry's remarks, I respectfuly disagree that a stand up show is more effective than close-up. While the host knows that all are enjoying the show, when close-up is performed properly, the dividends to the host can be greater in the long run. Close-up due to it's nature can stay almost permanently in the memory of the guest.

Steve, if you want to ad a stand up act to your offering, that would be great. It would make you a more marketable performer. If you want to perform walk-around, then keep it on an intimate level & don't let this experience change how you feel. It sounds like your on the right track.

Allan

I agree with Larry. I usually do both acts at adult parties. The stand-up can be 20-30 minutes. Next start the strolling. It's better to do the strolling last because the guest will feel more comfortable by knowing who you are when approaching them. A disadvantage of doing the stand-up last is you might get drunk hecklers.

Dynamike

If I'm doing strolling at a party, my rate is set at $$something. If they also want a standup set, the rate goes up.

Let's face it, if they want both, you are doing two shows - one strolling and one standup. You should be paid for them and I'm very up front about that when I negotiate a booking.

Another good way to make sure a host or hostess is aware of your having worked the crowd is to get the groups to react to you. Let them know that it's okay to applaud as many people are not aware that it is allowed.

Using that strategy has worked for me for a number of years.

Bill Malone goes a big step further and gets the crowd yelling his name in a chant like at a baseball game. For me, especially at some of the gigs I work, this is a bit over the top.

But Malone makes more than I do, so maybe I should change...? Of course, he HAS been on WGM... which could have something to do with it...

Maybe I should go rehearse some more...

Lee Darrow, C.Ht.

I agree with almost everything that's been said. I don't necessarily think it's rude that the host took you around to all the crowds of people, maybe the host saw you performing and has that certain friend that he or she thinks would love what you do and wanted to make sure that they caught you. Maybe the host was excited and wanted to show you off to people. Maybe the host was just plain rude! I don't know the tone of the interrogation. Either way I agree with the standpoint that if you're doing standup and walkaround it's 2 seperate shows and that the standup should be done first to set the mood. I tend to only do one or the other for people...they usually don't want both after I explain up front that it's 2 different shows for 2 different fees and that's ok with me as long as I get one show. I tend to tell the host upfront what is meant by standup. I usually don't have this problem as most of my work comes thru an entertainment company anyway. Good luck!

So far two posters have stated they believe stand-up should be performed first and strolling afterwards, but I do the exact opposite. In my view, the strolling is a bit more intimate and so people feel like they're getting to know me, so I've warmed them up for the stand-up which as I've stated above I feel is stronger.

For anyone else who performs both (Lee Darrow and others?), what order do you follow and why?

Larry D.

Strolling, then stand up.

The reason? In the corporate world the cocktail hour generally happens before dinner, and thus, before the after-dinner show.

Robert Bloor

Usually strolling then standup. This is because the strolling part is usually done during cocktails and the standup part is after dinner.

BUT, there are exceptions to every rule. In some venues, the client wants to finish a meeting on a high note and uses me as a magical topper and then they go into a cocktail or networking party setting.

Then, it's standup first, strolling second.

Frankly, I believe a performer should be able to flex to meet the demands of his clients, generally speaking, as a magician or even mentalist.

A stage hypnotist (which is something I do a LOT of work as) works under different constraints and that really does not apply to this discussion.

Hope this helps!

Lee Darrow, C.Ht.

I like to do strolling then stand up. I usually make friends during my strolling and I can meet and take note of potential volunteers or people I would rather not have help out.

Back on topic. I think the hostess didn't have a clue about what you do. She wasn't being really rude but probably had a lot on her mind. She might have seen you the one time you were looking for a new group of people to perform for and thought you were slacking off! Sometimes people hosting parties think they have to do everything and they can't just relax. Don't take it personally.

Hi there.

When doing strolling magic, I try to get the groups reacting in a way that people round us know that something is going on, and hopefully want to see more of it themselves.

When meeting the organiser/host I usually get the phrase in that I will try to get round everybody in the time available.

At really large gigs (Biggest so far 60,000 at a music festival. but it applies to big weddings etc) I get the MC or DJ to introduce me, and tell the people that if they want to see some great magic to call me over.

My Thoughts

Andy