talkmagic.co.uk

I've only done a few odd items at Trade Shows but that was when I was supposed to be one of the exhibitors! Having attended shows on a regular basis in the UK, Europe and the USA in the last 25 years or so, I can tell you that they all have some common features:

Firstly they can be very noisy with lots of chatter and the DVD presentation in the booth (or the one next door!) probably far too loud so your effects need to be almost self explanatory or at least not rely on a lot of verbal communication. Think 'noisy restaurant' or 'local pub on a good Saturday night' and you'll get the idea.

Secondly, they can be very boring affairs. If the show is slow, the weather is lousy so nobody turns up, or there's some kind of conference going on at the same time etc, then you'll be performing to yourself and the other folks on your stand.

Thirdly, all this can change in an instant and there could be loads of people visiting in which case the firm will want them as sales leads, not as people being entertained so be prepared to step swiftly back out of the way as and when required.

There's always the chance that you'll encounter the know-it-all visitor and, if they have any problems with the product or service being exhibited then they can easily take it out on you so you should be well versed in taking a deep breath, counting to ten, biting the lip and thinking nice thoughts instead of clocking them one like they richly deserve!

bananafish wrote:

there will be giveaways at the stand

If you do happen to use a table don't leave your props on it even while performing as some people go to collect as many giveaways as they can.

I went to one trade show where a magician was performing at a table and someone with a large bag of collected goodies saw the props laying there and started putting them in his bag while the magician was preoccupied. I had to physically wrestle them off him whilst trying to explain they weren't free gifts (the magician didn't notice this either !)

I have been doing table hopping magc for da last year and a half and other sort of functions weddings etc.

They have just asked me to entertain people and they wanted something differentand throught magic would be good.

They are not expecting me to promote thier product for them they are a finacial sevices. They have just asked me to do magic to entertain the people like there not expecting me to make sure more popel buy there product and that they just wanted some entertainment to liven things up.

why is Dyslexia so hard to spell ?

If they're into Finance then money effects would be the obvious choice. Coin Matrix, folding bills, changing bills - there are many to choose from.

I got the gig because the person booking me had seen me at a party last november and on the phone he asked if I could do card tricks like what I was doing at the party so I will just do cards tricks as thats wot im best at and then try and do a few other tricks with money like you said every now and then