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The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The clothes we wear » » What a magician should wear (1 Likes) Printer Friendly Version

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Torquay22
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Can't go wrong with a suit. So as Barney Stinson would say "suit up'
Al Angello
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Collegeville, Pa. USA
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Yes suit up, but do it with a flair, because you are getting paid to be seen.
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com
http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/
"Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone"
CutTheDeck
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I think the answer highly depends on what type of magician you are. Kid's magician? Wear something that makes them smile. Street magician? Dress casually or as a dark, mysterious character. Classic magician? Top hat, cufflinks. Modern magician? Suit. I'd love to see somebody dress like the new Sherlock Holmes movies! Not my style of magic, but that would be one awesome magician getup.
Nate The Magician
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I personally dress in a top hat, vest, pinstriped black dress pants, a collared white shirt and a tie- and that's just for everyday life!
When I go out on the street/gig, however, I add a jacket. For rainy days I add a long black raincoat/trenchcoat. For coolish days I wear a tweed jacket (think 11th doctor). For stage manipulation, tails.
My top hat was won in a poker game, doctored to an insane degree by me (it not only levitates but also does card tricks, holds a rabbit flag and a handcuff key)
Do I look like a groom sometimes? No- I wear clothing that I wear far too much to ever be confused as a rental. Also I wear brown shoes.
The most important thing is to be comfortable. If you're not comfortable in your stage clothes, your magic will suffer for it. The second most important thing is function- large pockets, looks like it is pretty tight on you with no bulges with loads inside, etc. The least important thing is fashion. Fashion is idiotic.
pf70ds
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A polished expensive looking pair of shoes are very important
Ekuth
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Ditto on the shoes. I actually custom altered a pair of dress shoes simply because I couldn't find what I wanted... and I get more positive comments on them than on any other aspect of my wardrobe.

As to the rest... what character are you portraying? Dress to fit.
"All you need is in Fitzkee."
Zuke
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Quote:
On Oct 18, 2012, Al Angello wrote:
IMHO A magicians costume should look better than what his audience is wearing.


I agree 100%. You're an entertainer for god's sake, dress like one.

I saw a quote from a children's entertainer recently, he said he turns up to shows in a pair of old shorts and a t-shirt because it helps him identify and connect with the parents better. I thought to myself if you have THAT much trouble communicating with the parents maybe you should be in another line of work. I've always dressed well (like an entertainer should) and I've never had trouble identifying with the parents because of it. IMO turning up to a show in shorts, sandals and a t-shirt is WAY below par, it shows you don't respect yourself or your audience. But of course this particular 'enterainer' had the usual throng of cronies praising his decision as brilliant.
aheads
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There are so many factors in this - what type of persona you have, what style of magic you perform, the audience, the setting and which generation you belong to. The problem with discussing it here is cultural differences. Most of the styles of dress and outfits I've seen here wouldn't play well at all in my part of the world, Scandinavia.

The American "casual" magician look of jeans and jacket would get laughed out of the room.
All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream
sirbrad
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PA
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I love doing parlor with classic props, and I love to have them all around to create a classic "magic atmosphere" which is how it should be. Too many magicians these days want to "evolutionize" magic and only carry around stuff that "makes sense" and wear a t-shirt and cargo shorts.

That works for some however to me that is not magic as I am from the old school where magicians wore tuxes, top hats and suits, and their stage was full of magical looking props because they was a MAGICIAN! Things did not have to look "normal" because the show and the magician is MAGICAL. If I hired a magician that is what I would want, and that is what all my clients want. Kids don't want to see a guy in street clothes with "natural objects" that want to see rabbits running around (alive or prop) and taken into a magical world of fantasy by a magician that actually looks the part, and can be distinguished as such from the rest of the crowd. It called being a professional and looking your absolute best and providing your clients with the most magical looking show possible. Not dressing like a regular person every show, to me that is laziness and shows no enthusiasm for your art. I usually wear a nice 3-piece suit, colorful or magic tie, a nice mathcing watch, shiny black shoes, and a pocket square or useable silk.

If you look like everyone else people are not going to appreciate you as much or take you as seriously. You should be dressed a level up at least not look like a hobo. Believe me I want the "organic" and "street magic" stage for years but in reality street magic is not a real venue in real life, unless as Jamy Ian Swiss says "You are on TV with a camera crew attached to your butt". No one wants to be bothered in the streets, they are in a hurry to get back to work, home, or their next destination. So basically you are harassing them. Not to be confused with busking, or strolling magic at a real venue where people expect entertainment.
The great trouble with magicians is the fact that they believe when they have bought a certain trick or piece of apparatus, and know the method or procedure, that they are full-fledged mystifiers. -- Harry Houdini
sirbrad
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Quote:
On May 8, 2014, Zuke wrote:
Quote:
On Oct 18, 2012, Al Angello wrote:
IMHO A magicians costume should look better than what his audience is wearing.


I agree 100%. You're an entertainer for god's sake, dress like one.

I saw a quote from a children's entertainer recently, he said he turns up to shows in a pair of old shorts and a t-shirt because it helps him identify and connect with the parents better. I thought to myself if you have THAT much trouble communicating with the parents maybe you should be in another line of work. I've always dressed well (like an entertainer should) and I've never had trouble identifying with the parents because of it. IMO turning up to a show in shorts, sandals and a t-shirt is WAY below par, it shows you don't respect yourself or your audience. But of course this particular 'enterainer' had the usual throng of cronies praising his decision as brilliant.


I would have asked him "Where is the magician? You're the stagehand right?" "Actually no, even a stagehand would better dressed."
The great trouble with magicians is the fact that they believe when they have bought a certain trick or piece of apparatus, and know the method or procedure, that they are full-fledged mystifiers. -- Harry Houdini
Neb
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The general answer is to wear whatever suits and works for you and feels right, whilst looking noticeably different from the audience. Also it must be appropriate to the occasion.

However some people really do get it wrong if they don't have good sense of fashion. If anyone has this problem then it would be of great use to get some female opinions on what looks good!
ddamen
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I agree, female friends are clutch for this
Tukaram
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Iloilo, Philippines
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It all depends on your character. Harry Anderson was one of my favorites when I was younger so a nice suit and hat look fine to me. I am not wearing the colorful leotards & jumpsuits that Doug Henning wore Smile

But I wear dress slacks and a dress shirt, sometimes an unbottoned waistcoat. No jacket, no hat (and I love my fedoras) - it is 85 degrees and 85% humidity all the time here...

When one of the senior members of my Rotary club "suggested" I should invest in a blazer (not for performing just to hang with them) I laughed and told him 'this is the Philippines, I would not wear a jacket to my own funeral'. He got the point ha ha.
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