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I find that friends are never great to perform magic for, well not when you're first starting anyway. Because they know you, they will see it as you fooling them, they don't percieve you as a magician. Took a while but my mates have come round to it now, and now make exellent specators. As far as they are concerned you just read a trick and are now fooling them. Some people find it irritating. Performing for people you don't know is completely different. They will see you as 'the magician' as soon as you do a trick.

Yeah that actually makes some sense. Although i have performed infront of other friends and got a good response. Depends upon the person i guess.

Thanks

Umm,

if you are doing card magic to him, some people just dont like card magic.

Keep the cards up, but try showing him a different type of magic. Another type of close up.

I know, quite a few people i know arnt keen on card magic (tricks too long etc) but they love a simple coin bite!

I find the contrary true when performing to friends... most of the time, when down the local watering hole for example, I get hounded for tricks.

Now, to clarify: I'm far from a magic geek. I have a life outside magic, and I'm renowned for my (rather long winded) jokes as well.

I think it's important to set out NOT to go and wow your friends. Usually, I keep a deck of cards and a TT in my pocket. You'd be amazed at how many people actually find great entertainment from just those two items.

Of course, coins are freely available, as are other items which can be magical: beermats, sugar packets, crisp bags, peanuts.

It's not uncommon for me to be sitting with a couple of chums and the barman to come over and say "Here he is, hey Chris, can you show JoeBloggs here that trick with the four Aces?"

Sometimes its' a chore, other times, its' flattering. And it can even get you gigs.

Play it down, don't be a showoff, and don't force the effects on people.

Take it eeeeaaaassssyyyyy

As for family—my BEST guinea pig is Mrs Seige. She's a brick, truly. She helps me tremendously, and as she's always available, I can rely on her to 'have a quick look at this trick I've been playing with...'.

When I was younger, my parents used to be my enthusiastic audience. Mom was pretty passive, always full of wow and praise, whereas the old man was more critical and analytic in his comments—which was no bad-thing.

It's very important to take ANY criticism on board and learn from it, rather than be deflamed. Positive critiques are fantastic, but within friends and family circles, it's not uncommon for positive comments to be anything less than patronisation.

Negative comments from friends and family are actually a lot more helpful, in my experience, as they let you know quite sincerely what they think. If they're bored by your magic, perhaps you may want to consider fizzing it up a little?

I always remember meeting my 'in-laws' for the first time. As an ice breaker, I performed a reasonably crude impromptu trick at the dinner table, which was basically to pour a load of salt and pepper into my fist, and then vanish it. (I was nervous, OK?)

It went down like a lead balloon. I felt such a pillock. I could feel myself blushing. What HAVE I done!

However, a bit later on, I managed to regain my standing in their ratings by doing a 2 hour stint of coin and cards, after which they were thoroughly satiated and exhausted (as was I) and quite bewildered.

The moral of my story was: don't impose your skills on a situation, and get your timings right.

People KNOW that I love magic, and as such, I wait for the invitation to perform. Always be prepared, and always be prepared to wait your moment. That way, you will go far higher in their estimations.

WHAT IF THEY NEVER ASK YOU TO PERFORM? Then wait until you have a KILLER effect up your sleeve and worm it in gently. A killer effect is worth it's weight in gold—and given the right situation, you may just get your brownie points back in credit.

AND REMEMBER: lots of people don't like magic. They will find you cocky, and will do their damndest to discredit/reveal what you've just done as a cheap trick. If you have any doubts at all about your audience, best bet is to keep your hands in your pockets.

Why do they do this? Perhaps they're jealous of you getting attention for doing something they can't?

More likely is the fact that MAGIC is about fooling people. It's a deception. People sometimes object to this. And for this reason, try and break the ice with a passive effect that doesn't make someone look stoooopid!

Yeah good advice there seige, mainly because im new to performing magic i dont try force it upon people, im usually looking for a guinee pig so i can practise, mostly being my mum, but like yours she thinks every trick i do is great even if its cheesy So i try to practise on others 'being my friends' all of my other friends except the one i mentioned who gets annoyed, they really enjoy it, and encourage me.

And i havent just shown him card tricks, i mix it up. And to be honest, aside from magic, whenever i mention somthing cool, like anything from a great new pc game i got, or even showing him a new tune i learnt on the guitar, he gets all pissy and acts un interested. Some of you may say "well maybe he isnt" this guy loves games, and has talked of interest in learning the guitar 'i have even offered to teach him' Sorry if this is a bit off topic.

Anyway all the advice you guys have offered is really good and i will learn from it all.

love magic yourself! thats much more important. Magic is not suitable for everyone but it can bring happiness to all of the normal people. Keep going...

Thanks mate!

arkos wrote: Funny thing is he performed a pretty lame 'mathamatical' type of card trick on me and thought it was just wondeful.

Did you act amazed? maybe ask him to show you how it was done? even if you knew it?

He showed you that trick as an attempt to reach a common ground with you as a good friend.

My best friend hated me doing magic but at christmas he bought me cards books rope etc etc etc, he is supportive of it in his own way, he just prefers to talk to me about other things that magic when we go for a game of snooker or down the pub or wherever.

Your friend isnt a problem here just keep practising with your magic, dont mention it to your friend unless he does..orrrrrr ask him how he done his trick, maybe show him a self working one? you never know the outcome of that

Yes i showed interest in his 'mathamatical' trick, and asked him how he did it etc. And he thought the trick was the best thing since sliced bread, I would show him somthing like the 2 card monte, or somthing on that level, which might not be the most difficult trick there is, but requires more smarts and time than a 'mathamatical' trick would. If he dont like magic tricks why would he perform one for me? I just put it down to jelousy or him not being able to figure out how i do certain tricks. Either way, i dont even talk about, or mention 'magic' infront of him anymore