talkmagic.co.uk

helo i am possibly going to perform in in a few week for da 2nd time last time i performed the children enjoyed it but the adults didn't really take me seriously. possibly because i am only 14. any tips to improve this?

How are you portraying yourself?

Good point, i suppose i should make a bigger effort to make myself look professional

you need to try and create a performance character for yourself. You want to be confident and bold. Spend some time watching magicians you like on youtube and DVD. Note how they act and see if you can adapt it to your own style. Age has nothing to do with it my friend, think about how young dynamo was and our own magicmark started gigs when he was young.

I'm 14 as-well and had the same problem at first, i thought it was mainly to do with the respect and that the adults just thought i was someone who wanted to show them some kiddy tricks, it was ok when i was actually performing to them but it was that part i had to work at, when ever i introduced myself to them they just didn't want to know so what i would do was perform to the table next to them this way i was trying to show the previous table what they were missing out on, i would try to engage the previous table into the trick if they were watching, i would then try to grab other peoples attention. Your not always going to get the respect you want from every adult, seems you are only 14 and your right at the very beginning of your career. Whenever i perform at hotels i get the hotel to put up signs saying that i'll be performing later so they'll be expecting me. At restaurants though you've just got to look for tables that look like their bored or a family as they always want to see a bit of magic.

just me wrote:helo i am possibly going to perform in in a few week for da 2nd time last time i performed the children enjoyed it but the adults didn't really take me seriously. possibly because i am only 14. any tips to improve this?

I suggest you try to involve them and engage them as spectators. Believe, me, but I am as an adult performer often meet with the same attitude. Magic can be quite scary and one way adults defend them self from strong magic, is by not really trying to paying attention and treating it a bit like its just for children. Some people feel stupid since they think that clever people somehow can work out how its done. The adults might have heard how clever uncle Harry always "knows" how the magic trick on the telly are done. Thus they might think that is really only children who can be fooled and that some of the other adults knows how its done.
We all have this problem as performers. They have the false preconception that magic is for children and that (clever) adults probably knows how its done.

I think the best medicine against this is to produce magic that is SO incredible strong that they just are lost for words. I suggest that you engage them in a few killer effects!

As you might have noticed a common reaction to strong magic is that the spectators talk about it as "scary". I would almost take it as a compliment if they are a bit afraid of opening up a being receptive to your magic. Your task is to make them feel at ease and help them emotionally open up to your magic. Be natural and do not try to be a "typical" magician. Try to be a different from anything they know!

Yes I agree with magicmystro and Soren on this point: Grab their attention.
Mind you, every opener should be of this ilk, but really go for it. Save your best for the toughest.
Flash paper. Or fire of some description.

Personally I use a visual transpo or a colour change.

There are other methods - I change to gambling patter if I encounter recalcitrance in adults. It seems to get the blokes on my side. I don't use anything 'spiritual'... though I have seen it work with great effect on disinterested women. I have a friend who has one tarot type patter. Just the one, that he saves for nonchalant females (in fact, and don't tell anyone this, but his most of his sex life was also based on this one patter).

Secondly, as Soren also says, some adults see the magic as just kids' entertainment. I have been openly asked (nay, told!) to "keep the kids busy" while they enjoyed thier lunch. Pah!
Mind you, with the manager watching - and paying your wages - you don't have much choice. But keep it close to the adults - if you do something eye catching they will end up watching. Even if they are doing it in a way where they are just pretending to watch along with the kids. You know - like taking your nephew to see Bambi just so you have an excuse to go to the cinema.
If this happens then let them do it. After all, they are watching and interrested but don't want to admit it. Result!

Take one of the adults onstage as a volunteer? Perhaps the most disinterested looking male. Then read his mind or similar, leaving him and the audience in no doubt that you are the real deal.

thats the trouble also of forums sometimes, you get so many valid viewpoints at once, it makes it harder!

here's my invalid viewpoint...

why not approach it with a "i know you only see me as a young lad...but i really would like to show you something you will enjoy..."

make 'em go "aawww go on then..." most adults arent expecting teenagers to ask "permission" at times, so being polite, and slightly meek might just work as an opener...

then once you've got them hooked, keep on going...

or even "hey, you really remind me of my dad, he's a genius...can i show you his favourite trick..."

by saying that, it may tip him to think "hey, this guy thinks I'm a genius if i let him show me the trick...i'll say yes..."

I'd say pander to the adults. Do some joke magic that adults would get, but not necessarily children. Mind you, don't produce a pair of sponge-genitals, because that would lose you fans quickly.

it all really depends on what you're doing and how you're doing it. you need to be believable for starters, what I mean is don't try to put yourself across as a psychology expert because that's just not going to be true at 14.

Don't try too hard, just relax and present yourself in a polite and sensible way.

I have to agree with most of the advice given already - be polite, mature and above all, show them some knock-out magic. It's always going to be a serious struggle as a teenager to get the generation above to take you seriously and not think "oh, little jimmy and the magic set he got for christmas", but if you let the frustration turn you petulant and obnoxious you're not doing yourself any favours.

Practice hard, be charming and gentlemanly, and hopefully you will soon become known as the young magician ahead of his time.

When I was younger I went for the

"how talented he is for someone of his age" kinda card, And I played that up big style.....

Works a treat with the 40+ year old woman, they think ur cute and if you get any hecklers they tell them to shut up, and that your really good!

Its great for confidence lol

I am 14 too, and what I do is if they are not taking me seriously, start witha really good effect, at which point they start to think 'Oh, he is not as silly as he seems' and then go into your normal routine. Try that!

Probably going to put my foot in it and all...
Dont wish your life away! Decent adult entertainers are generally adults, as they have the life experience and natural confidence to pull it off. If a 14 year old was entertaining me, Id instantly be uncomftorble as Id think I maybe couldnt swear, (not that I do a lot) or general adult related things that you do in the company of adults (not what your thinking!! ). Many a time, people come to places to get away from children and to see them as an act on the bill can be offputting and hense they wouldnt take you seriously. This is down to the age old showbiz rule-If they like you, they'l like your act. You could be the most skilled 14 year old magician in the world, but if they dont want to see kids entertaining them, then they wont take you seriously, however good your act! If it was me, Id stick to entertaining your peers, which still builds confidence performing to people, and when your at a grown up age, then perform to grown ups! Hope this doesnt cause offence to anyone, its just an opinion.
Regards,
Dave