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Recently I've been getting better at some of my card routines. The problem is, I'm too stiff, and feel as if my tricks come off as simply outlined steps. I feel that this sort of kills the effect of the magic. Does anyone have any tips on what I can do to improve my showmanship, or a specific magician I can watch?
Thanks!

Personally I'd advise that you read Showmanship for Magicians by Henning Nelms, because it helped me in this area. Another good resource is Beyond Deception, the author of which I can't recall right now (and neither can Google).

Both of these books focus on the craft of creating a theme and a routine with character. The core of the advice is think about what you're trying to show the audience. When I was starting out I was just so amazingly pleased to show the audience that I could do magic that everything else went out of the window, and unless you're performing to close friends and family, that style of performance can make you come across as a big old show off.

I found them useful but I am by no means an expert in the topics within yet.

-Stacy

Is this observation based on comments that your audience have made? Or is it something you have noticed during your practice sessions in front of the mirror or video?
option one... you need to relax.
option 2... you need to perform for people.Lots of them, which will make you tense at first, then relaxed.

Oh....
And you need to have patter that flows. Not in blocks of words, between moves. That helps no end.

The book Stacy recommended is excellent, even if some of it (and effects) are a little dated

Can I ask some questions? Are you enjoying when you perform? Are you concentrating on the moves so much that you are not loose enough? Are you actually enjoying the effects you are performing? That can help

I'm not sure about recommending anyone that can TEACH that as such but in Lee Smith's routines he always has a smile on his face and looks like he's enjoying himself

Watch Bill Malone. He is a showman to his fingertips. Keep watching until it sinks in.

Why not just take a few acting and improve classes, that will pretty much teach you how to be a showman and will put you a few steps ahead of the head of the other magicians out there who don't do it.

daleshrimpton wrote:Is this observation based on comments that your audience have made? Or is it something you have noticed during your practice sessions in front of the mirror or video?
option one... you need to relax.
option 2... you need to perform for people.Lots of them, which will make you tense at first, then relaxed.

Oh....
And you need to have patter that flows. Not in blocks of words, between moves. That helps no end.

Mostly comments, but I have noticed myself to be a little stiff in the mirror. Thanks!

For close up magic which I assume is the genre which the gentleman is interested in I always recommend the back section of Expert Card Technique where there is a superb chapter on presentation which holds up well today even though the book was written many years ago. And there are are plenty of card tricks too! I have always said that if you have no showmanship when performing card tricks (or in fact any kind of magic) you may as well not be doing it in the first place. It is even more important than the tricks.

Watch something other than magic. Watch movies, stand-up comedians - hell, pro-wrestling features some of the greatest showmen on the face of the planet. Pick up on what you like, and see how you can make it work in relation to magic.

Thank you so much everyone!
All of your suggestions have really helped.

What you do not say Kardshark is--do you present an Act OR just odd tricks to friends & anyone who will watch?

If an Acr then:
1. Script everything you say...there will be odd alterations in actual performance but scripting gives you confidence and helps if anything untoward occurs. You KNOW
EXACTLY what you are doing. Scripting removes any possiblility of 'ers', 'ums', 'ahs' wrong pauses and dead spots.
Then as I have written many times--like an actor--you must make it look and sound as though this is happening for the first time.
2. CUT down on the number of tricks to 3. BEGIN with say Opener--middle trick--Closer. Later you expand on this.
3. You must show you are enjoying performing..Work TO them NOT AT them. Bring them into some of the routine.
And as you have been told--Relax. READ The Relaxation Response by Herbert Benson MD. Library. It is all a simple very practical method.
3. Do YOU routine ALL your tricks? Never make the routine TOO long.
4. Try to find a copy of 'Close Up Presentation' BY John Mendoza
5. Use a TRUSTED friend to try out in front of. NEVER another magician or you will get the 'I do it this way' syndrome.
Magic is nearly always a solitary occupation. The Mirror can lie! Only use it to check angles, handling, moves etc NEVER a full routine. Why? Well as you watch
yourself,, you are concentrating on watching--therefore your timing, pace and concentration on selling the routine is marred.
And you see it the wrong way round.

Just for friends etc.
Always try 1 trick. Tell them--another miracle next time. magicians are the worst people in the performing business for allowing themselves to go on & on & on.
Next time try 2. Then 3. DON'T GO ABOVE 3 EVER.
REMEMBER: WE love Magic with what amounts to a passion. NOT ALL LAY people have this love. In fact a number actively dislike Magic.
How can this be? What causes it?
Magiciand FOISTING their magic , often without being asked on people.
And the above--not knowing when to stop.

Allen Tipton

Allen Tipton wrote:What you do not say Kardshark is--do you present an Act OR just odd tricks to friends & anyone who will watch?

