talkmagic.co.uk

Mjello TM..

Been doing magic/mentalism for quite some time now and think im ready to taking it to the next step.. Performing to complete strangers next weekend i will be on denmarks buisiest street and its the ideal place for doing the typical david blaine thing.

my question is how do you guys aproach the spectators without looking like a hustler. and is it better to do it at restaurant instead of the street? also.. how do you make money from it? pass a hat at the end or?

Could really use some tips..

I think you want to decide whether you want to do a more 1-on-1 Blaine type thing or actual busking. If you are busking then pass a hat around or whatever at the end, though don't get your hopes up. Asking for money after a Blaine-esque performance and I assume you will get laughed at.

Personally I don't understand approaching complete strangers in the street and performing for them, but if you like it then sure, go for it.

It's probably a good idea to look up what Jamy Ian Swiss has to say about this sort of thing.

The first thing that Nimro must realise is that "street magic" is a very daft idea indeed. In fact it doesn't actually exist. At least not in the David Blaine sense. I am amazed that all those young people who attempt this silliness haven't realised that David Blaine arrives with a camera crew in tow and this is why people stop for him. And I bet lots of them didn't but you don't see that on TV because it is edited out. I don't know if he is still doing this so called "street magic" but if he is then people will stop for him because he is famous.

If some young twit approaches strangers in the street he will quite likely be told where to go in a very rude manner. At best he will be suffered with amused politeness but no real interest and at worst he is quite likely to be arrested for being a public nuisance.

As for making money forget it. That is the province of the REAL street magicians known as buskers. They draw a crowd and ask for money at the finish. This is a skilled art in itself and has nothing whatever to do with some young ninny accosting people in the street like a beggar.

This is not to say that our young Viking cannot perform for strangers. In fact that is how he can become good and practice his art for real people. However it has to be done cleverly.

When I was young and foolish I did this so called "street magic" around 45 years ago on a regular basis. However I wouldn't go up to people and approach them. It is far better to get people TO APPROACH YOU. This is how you do it:

First you find some public place where you can sit down and apparently read a book. It should be a magic book preferably with lots of photos and an ostentatious flashy cover although this is not absolutely essential.

You can do this in a public park where there are lots of people passing by. Or in a hotel lobby if you do it discreetly and in such a way that you don't get thrown out. A shopping mall ditto but with care. I used to do it in a bowling alley. I have done it on buses, trains etc; In fact you can do it anywhere that people gather.

You appear to study the book with a deck of cards in your hands as if you are trying to learn a trick. You can do a flourish or two but don't be too obvious about it. Even fumble a bit. You don't want people to think you are trying to gain their attention even if you are. It should look like you are actually trying to learn magic.

A good thing to do is Edward Victor's magnetic card thing although there is no point me mentioning this because not one magician in 100 has ever heard of it since people don't read old books.

Try this. Remove the four aces openly or not so openly as you prefer. Place them on the top of the deck. Overhand shuffle the deck retaining the top stock with an injog. Keep referring to the book as if you are trying to learn the trick. Now display and remove the first ace. Do it again. Then again. By now people will be looking at you curiously and perhaps nudging each other. You seem to get things wrong when you produce the last ace though. This is because you do a DL and show something else. Look worried and then puzzled. Refer back to the book even turning a page or two. Then brighten and turn over the double card on top and remove one only. Rub it on your arm and make it change to an ace. You may even hear a gasp around you. Do not look up.
You will see the attention you are getting out of the corner of your eye.

Sooner or later after these shenanigans somebody will come up and ask what you are doing or make a jocular remark to you. They have approached you not the other way round. You are now in a position to show them something and people will gather round if you are any good. It is amazing how people come out of nowhere.

Another ploy is to have a friend with you and you show him a trick in a public place. This will often get someone over to ask what you are doing and away you go again.

Far better approach that this silly notion of accosting people in the street and being a bloody nuisance.

I do a lot of magic for the wandering public. I dont call it Street magic btu I dont just walk up to random strangers for said reasons.

I will often do colour changes and flourishes, or do that thing where you try to put a certain card at different positions in the deck. i tend to look confused looking up in the air as if to recall something to mind, muttering mumbo jumbo under my breath.

That kind of behaviour gets you noticed and you will get asked the usual questions which lead to you performing.

This way is miles better due to the fact they approach you.. so they want to see something. Then others walking past join you and before you know it, your performing for 20 - 30 people.

I never never ask for money. I do it for and love the experience.

