talkmagic.co.uk

I am totally new to the world of magic and have been thinking hard about the sort of magic I want to perform and how I would like to present it. My thoughts have also turned to what I would wear, and this is where I get stuck.

A top hat and tailcoat are a regular part of my wardrobe anyway, and I live in a sub-culture where this is quite acceptable. But stepping out into mainstream culture, or the world of magicians is a whole new step for me.

This is the outfit I would be most comfortable in, and I realise that it is totally acceptable for most magicians to wear this too, but I am a female and have dreadlocks down to my bum. I would imagine this is not a frequent sight at conventions, etc.

The problem I am having is that there are hardly any female role models at all and, being so unfamiliar with the magic world, I don't know what the reaction to an outfit like that would be.

Would it just be seen as a normal sort of thing to wear or would it turn heads, and not in a good way? I don't want to just be "that cross dressing one" but it is an outfit I am very happy in.

What are your thoughts on female performers dressed in top hats and tails? The bottom half would most likely be a smart set of flared black trousers with zips and chains on them (quite punky) and this is how I'm happiest, but want to test what reactions might be like first!

All feedback greatly appreciated.

There are no right or wrongs when it comes to dress in a performance. Lance burton wears a suit, David copperfield wears an unbottoned shirt most of the time, Paul Zennon wears a leather jacket and jeans. There was also a recent thread where someone is considering dressing as the Joker from Batman.

Wear whatever makes you feel comfortable - just be you

jim

'As comfortable as you are, be as you are'

As stated there are no hard fast rules. There is nothing wrong with a top hat and tails, and with the dreadlocks it would bring the outfit into a more 'modern' look.

You want to stand out anyway so I'm not sure what the problem is. Most of the female magicians go with a pretty traditional look and there are some who come up with an act and dress the part. Also sometimes the act necessitates a particular kind of clothing, (pockets, hold-outs) etc.

I say go for it.

We have several lady members who are well qualified to help with that question!

As a mere male I'd say avoid the top hat and tails as it's very steroetyped, and also avoid the showgirl type of costume. Take into account any special requirements for a performance costume, extra pockets, toppit, places to locate loads etc. After that, wear what you feel is comfortable and don't let the costume overshadow the magic!

How about taking your usual style of clothing, make it smarter and exaggerate the parts that you'd consider to be very you.

I think it helps to convince an audience that you have made an effort and also for you to look a little different from them so they look at you and are convinced you look like you might be someone who can perform what you say you can. While it is good not to come across as fake, it helps to do what you can to create the mood and atmosphere for a positive response.

Before anyone points out I have very little magic performance experience, I learned this from being the front man/manager of various bands over 8 years. With my annoyingly over-analytical mindset and my design background, I did everything I could to improve shows and popularity through marketing and getting into the mind of the audience. Unfortunately, 1 person out of 5 making the effort was never enough and although it was fun, we got no where.

Don't worry about getting it right too much though. It'll evolve. Just aim at something simple and smart at first and just keep your eyes out for ideas to improve it over time.

Thank you very much for your replies!

The show girl look was never up for consideration. I do not have show girl legs! In fact, I have very few feminine outfits in my wardrobe at all, so if the main idea is to be myself as much as possible, at the same time as being a little smarter than usual, that all leads to the top and tails being the right outfit.

It just seems that the few female magicians I have seen have an awful lot of leg on display and that is not really what I had in mind. I have a complete pirate outfit for kids entertainment, but I really like cards and coins, which are not so kid friendly.

Do most of you stick to the one costume and character or do you like a bit of variety from one gig to the next?

Hello stardust! It's always nice to have another girl around!

stardust wrote:I would imagine this is not a frequent sight at conventions, etc.

You'd be surprised! The few conventions I've been to, there's been a higher proportion of people dressed in unusual clothes than anywhere else I've ever seen. There's also the added advantage that it'll make you recognisable/memorable.

stardust wrote:The problem I am having is that there are hardly any female role models at all and, being so unfamiliar with the magic world, I don't know what the reaction to an outfit like that would be.

There are a few of us girls about, though not that many. To be honest, you'll get some interesting reactions simply for being female, the clothes will be far less noticeable.

stardust wrote:The show girl look was never up for consideration. I do not have show girl legs!

Neither do I, the show girl look is something I avoid like the plague.

stardust wrote:In fact, I have very few feminine outfits in my wardrobe at all, so if the main idea is to be myself as much as possible, at the same time as being a little smarter than usual, that all leads to the top and tails being the right outfit.

