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So here's a situation to imagine.

You arrive at an event and the booker says he has an important table of guests that he would like to impress.
So you go over to that table and the booker is watching, all smiles and encouraging, but the group are just not into magic. Everything you do they call you on.
You use your favourite method to control 'the situation' and the spectators say it's on top, so you say, no it's not, and do a DL, and they say there is two there... etc etc... everything you do is completely uninteresting to them, and any trick that you do complete has the reaction of - oh well that's not magic, you just did...

What would you do? My first thought is switch to something self-working, but even then this sort of situation is a battle that's being lost and every time you try to make things better by showing another trick, or another phase it makes it all much worse. The best thing would be to say, "Ok, enjoy your night," and then leave, but with the booker over your shoulder that's a difficult thing to do?

Ideas?

Switch to sponge bunnies, much more likely to be enjoyed even if someone isn't into magic.
There are loads of people out there who don't like card magic.
TBH I think your best bet in that situation is to take a break and have a chat with the booker to have a quiet word about what they want. If you keep going you are harming the client's rep and doing the opposite of what they want.

First, stop challenging them.

Spectator: 'There are two of them"
Magician: "No there are not"

Right there is the challange. So what do you do about it. At the moment of performance you have to switch gears, as suggested get out the sponge bunnies, put away the 'serious' stuff forget about fooling them and start to have fun with them.

Now that the gig is done you have to go back and really take a good hard look at the performance. Why are they so concerned with method? You are presenting a puzzle. Think about telling a story instead. Are you focused on your effect or your audience. That makes a huge difference.

You stated you are thinking of looking into self workers. Why do you think that would make a difference? It doesn't except you will be no longer thinking about method so neither will they. But that has nothing to do with the effect or method it has to do with your attitude.

Without ever seeing you perform I am betting you are on the right track because you are asking the right questions. Relax and have fun.

Do a sucker trick. That will soon shut them up. I would recommend Design for Laughter or 3 and a half of clubs.

Darwin Ortiz recommends that you ignore them and as a last resort say without looking at the offender, "That is what happens when cousins marry". A rather daft approach which mars his otherwise excellent book, particularly if they are friends of the booker which seems to be the case here.

Attitude is very important. If you come on too strong as the big "I am" as many magicians do, then you will attract confrontation like a magnet. I am not saying you do this but just in case you do it is worth thinking about and even if you don't do it then I am going to say it anyway as it may act as a warning to others as this is a very common weakness. And a "pleased with myself" manner is just as bad.

Oh, and a bit of practice so they don't catch your moves might not do you any harm.

How you approach the table can have a massive effect on how you're received. I've seen far too many magicians just walk up to a table and start performing, do that and to the audience it can look like the magician showing off, if they're not interested in you, they're not going to be interested in your magic. Instead of just pulling out the tricks, smile and chat to the table for a few minutes, ask them their names (and use their names), ask them about their day, get them on your side. When everyone's comfortable then start to perform but keep it about them, perform magic that involves them and don't forget to keep using their names.

If I was sitting at a table and some magician came up to me and asked me about my day I would be highly tempted to tell him or her to mind their own business. I am afraid that I am not a great one for approaching tables and asking people about their welfare. If you sell svengali decks for a while you will soon understand why. I do prefer to get on with the job straight away so they can appreciate my genius immediately.

Still, if you have the charm and can put on the false smile to chatter to the people first about their names and the price of beans in Tesco then all power to you. Alas I am afraid that I don't have that kind of knack. I do have charm of course. My friend Peter Snow the famed street magician once said that I "was as charming as a rattlesnake"

I hate people asking my name. I consider it a breach of privacy. Not the British way of doing things. I still treasure the memory of Paul Pacific in England performing and asking a spectator his name and the fellow replying, "I'd rather not say". He tried it again with someone else and the reply was "Mind your own business!"

Quite right too.

