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Ok. Some of you may know I had my first "real" gig yesterday, if you don't, well you do now.

I arrived and got myself a pint of Strongbow (because I'm well 18 silly bar people) I then looked around to pla how I would got about performing. There were circular tables, divided up into three lanes. The outside lanes had four tables. Each table seated about 12. The inside lane had two tables, and where there were no tables it was a dance floor. I decided I was going to go and perform a routine to a table, miss a table out, perform, miss etc.

The room started to fill but there was atleast half of the tables empty, and there was little atmosphere, so I waited a while longer. Mean time, I was sick, chili and Strongboe is not a good mix. It's my drink at gigs etc. but not when doing magic me thinks.

So the venue was reasonably full, and the energy was going. I decided to hit up a table in the centre, of which there were 5 ladies, of one I knew, I felt this could give me a confidence boost. I walked up and itroduced myself, etc etc. Then I went into an effect I've been performing and perfecting for a while, The Jumping Gemini. It was going well, until, I picked up a T.L instead of a D.L. I quickly noticed my mistake, before actually turning the card around. I dropped the T and tried to get the D, this took a few moments, and it was clear something was wrong. However, after that glitch I carried on with the rest of the effect. Afterwards, I moved on to The Biddle Trick. Which went down a treat, as I had one of the ladies put the deck in her hand bag. After that, I decided to leave it, as my nerves where getting the best of me. I said thank you and enjoy your night, they gave me a clap (which I quite enjoyed) then I walked off.

I sat down for a while to get a grip of myself. Then I quickly reset the deck for my second routine. I looked around and all the tables were very full, and quite rowdy. However, there was one opposite the table I had just performed, who was quite quiet, and had four people. So I decided to go up. I again introduced myself etc. and went in to a coin routine, which produced a deck of cards. They seemed to enjoy it, so I went on to the Two Card Monte, which went down very well, and the Red Hot Mama, which also was a hit. I said thank you etc and walked off. By this time it was 9.20. I was meant to be performing form 8.30 until 9.30 However, most people didn't arrive until 9-ish. So that's when I started. I decided to get a drink, and then I reset once more. I was going to hit another table but then the DJ came on. Dixie Tucker, he is a drag queen, and extremely funny.

So that was it, I couldn't perform anymore due to games being played on the dancefloor and the crazy DJ with louder music.

In all I was disappointed that I never hit more tables, and I wasn't meant to get payed but the person gave me 20£ which I tried to deny but they insisted. So, after that I went home, feeling a bit annoyed with myself, but knowing the people I did perform for enjoyed it.

mikey, first gigs sound bloody scary, i know im gonna be shitting myself when i eventually gt round to one. Sounds like you did well though, you entertained the people you did get to perform to, you had some nerves, but to be honest i cant blame you. sounds like you did well for your first time. Now you can take that experience, lern from it and do even better the next time

you got a round of applause, that's gotta be good, and £20 aint nothing to sneer at for an hours work

You did well and the nerves will vanish after a few more gigs, your
confidence will improve.
On the plus side, you didn't get any 'difficult' customers which could have
knocked your confidence and the people you performed for enjoyed - they are the reason why you were there.

Well done matey.

Yep - I agree with Lord Freddie and you shouldn't be too harsh on yourself.

Use the experience to make the next occasion that bit better.

At my first gig, I was handcuffed, tied-up, gagged, blindfolded, with more rope around my wrists and some around my ankles. I then had to escape. Good times.

Michael Kras wrote:At my first gig, I was handcuffed, tied-up, gagged, blindfolded, with more rope around my wrists and some around my ankles. I then had to escape. Good times.

kids show?

you shouldnt let them touch your escape stuff.


I haven t had a first gig . I do busking occasionally, and Ive gotten the WORST specs ever. I was doing a ball and vase trick, and they grabbed the vase... oooooops. Then when they left my sister said "did they take something?" so I had to run after them. Cant wait for a real gig! lol

Well done Mikey! That's the first gig out of the way - and first gigs are always a learning experience. Your gig sounds a whole lot more positive than my first one, and it's onwards and upwards now. Next stop is WP status!

The adrenalin rush, the buzz, the laughter and the applause are all very addictive. I couldn't live without now. I've just got back from performing a psychic show and I'm buzzing - as you can probably tell from my rather excitable post. God I love my job! I can tell that you love it too Mikey. You did great.

Try performing for kids. They try and empty your pockets and grab your sleeves! Though one asked me if I was "Bruce Almighty" which I understand is a horrid American film and another asked whether I was able 'grab the moon from the sky and bring it down so they can climb on it'!

well done mikey.

you waited for what you belived to be the best moment for you to start.
you left the tables when they were still wanting more
you stopped when it was impossible to continue.
you corrected a mistake and carried on like a pro
you overcame your nerves, and had the guts to give the gig a go
you got a good tip for your efforts
everyone you performed for enjoyed it

so it could have gone better, gigs always can in hindsight, so write down five things you think went well and you would wish to repeat and five things you think you would wish to change. Next time it will be five times better

again well done.

Hey Bruce Almighty was a good movie man! Oh and good job mikey

Sounds like you did a good job. I dont know who said this but... 'You learn more from a bad gig than from a good one'

Bobby Lewis

In Stephen Kings book, On Writing he says "Reading a bad book is better then a full semester in a writing course."
Thats my two cents

To be honest Mikey I dont know what you are disappointed with? You got your first gig, you turned up and the people you performed for really enjoyed it. Yes, fair enough you think that you should have covered more tables and you were nervous but I would be more worried if you have no nerves what-so-ever as that would mean you either dont care or are operating off autopilot.
I too am in the process of starting to do paid work and must admit that after 8 or 9 of them it is still hard and I am still learning but with each one it gets better. As stated above your best bet is to try and enjoy it as much as you can as this comes across to your audience.
Once again well done!!

It's great to hear about your experience, and don't be too hard on yourself! When I mentor younger performers (about three or four times a year) one of the most useful pieces of advice I give is: 'Don't think too much before starting to work a table. All your thinking should be done at home'.

It's VERY easy to 'think' yourself out of starting, but not so easy to just walk up to a table and begin. Clearly at a fun evening where you are not being paid, you can choose what suits you, but at a paid event it is essential to just be able to get on with the job - and this is one of the wonderful skills that you are learning by having the guts to get out and do it!

Whenever one works with experienced magicians, one of the first things you notice is that they get on with the job instantly - there's very little hanging about 'waiting for the right atmosphere', and VERY little time for re-setting. It's very interesting to me to notice how the demands of close-up work really change people's repertoire, so that tricks become much mreo streamlined, angle-proof etc.

Best,

Lee

Sounds like a brilliant gig, don't feel bad. There are always times when it becfome imposable to carry on and you did well to recognise that and stop when you did. I've tried performing long after I should have stopped and things just go from bad to worse when it's like that.

You picked the correct audiences and people enjoyed themselves. Well done!!!