talkmagic.co.uk

So hey guys, a while back I said I was off to spain, well about 3 months ago i came home from spain and threw out just about all my close up bits (not expensive bits) just cards and silks etc......

Reason,

Losy all confidence when during the 5th performance, of my stage show a heckler went to my boss and complained that they caguht me using a gimmick on my straight jacker (which i didnt) and that they caught me doing a card trick which was so simple i could not have got it wrong.

Due to these complaints i lost my job in spain, 90 hour week. food and accom all gone, i lost all confidence,


Only recently have i started carruing some new cards and balls again, the other day i done a simple ambitious card routine followed by some sponge balls after which i could barely put my cards away because I was shaking so much, i need to get back into working as a close up magician, else ill loose all confidence,

So couple of questions, any tips on getting my confidence back, I used to stand up on trains and entertain travellers who where bored, now i cant even tell the guy next to me that im a magician.

And how can i get some work under my belt which may help with the above. Where should I be looking etc,

Thankyou for anytime you spend on this.....

I can still perform and hold my own while im performing its just afterwards im an emotional/confidence based wreck.

Hi Magical Smithy,
Sorry to hear about that.
I find it hard to believe that just because one heckler said a thing about a straight jacket,and he knew how you did 1 card trick that you lost your job.
If this was the case,then your better off not working there anyway.
As for getting your confidence back,im sure it will come.How long have you been performing magic?either close up or stage,and how many gigs have you performed at?you just cannot let 1(probably drunken)heckler get the better of you.
What i would suggest is that you just keep performing as you were before your trip to Spain,on trains,in bars/restaurants etc and after a couple of weeks or so im sure you will be wowing your audiences again.
Confidence will bring confidence,and it will snowball from there.
Please DO NOT let 1 person from 1 show spoil,not only your magic,but your personality/life.
Keep up the good work,and let us all know how its going.

All the best

Deano

Start again. you have years ahead of you. why rush?

you can get a regular job if you try. why rush? what good will rushing do you, when magic is all about practicing and building rehearsals.

maybe you rushed into the cruise-gig? and so what if you did.

how long have you studied magic in total smithy?

there is plenty of time. rushing gets you nowhere, fast. remember what it was like to fall in love with magic?

go back there.

I have been doing magic for 2 years maybe a lil bit longer,

The job was in a hotel where they take no prisoners one single complaint and your out.

Thanks for hte words.

I think one heckler would not bother me in the uk, but i think its more that he cost me a job in spain that I loved, made me ask myself "Am i really good enough".

Will keep performing though, I mean as said i can hold my own through it but i cant stop shaking for about half an hour after a show. (its actually kinda scares me how nervous i get).

Thanks Again.

well, honestly...two years in magic isnt really very long...

not saying you shouldnt perform, but realistically - people who work cruise ships and so on are very experienced performers...throwing yourself in at the deep end can work - just it didnt this time...

but in the same token - you're young, shift your focus...concentrate on getting better, and work towards a unique selling point...whats the point in doing stuff the same way everyone else does? dont forget the old addage of "the professional does the same 6 tricks for thousands of people, the amateur does thousands of tricks for the same people..."

and, being honest with yourself is the best thing you can ever do...its the only way you can learn, progress, and become better at what you want to do...

Either there is more to this than meets the eye, or your former boss is an idiot.

The only person who would know how simple a trick is is someone with a bit of magical knowledge (not necessarily what I would call a 'magician', judging from his behaviour) and frankly the very last person I would trust were I in your former boss's shoes is a potential rival.

"A magician who knew how your trick was done said he saw how you did the trick. In spite of the fact that he is a magician (as far as I am concerned) and quite clearly a massive loser, the customer's word is final. Oh and he also claims that you, a magician, did a trick in part of your act, so it's doubly bad." Crackers.

That reminds me, I must get David Copperfield, Derren Brown, Lance Burton, Penn and Teller, Criss Angel, Paul Zenon and David Blaine fired. If Paul Daniels were still on TV, I'd get him the sack too. I've seen stuff when they've performed, often in really simple tricks, so they can't be any good.

On the other hand, maybe you simply weren't ready for this particular gig. I am not just thinking about your technical standard (but in my view, absolutely anyone can have a bad day), but also your age and confidence generally. Just get performing again with some small, easy things, and build yourself back up.

What was the name of the Hotel,and where abouts in Spain?
God help all the staff there if its one compaint and your out.Doesnt sound like the sort of place i would like to work anyway,maybe if you let all T/M members know the name,we can all steer clear,if we get offered anything.
Get your cards/coins and rope back out of the bin and get yourself back out there performing.
Keep your chin up.

All the best

Deano

It is a company called Viva,

My actual job description was entertainer, we would work all day (stupid hours from 10-15) then get or one day off each week. so there was more to the job that just magic, but it was a magic show that had gone well every other time that cost me the job,

the hotel was situated on Menorca, I loved the job , hard but fun, i was also the sound and light technician in my team.

But it happens in thw world of abroad entertainment, 130 000 young people frsh out of school and seasoned entertaienrs applied for my jobn so trust me they can afford a one complaint and oyur out system.

Thanks for all your words guys, you dont realise how fimble a thing confidence is and how easy it is to break untill it has tumbled down around you.


P/s I know I am no where near cruise ship standard as well i do not think I could put together 14 different shows for a fortnight lol (congrsts to those who can)

On the upside i have had allot of emails recentely from angered guests who think the hotel chain was stupid, and in once case actually said me being sent home ruined there holiday and their childs, (all day ent included, kids club pool games sports etc)

Anyways TTFN going to play some poker with friedns tonight might have a little mess around afterwards try to build confidence again brick by brick.......dw they all know im a magican, Im not aloud to deal lol.

Keep smiling Smithy.
Make sure you skin em all tonight.

Deano

Hello Smithy

I remember seeing you perform at one of the London meets and kudos for you landing a job and all but I didn't think you was ready to perform back then, but then again I haven't seen you perform since.

Maybe , you should look at what you was performing and your performing persona I would recommend you read the book "strong magic" by Darwin Ortiz.

What other avenues of entertainment are you good at? could you do that and add one or two magic tricks in to something else you was doing?

come along to the next TM meet smiffy...

we've recently muzzled dini, so he doesn't get too over the top with his nuzzling...

theres a joke somewhere about giving a dog a bone, but i sharn't mention it...

I shall never be silenced.

Iain if you are really good at the next meet I will bring along my Seven sizzling sausages trick.

Smithy , Get 3 "simple" tricks routine them and make a little show out the 3 should help you get back on the bus etc.

More was going on than meets the eye. If it all went down as you say then management was already looking to get rid of you.

If you accept that then your can rest assured it was not your performance that cost you the job.

If you accept that then you just gotta get back up on that horse and relax knowing that your performance is up to parr.

Get on the horse. Start with the smallest of issues, tell the guy on the train you are a magician, and when the guy says, "Really? What instrument do you play?" Take out the deck of cards or the coin and perform something while you explain Magician not musician.

Build from there.

And I hate to break it to you and I don't mean to be harsh, but if one critizism is going to set you back that badly. Perhaps performing is not for you.

90 hours a week? Getting fired sounds to me like a blessing in disguise.
Incidentally I suspect it wasn't your performance that got you fired. I bet you 10 to 1 it was something else. The show screw up was just an excuse.