Talk TO your audience...not down to them. Never, never, never argue with a young audience member. You can't win. Period.
Don't use "sucker" effects. If you feel you must include one, make it just one. Consider making yourself the sucker or another good-natured adult. Alternatively, everyone (magician, kids, adults) can be the suckers. Don't single out any one child. Kids love the "magician in trouble." Just don't overdo it and be sure to finish with a strong, successful effect.
While the kids are definitely your primary audience, don't forget that you (probably) have adults watching too. Try to entertain everyone. That means family entertainment...never any innuendo or double entendre. It's great to hear adults say "The kids loved you show!" but it's even better to hear "We loved your show!" That usually translates into additional bookings.
How to handle the "I know how that's done" kid--Tom Myers uses a method that I've had luck with. When faced by the know-it-all child, say something like, "You sound like you're a magician, too, so you know that all GOOD magicians keep their secrets. Maybe we could talk about magic after the show." The (my) theory is that you will have accomplished one or more things. 1) You've satisfied the child's desire for attention and/or feeling of importance. 2) The child is now on your side and therefore less likely to work against you. 3) Planted the notion that revealing secrets is bad. I try to remember that this kid may in fact be an aspiring magician who just doesn't yet understand the ethics of magic.
It looks like I'm writing my own book here. Just remember these are my opinions folks...things that work for me. In magic as in life, there is no such thing as an absolute rule...which, by the way, is an absolute rule. (c:~)) Let us know how the show goes. Brett Luna ~~ Breaking the Laws of Nature ~~ Reuschbach, Germany
Thoughts on relationships with wait staff, timing of the table approach etc. I think
that it could be beneficial to help all of us.
To me, and I've been doing it for 6 years now ( almost 7 ). Restaurant Magic is about
diplomacy. Basically you represent the restaurant. I feel that I'm there as a thank you
from the management., and to have fun with the customers.
Far as the wait staff goes, IMHO, you want to have them on your side. Quick ways to get
them upset, are to keep their last tables from leaving ( thereby keeping them from leaving
), jumping in and performing before the table's even ordered, and just generally getting
in the way of the wait staff. If they think of you as a pain, you're in trouble. On the
other hand, if you get them on your side, you'll have no stronger friends or allies (
least while you're performing ). I'll help set a table if we're busy, clear a table so
that others can set it, or quiet a little one. None of these are necessarily my job, but
one hand washes the other, and if I help them out, they're more inclined to help me out as
well. We've set up numerous routines where they'll pass on names/birthdays and other info
to me, before I even get to the table....they've loaded cards under napkins ( or under
people ) for me...and we have lots of impromptu fun as well.
My 2 favorite times to approach are during dessert...or after they've ordered and have
to wait for their meal.
We haven't changed the advertising approach of the restaurant...instead we let people find
out, then word of mouth from there.. 1 big factor for me, in other folks finding out has
been "Card on Ceiling" I do it in my stand up work, and happened to have it with
me one night at the restaurant...just for a lark, I pulled it out, stuck the card, the
owner told me later that people still talked about that card.. People coming in for
breakfast and lunch asked about the card, and the owner was able to tell them to come back
when I'm there to see it....which he was really happy with. ( as long as I don't
"plaster" the place with cards, he's happy :)
Also, any signed cards are given out, and either go inside a balloon sculpture, or at the
very least are held in the "paws/mouth/or beak" of the sculpture....and to help
advertise yourself, magic with business cards is great.. there's some good stuff by
Anthony Lindan out there, also great ideas in the Magic
Menu. by Jim Sisti.
Hope this helps,
Steven H. Brown
steve@theatrefx.com
Appletwist@aol.com
On Earth Day each year, I perform a recycling show at my children's elementary school. The basic theme is "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle". Of course, these are also the magic words used during the show. I request that the show be publicized as a Environmental Program, not as a magic show. Even the introduction I write for the Principal to read doesn't have the word magic in it. This is for several reasons. First, some of the kids think that they don't have to behave as well during a magic show as during an educational assembly program. Second, when I make my entrance (you have to open the curtains yourself and walk in from the wings), and start talking about how newspaper is recycled, they listen politely. But because I am also tearing up a newspaper while talking, they watch closely because they don't know what's going to happen next. Then, when I illustrate that recycled newspaper can be used to make a brand new newspaper by doing a flash restoration - there is a gasp that is as sweet a sound as a performer will ever hear. The impact would not be so great if they were watching for tricks. So don't tell them where you're going before you get there.
