That's a good question. Just how -do- you transition between effect to the rest of the conversation.
In showbiz there's a saying: "Always leave them wanting more." That's basicly what you need to do here. You need to fight the urge to show more magic and learn to simply walk away. Trust me, if you did a good job you'll have their attention all that much quicker the next time they are near you when you pull out a deck of cards.
I guess the most important thing to realize when dealing with a problem like this is the reason
why you were doing magic in the first place.
Were you performing because:
- You were showing off for friends or classmates?
- You were trying out a new effect on a live audience?
- Someone you know asked you to do something because they know you are a magician?
- You are demonstrating some magic as an effort to market your services, or secure a gig?
In the first three examples your excuse to quit is easy. Just tell them they will have to see more another day, tell them that's all you've prepaired at that time, or use the oppertunity to transition into another natural conversation. You're not being paid for your time, and you really shouldn't show off your best tricks for free. You should focus on either getting the patter of an effect down, or the handeling. If you are familular with the trick, then you should focus on audience control and presentation. The bottom line is you should get something out of it. If it isn't money then it should be a learning experience. Once you've done an effect or two, simply move on. You cann even use one of the afromentioned suggestions.
If you are doing magic for sake of marketing then the entire purpose for doing it in the first place is to get booked to do a gig. Once you've done a trick or two ask them for their contact information and if they would like to book you for a gig. Don't do a full show, don't display everything you know. Just do enough to get them interested and then focus everything on getting the job.
I've also asked for tips to keep performing when I was low on lunch money. I'd do one or two quick effects to build interest, and then tell people that this is how I make a living, and asked for a small donation if they would want to see more. ^_^ It's a great way to make a quick buck if you're in a pinch!
