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I have always been baffled as to where you can find an audience when you are starting out. How do you find people who are willing to watch effects when you want to test them? Without being beaten to death by them.

Dave

The best source is of course family and friends. Performing new tricks to them will get you used to public performance. They will hopefully be able to give you honest feedback about your tricks. If you are a member of any kind of club (even the scouts) then you could ask if you could perform a short act for them. If you are at school and have nice teachers, then maybe you could ask them if you can do a trick for them. If you work then maybe ask some people there if they can watch. I always think that a mirror is a great spectator. Look as you perform, does the trick look good, is it smooth. You can gain a lot by doing this as you will see what the audience sees.

Remember that the patter can sometimes be as important as the effect itself. Practise speaking it out loud and then test it with the audience. Be positive, be relaxed, and enjoy the magic.

Edit: stephen has basically said all this!

Performing to family and friends is the best way to start performing your effects. If you're at school, show your tricks to teachers who you have a good raport with. Afterwards, ask them for an honest opinion in what they thought: did they actually truly enjoy you and your performance. Feedback you recieve will either boost your confidence or show you areas in which you need to improve (when i was starting out it was always patter/presentation).

When you are testing your technique.....well there's always the mirror. If you have a cam corder record yourself from various angles: it gives a fuller impression than just using the mirror. Record youself speeaking the patter: if it sounds dull and boring to you, it will probably have the same effect on the spectator: just keep working at it.

i have the same problem, where do you go from there? ive been doing magic infront of freinds family teachers and all people i ACCTUALLY know, but how do you step up from that?

anyone doing something out of the ordinary will nearly always attract an audience. Holding their attention is then the difficult part. You can perhaps use this as a measure of your ability.

If you're a regular performer for friends and family then their honest feedback will be important. You can then offer some free shows, old people's homes, youth clubs, parties in the hope that your reputation will spread. Sooner or later you will find that people begin to approach you.

I kind of see the logic in the family and friends thing, but unfortunately I have moved far away from my family now. Coventry to Edinburgh. As for friends I am a sad and lonely little man:) Lol. I wondered about doing street magic, but I doubt that I could afford a bodyguard to go out with me.

Dave

You could also offer to do a free show for a children's home if you one near you. Or even an OAP Club.

what if there is no oap homes or youth clubs that i know of in my area i like to use my haunted key to arrtract attension, i act like im doing it with my mind and make it look really hard. its funny but it only makes them look at me for a few seconds and then turn away... and some reason they seem to move away from me cant see why

If the key gets that effect then you should see the effect that arrived earlier today throught the post! it is called 'perfect bend' and is a very strange spoon bending routine (will do a review once i have used for a while) this is really gonna freak people out!

Should I take it to the streets. It would seem it is possible to gain an audience that way, though the old nerves might play up a bit. I guess it is certainly a baptism of fire. What does everyone else think?

Dave

i would take it to the streets, if i didnt think that any1 i ask isnt gunna every push pass me or hit me or sumthing ( i no its no gunna happen but it might)

Half the problem with going on the streets is actually having the confidence to do it to random people. Once you get a good reaction from one punter on the street you won't be able to stop-you want to produce that same reaction on someone else.

Magic is like a drug.....

go to one of thoughs bussiness card printer machines and print of some cards, then when you get a good reaction give them a card.
when you get calls (may take 6months of handing out cards) say you have a special today as there the 50th caller you will do there party at cost, do a few of thease and you will start to get a reputation as a performer localy and so your bookings will increase and your confidence will grow.
as your doing them at cost you will have a breathing space to find out from mr taxman what your liabilities are.

i know im not goig n to get a booking any time soon, is there a certain age that you can get one? do you have to be over 18 or something?

That really depends on the venues. What you could do i get an adult to ask around for you. Try local clubs and see if they have a talent night show, although it is not a 'booking' as such, you will still be performing to members of the public. Most resturants i have worked at do like people to be over 18, but it may be worth checking.