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Just to make them like your magic because some tricks that i start with they don't seem surprised?And what reaction should i do when i finish the trick?Smiling,amazed.Normal etc...

Will be thankful for the tips! Thanks in advance...

“Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen.”
“Whatever you think you can do or believe you can do, begin it. Action has magic, grace and power in it.”

Dont start with a card trick is my best advice - spectators take a while to warm into the performance and you get a fair few that will state that they dont like card tricks. So I start with a sponge routine and THEN go in with a card effect once ive won them over.


Mark

Mark Waddington wrote:Dont start with a card trick is my best advice - spectators take a while to warm into the performance and you get a fair few that will state that they dont like card tricks. So I start with a sponge routine and THEN go in with a card effect once ive won them over.

somehow you made that sound dirty.

A colour change routine.

"before I do anything, you know the difference between the cards, the suits and values? So you'll know that if you wipe the 3 of clubs like this...you get the 7 of diamonds..." etc

The magic moment happens within seconds. There is no take a card.

I also agree with Marks advice on not starting with a card trick. To many this can be a turn off.

I either begin with crazy mans handcuffs or with the chop cup.

i've just put together a new routine, don't really want to put it out in the open yet, but PM me and i'll give you an idea...
Its been tested in performance for table and strolling work!
Quick, visual and your always ahead of the spectator...

The first trick that I start with when approaching a table is me! Sweet, smiling, happy, friendly, unassuming, cheerful, lowly little me. Once that little routine has won them over, I'll then move onto some more run-of-the-mill "magic". But that opening routine can last up to 10 minutes. Hey, sometimes we won't even get to the actual "magic". But we'll always laugh, hug, cry, shake hands, swap phone numbers, and depart as equals; ships that passed in the night and who knows, maybe our bows will meet again as we pass an ice bank in the dark of the mid-Atlantic night.

I hope that answers your question.

Mark Waddington wrote:Dont start with a card trick ...

It all depends on what kind of magician you are!!!!!
If you are a card magician ... then start with what you know – A *bleep* card trick!

But whatever you decide to do first, make it interesting and flawless, i.e. something you have practiced thoroughly!

I always start with the Chicago Opener; ideal because it is very easy to do (and thus getting rid of some tension) and always gets great reactions by the spectators.

I think you should start with an opener that immediately establishes you as a magician. Something quick and snappy that is visual. My favourite opener is the crazy man's handcuffs and when I'm working for kids, the hoovering card always gets their attention.

I always use the same effect and it is as simple as they come. I go into detail on this subject in my lecture.

andrewmoquin wrote:Just to make them like your magic because some tricks that i start with they don't seem surprised?And what reaction should i do when i finish the trick?Smiling,amazed.Normal etc...

Will be thankful for the tips! Thanks in advance...

“Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen.”
“Whatever you think you can do or believe you can do, begin it. Action has magic, grace and power in it.”

I'm not sure I understand your question but I think that partially you are asking about how *you* should respond once you have completed a trick. If so, this will be influenced by the presentation you've been using prior to the climax.

For example, IMHO it would be silly to appear surprised when your card/number/word prophesy succeeds. Far better to find a way to turn the success onto the participant, or luck, God or whatever else you want to suggest is the controlling agent that caused the 'magic'.

themagicwand wrote:The first trick that I start with when approaching a table is me! Sweet, smiling, happy, friendly, unassuming, cheerful, lowly little me. Once that little routine has won them over, I'll then move onto some more run-of-the-mill "magic". But that opening routine can last up to 10 minutes. Hey, sometimes we won't even get to the actual "magic". But we'll always laugh, hug, cry, shake hands, swap phone numbers, and depart as equals; ships that passed in the night and who knows, maybe our bows will meet again as we pass an ice bank in the dark of the mid-Atlantic night.

I hope that answers your question.

Exactly, once you have sold yourself (take that anyway you want) the rest really doesn't matter unless you really are a bad performer.

Here are few 'dont's' that I've actually seen magicians do in restaurants.

Don't pick something up off the floor and start to perform with the object. I've seen a magician walk up to a table, bend down pick up a knife and ask "Is this yours?" and then start performing with it. Guess what? I'm about to eat don't pick stuff up off the floor.

Don't pull an elsastic band out of your hair and perform crazy man's handcuffs. Again I'm about to eat I don't want something near me that has been in your hair.

Don't pull a card from your mouth, especially if I have just touched the deck. How many others have touched that deck. How many of those cards have been in your mouth? Possibly the one I have already touched? (Same with any object from mouth).

I know I sound paranoid about germs and such but in this day and age so are your spectators. It doesn't seem to matter that the kitchen staff already spit in the soup. It is you that I see, not them.

Don't freakin' touch me! I don't know who you are or where you have been.

Theres no written rule what you should and shuldnt do. (Although im sure somethings are a better idea than others).

Key is to come across fun, not annoying, not being intrusive. Over time you will develop your ability to judge people......how they come across, would they appreciate some entertainment? Has she just come here for a business meeting and not want to be disturbed? etc.

What i tend to do is approach families with children....as you kinda know they are out for a family meal to relax and have fun....plus kids always give you a WOW reaction which in turn makes the parents more responsive as they see their children happy and they want to be polite and cheerful for the kids.

Colour changes are awesome! Theres a good dvd called Hot shot colour changes by ben salinas i believe that goes through nothing but colour changes...these are visual and quick and gets reaction...by this time you have them and can perform what effects you like.

But key is to not over stay ur welcome.....dont do the longest tricks in the world, you dont want them to get bored...its best you leave early and have them wishing you never left that you standing there babbling on and they are like we just want to eat!! hehe

But it all comes with experience

Oddly enough, I like to start with Nyman's 'Hidden' - which is currently being discussed at length on some other threads...

Bit of patter about how I got into magic because I wanted to learn to chear at cards, etc but wasn't clever enough to learn to card count so thought I'd learn to 'dead cut' to control cards.

Usually the pay-off really knocks them dead and has the effect of removing the 3 gimmicks from the pack then I go into Mark Eldson's Pre-Preconfiguration (can't remember who did the original routine that Elson based it on). This further cements the fact that I perform more mental-based effects as we end up with four-of-a-kind, even though the spectator has held the pack for the entirety of the routine. Then, as a little kicker, I'll do Dr. Daley - just makes sense to make use of the four-of-a-kind that you've just got.

In all, it makes a nice, 'organic' routine. Each effect leads onto the other and you only need a single deck and almost no sleights - means you can really work on the presentation.

cheers,


Sean