Female magician needs help...

[ZacEckstein]

What!?

To be sincere, if you are going for this kind of magic, then you are going for shock magic, that means that you are going to just come, do magic and that's all, they're just to remember you as a guy that does cool card tricks...

Now, as performers, we are aiming for something more than that, we are aiming to get a lasting impression in them, something emotional, something that goes beyond a simple "cool card trick".

That's where the patter and the rapport comes in, we need have a motivation for everything we do (including the way we approach people)..... For example , in an ambitous card routine, you put the card in the middle, you make it come to the top, bla bla bla, but why? why do you put the card in the middle and make it jump to the top? It all has to have a reason.

Including when you approach people... Let's imagine this situation:

" I am eating with my friends , we are talking, we laughing and then from nowhere , a guy appears, he makes cards to come out of his mouth, he puts them in my face and says "hey! I do magic! take a card!" and he puts this deck of cards in front of my face"

I mean, don't get me wrong, it does sometimes work, but let's remember that we are entering their personal space, we are asking for their attention and time, for what purpose? it is recommendable to try to know them first withouth cards so that you can gain some rapport (wich can help you later) so you can perform easily and with better results.

It is kinda sad that later on when you see this people again, they remember you as "the guy that does tricks" rather than "the guy wich name I remember that gave us a memorable time"...

Just my thoughts people, im open for a nice discussion here...

Very Interesting. Everything You Said Was True. I'm Not Saying Don't Make It Personal for Them, Rather I'm Saying Get There Attention. You Can't Walk Up Saying I Am a Magician would You Like to See Something? You Will Have a 50/50 Chance They Will Say yes Or No. Where As If You Define yourself Early In The Game As A Magician By doing Something So Amazing, They think, "Hmm. This Might be Worth My Time... Yea Sure!" You Are Still Creating Something Memorable For Them After Your Attention getter. And That was All I Meant to say In That Post was To Get There Attention To where they don't want to say No And They Will Take you Seriously. I'm Open for A Discussion As Well

- Zac

 

[Fritts1223]

Very Interesting. Everything You Said Was True. I'm Not Saying Don't Make It Personal for Them, Rather I'm Saying Get There Attention. You Can't Walk Up Saying I Am a Magician would You Like to See Something? You Will Have a 50/50 Chance They Will Say yes Or No. Where As If You Define yourself Early In The Game As A Magician By doing Something So Amazing, They think, "Hmm. This Might be Worth My Time... Yea Sure!" You Are Still Creating Something Memorable For Them After Your Attention getter. And That was All I Meant to say In That Post was To Get There Attention To where they don't want to say No And They Will Take you Seriously. I'm Open for A Discussion As Well

- Zac

That was kind of hard to read with all the caps, haha.
I agree with both of you guys. You do need to get their attention with a real quick and affective opener but at the same time you need to make it personal. I totally agree with RDChopper when he said that you want them to remember the experience as something great. A truly fun and memorable experience.. not just some person who comes up to you and does a few tricks and walks away.
:]

 

[RDChopper]

You Will Have a 50/50 Chance They Will Say yes Or No.
- Zac

Yes, But those chances can improve depending on your approach

. Where As If You Define yourself Early In The Game As A Magician By doing Something So Amazing.- Zac

But wouldnt it be better that you define youself as a nice and interesting guy AND a magician?As I said before we are aiming for more that that, it would be kinda sad if people asks for your company only because you do card tricks.

Adding a little on the subject about NOT presenting youself as a magician, it also helps you to know your audience BEFORE the trick so that you can gain rapport with them, you kinda gain their trust and things like that,they get comfortable with your presence if you know what I mean.

Now, working in a restaurant is something completely different, you don't have the time to socialise with the people there, but you still can gain their trust in a matter of seconds...how? do what I do all the time...SMILE, and a lot, approach the table,wait till they notice you, and then kindly smile and present yourself always keeping eye contact with everyone at the table (but not too much) say your name, ask them they're name ( this is ultra important, it helps with gaining rapport) shake their hands if you can, and then beggin with something that sparks their interest....a simple card trick that involves them will suffice.

Im sorry Z- Magic, I mean, you are my friend and I really enjoy your performances, you know I do, but producing a whole bunch of cards from your mouth is screaming for attention.

