talkmagic.co.uk

Appologies for spelling mistake on last post.
outstayed (their) welcome

deano0010 wrote:In answer to marks post,i dont do 4/5 routines i do 4/5 effects which make up 1 routine/set.
I open with my variation of snowblind, easy switch then for the omni deck,followed by easy ace estimation,then eather chop cup or burnt and restored string,ive found this to be long enough for people to enjoy,and not too long that they will get bored,a nice variation and not all cards.
I know there are magicians that are really card heavy,and even all cards, but for me i think the layperson likes to see a bit of variety.
I also think Eshly that most if not all tables would expect to see more than 1 effect no matter how mindblowing it was.
but im sure most working magicians know if they have entertained all of the guests sufficiently,or they have outstayed there welcome.

Deano

Mind if I ask how you switch between cards and chop cup without the usually accept break in "routine"

What I would say is a bunch of effects make up one routine, as you seem to be implying, would be more along the lines of Derren Brown's 3 Card Routine.

I don't mean to be rud ebut if you can switch from cards to cups without a "here's a card trick ... here's a cup and balls trick" element I'd be interested.

Agreed Lawrence,there is a break in routine,but after a couple of decent card effects you normally get the not very original(wouldnt like to play cards with you,or i bet you play poker)
I normally say,no i dont but would you like to try and win some money,its £5 a go youve just got to guess where the ball is,obviously the £5 is a joke, but it gets a laugh.
So unfortunately there is a break as far as a routine is concerned,but all the same ive found its a great little set,and it certainly works for me.

Deano

I tend to do one "trick" which is in effect my routine. This "trick" in and of itself could only last a minute if one rattled through it (as a lot of magicians do). However I take time to get to know the people on the table, I ask them questions about who on the table is the most psychic, who has seen a ghost, anyone ever been hypnotised, and then I listen to the answers and take a genuine interest - something a lot of magicians don't do. They may ask a question but then don't listen to the answer, it's all "uh huh, yeah, right, anyway, did you know that black cards are heavier than red cards?"

To Eshly I would say, if you feel that one "trick" can last 10 minutes and that ten minutes will be entertaining for the guests, then that is perfectly fine. However the real secret is being able to entertain the guests. At the end of the day, it has nothing to do with magic and everything to do with how good you are with people.

I've walked up to tables, introduced myself, started talking, and ten minutes later left the table. Only later did I realise that I never did show them my routine - we were having such a nice time just chatting.

Most magicians are machine gun rat-tat-tat with their tricks. People get lost, don't understand what's going on, and feel a bit steam-rolled. My advice is to slow right down. Take your time. You're going to show them something amazing - let's savour the moment.

I agree with Paul in that whatever you do should be entertaining for your audience,after all that is why we were booked in the first place,if there are magicians out there with a strong enough effect to last 10 minutes and entertain a table of 10 then go for it.
I do always have a laugh and a chat with them,i dont just go in there all guns blazing,as you quite rightly said paul,you can get carried away chatting,but i have never walked away and not showed them anything,that will take some beating Paul,did you go back later on and show them something or did they just miss out.

Deano

deano0010 wrote:but i have never walked away and not showed them anything,that will take some beating Paul,did you go back later on and show them something or did they just miss out.

From what I recall, and this is going back a few years now, I approached the table and asked who amongst them felt like they were particularly intuitive. One or two ladies put their hand up and they all had tales to recount of premonitions they'd had. Following this one gentleman was interested to know how long I'd be a professional magician and what my background was, and he was very interested to learn that my background was in tarot card and palm reading, and I think I actually read his palm and then said goodbye to the table. They were all smiles and very happy - I certainly don't think anyone felt like they missed out on anything. It was just the way the conversation and particular encounter developed.

One of my pet theories is that magic isn't all about the trick.

themagicwand wrote:I tend to do one "trick" which is in effect my routine. This "trick" in and of itself could only last a minute if one rattled through it (as a lot of magicians do). However I take time to get to know the people on the table, I ask them questions about who on the table is the most psychic, who has seen a ghost, anyone ever been hypnotised, and then I listen to the answers and take a genuine interest - something a lot of magicians don't do. They may ask a question but then don't listen to the answer, it's all "uh huh, yeah, right, anyway, did you know that black cards are heavier than red cards?"

To Eshly I would say, if you feel that one "trick" can last 10 minutes and that ten minutes will be entertaining for the guests, then that is perfectly fine. However the real secret is being able to entertain the guests. At the end of the day, it has nothing to do with magic and everything to do with how good you are with people.

I've walked up to tables, introduced myself, started talking, and ten minutes later left the table. Only later did I realise that I never did show them my routine - we were having such a nice time just chatting.

Most magicians are machine gun rat-tat-tat with their tricks. People get lost, don't understand what's going on, and feel a bit steam-rolled. My advice is to slow right down. Take your time. You're going to show them something amazing - let's savour the moment.

I know a guy who makes his entire living off restaurant magic. He only knows about 15 effects total, that includes the svengali deck and a tt and some sponge balls. After 25 or so years he often laughs at the thought that he makes a living doing magic tricks in restaurants as he seriously doesn't perform much at all anymore. He goes to a table, chats and leaves and everyone is laughing. The waitstaff love this guy, the managers love him and the customers keep coming back to see him. Go figure.

Tom, just because you own a trick, can perform the effect, enjoy the effect, have effectivly entertained others with the effect does not mean that the effect is suitable for every venue.

spending 10 minutes on one trick in a restaurant can put you in the way of the waitstaff. It also might not fly well if there are children at the table, (they get bored easily). Choose a restaurant, check out the flow of the service, check out the clientel get a feel for the place.

Something to remember is you are being paid to be there. You have to tailor your routines to the customers. If it is a quick paced, happenin' type of place a long winded mentalism effect may not be the way to go.

bmat wrote: If it is a quick paced, happenin' type of place a long winded mentalism effect may not be the way to go.

Good advice - one reason I actually stopped doing weddings/restaurants was because I wanted to focus on Mentalism and it just isn't suited to some venues. Most tables will greet 'the magician' with some certain preconceptions and it's not necessarily your job to try and confound those! Your job is to entertain the table whether that's between courses or whatever. Sometimes a 3-card monte, cups & balls, ACR is all you really need - and, more importantly, all they really want!

Mentalism usually needs more of a build-up but that doesn't mean it can't work. Something like an I.D. is invaluable here - approach the table introduce yourself, ask someone to think of a card and remember it whilst you do a couple of other foolproof tricks. Then at the end of the routine 'remember' that you asked someone to think of a card, you then name any card at random - if you get it right then take the miracle. If you get it wrong, go to your I.D. and take the applause anyway.


Sean

Why are we still replying to this thread when the person who has asked for our advice hasn't even replied to any of our answers, or commented on any other thread?

Have they even bothered visiting the site to see if they have had any response?

Just a thought!

I reply because it is an excellent thread, and just because the original questioner has not responded there are many on the board who may benifit from this discussion.