talkmagic.co.uk

I have found the thread in question.
http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic11553-0-asc-15.php

Oddly enough a year or two ago I saw someone in a food court in Toronto doing something which looked exactly what I advised. I am still not sure if he was a young magician who read what I said on here or not. For all I know he may just have been reading a book on the history of playing cards or how to play solitaire. He was reading a book and shuffling a deck of cards. I don't think he was learning card magic as all he seemed to be doing was shuffling cards. I think he an ace or two on the table which makes me wonder if he was trying my idea out.

Nobody came near him and I think I was the only one who noticed. I didn't approach him and went on my way. I have no idea who the hell he was or even if he was a young magician. If he reads this then perhaps he should now reveal himself.

If it was him the reason he was doing it wrong is that he was sitting far away from any other human being and in addition he didn't look out of the corner of his eye as I advised.

This does work. Even last night I was reading a book in a restaurant and was not trying this nonsense. I was merely reading "Greater Magic" and minding my own business. Alas I am now too old to be wanting to do tricks in public places for no money so this was not my intention. However someone at the next table asked me if I was reading a book on magic. I grumpily said "yes" and ignored him thinking "why don't you mind your own business?" 45 years ago I would have had the whole place around me in minutes and the restaurant would be offering me a free meal.

It used to happen fairly regularly even 30 or so years ago. I would show someone I was dining with a few tricks and before I knew what was happening all the kitchen staff would be summoned out front to watch me doing magic.

Those were the days.................................

the drinks thing is a personal one, however...

for me, it lacks class - you're doing this out of love, to learn, to hone, to make contacts... after offering someone something for free, it seems to me that it cheapens the experience that you then take something back from them...

when it could just be out of the sense of reciprication...we should be giving of our magic/mind-reading in these circumstances...

as we are already being paid in a way, via "experience" and the opportunity...

like at the last TM meet up, i woman offered me £80 for a more detailed reading, and the same money for her two friends...but i didnt, cos a) she was drunk b) i wasnt about the money, and i offered c) i was feeling a little tiddly too

but the experience itself was payment enough...

Jean Eugene Roberts wrote:If your worried about taking money just tell them your not allowed to take money but they could buy you a drink.

sorry - but i think thats dreadful advice...it just sounds so...

needy? ego-driven? (not you per se Jean, just in its 'sounding')

as i said before - it should be done purely out of pleasure and you can easily politely refuse any offer...

"no, please...it was completely my pleasure...enjoy the rest of your evening, I'm over there if you want to see any more later on...thanks again...good night..."

IAIN wrote:
sorry - but i think thats dreadful advice...it just sounds so...

needy? ego-driven? (not you per se Jean, just in its 'sounding')

It probably sounds that way because I am needy and ego driven.

The truth is I'm quite bad at expressing my views in writing so I'll try again.

The point I was trying to make was that your and Johnnys advice is good if you want to look professional, but Dave shouldn't try to look professional because he can't give a professional performance yet.

If he creates the atmosphere of 'entertainer and audience' the crowd will be less forgiving when he eventually cocks up and it may further sour their idea of magicians. If however he's 'bloke in a pub' then people will know what their getting, a magic trick that may go wrong. It's at this point that they get a nice surprise, instead of seeing the 21 card trick for the hundredth time they get a trick that is actually good. See what I mean?

I can't offer you any tips on the subject you asked, but I would like to add something to the subject of tips.

If you dont want to take money from people, even when they really insist perhaps you could say what was once said to me. I wanted to give somebody some money for something they'd done for me (I cant even remember what it was now) but they refused and said "Next time you see a charity box, put an extra donation in for me"

This left both of us with a smile, avoided any embarrasment on either part and seemed a very nice thing to say.

The best thing about performing in pubs is that you get to hand out your business card. In pubs you are selling yourself and investing your time in return for potential future bookings. That business card may lurk in someone's handbag for a few months until they think about organising that party, or a wedding reception, or whatever.

A couple of students were really impressed last week and asked for my card. They would like me to perform at their wedding... in 2 years time !!

i feel you should always act professionally...be a professional amateur...

its always better than being an amateur professional...

True but he shouldn't present himself as a professional.

no one is saying he should...

I'd like to formally declare that everyone so far is completely wrong.

What you need as an icebreaker is a balloon-penguin hat. It's true. You wear it, people point and laugh, you engage in a bit of banter, eventually ask if they want to see something and finally do an ambitious card routine where the standard "write your name and phone number on the card" actually gets the phone number and the spectator insists you keep it.

Anyone who was at the meetup in Manchester this weekend can confirm every word of this is true. (And no, it wasn't me.)

It also attracts random drunks who, upon seeing their chosen card literally fly through the air from one hand to the other, say "the balloons are better".

So, not foolproof, but it sure worked as an icebreaker.

Haha! Everyone loves a penguin.

I think I will play the "accepting a drink" issue by ear. I think sometimes people might be offended if you refuse as it may be the case that they are doing it as a kind gesture and by refusing, you'd be taking that warm feeling from them. Other times, they might be compelled to buy you a drink out of guilt for having received but not given anything back. In this case, I'd politely refuse and tell them I do it for the pleasure of it.

I am now fairly comfortable about what to wear I think. I think smart casual with a jacket is the way to go to start with. This way I wont scare them into thinking I'm overly serious, I am presentable and I am more approachable while still fulfilling some of their preconceptions of how a magician should look.


Mark -
Thank you for digging out that post. Putting obvious magic paraphernalia about myself in a seeming natural and innocent fashion is a good idea. I'd be making sure I'm not wasting the opportunity to attract people by passively advertising what I do to anyone who looks my way.

I don't think that I should pass up the opportunity to pro-actively seek an audience though. This is something I need experience in doing so I can gain a good idea of who is and is not approachable.

Doing both should improve my chances of capturing some guinea pigs and should teach me a lot in the process.

Cheers!

BigShot wrote:Anyone who was at the meetup in Manchester this weekend can confirm every word of this is true. (And no, it wasn't me.)

Every single word of this is true. (And no, it wasn't me either. Obviously.)

It also attracts random drunks who, upon seeing their chosen card literally fly through the air from one hand to the other, say "the balloons are better".

Every single word of this is true.


So the solution is obvious: give up magic, learn balloon modelling instead.

kolm wrote:

BigShot wrote:Anyone who was at the meetup in Manchester this weekend can confirm every word of this is true. (And no, it wasn't me.)

Every single word of this is true. (And no, it wasn't me either. Obviously.)

It also attracts random drunks who, upon seeing their chosen card literally fly through the air from one hand to the other, say "the balloons are better".

Every single word of this is true.


So the solution is obvious: give up magic, learn balloon modelling instead.

Lots of interesting advice. The two areas I found most interesting was the subject of tips and offerings of drink.

I always accept tips. Why? I like money, money enables me to buy shiny things and food. So I'll always accept it. Maybe it cheapens the 'art', who knows? But did I mention I like money?

The drinks thing is no big deal whatsoever (actually people always offer to buy me a drink and not offer a tip, hmmmmm, wish it was the other way round). But honestly it's not an issue. A magician should never, ever drink alcohol at a gig, paid or unpaid. Firstly it may affect your performance and secondly you're not looking very magiciany sipping 'Stumbling Badger' or 'Hobgoblin' are you? But if they push you to have a drink you say these words, 'Thank you, I'll have a coke/water thanks'.

Easy really. Don't say the '/' bit though as they may think you need the loo.