talkmagic.co.uk

Hi there

as i have said in one of my other posts i have led a little shelted magicians life, performing at paid gigs and the like but not ever really connecting with my magicall brothers.

Now with my wish to grow as a performer, i am connecting with others like me (starting with this wonderful forum)

The next step is one that has plagued me for a while

to apply for the Magic circle or the IBM? Until resently my mind has been on MC, as i am now living the life of a northener (with hot pots ect and cleaner air) my attendance at the MC could be wasted.

What is the IBM? even thou i have heard of it over the years, the website didnt inform me very much (thou this maybe a case of me and my hawk light eye sight)

Which would be better for me at this moment? and what cant the IBM do for me?

Thanks guys and girls so much

Sam

If I was London based I would be in the Magic Circle as it is a great organisation. Their magazine is better than the IBMs, and they meet weekly with a great range of interesting lectures. But it is a small organisation with all the politics that implies.

The IBM has fewer tangible benefits. They organise perhaps the most enjoyable large convention in the country every September, but you don't have to be a member to attend.

I would join your local magic club first, ahead of either.

Hi Sammy.

To a point I think that you answered the question yourself in the line

What is the IBM?

If you're a working magician then the Magic Circle membership 'can' make a difference whereas lay people almost certainly won't have heard of the IBM.

IBM is international. Magic circle is UK based. Find the closest magic club and find out who/if they are associated with any particular club and go with that.

Belonging to any magic club will not get you gigs. Because the reality is that the laypeople don't really know about either, at least not enough in that it will get you a gig.

bmat wrote:IBM is international. Magic circle is UK based. Find the closest magic club and find out who/if they are associated with any particular club and go with that.

Belonging to any magic club will not get you gigs. Because the reality is that the laypeople don't really know about either, at least not enough in that it will get you a gig.

I think that the magic circle draws respect from the audiences as the first thing many of my layperson friends think of when they think of magic is the magic circle.

the magic circle is known to the lay public, because it markets its self better than the I.B.M.
both societys are in many ways alike, but they are also both quite different. so why choose? If you can, join both.

Dale you speak like a bloke after my own heart! "Why choose, when you can have both!"

This was the way I'm starting to feel!

Yer I no that gigs ect won't be got from these but its one of those things I believe needs to be if your a magician it goes hand in hand that you should be in the circle!
And yer I admit it would be pretty sweet for when a lay asks "are you in magic circle?" To say yes!!


Now next question- how hard would u guys say MC audition is? Iv read about the process on web.
But what kinda effects would you recormend? I was thinking cups and something else?

what effects did you guys do?


Basically advise pls thanks guys

Sammy

Dale you speak like a bloke after my own heart! "Why choose, when you can have both!"

Sammy

You'll soon learn that this approach, while very hard to resist makes an unwealthy magician. However, not sure if there is such a thing as a wealth magician either.

bmat - you're quite right but here in the UK the Magic Circle is widely know of - just as Dale has said and when someone is looking to book a magician - it can make a difference.

i have helped others become members by honing their acts.
what youy need to do first is take a look at the rules. They give you a lot of info.
then seriously work on your act.
dont forget that in the case of the circle, everything is looked at. Not just the magic, but your dress, your manner, and your skills in handling audience members, including greeting them, and sending them back to their seats .

IBM, changes depending on who your local rep is.

Have a look here, especially the two pdfs at the bottom of the page:

http://www.themagiccircle.co.uk/join-us/examinations

Barry

There's a great deal of excellent advice in the first PDF, even for those not considering making an appliction to join! Several TM members are also memebrs of those organisations and I'm sure they'd be happy to offer help to genuine enquirers.

I was thinking cups and something else?

I'd go for balls.

Jing wrote:

I was thinking cups and something else?

I'd go for balls.

That made me laugh a lot.

The Magic Circle Audition advice makes it clear that they'd rather see something fairly straight-forward that you can perform really well rather than some sleight-heavy stuff that you muddle through. So could your audition really be something like a well-presented and structured ambitious card routine into colour-changing deck into signed card to wallet plus crazy-man's handcuffs? And, if it's all real close-up stuff, can you ask the judges to sit at a table with you, rather than far away in a theatre type setting? Like most close-up guys all of my routines, misdirection, angles, etc are based on people being nearby, not sitting 20 feet away.

The judges don't normally sit at the table. Auditions are held in the Devant Room, with a few rows of chairs; the examiners sit in the first and second rows if memory serves.

Have a word with Rob Cox, the Examinations Secretary, who will give you any advice you need. He will need to interview you before you enter for the examination anyway.

Barry