Just got back from a cocktail party for a holdings company (they own a number of McDonnalds in the region).
The event was at one of the more expensive hotels in the city, and when I got booked for the cocktail hour I looked online to see the type of room I would be performing in. I put together four sets (about 10-15 minutes each), and headed out early because of the weather. I arrived before anyone else, and checked out the room.
It was tiny.
The pictures made it look bigger than it was. So I was a bit worried that I would end up being the center of attention. I came well prepared, but I just wanted to work the room in segments.
So after people arrived and began mingling, I started with a couple at one side of the room. I finished two of the three effects in the set and realized that I had about eight people around me. I ended the set there and stepped away to let them continue talking. I moved toward another group and started to make small talk. They asked me what location I worked at, and I said I was the entertainment for the night and moved into another set.
But I discovered something interesting. After one or two effects, they seemed pleased and content, and I was able to move on to different crowds. And as I made a second round throughout the room the groups had all changed, so some had seen some tricks and others in the group had seen others and they wanted me to do this or that for the others who hadn't seen it. In the end it worked much better to forget about my sets and just work each group as it came. At one point an older gentleman was taking guesses at how I was doing different tricks (all totally wrong), so part way through the night I approached him and some of his colleagues and began chatting and found out that he was pick-pocketed by a magician in Paris (In 1992), and since then just loved magicians. I showed them a few of my favorite effects and finished with Liquid metal for them (By the way, there are a ton of jokes when doing liquid metal in a hotel/restaurant).
It was a great evening. I found it was great to mingle a bit between rounds, getting to know them a bit and what they do. It was good to get away from the sets a bit and let the group direct the show.
Best reactions came from twisted sisters. I only did it once, and just the way I introduced it, and I had about half the room crowded around. They erupted when I turned the queens over; and then just before they finished reacting, I delivered the last twist, and they started all over again. Great fun.
I gave away a ton of business cards and the people who hired me were talking about two other events they could bring me to. They even added a bit extra payment at the end of the night.
It was a great time. This is the crowd I love performing for the most, so I was right in my element.
Feelin pretty pumped with how it went, so thought I'd share.
The event was at one of the more expensive hotels in the city, and when I got booked for the cocktail hour I looked online to see the type of room I would be performing in. I put together four sets (about 10-15 minutes each), and headed out early because of the weather. I arrived before anyone else, and checked out the room.
It was tiny.
The pictures made it look bigger than it was. So I was a bit worried that I would end up being the center of attention. I came well prepared, but I just wanted to work the room in segments.
So after people arrived and began mingling, I started with a couple at one side of the room. I finished two of the three effects in the set and realized that I had about eight people around me. I ended the set there and stepped away to let them continue talking. I moved toward another group and started to make small talk. They asked me what location I worked at, and I said I was the entertainment for the night and moved into another set.
But I discovered something interesting. After one or two effects, they seemed pleased and content, and I was able to move on to different crowds. And as I made a second round throughout the room the groups had all changed, so some had seen some tricks and others in the group had seen others and they wanted me to do this or that for the others who hadn't seen it. In the end it worked much better to forget about my sets and just work each group as it came. At one point an older gentleman was taking guesses at how I was doing different tricks (all totally wrong), so part way through the night I approached him and some of his colleagues and began chatting and found out that he was pick-pocketed by a magician in Paris (In 1992), and since then just loved magicians. I showed them a few of my favorite effects and finished with Liquid metal for them (By the way, there are a ton of jokes when doing liquid metal in a hotel/restaurant).
It was a great evening. I found it was great to mingle a bit between rounds, getting to know them a bit and what they do. It was good to get away from the sets a bit and let the group direct the show.
Best reactions came from twisted sisters. I only did it once, and just the way I introduced it, and I had about half the room crowded around. They erupted when I turned the queens over; and then just before they finished reacting, I delivered the last twist, and they started all over again. Great fun.
I gave away a ton of business cards and the people who hired me were talking about two other events they could bring me to. They even added a bit extra payment at the end of the night.
It was a great time. This is the crowd I love performing for the most, so I was right in my element.
Feelin pretty pumped with how it went, so thought I'd share.