To demonstrate "Reuse", I show how I reuse old newspaper before it gets recycled. I perform Afghan Bands or Mobius Strips, using 3 newspaper loops, 3 pairs of scissors, and 3 volunteers who have a race to see who can cut their loop into 2 separate loops. (2 large students and 1 little girl - the girl wins, of course.)
Next is Paper Balls Over Head. The patter line is that most people think that when you put (don't say throw) trash in the trash can outside, it disappears. But the truth is that garbage is filling up the landfills and if we don't reduce the amount we throw away, pretty soon it will start piling up in our backyards. (Behind his back.) I use paper towels for this. Then when the assistant has returned to his seat, I bring out a paper grocery bag and start putting the balls into the bag. This leads to "Reuse". I ask if the kids would like to see a way to make the paper towels disappear. When the kids say the magic words, I turn the bag upside down and a big, white lump falls onto my table. The kids laugh but then I pick it up and show that it is a white cloth kitchen towel. Cloth towels can be washed and reused and can reduce the need for paper towels. I comment that tearing up the newspaper earlier got a little ink on my hands, and of course, it's our old friend the black hands towel gag. The grocery bag has an extra side glued inside and I never show the inside of the bag anyway. (Hey, I turned the bag over so everything in it fell out. Right?) (One more thing about Paper Balls Over the Head - tell the audience that they might see where the balls go but not to tell your assistant. It's like a test, I tell them, don't cheat and tell him the answer. Promise them that at the end of the trick, uh excuse me, demonstration, you will let them tell him where they went. In other words, don't say anything now and I'll let you tell him later.)
Next is a milk pitcher routine about saving water. Don't run the water while you brush your teeth. It wastes 3-5 gallons of water. Work out your own routine, mine isn't all that great anyway. Be aware that a pitcher of water looks empty to most of the audience.
The big finale is a reworking of "Charlie's Invisible Message" from one of David Ginn's books. It is a prediction effect. I used 4 signs with types of recycled material; Metal, Paper, Glass, and Plastic. You get 4 students up and hand out the signs, talking about each material and how much can be saved each year by recycling, blah, blah, blah. A student in the audience chooses one material and you reveal your prediction - they match! There's a little more to it, but even though David isn't online, I saw him lecture just 2 weeks ago, so I'd feel guilty if I gave too much away. Go read his books.
I saw David Ginn and Max Howard lecture at the International Festival of Children's Magicians. Max is an impressive actor. A thoughtful man who began his lecture with an opening remark about how the performer can lift the spirituality of his audience through the study and use of stage techniques. He was inspirational and eloquent. David Ginn began his lecture by stepping up to the mike and saying, "PRESENTATION IS EVERYTHING!" Two completely different performers, two completely different styles, yet the message was the same.
Hope this helps.
Contributed by: Tate Elliott
******************************************
Dr. R. King, Bell College of Technology
Almada Street, Hamilton, ML3 0JB, Scotland
Tel 01698 283 100
work e-mail R.King@bell.ac.uk
Home e-mail R.King@strath.ac.uk
****************************************** I am interested in reading and formulating
principles for showmanship and presentation in magic. Of course, principles are just
guidelines; they ARE NOT LAWS. Principles should be adapted to the tastes and preferences
of the performer. However, principles are particularly useful to aspiring conjurers who
often have to discover them over a long period of time and by trial and error.
I have stated a number of principles and tips in my new book, TRICK ANALYZING THE CLOSE-UP
MAGIC OF DAVID COPPERFIELD: Analyses, Concepts, and Principles for Presentation. Stated
below are two categories of principles extracted from the book:
PRINCIPLE OF LEAST EFFORT (ECONOMY OF MOTION) "Expend the least possible effort when carrying actions, especially sleights and secret handling. If you expend the least possible effort, your actions and performance would appear relaxed and natural. ..."
PRINCIPLES FOR (CUEING IN) APPLAUSE "As you approach the magical climax, you could pause for a beat or two, then (slowly) reveal the climax. Immediately after you reveal the climax, pause for two or three beats while looking at the principal object, then (slowly) raise your head, look at the audience and smile..."
