To answer the main topic, and this little side discussion;
The reason I feel that people would want to see my magic? I put serious time and effort into my scripting, all of it is original and from me. Whenever I'm doing an act I have a gambling routine I go through.
I start with a small back story, it is somewhat histroically accurate, but mostly made-up. I ask my spectators about their knowledge of American history, and go into a brief talk about the progressive movement and wealth becoming available to the common man. With this new wealth, people began gambling and hustling in America (I will also go into earlier exmaples and talk about cards in ancient times). I tell a story about a ficticous gambler who was so good he was able to determine the exact poker hand of his opponent based on his body language. I say that although he may not really have been able to do it, it is possible to determine a single card. I force a card on them and go into a long made-up explanation, step-by-step on what they're doing, what their tells are, and subtle things I'm doing to test them.
I have several other card routines that I continue to relate back to gambling, such as a 3 card monte I've come up with, occasionaly I'll do false shuffles and deal a poker hand, all the while telling the "history" of these cons. I feel that this can really touch my spectator becuase a lot people gamble, and wouldn't it be great to be able to know what cards anyone had? Or be able to deal perfect poker hands at will? I also test them, and ask them if they play cards often, if they do not I go into the physiological a bit more, explaning that I can will someone to deal a poker hand, choose a number, etc..
Every effect I do is very specific to me and my routine. On occasion I'll do stigmata, using the story that by being touched, the card will actually reveal itself on my skin. I feel that this is very strong however, and will not do it in my walk around. There are a few times when I make exceptions from my character, and do a few tricks that are a stretch to relate to gambling, but that is generally for people who do not respond well to cards and children, who cannot follow the routine as easily. I'll do some rubber band tricks, saying that a poker cheats hands need to be quick not to get caught, although I generally do not like to do those effects--they just do not work out as well.
Now, I believe steerpike was asking what I would say to a client, or in other words what my pitch would be. That's a difficult question, however, I would say that I have been doing what I do for 11 years now, am fairly experienced, and that my routine is original and tested to entertain. Now that I think about it, I could probably come up with something better, fourtunatly for me there aren't many other magicians in my area. Then again, there aren't many other people near-by.
To answer the question why I enjoy magic, I would say that it is because it is something I do, and watching anyone else perform improves my own magic. It's the same way of watching anything else for me, I'm a pretty competitive person and whenver I get the chance to watch Federer play, I watch, becuase it improves my tennis game.
