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Next month I'll walk around the tables once more at a work function. I have done this several times before but it is always with people I know (work function or a mate's wedding etc.) and it gives me a great opportunity to use my hobby.

The problem this time is there are going to be a large number of Arabic speaking tables with only one translator on each. In such a close up environment where patter plays such an important role, especially with cards, how can I adjust my act to be 'patter free' for an non English speaking audience?

I have thought of including more coin magic, I might even incorporate CU. I also thought of adding a fire wallet to my ACR just to make it more visual. Any other suggestions?

V

This is where David Blaine would shine.

mark lewis wrote:This is where David Blaine would shine.

Totally. Just draw an eye on your hand, walk up to the table, raise your palm and outstare everyone on the table for the full 15 minutes. Job done!

It's worth watching some of what he does. I know he gets a lot of bad press among magicians, but he knows his character (his apparent lack of presentation is part of that) and does effects which fit that. He also does simple tricks that get good reactions. Isn't that pretty sound advice for any magician?

Most of his material is pretty visual. Lots of changes and productions. I wouldn't advise imitating him, but you could get some ideas for what kind of effects work with little patter.

Also, sponge balls!

I wasn't meaning to disrespect him at all, I think he's an awesome performer, including his deadpan no-frills style, it's what defines him and makes him stand out, which is all any magician can hope for!

Totally. I ended up watching some of his stuff just now. He does a lot of effects with people who don't speak English, and he does it pretty well...

That's decided then, I'll walk up to the table, paint an eye on my hand, stare at them for 5mins then suspend myself in a plastic box above their heads with no food for the rest of the evening.

I'm trying to think of close up stuff which needs minimal, or no, patter. How about a coin matrix, cups & balls, MacDonald's Aces or others along those lines where wordage isn't too important? Plenty of hand and face gestures, mime and so on could be used to get the ideas across.

rope tricks don't need much patter either, eg cut and restored is just a nice visual effect without needing much explanation.

Rubber band magic is usually pretty self-communicating.

I hadn't thought of cups n' balls! I'll have to dust off the old chop cup, I have a month to get my hand back in.

I have never dabbled in elastic bands... hmm I think I recall a section in Mark Wilson's CCIM on elastic bands, I may have to have a look.

Just a thought - you might want to check with some Arabic friends as to what might NOT be appropriate to do before such groups.

It pays to check out the customs of groups that you may be unfamiliar with. Recently, I was booked to perform for an ultra orthodox Jewish group and discovered at the last minute that they had a strict prohibition against men touching women who are not their wives. They were also adamantly opposed to anything that had a gambling theme. Needless to say, much of the humor I use would also have been inappropriate for that group. (Also - if you are using a translator, keep in mind that most verbal humor does not translate well.)

Knowing in advance what is and isn't appropriate (some cultures don't shake hands, etc.) can often prevent unnecessary embarrassment later.

Good thoughts,

Bob Cassidy

mastermindreader wrote:Just a thought - you might want to check with some Arabic friends as to what might NOT be appropriate to do before such groups.

Excellent suggestion! I shall have a word with our liaison officer so I don't embarrass myself.

V

I recently performed some magic to a small french audience. I was worried because I do not speak French. The following day I was performing again to a different group and one of the French people popped up and said "watch this it great" I managed using the special magic of English Raising the volume and speaking slowly." It is a little known miracle, it automatically translates English into the listeners own language.

Seriously I used effect with dramatic visual endings that are easy to follow, Imanaged to communicate some simple instruction by demonstrating what I wanted them to do. If you have an interpreter on each table and you keep the patter very simple with short intructions to have spec involvement.

The more important thing is to check out any beliefs or ettiquete. If they are muslim you may find it safer performing by speaking to the men and using them for volunteers and having the women as observers. This is not a hard and fast rule but some people have different social rules regarding the participation/interaction with women. The other end of the spectrum I have come across is that some young muslim women can be flirty.

These are generalisations and are not to be taken as stereotypes, I would not want to upset anyone by accident.

The final point is they are likely to be a very appreciative audience.

Nic

I'm in the process of developing a set that requires very little speech for exactly this purpose.

Learning to say "Watch" in several languages isn't all that hard, and the same goes for other stock phrases - "Write your name", "Hold this" etc.

The other thing I would say is go watch some mime artists. A truly excellent mime can communicate a huge amount just with their expressions and some hand actions. Look at Yann Frisch as well - he gets it.