talkmagic.co.uk

Hi everyone,

A friend of mine has asked me to perform some magic at his wedding. In ten days! He has seen me perform on many occasions in the pub and he wants me to do some stuff for his family and friends at the reception - haven't really asked him all the details yet, but I think he wants me to go from group to group and show them a few tricks. Anyway, aside from the fact I am VERY scared - I've never really done anything like this before, besides a few very simple tricks I used to do in my local pub during the intervals at comedy night - and I haven't practised for about six months - I will have cards in my hand at all times in the next week or so - I am a bit worried about the actual number of tricks I have at my disposal. I can probably think of 10-15 card tricks and probably about the same number of mentalism and mathematical tricks, which should probably be plenty, but I was wondering if anyone on here has any decent, easy-to-learn (preferably self-working) tricks that I might be able to use?

Would be much appreciated.

J

What do you want?

Vanishes?

Card tricks?

Vernets universal Pull would be cool and you would not need any skill but only palming so you could learn that within 10 days.

and wearing a suit is what you need with that trick and its not supcious cause its a wedding!

jimbothegreatest wrote:I was wondering if anyone on here has any decent, easy-to-learn (preferably self-working) tricks that I might be able to use?

Karl Fulves or John Scarne are probably the best way to go for quick and impromptu self-working card tricks, and Fulves has done a lot more besides cards.

The key to this gig isn't how many tricks you perform - it's how entertaining you are! Obviously your mate thinks you're entertaining so you're off to a good start...

Personally I think you should probably go with effects that you're most comfortable with and try and work them into good strong (entertaining) routines as even self working tricks often take a bit of "working in" time.

Main thing is not to panic, don't worry too much. I know that's much easier said than done but if you try not to worry it'll probably help you more than a new trick will.

Good luck with it and have faith in yourself.

I would suggest a good packet coin trick like Scotch & Soda or something like that. Some rope magic is good to if you already know something. Professor's Nightmare is pretty easy and there are easy versions of cut and restored rope too. The main thing is to just relax! You'll do fine.

If it is a large wedding my guess is that you won’t need many effects at all. Four to five effects will be plenty in my view. The reason for this is that I believe it will take up quite a bit of time performing for each individual table. Also for the most part of the wedding reception I am sure it will be filled with dancing, speeches, meals and focus on the bride and groom. You can also expand your effects using some good patter and perhaps a little comedy injected into it. You may even want to say a joke or two between some of your effects.

As Flash mentioned presentation is the biggest thing you should be focusing on. Make sure you rehearse your patter as much as you rehearse your magic. Know that your job is not to show how clever you are but to entertain those around you.

So for a wedding gig this is what I would recommend:
1) Practice five tricks until you can do them in your sleep!
2) Practice the patter for those tricks until you can do it in your sleep!
3) Have at least one out for every trick or have your patter ready if something goes wrong! (You don’t have to live in fear or cover every single angle here but just be prepared to know how to handle things if they go a little wrong so you don’t lose your cool!) Remember you are there to entertain so if something goes wrong just know how to move on quickly or just make a joke out of it so you can get a laugh instead. Remember magic can be quite flexible, so use it to your advantage. You are doing the show so make your own rules.
4) Make sure after you have practiced your trick well, try them out on several strangers, which is also something you have to get comfortable with (that is if your not already).
5) If it’s a large wedding, I would recommend doing three tricks by default and then adding another one or two if that particular table you are performing for seems to be really enjoying your magic. Remember even if you do have a great presentation remember that not everyone reacts to magic in the same way. So don’t think you totally stuffed up just because you didn’t get a good reaction from a particular table.
6) My guess is that there will be music playing in the background, which might make it difficult to be heard by everyone so try and keep your trick as visual as possible.
7) Tricks that I would recommend:
- A nice visual card tricks perhaps where cards seem to change places
(or even more ambitious: an Ambitious Card Routine).
- A Svengali deck in case your sleights or confidence is not up to par.
You might even want to do some nice visual things at the end with
this.
- An ID always serves as a nice out just be weary of
angles especially from those little kids running around.
- A sponge ball routine can be quite visual (and kids as well as adults
love this)
- A rope routine - even just the professors nightmare or a cut and
restored (this is very visual and can be seen well even if the lights
are dim)
- An effect using a TT this is where you might want to expand the
length of the trick with a bit of humour.
- I would personally avoid mentalist effects if you can’t be heard well,
as others on the table might become frustrated.

Feel free to post a video of yourself performing any of the effects you decide to choose for the wedding and I am sure the members here will gladly offer some of their advice to assist you along the way.


Regards,

Costas

thanks for that enjoyable lesson costas, i have learn what it now takes to do weddings.
it's an area i would like to do my magic. i love the wedding atmoshere and people are there to have a great time
gotta watch out for the drunks tho

i have learn what it now takes to do weddings

Nope - you haven't even begun

ooops!! sorry!! guess i haven't then. I'll shut up!

Only teasing - we all have to start somewhere and I do wish you well.

There is some excellent advice above and it's in the presentation of your effects that ou will learn to wow the audience. Don't rush things and enjoy the experience.

Afterwards, sit back and chill. Make some notes in a book while your memories are still fresh. Write down what worked, what didn't and your thoughts on why, what got the biggest reaction etc. Anything that you think that you could improve or add to your routine.

You'll have so many things running through your mind afterwards so it's important to get it all down before you forget. You can then use it to plan your next outing.

When you do this you will learn that - you never stop learning

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Nice words Costas.

I DJ weddings and it took me a long time to be ok talking to lots of new people, but now I'm ok. Not sure about doing magic for them.

But anyway, I'm getting married on August 3rd this year and am looking for someone to do some walk around/table magic in the Herts area (UK).

So if anyone is up to the challenge? (not sure if this is the best place to ask, or even if I can ask on here)?

Andy

I'm sure that there are some people closer but if you don't get a satisfactory response then please let me know.

Where abouts in Herts? I used to live and work in Hitchin

You know, the original use for NLP was to model successful people and take on board their mannerisms. It might be a good idea to study some videos of really good table hoppers (Fay Presto springs immediately to mind) and try to get into how they come across and what it is they do - don't simply copy them though; take the essence of what it is they do to gain rapport and give people a good time.

Thanks everyone for the help. I'll be busy for the next five days, I assure you. And I'll make sure I tell you all how I got in. Watch out anyone whose advice turns out to be bad!

J

try some coin tricks like vanishing and multipling