talkmagic.co.uk

Still finding my feet here.

Surely all magicians have a range of tricks which, whilst containing effects that appeal more to certain people than others (unpredictably), still contain a selection of never-fail mind-blowers.

My question is this: When performing to someone new I always want to blow them away to give them and me confidence in what I'm doing but then feel I have to step down a gear to a lesser trick:

Am I better building gradually? Is a more mundane first trick an uncertain starter?

Opinions?

I've heard about different types of tricks, something like the half of the hill and the valley.

The half of the hill being start small then build to the final effect which is the most amazing, most beautiful and stunning effect you have ever seen in your life.

Then there's the valley which is: You start out with an amazing effect, something that'll blow everyone's mind and make them think "What an amazing magician." Then you do a couple more pretty good tricks, but make sure that you don't do your other best one there, and make sure they're all still good enough to keep people entertained and want to watch. Then for the last few tricks build more and more, and then do that other absolutely beautiful and stunning effect.

I actually heard about this for routining specific types of effects, but I'm sure in a full act it would work great too.

I've heard about different types of tricks, something like the half of the hill and the valley.

The half of the hill being start small then build to the final effect which is the most amazing, most beautiful and stunning effect you have ever seen in your life.

Then there's the valley which is: You start out with an amazing effect, something that'll blow everyone's mind and make them think "What an amazing magician." Then you do a couple more pretty good tricks, but make sure that you don't do your other best one there, and make sure they're all still good enough to keep people entertained and want to watch. Then for the last few tricks build more and more, and then do that other absolutely beautiful and stunning effect.

I actually heard about this for routining specific types of effects, but I'm sure in a full act it would work great too.

Depends on the style of show and audience....when roaming tables in a restaurant or a carnival crowd, you do need to hit fairly strong. In a stand up/stage performance, you can tone down the first one a bit (I often patter about "all good athletes warm up" as a bit of a joke) because they are locked in and coming to see you rather than you randomly approaching them...they will generally be more a patient and allow the routine to grow more slowly in stage.

For a first trick, I usually try to start with somthing snappy that's going to catch their attention. I remember seeing someone say, I think it was Tommy Wonder that if you start with a strong effect then the later effects will follow suit and seem stronger than they are.

I also try to do something interactive or using a borrowed item, that way it lets me build up a little banter with the specs and give us a chance to get to know each other and get comfortable with each other.

Finding your opening effect I think is really the hardest thing when it comes to routining.
In this one trick you need to engage your audience quickly and create a presidence for what is to come performance-wise.

If performing to friends or family this isn't so important as they will almost always politely watch at least your first so one can afford to take ones time.
However with strangers I personally prefer to start with something very quick and very visual which engages them within 30 second or so of approach.
I wouldnt say this has to be an absolute "bring the house down" effect but certainly should be something that will impress them.
I personally find a series of vanishes and re-appearences the best way to go (e.g Two In The Hand, One In The Pocket - http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic22571. ... hind++ball )

Lady of Mystery wrote:if you start with a strong effect then the later effects will follow suit and seem stronger than they are.

This sounds like very good advice. It fits Cialdini's (a psychologist, not a magician, like his name may suggest) research results in Influence.

I would like to add that Tarbell wrote a bit about routining in one of the first few volumes. I'm pretty sure he covered opening bits.

I recently heard Guy Hollingsworth give a lecture and he discussed opening tricks. An idea of his was to go to a table, do a very quick very visual trick (the trick he'd developed for this was a torn and restored business card that also used flashpaper) and then move on to the next table. He did this at every table as an introduction and later went back to do a routine. The idea being that it whetted people's appetite, informed them that there was a magician and also allowed him to get a feel for who was particularly excited about him being there. The other major benefit was that it was a great opening for people that are nervous about the intial contact with the spectators.

God I love this forum! Thanks for all of your advice/opinions again.

Cragglecat I like where you're coming from with that. The worst bit for me at the moment (sorry if I'm stating the bleeding obvious here) is (a) performing my very 1st trick for someone new who doesn't at least have the knowledge that I do generally know what I'm doing and (b) the occasional bloody shaky hands when I'm doing a busy sleighty trick.

Hence much better to do something quick or one where they do a lot of the cardplay to break the ice then trot off to return more confidently later on.

Cheers.

The opener needs to be quick powerfull (but not challenging), anything to get the spectators on your side from the off, ihf done correctly the rest should be plain sailing, and everyone will enjoy the magic,

Your opener should be quick, magical, and put you firmly in control. If it does all that, it will work; it doesn't really matter what it is.

In terms of confidence, remember that like you say, they don't know you, so as far as they're concerned you're the worlds greatest magician. Practice your material to death, so you barely have to think about it, then you can focus on the way you present the trick and yourself.

As Eugene Burger puts it, the first trick is You.

one thing that I've found is more important than your first trick, is your introduction. Be confident and friendly and act interested in your audience, do that and you're half way there already.

Serendipity - in terms of the wine glass being half-full/half-empty kind of thing...you are also the world's *worst* magician in their eyes, until you prove otherwise.

I guess you can see where I stand on the half-full/half-empty thing...

Although for you lot the glass probably only *appears* to be half-full anyway.

Thanks as ever for everyone's continued advice.