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im so furious with myself!!

tonight was my second night doing pub/restuarant magic. i work there as a barman on a mon and tue but do magic on friday.

my first time went ok, basicly i hit all the tables with kids as i know they would say yes when i asked if they wanted to see something, even though i dont usually do kids magic, so i did a few cards, bill changes, ropes etc. it went down well, and i wasnt too nervous as i had a few drinks for dutch courage before (was'nt drunk just ment 2 beers).

today i thought i would just hit the adults as that is my magic strength. but as soon as i got there i noticed everyone was there having a good old chat and so i kept walking around but no tables seemed suitable, the more i did this, the more nervous i got. After talking to my girlfriend who works there she pointed to a middle aged couple and said they look like they would like to see something.

At this point i had completely siked myself out and was getting more and more nervous! so i plucked up the courage and went over introduced myself and asked if they would like to see something, to which they just replied no thanks. at this point i was so down beat and feeling so furious at myself i went home. the managers dont mind as i do it for my own experiance.

im just sooo annoyed. maybe im just not a performer unless im drunk,

Don't worry about it man, you shouldn't be annoyed with yourself you didn't do anything wrong, sometimes I guess its just not a good time for magic. It could have been anyone in there trying to do magic and it would have gone the same.

Yeah don't worry about it mate, next time

I had the same thing on a Last school day party, I was invited to.
All these people were dressed up, and having a blast.. and there was I just standing there..
I didn't really have the courage (even though im dutch aswell) to walk up to a bunch of people, and ask the question.. I think I was scared to ask it, cause they might think I was about to show them amateur tricks where I put a deck of card behind my back and stuff..

Anyway, a friend of mine was there, and I just told him how I felt.. and I asked him, if I could do a few tricks for him..

I did a sponge routine.. and a coin flurry.. TALKING LOUD..
and a few people noticed.. and came over to watch..
than more people came towards the small group standing around me.. and before I knew it.. I was performing!
But than the nightmare spectator showed up and I had to quit since he was messing me up.

So maybe sometimes thats the problem, that people dont want to see magic, untill they see something impossible

First off - DON'T PANIC!

I'm guessing that this is pretty much your first experience at performing for total strangers, in an 'employed' (albeit unpaid) capacity?

You're now on the confidence curve that all newer performers (especially in a close-up situation) have to deal with; it's not only that you're performing for an unknown audience, but that you are doing so in an environment where such a performance is pretty-much entirely unexpected.

When dealing with a table comprised of only adults, you MUST both expect to experience, and plan for, being knocked back.

Basically, prepare an 'out' line or two, to retreat from uninterested tables politely, and leaving the fools with a smile on their face.

Move then, STRAIGHT AWAY, to a table distant from the last one approached, and try again...and keep going, until you get a 'taker'. At this point, play one of your sets, and try to ensure it's one which provokes an audible reaction (either laughs or screams!) towards the end.

By this time, you have all the tables in ear-shot paying you some degree of attention, and you'll find it VERY much easier to get a positive hop to the next, as a direct result.

If all else fails, try an easy-opener with a likely client, and get them to see some magic BEFORE they even know who/what you are.

One, that I used to use some years back, was to approach the table with a disposable lighter in my hand (not a clipper type - one of the 'lozenge-profile' types), with printing/a logo on only one side.

I'd approach the 'table head' (usually the father/boyfriend/husband), and display the printed side of the lighter, saying that I'd found it by the table, and asking if it was his?

On receiving a negative, I'd comment on how I should have realised that was the case, with it obviously being such a cheap bit of tat. At this point, I'd rub the lighter, and perform the pad**e move, showing that the printing had rubbed off/then come back/was then on both sides/was then on neither side....

At this point, I'd admit my guilt...own up to being the resident magician, and would ask them if they'd like to see a little more.....

...Most, even if they'd have been initially disinterested in magic, would now be gagging for more of the same.

/Trade Secret mode Off

The most important point, though; NEVER, EVER give up on a refusal, like you did on this occasion. I know how difficult rejections are, believe me....but you MUST keep going, keep pitching and ONLY end on a high.

Please let us know how you get on? This is exactly the sort of 'hands on experience thread' thread that is SO useful to everyone here.

Hope this waffle's helped!

Rob

you need to judge what type of spectator, each group acts and responds differently to an introduction line...

iv used things like;

"may i have a moment of your time?"- for a more serious lookin group spectators (businesspeople, older couple etc...)

"will you give me a chance to impress you?"- more for a group of girls..

"would you like to see some magic?"

plus loads more...

a good way to 'get the eye' is to walk round shuffling a deck, using XCM, preferably, or utilise a set of D'lites, they always grab attention. a lot of the time, I get ASKED to perform, as oppose to offering...

My approach was always to come up to a table and just say, "Hi folks, my name is Jake and the management asked me to show you guys a trick," and then go right into a routine. Once in a very great while I'd get an objection, but they were very few, and very far between.

These things happen, there's no need to worry about it. Sometimes the time just isn't right for magic and when it's like that you're better off just leaving it rather than trying to force it.

One thing that I often try if I can't see any specs is do a few tricks for my boyfriend, that can often attract interest from other people. Once you're actually performing, I find it's usually quite easy to spot interested people watching you from other tables.

I will probably be just re-iterating what's gone on above but I thought I'd add my recently gained knowledge.
In the past 4-6 months I have been trying to go semi-pro with one monthly gig at a night club/live band night and various other one offs.

What I have found is that even now I haven't quite got the nerves out of my system as far as the approach goes but it is getting easier with each one.
The first few sober attempts I did were pretty awful with a slight stutter in the voice and not talking loud enough....I must have looked terrible. Even being that bad I recieved a friendly smile and a nod and I was off performing magic to complete strangers whilst getting paid!
The thing that really helped me was actually an evening I was asked to do by a friend as a favour. I turned up to a trendy, indie kids "we know music better than anyone" unsigned band night and started my regular walkaround and was basically taken the p*** out of by everyone I approached.
After half an hour I packed up, explained the situation to a friend and politely left. I realised that after that it couldn't really get much worse and if I mananged to survive that with my head still aloft then the rest is easy.

I just try and remember that for most people you approach you will get a yes (even if it a hesistent one) and as for the no's they are almost always apologetic ones and it is certainly not comment on yourself so just say thank you and move on.