talkmagic.co.uk

Check out http://www.ipswichmagicalsociety.co.uk/linsocuk.htm for a well researched list of UK Societies.

thanks for that Mandrake, found one in Edmonton, shame that i have to be 16 to join though ah well only about 300 or so days left until my birthday wahey lol

Having auditioned heaven knows how many would be joiners over the last 30 odd years I can tell you the advice which precede this reply is ALL valuable. To put things in a nutshell:
1, Don't try and baffle the other club members. They know more than than you; though some will not know as much as they think they know!
Therefore , unless you are very skilled, FORGET THE TRICKY TECHNICAL STUFF, go for good entertaining Magic. And don't expect, though it does happen, many laughs or applause.
2. In 10 minutes DO NOT TRY TOO MANY effects. 3 , possible 4 is the maximum. A VISUAL SHORTISH opening, a longer 2nd effect and the most effective trick you have to Close is the pattern.
3. Only use material you are very familiar with. TRY it out on friends as many times as possible BEFOREHAND.
4. Relax..smile..relax.
5. The Society and its Committe are looking for people who are dedicated to magic. Who have a serious interest in magic and are not just Secret Seekers. They are not looking for Paul Daniels's, Slydini's, Dai Vernon's, David Berglas's or Michael Vincent's, though it's a great and almost impossible bonus if one comes along.
6. If you present the stuff CONFIDENTLY and look as though you are enjoying the experience, you'll be in.
7. Yet again..Relax.Relax and smile smile smile.!
PM me if you need any routining advice.
Allen Tipton.

hmmmm.... i dont know much about these magic society things, what can they do. and i wonder if there are any around in my area.

Pyro Ellvelin. Into Google type 'lList of Magic Societies.' You'll get The Ipswich Magic Society's page which list just about ALL the Societies, under areas, in the country. I believe Bannafish had a lot to do with setting this up.
Allen Tipton

Zero 2000. There is IBM Ring 101. The Earl Edwards Ring, Norfolk, Virginia. They meet the first Monday at 7:30pm. Regent University,Virginia beach VA. Secretary is Michael Heckenberger, , 10, Gallaer Court, Hampton. VA 23666. (757) 865-6172. e mail heckmine@cox.com Website http://www.ibmring103.com
They sound quite a great bunch of lads and the Ring has been going about 55 years so it's well established.
Regards.
Allen Tipton UK

thanks allen, cept thats a good 3 hours or 2 hours away i think. dang

As mentionned I have my membership audition this coming Tuesday evening (10th Feb) and I've decided on the following routine which will last around 10 to 12 minutes tops.

1) Rapid fire chop cup (as on the Martin Sanderson Corporate Close Up DVD). Audience participation as it's an 'in the hand' routine with a lime and then a lemon as the final loads.

2) My own variation on Richard Randers Fibre optics rope routine starting with a single length of rope, cut by a spec using a pair of cut, no cut scissors and ending with a rope restore (Joe Riding's version).

3) Senor Mardo egg bag routine.

I've chosen three different routines that use sleight of hand, each with plenty of audience participation (on purpose) and I've selected these three as they work well together and they will be different from all of the recent auditions that I've watched.

Any comments on the selection?

Larry wrote:it feels a lot different doing it for other magicians though, usually i have no problem using say, a hindu shuffle force on some random, but any magician would see right through it. i feel like it would be easier if i did 10 minutes of magic for a random and they watched me

I think that you have to start from the position, that whatever you do, their going to see right through it. As per the excellent advice given so far, don't focus on creating an effect that will fool the expert audience, but focus on a natural performance.

dat 8962 It is a good varied selection and should make a fine audition. Good luck but I don't think you'll need it.
FOR OTHER MAGICIANS considering magic Club entry: You DO need a Club in your formative years. The support and friendship of those others immersed in this beloved Art is vital to at least help you form your own approach and hopefully develop your outlook and knowledge. In the middle years you'll be OK , PERHAPS on your own and in the LATTER years it agian will be a great comfort to you to pass on and exchange your own magic experiences.
Allen Tipton

My audition was quite funny. The first effect went well, but then this gimmick I'd made that was supposed to shoot a flame ball didn't work as planned - until I looked down at my hand to see what was going wrong.. Nearly singed my eyebrows - but it could've been a lot worse. (They commented on my acting ability in how I could act so surprised..)
I then did a levitation of a ball of paper - but the lighting was all wrong (They'd switched venues that evening) so that was a dead giveaway. I had healed and sealed planned next, and the can had tipped over and - well I don't want to give away secrets, but guess what happened. I ended with a guinae pig from dove pan - his first performance. Poor Chino got such a fright when I produced him that he 'sprayed' all over the place - not fun. That said - the audience were well entertained and I got some great compliments - and I'm still a member.

I thought that I would post again following tonights audition to hopefully provide some inspiration to those who are considering joining a club.

I stuck to the routine above which I had been practicing over and over again since the beginning of the weekend. Although I already know these inside out I didn't want to leave anything to chance. Before leaving I checked that I had everything and a few spares where applicable - just in case. Then just as I reached the front door I checked again after remembering the old saying of 'better safe than sorry'.

I was the second audition of two and as the time approached I must confess to having a few butterflies but these were suddenly overcome when my name was announced to a round of applause.

Everything went to plan, no wrong or missed moves and I received several rounds of applause in between and during the routines. The only thing is that I lost all concept of time. Really! I was told that I did around 10 minutes which was the plan but it honestly felt like three minutes.

The feedback afterwards from the members, especially from the more experienced members was so pleasing. A couple of people commented that they enjoyed the chop cup routine but everyone that I spoke with during the break (about 20 or so members) really complimented me on the rope magic. The egg bag for me was a nice finisher, got a few bits of applause during the egg productions but it was the rope that seemed to have the impact.

Overall, extremely pleased that I did the audition and without making any mistakes. I'd wholeheartedly recommend the experience to everyone who's serious about their magic and the feedback afterwards, which is a real boost when it comes from your peers.

The real test is whether I'm made a full member but if the feedback is anything to go by then I'm confident that I've achieved this.

Congratulations, Dat!

Sounds like you did extremely well. Good luck with the membership!

Well done Good luck

Congratulations.

Would you consider putting any of that on video for us?