If it feels right, then it probably is! Your costume/image will evolve as you learn more magic, so what you start out with now might not be the image you end up with in a years' time. The main thing is, it's obviously a look you're comfortable with, which is really important, especially if you're just starting out. The last thing you need when you're in front of an audience and absolutely terrified is being distracted by a costume that just isn't right for you. (Been there, done that. Not. fun.)

stardust wrote:It just seems that the few female magicians I have seen have an awful lot of leg on display and that is not really what I had in mind.

Not all of us. I refuse to wear short skirts. No way is anyone making me do that. I honestly can't see anything wrong with the description you've given of your clothes, they sound great to me!
And if it makes you feel better, here's a photo of my costume. Not an inch of leg to be seen!

stardust wrote:Do most of you stick to the one costume and character or do you like a bit of variety from one gig to the next?

I don't know about anyone else, but I stick to the same costume for the same act/same character. So when I'm being the 'assistant' in our modern act, I wear the costume up there. But when we do our Victorian act, I wear a tail coat.

I love the way you've described your costume (to be honest, it's the sort of thing I wish I were brave enough to wear!). If you feel happy wearing it, then wear it. You can always change it later if you find out it's not quite right.

You'll probably also find that your clothes help you! There's an awful lot of magic that assumes you wear a jacket and can put things in your pockets... not very helpful if you wear a dress like I do!

history is your friend. Look back at what sucessfull female magicians have worn over the last 200 or so years. Not Assistants, Magicians.


Look at what Romany Diva of magic wears in her act.A modern aproach to the victorian/edwardian costume in electric colours,

In his memoir, Steve Martin wrote that he was once given a piece of advice (that he followed throughout his career) to dress better than the audience. It seems like fair advice.

daleshrimpton wrote:Look at what Romany Diva of magic wears in her act.A modern aproach to the victorian/edwardian costume in electric colours,

WOW!

I just googled her! I'm still not getting my legs out, but she was very inspiring!

sleightlycrazy wrote:In his memoir, Steve Martin wrote that he was once given a piece of advice (that he followed throughout his career) to dress better than the audience. It seems like fair advice.

Well, that's another thing I was going to ask.....I quite like the idea of a slightly scruffy Victorian rogue, something along the lines of the Artful Dodger. If it were obvious the scruffiness were part of the act and not lack of effort on my part would it still be acceptable?

In the second part of my Life when I started doing proper professional shows my boyfriend who is a very eminent actor told me to wear figure hugging tops and pencil skirts to show off my wonderful figure and especially my legs. I guessed being a far better actor than me that he knows lots about costume and character so followed his good advice. There is a possibility I may not always have my legs so I don't mind showing them off at all. But I couldn't perform without pockets so stitched pockets into my skirts, but still felt I was handicapped not having a jacket and unable to perform anything using a pull, an inside jacket pocket or a secret servante, so you adapt your costume to do the job while ensuring your costume maintains your stage persona.

I'd love to go about London in Top Hat and Tails - don't hold back at all and wear it with confidence. Remember that as a Magician you have special powers and abilities that allow you to appear different to inhibited and conventional folk. And as a woman you have a huge choice of outfits, anything you like so long as it shows off your best features and hides what may need to be hidden. But also remember that there are a few necessaries needed in magic (pockets, often a jacket, sometimes sleeves) that you may find you are handicapped without. But it sounds like you've already got them covered with what you suggest.

Above all play your part with confidence and wear your chosen costume with confidence and don't worry about what conventional and inhibited folk think of you. You have magic powers and they don't so no need to worry about them.

Wear what you are comfortable in, and to hell with what others think. I wear my shorts to conventions. I don't care.
In terms of performance wear what represents your personality, but make sure it is clean and looks good on you.
There are plenty of women performers out there. I bump into them all the time. You'll find them and will see most don't play up their legs. Most survive (or not) on talent and personality.

Julianna Chen wore a great costume when I saw her a few years ago, it was, as you might expect, a very Orinentally designed iten, lots of green silk with slightly darker glittery embroidery and embelleshments. It had a floor length skirt with slits at each side but the main feature was a sort of embroidered dragon's tail at the back, from about shoulder height to mid calf. It acted just like the old fashioned magicians' coat tails, lots of places where she could steal the seemingly endless supply of cards for her manipulation routine.

daleshrimpton wrote:Look at what Romany Diva of magic wears in her act.A modern aproach to the victorian/edwardian costume in electric colours,

Romany looks a little like mutton dressed as lamb, I think. She dresses like a cheap burlesque act. Clearly a look the OP isn't going for, with her dreadlocks etc.

To answer the OP, depends who you are performing for. If it's a steampunk convention or a Levellers fans meet up or music festi, what you have described seems perfect. If it is a corporate gig for Sony, not so much...

So, where will you be working primarily?