Ever perform a show and when it's that time to find a volunteer
it almost seems like your audience goes into terror mode? The
audience starts to slump in their chairs, look the other way or
raise someone else's hand instead of their own. They do anything
they can to make sure it is not them who get selected to come up
and help.
I feel there is a simple reason behind why this happens. Many
people just hate being picked by a magician. Why is this? Why are
people afraid to help a magician. I do not feel it is so much the
fact that they are brought into the limelight as it is this fear
that they are going to be made to look like a fool on stage in
front of everyone. Perhaps this fear of embarrassment prevents
them from wanting to assist us.
How can we change this perception that what we do is embarrass
the people we bring up on stage? How we can empower our helpers
instead of always causing the laughs to be pointed at the person
we select to assist?
The first step is always remembering that every person that you
bring up to help you should be treated like a guest in your own
home. Treat and show them the same respect you would want to
receive from them. If you remember this simple idea, you can be
sure to change your mannerisms in regards to how you talk and
greet and react with them on stage.
Second, understand that they are nervous to begin with. They are
not used to being in front of everyone or in the limelight and
they may have friends or family watching them. This nervous
feeling is normal for them. Where as we are comfortable on stage,
they are not. Be aware of this and tune into it. You can learn to
relax the person by giving them a round of applause as they come
up, shaking their hand when they get there and thanking them
periodically through out the routine. You can also whisper
something to them at times during the routine if you need to.
This just something that is heard between you the performer and
your helper that can show your appreciation.
Third, realize that it is ok to get laughs from your helpers but
make sure they realize if you do so, that you are teasing and you
appreciate their help and being a good sport. It is important
that they trust you and understand you first and the laughs you
are getting are not always pointed and aimed directly at the
person or child.
Fourth, do not fall victim of forgetting that your helper is
human just like you are. They share the same emotions and breathe
the same air. We as magicians tend to forget that the person we
have helping us is even there at all. We have done the effect so
many times that the person stops being a person and becomes a
prop that we manipulate like other props on the stage.
Fifth, your audience is EVERYTHING. Without an audience, a
magician is an awfully lonely person. Remember that you are not
there performing for yourself. You have to enjoy what you do, but
the real reason you are there is to entertain the audience that
has come to watch your performance. They want to have fun and a
good time. You can make that happen for them.
And lastly, you do not always have to get the laugh by
embarrassing the helper. You can just as easily get a great laugh
or reaction from an audience by turning the sucker trick on
yourself. Instead of the wand breaking in the child's hand, it
works fine for him but does not work for you. They seem to be
able to restore the paper napkin where as yours falls apart in
pieces.
By doing so you still get the laugh, but you are making the
helper feel good and feel important. In a sense you start to
empower the helper. This not only benefits them but will benefit
you as well. Your shows will run smoother and you send a positive
message to the entire audience and your client. You also will see
that your audience is more willing to want to come up and assist
instead of dreading to raise their hands.
We must also realize that as magicians, many of the audience
members we perform for are seeing a live magician for the very
first time. We are the ones setting the example for how they may
view magic and magicians in general. If this is the case, then we
should be conscious of this and work towards giving those
audience members a positive feeling towards the entire magical
experience.
As always, I encourage you the readers to let me know your
thoughts. So if you have any thoughts on my articles or
suggestions or comments, please feel free to e-mail me directly
at magic4u02@aol.com. I would love to
hear from you.
Kyle Peron
Magician and Illusionist
Graphic Designer and Illustrator
(Specializing in Logo creation)
www.kyleandkellymagic.com
Chair Suspension Ebook Author
http://www.magicenhancer.com/ChairSuspension.html