Here are a couple of ideas. Identify the alpha male of the group and let him be the hero by allowing him to do a trick such as one where he miraculously finds all the aces etc. when doing a trick, get the person who booked you involved as a spectator. At least he will be impressed and he is the most important person anyway. You can engineer the moment so that the table are your audience and your booker is the hero. Lastly, whenever anyone shouts out something like "you dealt from the bottom" simply ignore it and ask a close by spectator a funny, incongruous question. It will confuse the heckler and the attention is now on the other spectator. It boils down to audience management, experience, confidence, patience, tolerance and good natured humour. Lastly, its not about how strong the effect is, it is about the emotional connection you make and the fun that you are trying to create. For me, i just think that I have been paid to entertain and I just try to do my best. The person who booked you will pick that vibe up and may even feel a bit embarrassed that the spectators aren't being fun.

So, thinking more about this. If you really want to impress the booker that wants you to impress the table, and the table is just not receptive then just stop. Apologize for the interuption and move along.

Further more you scenario is not one that you will come across, it is rare for a table full of people and all of them don't like you, unless you are not very nice. A few people having an intimate conversation? Yes it would be wrong to intrude and you explain that to the booker. If you keep an eye on the table and a lull forms, well then there is your chance.

The biggest challange to a magician is knowing when to stop, and sometimes knowing when not to even start.

It hasn't happened to me, it just occurred to me that it would be a difficult thing to deal with.

I guess the best thing would be to say in a friendly wa, "You're not enjoying this are you? Well, enjoy the night, and let me know if you do want to see some magic."

You would hope that the booker would understand that.

What did happen recently was a booker standing over my shoulder for about half an hour (of a two hour gig) and it was a bit intense because at the beginning he had said quite sternly, "I hope you're good for this money!"

Fortunately I am, and everyone had a great time and he had no complaints, but at the time I couldn't help thinking, just let me get on with it!!

Jing wrote:booker standing over my should for about half an hour (of a two hour gig) and it was a bit intense because at the beginning he had said quite sternly, "I hope your good for this money!"

Cheeky sod! Would he do the same with a singer or a comedian? I think not.

Cheeky sod! Would he do the same with a singer or a comedian? I think not.

Indeed, I think not! Fortunately all was fine in the end.

Visit the booker while he's working, stare over his shoulder and make unsettling comments !

I think this sort of thing can come from bookers simply not understanding magic. I have no direct experience of this (which is why I didn't comment before), but thinking about it, maybe magicians should try to educate the booker, if the sort of situation Jing suggested arises. You wouldn't expect an entire audience at a social event to like Tim Vine style one-liner comedy, or to enjoy drum and bass music and not everyone is going to like magic.

I also think bmat's comment about telling the booker that it would be wrong to interrupt is a wise one.

Part-Timer wrote:I think this sort of thing can come from bookers simply not understanding magic. I have no direct experience of this (which is why I didn't comment before), but thinking about it, maybe magicians should try to educate the booker, if the sort of situation Jing suggested arises. You wouldn't expect an entire audience at a social event to like Tim Vine style one-liner comedy, or to enjoy drum and bass music and not everyone is going to like magic.

I also think bmat's comment about telling the booker that it would be wrong to interrupt is a wise one.

Absolutly educating the booker is key here. Is the booker an agent? If so why is he even at the event. If the booker is the person who hired you then yes they must be educated. And it comes down to attitude. You have to be polite but firm. You have to keep in mind they probably spent quite a bit of money on you and they just want to be sure it pays off. You can't blame them for that.

At the same time you are the professional. You have done 100's of shows (number doesn't matter even if it is your first) they have no concept as to what it is you actually do.

What I would do in the above scenario is allow the booker to follow me around for a table or two, then politly pull him/her aside and explain that you hired me and I will do everything in my power to ensure your guests have a good time. Why not ask them how it went once I've been to a table and gone. But standing over my shoulder the way you have been is distracting for both the guests and for me. Please allow me to do my job.

Or you may want ask the booker if they wish to be included in the act. Just ask them to remember the 3 of spades, and when asked just say the Three of spades, (or whatever) you may find a very willing partner. or not.