talkmagic.co.uk

So this is for all you walkaround/table hopping magicians...

I perform in restaurants and bars every week and have plenty of experience and knowledge on how to handle hecklers and the typical alpha individual at a table or in a group. However, more recently I've noticed another trend...

Sometimes I'll approach a group or table and upon introducing myself or starting my first effect one of the people there will take out their mobile phone and start texting or messing about.

Now, I am sure on occasions there is a legitimate reason or need to do this, but most of the time I think it's more a "hey, you're important, but not as important as me" type of statement. Normally it's younger people that do this and I think it's a maturity thing, like they don't want to admit that they're interested in what I am doing.

Maybe sometimes this is the case, but it's still pretty ignorant behaviour.

Has anyone else experienced a similar situation? How do you handle it?

Im pretty new to performing magic myself howeer how about starting a routine that involves a mobile phone? therefore you can grab their attention by saying " Oh, can i borrow your phone?" maybe an effect like putting the phone in a balloon - that gets the phone off them and hopefully impresses them too - you could even add a witty quip at the end like "and thats why you never play with your phone around a magician" ;>

Nothing you can do. It happens to me all the time. To my generation its just plain rude.
but remember their friends are more important to them than anything you are doing.

Its not only phones. People in pubs choose strange times to need to visit the toilets or go the bar to order drinks. Usually just before a punchline or kicker twist to an effect.

Have a few ad-libs prepared.
I say "we'd better wait, this call might be important" then I pick up a pack of cards and keep shuffling them and sometimes look at my watch. The others often get the message.

Some people don't like any loss of control. Just accept it and move on.

The other thing to look out for is the camera phone. I often get people pick up their phone and start videoing my performance.

I stop and say "oooh look we are making a video - everyone just act normally" then I put on a big cheesy grin, straighten my hair, pull faces and talk in a very posh accent. I get others in the goup to join in until the person with the cameraphone stops.

I'm not sure why there is a 'need' to do anything. Yes it is rude, but they are the guests, they are not there for you, you are there for them. It is simply your job to keep the paying customers paying, sadly nothing less and nothing more. If they choose to to go to the phone maybe, just maybe they are not interested in magic at all. It is certainly better then them telling you to get away, at least others are still going to enjoy the performance.

I've found that magicians take themselves way to seriously, we overthink, over analyze and take any rejection of what we are doing personally. In our eyes nothing is more important at that moment then the magic. In somebody elses eyes it can be just a nuissance that is getting in the way of an otherwise good time.

Sad? Yes. Unfair? yes. But sometimes you just have to let things go.

sorry did you ask a question ? I was on the phone. trying to txt you.

I agree with Bmat. While it's incredibly annoying, it's something people do, especially the younger folks. You're there for them, not they for you. Sorry, but it's the harsh truth.