If an Acr then:
1. Script everything you say...there will be odd alterations in actual performance but scripting gives you confidence and helps if anything untoward occurs. You KNOW
EXACTLY what you are doing. Scripting removes any possiblility of 'ers', 'ums', 'ahs' wrong pauses and dead spots.
Then as I have written many times--like an actor--you must make it look and sound as though this is happening for the first time.
2. CUT down on the number of tricks to 3. BEGIN with say Opener--middle trick--Closer. Later you expand on this.
3. You must show you are enjoying performing..Work TO them NOT AT them. Bring them into some of the routine.
And as you have been told--Relax. READ The Relaxation Response by Herbert Benson MD. Library. It is all a simple very practical method.
3. Do YOU routine ALL your tricks? Never make the routine TOO long.
4. Try to find a copy of 'Close Up Presentation' BY John Mendoza
5. Use a TRUSTED friend to try out in front of. NEVER another magician or you will get the 'I do it this way' syndrome.
Magic is nearly always a solitary occupation. The Mirror can lie! Only use it to check angles, handling, moves etc NEVER a full routine. Why? Well as you watch
yourself,, you are concentrating on watching--therefore your timing, pace and concentration on selling the routine is marred.
And you see it the wrong way round.

Just for friends etc.
Always try 1 trick. Tell them--another miracle next time. magicians are the worst people in the performing business for allowing themselves to go on & on & on.
Next time try 2. Then 3. DON'T GO ABOVE 3 EVER.
REMEMBER: WE love Magic with what amounts to a passion. NOT ALL LAY people have this love. In fact a number actively dislike Magic.
How can this be? What causes it?
Magiciand FOISTING their magic , often without being asked on people.
And the above--not knowing when to stop.

Allen Tipton

It's mostly street magic. It's not entirely casual or professional, but I do have small gigs and fool around with my friends. I'll try to find "The close up presentation". Thank you very much for your suggestions.

Kardsharp: Here is the simplified advice I give to Street Performers.

STREET MAGIC.

1 Devise several SHORT routines.
These need to be, VISUAL, able to be performed ANYWHERE and with NO
or very little reset.
They should create wonder, surprise, laughter and above all—Entertainment.

2 If you are using any tricks like the Cups & Balls ( the standby of busking
magicians for hundreds of years) then make sure you find a STRONG &
PORTABLE TABLE.

3 Wear something bright, colourful & distinctive; allowing for your age & style
In Edinburgh ( 1984) when we were performing at the Fringe, there was a wonderful , very skilful magician who wore a black shirt, black waistcoat with
patches of bright, glittery, embroidered, colour on it and a gold earing.
SHOES. You are on your feet all day. Get strong, comfortable footwear.
Carry a bottle of water, throat pastilles, Sanderson’s Throat Specific (hoarse throats), plasters, a moisteriser (it is Open Air) and a container with some easily
digestible food. Also a pak a mac & rain hat.

4 BE PREPARED for anything. When I worked the Hunstanton Fairground in
The early 60’s, on of my favourite routines was the Anti Gravity Glasses, the
original Davenport version with a book, a hanky and 3 plastic glasses.
Over the first week, both kids & adults would ask me to do the Upside bit
with plastic cups, ice cream cups, their hankies, and at the time a seaside
novelty which was a small piece of plywood with a cartoon & caption on it.
BE PREPARED FOR ANYTHING. Even being interrupted in the middle of
your favourite routine.

5 READ ‘Street Magic’ by Edward Clafin for background.

6 IF you are really serious about busking then invest in the 2 disc advice
‘CROWDPULLER’ by Peter Warddell. You can get it from Merlinsof
Wakefield for £40
Don’t think it’s cheaper anywhere else.
It covers pretty well everything from Getting A Crowd; Building them, Pre
Show stuff, the correct props and where to get them, Routines, Passing the
Hat, Live performances etc. etc.
Even How to Apply the techniques to your Corporate or Trade Shows.
You are paying for many years experience and the investment, will save you
many a heartache & worry.

7 There is an American set of Street Magic DVDs by I THINK Cellini but these
are geared to American performers

8. USE Audience Participation but don't overuse it.PLAY TO the crowd NEVER AT them.
Remember the ones at the BACK are the drifters--Take them in with your eyes & head but mainly work to those on the front.

9. HUMOUR. Look at Del Boy (Only Fools & Horses.GOLD TV) when he is selling, his dodges, on the street.
Then see if you can find any other street performers--watch them----a visit to Covent Garden would help--and STUDY the techniques of 'getting over to the crowd'
of the successful performers you see there.


Allen Tipton

Agree with the idea of scripting.
I get a rough idea of a script theme, in my head, and then scribble it down as fast as I can (either on paper, or on computer).
Then I perform it to friends or magicians, and invariably hate the script and change 95% + of it, and then I repeat until I like it, then I show it to people I don't know and are not magicians.

By the time I'm doing the routine at a paid gig, I've already done it about 50 + times.

Just to be on the safe side when working outdoors, slap on plenty of high factor long lasting sunscreen.