talkmagic.co.uk

What should i say to people i wanna do a trick to when i go on street trips?

like for example lip balm and ash pediction

Druid,

How about, " I wannna du a trik 2 fool U"

Personally, I'd introduce myself, avoiding poor grammar, and ask them if they wanted to see a magic trick.

Tenko wrote:Druid,

How about, " I wannna du a trik 2 fool U"

Personally, I'd introduce myself, avoiding poor grammar, and ask them if they wanted to see a magic trick.

Indeed. And take a camera crew...

lol normally i whould shuffle my cards, and most people say "oh your a poker guy huh?" then i whould be like "naw i am a magician" THen they whould ask to see a trick

The best way to do it is to simply stand in a popular area, eg. a car park. When you see someone, slowly walk up to them, introduce yourself to them and ask if they'd like to see some magic (as the previous post explained). An alternative that I have tried recently is to walk past them and to eg. drop a single card by them, then go pick it up. This is a great ice-breaker if you're shy and also gives you the oppurtunity to break into patter immediately. For example, I was standing on my village car park today, looking for someone to perform a jumping gemini trick to. When I saw someone, I casually walked past them, and dropped the main card (in my case, the two of hearts) in front of them. Once done, I backtracked to them and apologised, explaining that that particular card had been very jumpy of late. I then asked if they wanted to see what else it could do, to which they agreed. I completed the trick, and left them literally speechless. A word of warning however, some people find this sort of thing annoying, so either choose your specs carefully, or be prepared for a few brush-offs!! (bringing a camera crew is optional!)

Tomo wrote:Indeed. And take a camera crew...

nail on the head, right there!
i don't get it, going up to some random on the street and doing magic for them... why would you?
if anyone came up to me on the street and asked to show me a trick and question where their camera crew was.
personally i like to be able to walk down a street and not be bothered, if i want to see magic in person i'll go see a magician

I suppose that it's the same reason that you get random people coming up to you in foreign countries and offering to do a drawring of you, or the same reason why we all get "courtesy calls" all hours of the day and night: It's free advertising and if the spec agrees, then it's a chance to showcase your skills. I also find that doing magic on the street helps to prepare for awkward specs- they have not come purpousfully to see you and so are more likely to be awkward or un-cooperative. Finally, you can advertise quite freely on the street- do a trick and hand out a flyer (home made or otherwise). I did this before a show and the venue sold out!

If a stranger approached me on the street and asked me if I wanted to see some magic, my first thought (because I am a cynic and a tightarse) would always be "how much is he going to charge me afterwards".

Well, to tell the truth, if some kid walked up to me and asked if I wanted to see a trick, unless I was in a hurry to get somewhere, I would certainly take the time to watch the young man's material. I like watching magic.

Further, what's the harm? Maybe, just maybe, the kid is good. Why not give him a chance? Really, what have you got to lose? And, would it really, honestly hurt you to give the kid a couple moments of your time? If you are involved in a magic group, then you could possibly invite him to take part himself or at least give him times and dates. Maybe even turn him on to Talk Magic.

It is my belief that there is a time and place for everything under the sun. Can anyone explain to me why it is so important to disparage this new user's enthusiasm or vision of how to perform magic?

Personally, I could never walk up to someone in the street and offer to show a trick. It simply goes against the grain of my character. Certainly, though, that doesn't mean that others are incapable of doing it and doing it with panache. I've read Jamie Ian Swiss's diatribe against these young men...Then again, I've seen Swiss perform and he put Eugene Burger to sleep - that is NOT a joke nor a made up story. Swiss is as exciting as watching grass grow.

So, just because you personally do not like this form of presentation, does it really hurt you to help the guy out? Or, failing that, simply choosing to say nothing at all?

Mike.

I agree with the above, I'd be real happy to watch someone do an impromptu trick for me in the street (so long as his top hat is upside down by his feet ). It's one of the things i plan to do as practice when i get past RRTCM and a couple of other books after that and have a solid act. Im sure some people wont be up for it but i know that a magic trick can easily make someone smile and also turn someone's day around too and thats got to be worth a go!

Anyway in answer to the original question, as with most things i always imagine the simple and truthful aproach to be the best, 'hi I'm practicing a few tricks wanna see one?' before lowering their expectations by telling them I'm pants

What about if you have a small group of friends go with you.
You stand there doing some tricks to them and it will always catch the eyes of passer-bys as some will stop or slow down and then you can get them involved.
Of course this all depends on having some friends.

Michael Jay wrote:Well, to tell the truth, if some kid walked up to me and asked if I wanted to see a trick, unless I was in a hurry to get somewhere, I would certainly take the time to watch the young man's material. I like watching magic.

I think your opinion on people on the street wanting to perfom magic to you is tainted because you are a magician. If you were an average layperson, which ultimatly the normal audience member is, I'm not sure whether you would have the same answer.

If someone came up to me in a car park and said 'you wanna see a trick?'(which someone above has said) I would be more likley to belive that someone is trying to distract me while another takes my ipod/mobile e.t.c! Maybey thats just because I live in East London!

TheLondonI wrote: I think your opinion on people on the street wanting to perfom magic to you is tainted because you are a magician.

Lots of people enjoy watching performers on the street doing things they either don't or can't do.
i think the difference between buskers, jugglers etc. and 'street' magicians is this going up to people and introducing themselves thing instead of just standing their doing whatever it is they do. you don't get buskers coming up to you on the street asking if you want to listen to a song.
but anyway back to the original question. it's not somehing i would ever do, but if i did i would probably look for someone around my age who i thought was in some way on a level and say something like "yo! check this sh!t out."

I can understand that many people either are suspicious of people coming up to them in the street and asking if they wanna see a trick, or are simply not interested. But as I have said before, If you're going to do it, you've got to be prepared for a few brush-offs. You would be surprised however by the amount of people who are prepared to watch attentively. This is a brilliant way of free advertising (as I have said before) or a way to build confidence.

I was outside a club practicing some of the basic tricks with my friends on friday while we were queuing and a few people asked to see some stuff.

I think it depends where and when you ask people. Outside a club in a line in london is quite jovial anyway, alone in a carpark running up to a lone woman or something is not :p

I think picking the right time and place to ask strangers is important with regards to what response you'll expect. (i.e not a suit rushing along on his/her way to a work, but a group of friends just hanging around etc)