talkmagic.co.uk

Guys,
After having a sabbatical of nearly a year i went to my local magic society meeting to find that we have lost loads of members, and we get very few turn up to meetings.
As i feel a bit guilty for not going i have took it 'kinda' personal, to try and get new members in.
i have thought of a few things, but has any one got ideas?

Your help will be appreciated.

Cheers
Lyndon

Um... Hm.. Maybe ask a magic store about putting fliers up or something like that?

It might be possible to try to organise some events with other local societies and you may find people in the area? Although, after a conversation I had with some last week at my local club, it sounds like it is quite hard to get magic clubs doing things together these days? A notable exception (in my experience) was when I was down in Sussex and 3 local clubs did a number of things together, including an annual 'Tri-Wizard' competition.

You could post something on magic week?

Which society is it?

philipsw wrote:It might be possible to try to organise some events with other local societies and you may find people in the area? Although, after a conversation I had with some last week at my local club, it sounds like it is quite hard to get magic clubs doing things together these days? A notable exception (in my experience) was when I was down in Sussex and 3 local clubs did a number of things together, including an annual 'Tri-Wizard' competition.

The Pentacle Club in Cambridge are normally tied in with the Ipswich Magical Society and the one in Northampton.

We have quizzes and guest appearances and stuff going back and forth between the clubs.
As a matter of fact, I think Allan Maskells lot might just be showing-down with Bananafish's lot fairly soon!

So clubs can get on alright and it's a great way to share experiences and build a potentially bigger base

This seems to be a common enough occurrence. One suggestion I made at local magic society was to - maybe - consider expanding membership beyond strictly magic members, for example, jugglers, mime artists, vent acts, stand up comedians. My thinking is a broad almost Vaudeville/Burlesque association because many of the charity events that take place have a variety of acts on stage and some of the aforementioned entities probably do not have groupings or societies of their own

TI

Lyndon I think a number of Societies have a similar problem.
Loads of members and often only a small proportion turn up usually to a dealer dem. or a visitor from foreign shores .

There is no one answer. magicians are at times peculiar folk. Single/One minded and very much self centred; they'd make great actors!
I always felt I could write a series on Magician's Ego!

One of the big problems is passiveness. Lectures are placed continually in front of them; they sit back and listen and watch (we are in a TV & electronic age) but don't often absorb much. Over time this can get boring even to magicians who are passionate about our Art. Sometimes it must be a bit of a bind to turn out.
You've had a year off. That must have helped renew your batteries and sparked up your enthusiasm again. I always made a point in my Convention days to take a good 2 hours off from the magic throng; go sit by the sea; have a meal away from the magi. it always helped.

Make sure your Committe tries to get members to perfom more at meetings. How else are the Committee going to see who might have improved from those lectures. Check the Ring Reports at the back of The Linking Ring (IBM) magazine. See how often their members perform.

Get some actual workshops going. 99% of all magicians will perform at the drop of a hat. Give them the chance.
Encourage members to discuss the magic (I dare not say criticise constructively or you'll get, continually, "Now I do it this way"!!)
When I lectured to Blackool magicians Club I was impressed to see magicians, prior to my lecxture, up at the other end of then Club Room, showing moves & tricks to the others.

Make friends amongst the members. Ring them up or e mail them and ask "Are you coming tonight/this week?" Talk about the next meeting to them at your meetings.

Try to put some of the Brotherhood back into magic.
Be Active Not Passive must be your War Cry!

There is no one answer.
Allen Tipton