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Now, Iain's just come up with a very good idea

Lady of Mystery wrote:Now, Iain's just come up with a very good idea

Agreed!

Nowah wrote:Hey there,

Mind you, I've purchased several DvDs, including some good tricks of Penguin Magic, so having too little tricks to work with isn't a problem. The real problem really is routine, where as I'm not sure how to link my tricks to each other. I'd be pretty dull saying: "and now I'm going to do another trick. This is the 7th, hurray."

So, any help would be great. Thanks a lot!

First of all, I'll give you this: Your willingness to get up in front of an audience to perform is very positive - you at least have some guts. I admire you for that - don't give up!

What makes for a good trick, and what makes for a good performance are two separate things. You can have the best, most stunning tricks in the world, and an audience can still hate you. You could have mediocre effects, and the audience could still love you. Why? Performing is not about the magic!

The magic is the vehicle to be used to entertain. Magic is not the key as much as being entertaining.

If you want to have an audience enjoy you, first they must LIKE you. If they like you, they will be forgiving about the magic. If they don't like you, it won't matter which trick you do - it will fall flat.

Next, putting a 45 minute show together is tough! It could take a year or more to do this successfully. Each effect must be practiced, rehearsed, routined, rehearsed again, etc. Each 5 minutes could take a month to be really ready, and then, with little performing experience, it could take many shows before you get all the kinks out and come up with something that really works (entertains your audience).

Initially, I would suggest aiming for 15 minutes - and that would be tough considering how little time you have to prepare. Orchestrating 15 minutes of magic, patter, movement, routining, etc, does not happen over night.

A trick has a beginning, a middle and an end. It's like a little story. The trick is then a subset of a larger story - the show. The show should have a beginning, a middle and an end too.

The beginning moments are moments that should be used to get the audience to like you. If it is an adult audience, you can't get away with lines that may insult their intelligence, "Do you believe in magic?"

See if you could work 3 or 4 effects into a 15 minute routine. If you can get 15 minutes honed and entertaining, you could spend another 6 months to a year building it, slowly, into 45 minutes of killer material.

Juan Tamariz, for example, is entertaining - even without the magic. He wins the audience over before he does anything. Each effect is a separate event with a beginning, a middle and an end. The cards become a vehicle for the entertainment.

An amateur, by the way, can be just as entertaining as a professional. A professional, simply, is one who earns their living with magic. An amateur has another livelihood. Ramsay, for example, was an amateur - he was a grocer! Dr. Daily was an amateur. Some of the best magicians in the world are amateurs. Don't worry about your status as an amateur or professional. Present your show like a professional, whether you are or not!

So, in a nutshell, here is my advice:

Don't do 45 minutes - aim for 15.

Your first job is to get the audience to be on your side - they will want you to succeed and are less likely to heckle you.

Try to put together just 3 or 4 effects, that build to a climax for the finale.

Don't hit on girls - it takes time to learn how to incorporate this type of humor into your act without being insulting or getting punched.

Tape your performance. Continue to hone your 15 minute act until it works. Don't be discouraged if it isn't great the first time. If you can't make 15 minutes entertaining, you won't be able to do 45!

Practice your whole show on friends and/or relatives and take their comments seriously. Don't be hurt or offended - it takes TIME. Use video tape and be critical.

Once you have a 15 minute killer performance in the real world (don't expect it your first time out!), add a little more. See if you can do 20 minutes by adding another effect.

In the interim, if possible, get some advice from a theatrical coach - see how to elevate a mere trick into something that will be truly entertaining. You need to learn how to walk, talk, move, gesture, etc. It all takes time. If you can get a professional magician to come to your show and give you a critique, do it.

Don't expect to be the greatest your first time. Your hecklers may be pointing out the weak areas of your performance - although in a rude way. But they can be your strongest allies if your intention is to improve.

Best of luck. Don't give up. To become really great, takes TIME. Try to learn from each experience. Right now, you are in school. Graduation will come when you have a good set. In the meantime, take it on the chin, try to learn and improve. Eventually you will be able to entertain for 15 minutes. Then try more.

Again, I admire you for trying. It isn't easy for anyone at first. It takes time! Don't give up - find ways to improve the act.

Priceless advice, thank you Steve.

More experienced people have given far better advice than I ever could, so I'm just going to mention that asking if anyone hasn't seen magic before could end up backfiring (it could be that everyone in the audience has seen magic), and you'll end up standing there like a lemon wondering how to get out of that one

Also, the glasses thing is very obvious (I do a similar trick but use another method). I deliberately ask anyone wearing glasses to keep the card to their chest so that I can't see the reflection, because the first thing they'll think is "they saw the reflection in his glasses". Especially when you call attention to them The accusations have happened to me before

Good heavens! I am actually in agreement with the Lady of Mystery. This is the end of civilisation as we know it. I must away to my bed with the shock of it!

I think that perhaps you need to put another log onthe fire, Mark. That Canadian cold must be getting to you.