 

[Steerpike]

Imagine if you will being at a cocktail party. You cross paths with a gentleman who is dressed stylishly, but a little rakishly. Long hair, goatee, bit of a rocker vibe coming off of him. He introduces himself in a low bass/baritone voice and speaks very slowly, enunciating clearly as if mindful of an accent that wants to come up to the surface. You ask him what he does for a living, and rather than telling you a profession, he describes the effect of his work. He says he creates performances meant to stir, educate, and entertain. It is only after you ask further questions out of intrigue that he attaches a name to what he does.

That is how I introduce myself in networking functions. I play off of expectations and try to portray myself as a story about to unfold rather than just another guy with a profession and a business card. My style of dress and grooming is specifically decided on to juxtapose professional attire with a touch of rock-and-roll and mysticism. My speech patterns make my origins harder to place. I've been asked if I'm from New England, the British Isles, Scandinavia, and Russia by different people (Russia especially, women always seem to think I'm Russian). And most importantly... I first describe the effect of my work instead of saying what it is I do. Depending on what I'm trying to pitch, I say different things.

"I create insight and personal understanding." (readings)
"I revive antiquity and teach others to confront and conquer the fear of death." (seances)
"I teach children to become leaders and build up their self-esteem." (magic lessons)

That sort of thing. The result of what you do is more important than the job title. None of this "astonishment artist" bull****. Who the hell can relate to that? I don't reveal my Shadowlander persona until I know I've hooked them, and I don't put it on my business card either. One of the hurdles to going pro is learning to stop trying to fact people to death.

 

[ZacEckstein]

Yes, But those chances can improve depending on your approach



But wouldnt it be better that you define youself as a nice and interesting guy AND a magician?As I said before we are aiming for more that that, it would be kinda sad if people asks for your company only because you do card tricks.

Adding a little on the subject about NOT presenting youself as a magician, it also helps you to know your audience BEFORE the trick so that you can gain rapport with them, you kinda gain their trust and things like that,they get comfortable with your presence if you know what I mean.

Now, working in a restaurant is something completely different, you don't have the time to socialise with the people there, but you still can gain their trust in a matter of seconds...how? do what I do all the time...SMILE, and a lot, approach the table,wait till they notice you, and then kindly smile and present yourself always keeping eye contact with everyone at the table (but not too much) say your name, ask them they're name ( this is ultra important, it helps with gaining rapport) shake their hands if you can, and then beggin with something that sparks their interest....a simple card trick that involves them will suffice.

Im sorry Z- Magic, I mean, you are my friend and I really enjoy your performances, you know I do, but producing a whole bunch of cards from your mouth is screaming for attention.

I think i get What You Mean. make Friends first and the Magic Will Be Better And More Memorable. Sounds Good!

 

[Bizzaro]

Hello there.

So I'm fairly new to the forums here at Theory 11. I've been hanging around here for awhile but i haven't really participated much. But, I thought I could start by asking for some advice.

It's no secret that it is rare for girls to be magicians. Which, in turn can make it really hard for people to take me seriously.
I've been doing magic for almost three years, and not to sound cocky in any way shape or form, but I'm good at it. I've done many performances in nursing homes and I work at two local hospitals from time to time in the pediatric ward. It's definitely fun and rewarding to see those kids have a good time :]
But I'm finding it a little difficult for the majority of people to take me serious. Usually people's first response when I say I'm a magician is, "...are you serious?" and they usually laugh until I prove to them that I actually am.
I usually just bust out a card trick or something so they believe me.
I just find it irritating honestly.

I'm sure I'll just have to get used to it, but I was wondering if there was any advice you guys could give to me to make people take me more serious in a business sense. I would really like to start doing restaurant work and such. I'm just a poor college kid trying to make money where ever I can, haha.

I'm not really expecting you guys to know too much on the subject, being the vast majority of you are males but any little tips would be absolutely fantastic.

Thanks in advance! Oh, and I suppose I should introduce myself, haha.
I'm Amanda. :]

I skimmed over the other posts and might repeat some stuff, but in my own twisted way. I have a great many female magician friends and we have talked a lot about the femme perspective in the magic field.

As for not being taken seriously, that happens. People are so used to "uncle tom the magician" that they see a person start ANY magic effect, they don't expect much. However, after you do ONE thing that is entertaining and baffling, they start paying attention. Don't let the blase' way people shirk off the term magician get to you. There are much tougher roads ahead.

As for being female, I have often said that being a female magician is a novelty. You will get hired because of it. HOWEVER, after the novelty wears off, if you can deliver killer magic and they can get past the fact you have breasts, then you have done something great. Not just for women in magic, but for yourself as well.