I do the routine very often and have found that a count based on the
Hammon count is both easier and more natural than the multiple push offs. I switched to
this technique after
about a year of using push offs and have found it successful. Begin with
cards stacked from the face red, blue, and then the hold out card. Hold these
face up in a Biddle grip. Count the red one onto your palm with the left
thumb. Bring it under and flush with the right hand cards, pull off the 2
cards there as one and leave the red one in the right hand, and then count it.
The illusion is that you count three cards, a red, a blue, and another red. To
make this work, all the counts must look identical and natural, and do it
casually, not calling attention to each individual card. The packet is now
set to perform, but I'll do a false shuffle before going into the game
sequence. This is just what works for me, just do what's most natural for you.
Jake Grier
MagiJake
A fellow magi wrote:
Hey I am trying to start performing and to do this I really need to develop patter, I want
my performance to be entertaining. So I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on how for
me to get started with this, maybe some books that could help. Thanks Jason.
My advice is to first learn to tell a story. Reciting lines is easy. Being a story-teller takes practice. Now, most magi dismiss this as being a "step-down" from the techno-skills of a magician. But look at the fellows and ladies who have learned this art. For example, Jay Sankey took a relatively amusing effect, torn and restored cards, wrapped a story around it and turned it into the "Cardboard contortionists." Sankey called the concept, "Material fiction."
Secondly, learn that magic is inherently funny. Gary Kurtz points out that magic has the inevitable surprise and people want to laugh at the surprise. So combine the two: story and humor (see Paul Harris). Read everything you can on being funny. Go to comedy clubs and see the best...and the worst of humor. It's easy to poke fun at people but very difficult to be original. On patter books: there are some very good ones out there and they may fit you for a start. But this is like saying one size of shoes fits all. Let your imagination wander and wonder.
Lastly, learn what it means to become a good speaker. For example, Henry Hay points out there is a qualitative difference between attention and interest. One might spontaneously combust- and you'll have their attention. But after a while they lose interest. Notice in some of these TV shows like, "The most spectacular car chases." First time around, it may be interesting. Second time around, maybe you'll watch home improvement. You've lost interest. So...putting this to practical use in magic: Suppose you walk up to the mike and you've only got about 30 seconds to get their interest- you already have their attention...what are you going to do? Can't do a counting card trick, a long drawn out mentalism thing, pull out a box and show it's empty, etc. You have to make them want to watch. THE BEST I have ever seen was to watch Max Maven, in a comedy club (not for magicians at a convention) walk out and stand at the mike for over 45 seconds...without a word. People stood, stared, laughed, wondered. Then he said.."Boo." Then another 20 seconds. Finally, he said, "Yes, this is really my face." He became the center of attention and moved it to interest which he held for the next 75 minutes. Bravo.
Christopher A Faria
I started doing balloons a few years ago when my wife decided to learn how
to do a few basic figures from a beginning tape by T. Myers. At our first job together she
was overwhelmed by the rushing flood of children shouting for theirs next and promptly
retired her act. I never leave home without some balloons and a pump just in case some
child recognizees me in the store and I can make them smile and get some cheap
advertising.
Managing the "mob"...now, there's a challenge. Until now, I've tried my best to
have folks line up and give me my space and I've been fairly successful at it. But still,
it's more work than I think I really need to do. So, taking a hint from the deli and fast
food industries, I'm looking into putting together a crowd control system. I just ordered
a "take-a-number" machine and I'll either buy or assemble a set of rope
barriers.The ticket machine will serve two purposes. Not only will it determine who's
next, regardless of whether or not they stay in an orderly line, it will also allow me to
easily cut the line off by simply removing the machine from use.On the subject of keeping
balloons handy for give-aways...I stopped doing that a while back. It is indeed good
public relations in my opinion and I just plain enjoy making kids smile, as well. However,
I do a lot of birthday shows in public places like a local pizzeria. After each show, it's
almost a given that one or more children from the other side of the restaurant will ask
for a balloon.
I used to oblige, as long as it was only one or two, thinking it was a good thing but over
time I began to rethink that. In those cases I had just been paid to make balloons for the
children at the party, now there I was giving away the very thing for which they'd paid.
In my mind (and in the mind of the customer, I imagined) doing so lessened the value of my
services. Now I explain to the other children that the balloons were a special surprise
just for the birthday party. This approach has caused me no problems with hard feelings.
Rather, parents frequently ask my for a card when their children say they want me at their
party.
Thanks for reading.
Brett Luna~~~
Breaking the Laws of Nature~~~Reuschbach,Germany~~~~lunatic@interquest.de