talkmagic.co.uk

Hey there all, just been thinking about magic quite a bit recently and decided to ramble a little about some peoples negative feelings on magic...

I currently tend to perform to only friends and family at this stage, but I’ve seem to have found a few people who really appear to dislike what I do and can take real pleasure in trying to uncover how you achieved the effect you did. Now there are two sorts of these people I’ve come across: the first is one which does not react to anything, and simply takes offence to whatever you do, as if you are trying to fool them and your attempt to entertain using your ‘little trick’ is an insult to their intelligence. They sometimes come up with random ways of explaining the trick, usually being completely wrong (it feels good to show them how ignorant they are by showing them that there actually IS NOT another coin/card in your hand (for example) contrary to their beliefs though its even worse when you cannot prove that they are in fact wrong). I’ve found there is not much you can do with this kind of person except be polite, and not show them anything again (although its real nice when that persons around while your lapping up praise for a well performed trick with lots of spectators wildly asking “how did you do it?!?!”).

The other, I believe tends to see you as an attention seeker and thinks along the lines "O god, bringing out a pack of cards again is he - when will this guy stop trying to impress", rolling his/her eyes when you say your going to do some magic. Yet after they see a good routine or two can be brought around, and will ask you in a friendly manner how its done, or to do another trick and tend to have found a kind of genuine respect for you. Its really nice to turn someone around like this, but at the moment I have a real problem with confidence and find myself sitting quietly for ages handling an effect in my pocket waiting for the right moment to show it, realising that the night has suddenly passed getting involved in some conversation or something along those lines.

To this end I seem to find using every day objects a lot easier to perform with the perfect example being coins, for the reason that you do not have to state, "Would you like to see a magic trick?" With coins I tend to pull them out and say something along the lines of "Have you ever seen a magician take out 3 coins and put one in his left hand two in his right etc..." I find coins are far more generally accepted by an audience then a pack of cards (for example) bringing me (FINALLY) to the point of this post. What I’m looking for is a way of introducing a magic trick that is not generally accepted/used in everyday life to friends/family/work colleagues (people that I know well) using - (for example) a packet of cards (people do not usually carry around cards surprisingly enough ), without saying enthusiastically "Hey, would you like to see a magic trick?!?" I find that even if people don't, they will always say yes out of politeness, sometimes saying 'yes' with a completely uninterested tone. Now I’ve heard a few magic intros suitable to a crowd that you've never performed to before (that are really cheesy) perfect for table-hopping like:

"A ten ton polar bear...well is that doesn't break the ice nothing will"

…and…

"Hello, I am a wandering magician, and I was wondering if you'd like to see a trick?"

…but these being acceptable for something such as table hopping, could not be reeled off to friends and family.

Any help/thoughts/suggestions/other ramblings are more then welcome. I'd love to get other peoples views on this.

Magic regards,

Alex

Hey,

There was a 3 page discussion we were having about this sort of problem in the Misc thread, 'Card Magic without Sleight of Hand', basically dealing with peoples preconceptions of card magic, and how they are always trying to guess what it was that you did.
Have a look in there if you havent already to see what I think about the problems that face card magicians! Hope thats of some help!
Mark

I didn't realise you had cross posted this thread

I have replied to the other one, for what it's worth.

My apologies for posting twice, I just wanted to generate maximum response and felt it suited both sections.

alex

Personally, what I do is the card spring from hand to hand. Peopl notice you, and ask to see something...most of the time. I don't point myself out as a magician - they just immidiately see I am familier with cards. Then, they don't think of me as showing off e.t.c - they asked in the first place!

Same thing here
I, by far, prefer to have some people approach (arg! spelling? me than to approach people. It look completely impromptu (if you act right) and this way make sure you only catch up with people ready and willing to see some magic. The only problem is that we live in a society where almost nobody wants to initiate a conversation with a complete stranger so it's rate of succes is somewhat low...

I see where your coming from, and its a good thought, but again - this doesn't seem natural to me. People don't sit in pubs smoothly riffle shuffling packs of cards or show off nifty flourishes and cuts...unless your in a game of poker of course now thats just too easy. No excuses to show off - they got the cards out and everything!

Regards,

Alex

It depends what you have around you. I'm quite lucky - I sit at a cash counter and have a tray of coins in front of me. Doing the odd coin vanish isn't too hard, even with people who you'd never approach for a card trick. The good thing is that I get to do magic to strangers, however briefly, upwards of 10 times a day - and it doesn't matter when I fail, as it's normally a good laugh for them.

In Jay Sankey's Anytime Anywhere, he uses loads of everyday items from rubber bands to ballpoint pens, coins etc. Familiarity with this material makes it much easier to spot opportunities.

In my experience, there are two types of people: those who like magic and those who don't. Those who don't like it find it threatening and have some sort of deep insecurity that prevents them from being entertained. I have had people ask me to leave, and/or have said 'no' when I approach them, even though they know I have been hired to perform for the evening. Some people can be 'won' through some good effects. Others may just require you to walk away.

As for initiating a trick, I have found that the 'what do you do' conversation provides an opportunity. I usually do the arm twisting illusion to wake them up and then move onto cards and coins, etc. I find that gentle suggestion and not forceful approaches work best. It also depends very much on the setting. Pubs are great for some stuff, family events other stuff, etc. The key here is not necessarily the magic you are doing, but the interpersonal skills needed to win the crowd.

Aaaah the bane of every working magicians life....the audiece.

I see where youi're coming from with the magic hater. I think we need to look at psychology of self-esteem here.

The person who wants to ruin your trick is worried about their own self esteem and they react like this:

Magician:

would you like tio see a trick? ( this to a group of spectators)

Magic hater thinks subconciously :

Jeez, that guy's popular, they're paying attention to him. They're not paying attention to me.

Magician: ( concluding trick )

And the card the table and the room are all engulfed in flames ( I made that up )


Magic hater: ( thinks subconciously )


Look at him the ********* all popular and with the ladies too. I can't do that, I haven't got the bottle. I must bring attention back to me to make me feel better.

Says Well actually, he has a jar of vaseline crammed inside...etc

You will find in many magic haters and hecklers there is a subconcious desire to be a magician but a lack of entertaining bravado if I can call it that so they try and get their kicks by putting others down.

What you need is a sucker trick along the lines of ..well you seem to know a bit about magic. What i want you to do is stand here with your trousers around your ankles and be photographed and then I will make the digital image multiply ( I will post it on the net) etc. (JOKE)

The best way of dealing with this is not to pander to them. It gives them attention which is what they want. To feel big by making others feel small.

Nice one Ignis!!!!!