What I do however do, is some predictions and thought reading feats with business cards.. letting them keep the business cards as souvenirs.

I let the people who look like they may hire me keep business cards, the rest I may let them keep a signed card or coin, usually their borrowed coin is their souvenir and IF they ask me, Ill hand them a business card too.

I like goin to college and uni campus's and preforming a "street magic" sort of thing

I get turned down very seldom

I more or less just do it to practice my effects a real people rather then just for my webcam. gives me a better idea as to what works and what doesn't

Now would a person who is a stand up comic or a juggler approach a groups of people and start performing? Probably not.
As mentioned above the best way of going about 'street performance' would be to set up a pitch and perform in an area. Anyone interested can stop and watch you perform if they wish.
If anyone was to approach me whilst I'm being dragged from shop to shop by Miss greedoniz I would quite frankly tell them to get knotted. Mind you shopping has that effect on my temprament

I would never just go up to someone in the street. It is weird. I'm not saying that they won't enjoy the magic when you do start performing, just that it is a very very odd thing to do isn't it. When was the last time a stranger approached you in the street without wanting information or money or you to buy something? I agree completely with greedoniz.

mark lewis wrote:First you find some public place where you can sit down and apparently read a book. It should be a magic book preferably with lots of photos and an ostentatious flashy cover although this is not absolutely essential.

You can do this in a public park where there are lots of people passing by. Or in a hotel lobby if you do it discreetly and in such a way that you don't get thrown out. A shopping mall ditto but with care. I used to do it in a bowling alley. I have done it on buses, trains etc; In fact you can do it anywhere that people gather.

You appear to study the book with a deck of cards in your hands as if you are trying to learn a trick. You can do a flourish or two but don't be too obvious about it. Even fumble a bit. You don't want people to think you are trying to gain their attention even if you are. It should look like you are actually trying to learn magic.

I actually tried this on the train, after you posted it previously, and it worked very well indeed!

The only problem I have with Mr. Lewis' advice is that you're reading a magic book. Doesn't that take the "magic" out of it? The soon to be spectators would know you've just learned it from a book and think that you don't have any "powers".

I always leave my shoelace untied and someone will always come up to me. Of course I then perform the STS.

thanks for the advice.. never thought about making them aproach me. but then again, we vikings never were very clever. But this busking (gathering a crowd) sounds more like what i was looking for. Anyone who could give some tips on that?

I'm pretty sure Gazzo has a book about busking and the sort.

I didn't realise I had already posted the idea. When age sets in so does senility.

However I must say that young Joshua from Arizona has a lot to learn. I shall be delighted to add to his education. It is essential for a magician doing this type of work to remove defensive resentment. I have talked about this before and have no energy to do it again. However if the sermon is requested I shall deliver it.

Suffice it to say that it is a very good thing for spectators to underestimate you. If you appear to be uncertain and not know what you are doing because of the book reading you will be doubly effective when you deliver the goods with panache and showmanship. They won't know what hit them. Tell them it is your hobby and not your profession and they will be greatly impressed.

As for busking there are forums on the internet which deal exclusively with this. There is no doubt advice available there even for Vikings. It is a specialised art and you have to know more than just magic. No good asking me since I have never done it. I do know rather a lot of people that do however.

Seek out Danny Hustle and he will lead you to the promised land.

I agree with your point Mr. Lewis, but it doesn't apply to my style. You must agree that all magicians have their own style. What works for you and maybe even others, doesn't work for me and possibly others as well. I could have made my post more clear, but I thought by saying that I disagree was enough to show it was only my opinion.

There is nothing wrong with having your own style providing that style lets them underestimate you rather than overestimate you. If you underplay things in an impromptu close up situation you will double the reaction you get.

Conversely if you come on too strong with an attitude of your "powers" you can dilute the effect and not get the full potential of reaction available. . I would not be able to judge if you do this without seeing you work.

You are not on a public stage where an appearance of confidence can be an asset. I am not saying you have to read a book if it is not your style of course. I am merely saying that you have to find a way to make people approach you rather than the other way round.

It is always better to let them persuade you to show them something rather than beat your chest and say "I am a magician".

Gently does it.

It has alot to do with when, who, and where you approach people....accept being turned down as it does happen.....well lit areas, very public places (no alleys for example), and approach people in small groups...they will tend to feel safety in numbers so to speek.....I do this on occasion and it can be fun.

Do take head to Mark Lewis, he does make some interesting/good points as well though......but don't get discouraged, to each their own really!