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i have been asked to do a 1 hour slot of stroling for 12 friday, i am a bit worried about the duration of effects that i should perform. i have a good idea of what i want to achieve but like i said how much time should i spend with each group roughly??
help!!
thanks in advance
andy

Is it 12 people or 12 groups? How many per group?

You'll be fine mate, the stuff you mentioned to me will all go down well but I think a couple of storytelling effects such as deep astonishment 2 and Heirloom would be great as you can build the suspense & create an atmosphere.

hiya matey, its 12 people, i guess they don't have many friends

I think you won't need to stroll mate. Once you start performing for such a small group they'll all gather round. Trust me.
Banter with the specs & asking their names etc, lengthens some effects.

Don't worry about it too much. It's a lot easier performing for a smallish group where you can build up rapport than it is wandering amongst a roomful of strangers just performing the same things repeatedly.

The downside of performing for a group as small as 12 is that you need to have enough quality material to keep everyone interested for the full hour. There's a danger that a few people will wander off after 10 minutes, then a few more after 15 minutes, and before you know it everyone has left you and you've only being working for 30 minutes.

I'd personally say that performing for 12 people for an hour is a lot harder than working a room with 12 tables for 2 hours. At least at the large event you can use your really strong stuff again and again.

What I would try and do is tell the group that your magic is very intense and personal, and that you want to take people away in pairs for their "experience". (Somehow that last entence sounds pervy - it wasn't meant to). After you've wowed each couple for 10 minutes, swear them to secrecy and ask them not to reveal what their experience was with the others. Then once you have wowed all 12 people (6 pairs), thank them for their time, collect your well earned cheque, and announce that they are now free to discuss what happened with each other. Then leave, leaving behind 12 very happy and very talkative specs.

Obviously you do the same 10 minute routine (your very strongest material) for each pair. That leaves the specs plenty to talk about with each other - comparing their experiences.

I'd say performing for this group should almost be like performing a street magic show. Do a couple of simple effects for one or two people, nothing fancy, just interesting enough to draw the attention of others over. As more and more people begin to watch you perform bigger and better effects. I'd say when you get to about 8 people, start performing a planned routine.

thanks for the tips, and have taken on board!! ta

Personally I have to say I probably wouldn't split the group, I'd just take more time over the effects and more time getting to know the group. I am a strong believer that it's not how many tricks you do that's important but the effect that each one has on the audience, therefore treat them like little flowers, take your time over them and make each one special. By the time you've blathered a bit and they've reacted the time will simply vanish (as if by magic).

Depending upon how much material you have you may wish to draw them in with a few bits of 'street style' magic, entertain the group for a while then allow them to refill their glasses before you return with a second act. That also gives you a chance to do some swift resetting etc., helps prevent awe fatigue and will help with pacing. (As well as venue bar profits).

i may di it as themagicwand said, i shal suggest it to the lady and see what she thinks. i feel this would be a better way as you can get to know the couple without the group ganging up on you so to speak

an hour shouldn't be too bad, but has been said already if you're performing for that small a group, you'll need to have enough material to cover the hour.

If you can do that or not depends on you, 3 15 minute routines should be enough, if you've got the material to put together those routines. It's good to have a break between routines, lets people get a drink, go to the loo or what ever else they might want to do.

If you don't have the material to put those routines together, then the magic wands suggestion might be best.