Hi all,
I wrote this out once already and now I'm about to go again, for some reason it just vanished from my screen and I didn't even click my fingers!?
I had my first taste of a real performance sitiation last night. I was asked through a friend if I would come along to someones 21st birthday party to be held in a garden. 15 spectators, a few of which I know(ish) from the local town so that immediately put me at ease to see some friendly faces.
I said I don't want any money for it, because firstly I wanted the experience, and secondly I don't want to make a future rep as the magi who works for free. So I said I'd pop along at somepoint in the evening and if people were interested I'd show a few things.
So- THE BAD
I blew my opener through nerves, and controled a card to 5th instead of top, the transposition on the spectators hand went well but would have been alot better had it been his card I can only assume! Anyway, after which I culled his selection once I was Informed of its identity, and produced it from my shoe which competely brushed off the error as everyone freaked out.
Secondly, and completely my error. I had a nightmare trying to perform 2 Card Monty, I'd obviously not given explicit instructions, and couldn't even get the first swith done. After the 6th time of saying you mustn't look, I decided to cut it short, I showed the TL one last time, and made out I only intended to swith the one. It went down great because by then everyone was convinced there were only the pair in play. Something I will definately work on. The spec was a little tipsy so I must take this into accout next time I try to perform it at such an event and keep my instructions clear.
THE GOOD
After the opening debaccle, it ran like clockwork. I hadn't decided on any particular effects to perform excect I knew where I was going to start and end. I did a few classics, and a few non card effects, Triumph, Twisting Aces, Biddle Trick, and a few simple KC locations with little to no sleight of land. I also got to perform my new effect Polygraph which I'm proud to say got one of the biggest reactions of the night.
It went great, and seemed to flow well as I just used the next effect that came to mind during the current one. I think this is why it flowed nicely, as I have plenty of impromptu effects in my rep, and practically everyone got to either shuffle or at least hold the deck.
I finished with the birthday girl. I asked her to call her favourite card and got her to sign and date it along with her family, and went into an ambitious, finishing with the pop up.
To finish, I again used the birthday girl, and performed Twilight Angels form Harris' True Astonishment dvd. Leaving her with my sig, hers and her birthdate on the card, and a very emotional look on her face, it really was an amazing reaction from everyone.
All in all, I know where I went wrong, and will be working hard to improve on these problems over the next few months and if anyone want to chip in some advise I am always grateful. I was there for 2 hours and found I had more than enough material between small talk to fill the time well which was a nice surprise. But also a shame because taking this into account for the future, there are a few tricks I will cut out in order to perform others I know are stronger.
I must say a big thankyou to you Jean for pointing out my 'erm' problem, I nailed my patter last night, albeit except for monty, so thanyou for the advise.
I hope anyone who reads this will find it at least a little interesting and if not maybe a little helpful in some way.
It's official, this is the career choice for me! What the hell have been wasting my life on for all this time?!
KP
