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I imagine the answer would differ depending on whether you're an amateur (or "hobbyist") or a pro. A pro would be perfectly justified in refusing to perform for free - " if I were a brain surgeon, would you ask me to open you up for a quick look?". An amateur, however, enjoys performing as much as he can and probably could do with the practice.

I'm an amateur. If I'm not carrying anything at all I would use coins. There are some great short impromptu effects in Bobo.

Barry

I rarely go anywhere without a deck of cards, i know its sad but its the way i am, so chances are i could whip out a deck and embarrass myself.

If i found myself with nothing, id probably just tell them to give me a tenner and i'll make it disappear.

EckoZero wrote:

themagicwand wrote:Read their palm. Then wait for the queue to form...

Seconded.

Thirded' if thats a word.

The best gig and my personal fave was off the back of one these types of performance.

I carry a deck with me all the time and it's always preset so I can perform Rain man (Lennart Green) whenever I want.
So if a couple of my friends ask me 'can you do something for us' that's usually what I do.
If I don't have any cards on me I just do some rubber band tricks or a matrix with coins / dice / ...

I rarely say no if my friends ask "can you do something for me?" This doesn't mean that if they ask that I will perform something right away. But once I'm done mixing with my friends and there is a calm moment I'll do a trick or two.

I usually keep a few sponge balls in my bag when I'm out so normally do a quite routine with those. Sometimes I just don't feel like it and will say so if asked.

More than once these sort of, oh show me a trick type situations has led to a paid booking so it's worth having something with you becase you never know.

I usually carry a piece of rope for Hunter's Impossible Knot and my wallet is a Stealth Assassin, loaded with Kolossal Killer.

Barry

I honestly think that everybody (amateur of pro) would try to benefit from these situations when asked. You can mak a name of yourself and you can get real gigs.

greetings

A performer performs. Period.
If you refuse to perform, then simply you aren't a performer.

I ALWAYS carry something with me.
If you don't like that, then two in the hand can be done with almost anything.

Peter Marucci wrote:A performer performs. Period.
If you refuse to perform, then simply you aren't a performer.

I ALWAYS carry something with me.
If you don't like that, then two in the hand can be done with almost anything.

I SECOND THAT VERY MUCH

greetings from belgium

IAIN wrote:just talk to them, and be interested in them and nice/polite/charming/endearing...they'll certainly remember you for that...

then say "next time, i promise to show you something that will have you laying awake at night..."

yes, that does sound deliberately dirty...

Absolutely. As the rather rich, successful (handsome?) performer Docc Hilford told us at Tabula Mentis, above all be entertaining. Tell them a joke, tell them a story, about the spirit world, the power of the mind; lift the curtain, anything. As Barbara Cartland once said, "Always remember to be jolly good value."

Of course, being capable of Naked effects, I'm lucky in this respect.

Tomo wrote:

IAIN wrote:just talk to them, and be interested in them and nice/polite/charming/endearing...they'll certainly remember you for that...

then say "next time, i promise to show you something that will have you laying awake at night..."

yes, that does sound deliberately dirty...

Absolutely. As the rather rich, successful (handsome?) performer Docc Hilford told us at Tabula Mentis, above all be entertaining. Tell them a joke, tell them a story, about the spirit world, the power of the mind; lift the curtain, anything. As Barbara Cartland once said, "Always remember to be jolly good value."

Of course, being capable of Naked effects, I'm lucky in this respect.

Actually sometimes i just get naked!
That always gets a laugh!

Lyndon Webb wrote:

Tomo wrote:

IAIN wrote:just talk to them, and be interested in them and nice/polite/charming/endearing...they'll certainly remember you for that...

then say "next time, i promise to show you something that will have you laying awake at night..."

yes, that does sound deliberately dirty...

Absolutely. As the rather rich, successful (handsome?) performer Docc Hilford told us at Tabula Mentis, above all be entertaining. Tell them a joke, tell them a story, about the spirit world, the power of the mind; lift the curtain, anything. As Barbara Cartland once said, "Always remember to be jolly good value."

Of course, being capable of Naked effects, I'm lucky in this respect.

Actually sometimes i just get naked!
That always gets a laugh!

Wy do they laugh when you get naked ? is there anything to laugh about ?

back on topic please, lol

Greetings from Belgium

Grimshaw wrote:I rarely go anywhere without a deck of cards, i know its sad but its the way i am, so chances are i could whip out a deck and embarrass myself.

If i found myself with nothing, id probably just tell them to give me a tenner and i'll make it disappear.

I go almost everywhere with my jacket and jeans.....I have a deck of cards and delight tips in either outside pocket.

Small change in the small change pocket.

3 more decks in each of the large inside pocket and my appear from mouth deck which is now only 30 cards.

Then I have some wads of prepared rope in my final pocket.

If a friend asks I will do something 9 times out of 10 as it is good practice for me......if they ask me to show their friends that I do not know then it is a no as I am just letting myself play pet monkey.

Mark Waddington wrote:I think if you dont like the idea of performing for people at a moments notice, then quite frankly you have taken up the wrong hobby...


Mark

Well no, I haven't, but if I'm out being sociable I don't want to always be "on" in case somebody wants to see a card trick.

Peter Marucci wrote:If you refuse to perform, then simply you aren't a performer.

So the only way to be a performer is to give performances on demand in any social situation?

I don't think it's even a question of working for nothing; I would just rather not have to give impromptu demonstrations at the beckon call of friends of friends. If I'm with mates who are into magic or are magicians themselves we often end up mucking about in the pub with cards, but what I think is important is keeping a distinct chasm between the person that approaches the occasional dinnertable and the guy that turns up for dinner or at the pub for a drink and a chat.

It's just me, but I don't think it makes you any less of a performer if you aren't comfortable with being "that guy". There's nothing wrong with being the magic guy and they can lift a party but I would simply rather not.

If I didn't feel like performing I'd just say no. The last time I was out someone bought me a pack of cards and said show my mate something. So I did him a reading which blew him away. If I wanted to do something and had nothing then I'd stop my pulse and then stop someone elses