Becoming the Best Entertainer
Becoming the Best Entertainer I Can Be
Question: "I have been doing magic tricks for a few years now and it seems that I have never been given the same opportunity to perform as my other peers have. What am I doing wrong, what can I do to change?"
-Novice magician
Answer: Do you live in a place where there is a magic studio or shop where fellow magi gather on a regular basis?
If so join them as often as you can, ask questions, lots and lots of questions!!! We have two ears and one mouth, who cares about your latest routine, do you want to be a busy entertainer or a by name only "magic" guy (..."Oh, look the magic guy...show us that one neat trick"...)?
Your best advice is not how to make money in the field you are delving into from those who have only read the "how to book", "watched the masters of walk around magic video collection twice" or ..."knew a friend that had a cousin, who was married to a guy named Billy Bob, that did a pick a card trick once at a truck stop and received a FREE cup of noodle soup and a coffee!!!
If I want to be a great football player do I ask my grandmother for pointers (though I love her dearly)? GOD FORBID-NO!!!. I want to listen to Dion Sanders, Ray Lewis, Johnny Unitis, etc.
If you desire to become a millionaire will you listen to a broke person. NO!!!
Of course not.
The field of entertainment is like any serious endeavor, you must:
1. Be willing to do what others will not, to have what others do not
2. Be teachable (no matter how well I do my comedy magic routine, when a senior magi is present who has had success doing what I am now attempting, and he approaches me and gives me advice the one liners may be dated, but baby those principles will always be the same!).
3. Continue to be HUMBLE!!! People do not want to be 'fooled', they desire to be entertained - period! Realize when you are entertaining for people in a restaurant, you are not at a FISM, IBM or SAM convention...no awards, nothing to prove. The audience is looking to you as a way to take their moments and turn them into exquisite and fun filled memories.
4. When a fellow or senior magic attend your walk around sessions or a show, do not become fear filled. "Oh, what did I bring that he/she might not know" or "Wow, this is embarrassing, I am performing the professors nightmare. I will not approach his table with magic."
Entertain him and his party, you may be surprised to find out that he will be your biggest fan at that moment and bring serious attention to you. I type this from experience. While performing at one of my restaurant shows, a master magician came in to dine with his wife. Upon approaching their table, I began my patter (Which I had learned from him), and the illusion (I knew he knew, no doubt), after the first effect he and his wife began to clap and cheer. All the guests in the restaurant began to wonder what all the hype at the next table was about...my friend's, this started a buck wild evening, that has only intensified!
Hope this helps,
-A fellow entertainer
©2004 David Breth, All Rights Reserved
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