| Tips and Tricks #1
One of the things that I wanted to do when I set up my e-mail list was to come up with a series of 8-10 basic (now it’s 50!) introduction to magic lessons that would be helpful to folks just starting out in magic and perhaps helpful to those who have been involved in magic for a while. This is the first of those lessons and deals with one of the critical areas of magical performance whether you are just starting out or whether you are a full time pro. The issue? SPACE and Audience Proximity , here is a situation that you can probably see in your minds eye….maybe, because it has happened to you! You are performing a trick for one or more friends and one of them reaches over and grabs the critical prop at the critical time and basically ruins the performance. Got it? Everyone and I mean Everyone has been through this. You hate it, but it happens. BUT….here’s the cool thing….it does not have to ever happen again and I’m going to tell you how to manage things so that it does ‘not’ happen again. First, just simply be prepared. It is very much as if you are looking for the hitman in the shadows when you go to the store at night. Just being aware that it can happen will stop it from being a problem about 75% of the time. Why is that? Because, if you are aware of it you can move at the same time the ‘mugger’ does. You can take action. Second, you can now become more aware of SPACE and ‘Audience Proximity’. Here it is: Look at the show situation. PLACE your spectators far enough away that they simply CAN’T grab anything!!! Trust me on this: YOU control the situation… especially before anything starts! Say, “Look let’s get everyone (or you if only one person) situated like this so that everyone will be able to see exactly what is going on.” See what I mean. Be the nice guy who want’s to help your audience out! It is this simple….put audience members at just that distance from you so that they cannot mess with your show. As time goes on you will KNOW who will be a problem. Not always, but mostly. Anyone drunk can be real bad news, but not necessarily. For what ever reason women tend to grab more than men and they are FAST! It is likea Zen stone snatching trick. Watch the wise guy who seems to be in your face verbally. Watch how people are poised. Relaxed and sitting back having a good time. Leaning forward with the skin of their face stretched tight their eyes glowing with a feral animal *lust* to mess with your performance? You won’t get many of that last, but I thought I should bring him up. In the end, simply control the situation gently. People ‘want’ to see the magic and they will almost always help you get it going by doing as you politely request. Have a Great Week, |