Advice on performing magic in Southern Africa

[LukeY]

Hi guys,

I am soon heading to Botswana for 8 months for work, and was wondering if anyone has had any experience in performing magic in that region and how you were received. As I will be there for quite a while, the last thing I want is to get a bad reputation as from what I understand magic and witchcraft are taken rather seriously (sorry if I'm wrong about this).

I would really appreciate any opinion on how to go about this and be sensitive to the feelings of the people and my own position and safety. Of course the safest option is to hang magic up while I'm there or only performing for the expat community, but I would love to perform for my coworkers and the people I work with. What tips do you guys have in this situation? what should I look out for? should I even perform at all? If I do, what types of tricks and patter do you guys think would be effective and what types to avoid?

Also if there are any magicians or magic communities within the country or that region I would love to get to know a bit more about the local attitude on magic.


Thanks so much

 

[ExplicitMagic]

Hey mate! Good luck down there first of all! Africa is such an amazing place to be in. I spent some time in South Africa last summer, right below Botswana and I loved it!

Whenever I performed for the Africans there I always kept it simple. I hardly every pulled out a deck unless a good occasion called for it. I suggest sticking to simple everyday stuff. I used a lot of coin tricks and I used Prophet by Tom Isaacson except I used their local currency instead of American dollars. And if you're into it I advise geek magic, That's something that I thought was well received down there. Like Wayne Houchin's Thread, along with gypsy was probably one of my best routines.

That said you can and should pull out some cards at some point, just make sure its in the right venue and with the right people. Your average citizen down there doesn't care about you finding their card at least in my experience. (unless you're doing like a TnR or a strange effect with cards)

As for witchcraft, I never really dealt with people who saw the performance like that, people I encountered knew I was a performer and they enjoyed it. If you feel like they're responding a little out of hand I would just stop and move on, but I never encountered that so I wouldnt worry about it. Although I was a little more southern then you and was only there about 3 weeks so I cant say for sure. You'll have a lot more time then I did.

Keep us updated with videos and stories of your performances! Love to hear what happens! Cheers mate!

 

[LukeY]

Thanks for the reply man really appreciate it!

What you said was actually very interesting, I really like your tip about card tricks, and it's kind of curious to think about why that would be the case... do you think it's because people aren't as familiar with cards? Or maybe they just don't see how finding their card is significant? I wouldn't have thought that geek magic would be the go to thing but I see how that makes sense.

I was a bit worried in particular with money effects, especially with something like the standard routine for Prophet which is such a powerful thing even in North America, that if I do it in a place where people struggle with money I might be seen as flaunting wealth for one and um... frankly it becomes a personal safety issue too when everyone and their dog knows I carry a ton of cash on me all the time... so I'm kinda curious how you would present Prophet in that situation. Maybe I'm just paranoid although I don't want to get mugged...

Mind if I ask where in SA did you stay?

 

[WitchDocIsIn]

Thanks for the reply man really appreciate it!

What you said was actually very interesting, I really like your tip about card tricks, and it's kind of curious to think about why that would be the case... do you think it's because people aren't as familiar with cards? Or maybe they just don't see how finding their card is significant? I wouldn't have thought that geek magic would be the go to thing but I see how that makes sense.

Probably because cards are meaningless pieces of paper and glue.

 

[ExplicitMagic]

I feel like just an average "I'll find your card trick" isn't as exciting as the other stuff you can do. I didnt mention this before but if you use Angle Zero by Madison its pretty good. Got great reactions down there. Its probably one of my go to card effects that doesnt really deal with the whole pick a card plot.

I stayed in Johannesburg, which is a pretty big city and pretty industrialized. The people I came in contact with weren't struggling with money or food like the sterotype I believe your thinking of. I wasn't afraid of getting robbed that much because the people weren't going to freak out as if its the most money they've ever seen. But I can't say for certain with wherever you're going to, my advice would be just have good judgement of what your audience might do. If you're afraid of getting mugged then don't do it, but I highly doubt they would do that. Just use your best judgement!