I'm 19, and have been really into doing magic for about 3 1/2 to 4 years now. I perform two times weekly at a local pizza parlor, doing magic and balloon animals for the guests. At first, I had no problem going up to people and performing since I didn't have the balloons in my arsenal yet. After I began making them, though, I started performing less and less for the adults who visit the restaurant. I still do, but not as often.
I began having a thought about what goes through their minds when I walk up. If it's anywhere from 16 to 25 or so, it goes over great since I'm more in their "peer age group." Adults over 30 though always seem intimidating to me. It there is a couple in their mid 30s or 40s, I'm really hesitant to go over there, simply because they are both sitting there with depressed, blank faces (which seems like the best person to do magic for, right? Cheer them up a bit and whatnot.) but I just get the feeling when I approach, in their heads they are like "who the hell is this kid?" I'm so much younger than them, I don't feel like they take me seriously. Even during the performance, I haven't gotten the same reactions I get from the younger crowd.
Am I doing something wrong, or is it just that my age is handicapping me a little here? Do older adults really want to be entertained by someone half their age? I just can't seem to get a reading on these people. Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks!
I began having a thought about what goes through their minds when I walk up. If it's anywhere from 16 to 25 or so, it goes over great since I'm more in their "peer age group." Adults over 30 though always seem intimidating to me. It there is a couple in their mid 30s or 40s, I'm really hesitant to go over there, simply because they are both sitting there with depressed, blank faces (which seems like the best person to do magic for, right? Cheer them up a bit and whatnot.) but I just get the feeling when I approach, in their heads they are like "who the hell is this kid?" I'm so much younger than them, I don't feel like they take me seriously. Even during the performance, I haven't gotten the same reactions I get from the younger crowd.
Am I doing something wrong, or is it just that my age is handicapping me a little here? Do older adults really want to be entertained by someone half their age? I just can't seem to get a reading on these people. Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks!