How Does A Magic Club Works?

[Luis Vega]

Hello everyone..

So...We area starting a magic club here in my city...finally!!! and it´s great to see some magicians around and having a good time..but there are a couple of "situations" I want to share...the fact that some magicians share some great tricks and other just are there to watch...we usually present something new each meeting, but some of them just don´t do that, when it´s supposed to be a jam session where everybody shows and if they want share the methods...but I am afraid it´s not working... some magcians are starting to feel cheated for sharing and just not seeing the others sharing or sometimes not even performing something....so...I wanted to ask you


What is the mechanic of a magic club? in a normal meeting what do you do? how can this problem be resolved before it gets bigger? is there ethics? how the sharing and performing thing goes?

Rick Everhart...any thoughts man? and everyone in a magic club!! Please Help!! I don´t want this club to end bad....

 

[WitchDocIsIn]

Hello everyone..

So...We area starting a magic club here in my city...finally!!! and it´s great to see some magicians around and having a good time..but there are a couple of "situations" I want to share...the fact that some magicians share some great tricks and other just are there to watch...we usually present something new each meeting, but some of them just don´t do that, when it´s supposed to be a jam session where everybody shows and if they want share the methods...but I am afraid it´s not working... some magcians are starting to feel cheated for sharing and just not seeing the others sharing or sometimes not even performing something....so...I wanted to ask you


What is the mechanic of a magic club? in a normal meeting what do you do? how can this problem be resolved before it gets bigger? is there ethics? how the sharing and performing thing goes?

Rick Everhart...any thoughts man? and everyone in a magic club!! Please Help!! I don´t want this club to end bad....

In our club we have people perform, and if it's an effect that's not currently marketed they can teach it. Usually only one guy regularly teaches. We encourage everyone to perform, but we've had people feel intimidated by that. I know of one member specifically that stopped coming because we were trying to emphasize performance.

If you want everyone to perform, you can require everyone to perform. However, to do that, you'll have to bar anyone that doesn't perform and you'll have to be willing to keep them out unless they are willing to perform. Which means you'll upset some people.

The ethics involved in my club are that if an effect you perform is your own creation, or if it uses public domain sleights, you can teach it. We've also had people teach effects but have parts where they say something like, "And right here, I use suchandsuch sleight, which you can find on suchandsuch DVD." Or whatever.

 

[Simon_Magic]

At our Club in Chester (UK) They are mostly rather older than myself. I find however this works in my favour as they have lots of knowledge to pass on. Maybe appeal to an older audience as well as a younger one?

The basic principle of our club is that we have themed nights, for instance one month might be rope magic, the next might be impromptu tricks etc, and once every three months we get in a professional Lecturer like Roy Zaltsman or David Stone.

Simon_Magic

 

[RickEverhart]

Luis, a magic club normally has founding members. There is a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. There is a code of ethics and bylaws. I will try to get you a copy of both of ours. Most clubs also follow Robert's Rules of Order or at least use them for the basic framework of the meeting. For example: There are minutes from the last meeting / old business, treasurer's report, new business, and finally magic gets performed.

http://www.robertsrules.com/

The secretary normally types of a monthly newsletter and sends to all members and potential members to keep everyone current on upcoming events and old business.

As far as magic performed, and this is where you are having some issues it seems, some members will perform EVERY single meeting and love it. Some will try and fail miserably due to inexperience and nerves. Others will not ever perform but just like to be apart of the group. Our club that is 30 members strong deals with the same issue but we do NOT force people to perform.

Another way to create excitement is that members earn points on a point system for performing, attending meetings, and holding an office position. At the end of the year, December, the secretary adds up all of the points for everyone and the winner receives a Magician of the Year Trophy. Now, they get to keep the trophy for the full year, but then the following year, someone else can win it and their name gets added to the engravement portion.

The magic club will annually perform a banquet for its members and spouses and family members. They can have a picnic as well.

Magic clubs have dues. Our are set at $25.00 per year.

Magic clubs take field trips to brick and mortar magic shops and attend lectures together or host a lecture at their meeting location.

There is so much more I can tell you but I am at work and need to get busy.

After reflecting more....and reading others posts...we do "themed" night as well. Card trick only night. Rope trick only night. Teach a trick night.It kind of forces people to get out of their element and learn some other things. Please do NOT force all members to perform though or your club will be gone very quickly.

 

[Luis Vega]

Thanks everyone....

I think I´ll get all this ideas and propose them on the next night...especially the performing part...it´s difficult since other members feel cheated, but I guess this will change pretty soon!!

@Rick Everhart

Hey man!! those a great suggestions!! especially the one with the fee and going to lectures together...right now we don´t have to many magicians in our club (around 7) but I hope to get bigger as times passes!! thanks my friend!!