Magic Roadshow

Journal of Magic... June 25, 2004 #10002

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Hello Folks...

Rick Carruth from Magic Roadshow here... I want to take a moment and welcome all the new subscribers - you know who you are - and encourage you to write me with any thoughts or suggestions for our journal.

" Practice...Practice...Practice "

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~ Did You See T.H.E.M. ? ~

On Wednesday June 23rd, NBC TV (USA) broadcast the first two episodes of T.H.E.M. - Totally Hidden Extreme Magic. I don't know whether you saw it or not... but I hope you did !

Based on a hidden camera concept, THEM is comprised of a band of nine magicians who use their impressive skills to fool, shock, and stun unsuspecting participants.

With a basis of street magic, you see the screwdriver thru the arm, floating coffee cups, extreme "torn and restored", and a slightly whacked dude climbing up the walls of an elevator... to the horror of the other passengers.

In other words, my kind of magic!

I love "prop-less" magic. Or at least, magic where the prop is hidden from the audience. That's why I love street magic and the 'sudden' and 'unexpected' moves that you can accomplish without visible props and with everyday objects...

I understand THEM has been playing in other parts of the world prior to this weeks broadcast. If you missed it... I hope you make a point to keep an eye out for it's return.

As soon as I know future broadcast dates.. I'll pass them on.

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~ 7 Necessary Steps You Should Take When Performing Magic In Streets & Bars ~

by Gary McCaffrey

If you want to start performing magic tricks to strangers in streets bars and clubs, follow these tips and get the most out of every magic performance.

1. Dress Casually

A lot of people will tell you that to come across as a serious magician, you have to dress well. While that is true for restaraunt work, when performing in streets and bars, you want to appear casual. Just a pair of jeans and a shirt or T-shirt is perfect. This way you blend in, looking like the average person will make people expect little from you, which elevates the surprise factor when you do something amazing.

2. Choose Your Spectators

When you start performing regularly in the 'real world', you will face a lot of rejection, by rejection I mean people who have no interest in seeing what you do. However, there are measures you can take to decrease this 'rejection'. Never approach people who look busy, if someone is marching through the street, or in a bar in a deep conversation with their partner, its unlikely they want to be interupted.

The next thing my experience has taught me, avoid older people and groups of males, don't ask me why but older people seem to not want to see magic tricks, and groups of males almost always feel challenged by the fact you know something they don't, and are prime cadidates for trying to ruin your magic.

3. Play Yourself Down

When I first approach spectators, I always like to act real casual, take everything slow and smoothe. This will make you appear as though your not even trying, which will amaze your spectators even more, that way, they will think, "what could he do if he actually tried".

4. Learn Your Tricks

This one is pretty obvious but do not perform any trick until you have practiced it well. Although performing is the best practice you will get, make sure you have the mechanics down before you start, there is nothing more embarassing than forgetting what to do next in the middle of a routine.

5. Structure Your Performance

Make sure your routine is well structured, this means that each trick builds on the last, has an extra surprise factor or is just simply more amazing. You don't want to start your routine with your strongest trick because the rest of your magic will just seem mediocre, build as you go and leave the best to last!

6. No means NO!

If you approach someone and they say they don't want to see any magic, do not continue to insist, you don't want to harrass people. Just politely say 'Ok, thats fine' and move along, they could be having a bad day and if someone is cheeky to you or insults you it may dent your confidence for the rest of your performance.

7. Get A Tip

The easiest way I find to get a tip is to finish with a trick using money. Borrow some cash from a spectator and use it in your final trick. Often, if you where entertaining, people will tell you to keep the money, or usually, you can just put it in your pocket and say nothing, they usually just let you have it. This is the most hassle free way of getting a tip, because usually, I don't like to ask for it.

Keep in mind, that there is a lot more to performing in the street than what I have outlined above. But if you follow this advice, you will be sure to make a success out of most of your street magic performances.

Gary McCaffrey, Performing Street Magician. Gary McCaffrey rugularly performs to both magicians and ordinary people in bars clubs & streets throughout Ireland and the UK.

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Brad Christians Crash Course #1

Have you had a chance to visit my website and watch the video of Brad in action. Those of you who have seen the video had to be impressed... I was.

Well.. I have added a NEW video by Brad to my site, and you can purchase the complete video either in a downloadable mode or as a DVD for approx. $ 29.00. (about 15.7 GBP ) That's twenty dollars LESS than the featured video on my homepage !

Crash Course #1 starts you at Square One and teaches you one great move after another... all with a first class video production by Ellusionist. If you are NOT a card pro, then this video is designed EXACTLY for you.

You can go directly to the Crash Course page by clicking below...

( all ellusionist links have been removed ) Take a moment and watch Brad's new video. I have a sneaky feeling you'll be glad you did....

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May my next issue find you well....