Magic Club at school?

[Pete Pridanonda]

Hello everybody, about a week ago after I performed for my principal, counseler, vice principal and police officers at school, they asked me if I wanted to set up a magic club at school. I discussed this with my parents and they said that it will be a great opportunity and experience because I will get known throughout the school and be able to teach a lot of people something new. So I thought about it a little bit more myself and I'm afraid that if I set up a magic club, some people might come in, learn a trick for a few days, give up and some people I'm afraid might want to show their friends how my magic is done. What do you guys think about the idea? Any advice would be very helpful, thanks.

 

[CAndrew]

Hello everybody, about a week ago after I performed for my principal, counseler, vice principal and police officers at school, they asked me if I wanted to set up a magic club at school. I discussed this with my parents and they said that it will be a great opportunity and experience because I will get known throughout the school and be able to teach a lot of people something new. So I thought about it a little bit more myself and I'm afraid that if I set up a magic club, some people might come in, learn a trick for a few days, give up and some people I'm afraid might want to show their friends how my magic is done. What do you guys think about the idea? Any advice would be very helpful, thanks.

I wouldn't for the reason that you stated. Im pretty sure most of the people in my school would be interested, some would join, and 99% of those people would go off and show their friends a trick they learned in 2 minutes and then expose how its done. Unless you can keep it to a small group of people really dedicated to performing, I think it might actually work against you, since everyone will know how you did your tricks.

 

[Aaron.Williams]

This seems like a good idea. But I did have a similar idea earlier in the year but decided against it because I knew people would only join to learn secrets of tricks and not for the love of magic.

I would advise against it, and if someone is serious about learning magic, they would probably go to you and you could point them in the right directions.

 

[Schism169]

I would not do it, but that is just me. I have taught a few people and even then it is somewhat of an annoying process.

Things you will have to deal with.
- People who join just to know how to do the tricks
- People who join with good intentions but are not willing to put the time and effort into the tricks
- People who join and preform right away and reveals the tricks because, well lets face it they suck. And when you try to preform the trick, the audience already knows what your are about to do. hence lots of your tricks in your repertoire
-etc.

I'm not saying not to help people out but if someone is really interested in magic, let them come to you and ask you. It will help get rid of some of those problems stated above.

 

[RickEverhart]

I'm not so sure it would be a good idea either. You would be better of seeing if their is a magic club or local IBM ring within driving distance to benefit yourself rather deal with some of the things schism has mentioned. Many times it will be just you instructing many people at once and this could be frustrating. I have mentored a few beginners as well and at first they are excited but then they want you to just keep fueling their fire with tricks that they can go perform in the next five minutes. 90 percent of them or more do not want to put time into learning sleights or patter and such.

 

[TricksterG]

In my own personal wee opinion, people really get into magic because they want to do magic, not tricks. There is a difference between wanting to know the secrets and performing them. Unfortunately, the average young adult doesn't care about performing as much a knowing the secret. I have tried to train people before in magic, and the events were fiascos. Perhaps I am a crappy teacher, but I think that the vast, vast vaaaaaaast majority of people won't want to put actual effort into learning magic. If you must try to teach magic, try making it an exclusive club, where people have to show you a trick and then tell you where they learned it. That way, they get into it themselves, rather than you pushing them into it. Just my two cents and I hope I have made things a bit better for you. Best of Luck on all endeavours, magical or otherwise.

 

[Pete Pridanonda]

Thank you very much for all of your helpful opinions and suggestions. I've been thinking about it some more and I want to know what all of you thinks about this idea. If I decided to open a magic club, I would take the first few days to lecture to them about how to be a performer, rules of magic, and famous magicians in the past etc...(not teach them any tricks). This I believe will eliminate those people who wish to only learn the secrets and maintain those who's really interested in magic. Then I would go on to teach them mechanic's grip, riffle shuffle, dribble, overhand shuffle and all these important fundamentals before teaching them any tricks. Then I would tell them to go to a book store or a library, buy magic book, learn some of the stuff from it by themselves, and when they show these effects to me, I would tell them that they can officially join because they show dedication and passion. Please tell me what all of you think about this idea, every single one of your help I take into consideration and are very helpful to me.

 

[CAndrew]

Thank you very much for all of your helpful opinions and suggestions. I've been thinking about it some more and I want to know what all of you thinks about this idea. If I decided to open a magic club, I would take the first few days to lecture to them about how to be a performer, rules of magic, and famous magicians in the past etc...(not teach them any tricks). This I believe will eliminate those people who wish to only learn the secrets and maintain those who's really interested in magic. Then I would go on to teach them mechanic's grip, riffle shuffle, dribble, overhand shuffle and all these important fundamentals before teaching them any tricks. Then I would tell them to go to a book store or a library, buy magic book, learn some of the stuff from it by themselves, and when they show these effects to me, I would tell them that they can officially join because they show dedication and passion. Please tell me what all of you think about this idea, every single one of your help I take into consideration and are very helpful to me.

I still think people will go to learn and then expose tricks. They might think itll make them cool or popular, etc. Just because they go out and learn one trick doesnt mean they have a passion for it

 

[icannotmakeapassword]

Thank you very much for all of your helpful opinions and suggestions. I've been thinking about it some more and I want to know what all of you thinks about this idea. If I decided to open a magic club, I would take the first few days to lecture to them about how to be a performer, rules of magic, and famous magicians in the past etc...(not teach them any tricks). This I believe will eliminate those people who wish to only learn the secrets and maintain those who's really interested in magic. Then I would go on to teach them mechanic's grip, riffle shuffle, dribble, overhand shuffle and all these important fundamentals before teaching them any tricks. Then I would tell them to go to a book store or a library, buy magic book, learn some of the stuff from it by themselves, and when they show these effects to me, I would tell them that they can officially join because they show dedication and passion. Please tell me what all of you think about this idea, every single one of your help I take into consideration and are very helpful to me.

Way better idea. This way you can see if they have the commitment to do so. Do not teach them any sleights yet. Go through scripting and pattering with them. Then tell them that anyone who doesn't enjoy what we've been doing so far to leave. Just my 2 cents worth.

P.S I wish i could set up a magic club too here in Singapore