I Get Rejected A Lot

[Phenomena]

was just at the liftoff thing in town, concerts, rides etc
its early so it isnt packed yet

but i notived something...
until today ive exclusively used magic in a bar/night party setting
such as with tons of friends, and when theres drinks involved

today i went around with just my brother and approached a variety of people...and man, i got rejected a lot
like i know i have well...no experience in approaching people in the "average day" setting (like outside of a bar, mid afternoon)
i found most of the older people, or in particular, older men by themselves, no matter how bored they looked, didnt want to be bothered.

The most receptive people were young girls..like ages 13-16 (thats all there was at this time...shame cuz im 21 lol)

anyways

does anybody else have a similar situation?
where your normal scene is the bars, then when you attempt to do "street magic" its completely different

 

[trashmanf]

maybe learn some flourishes like springing the cards, and look around and see if anyone is staring at you like they're interested. then they will probably want to see your magic too.

 

[tsarothpaco]

maybe learn some flourishes like springing the cards, and look around and see if anyone is staring at you like they're interested. then they will probably want to see your magic too.

I agree, flourishing draws people in because it is new to them and really visual. I don't flourish heavily but flourishes attract peoples attention...apparently at this town ice cream social the local news photographer got a picture of me springing the cards and it was in the paper (I don't have that paper, hence the 'apparently')

~PaCo

 

[Deleted member 2755]

maybe learn some flourishes like springing the cards, and look around and see if anyone is staring at you like they're interested. then they will probably want to see your magic too.

I personally believe every magician should know how to spring a deck of cards. I believe that is standard.

"People don't want to see magic, they don't know what it is. You pull out a deck of cards, they look at you like "What are you doing?" "I've seen this." or "My nephew showed me this." There's a lot of barriers you gotta break through." -Joel Paschall

Flourishes can draw them in. However, don't do too many advanced flourishes. You want to come off as magical, not the guy who is sick at sleight of hand. (That can be different depending on what style you like though.) Springs are good, but what you can always do is just go up to someone and don't say something like "I'm a magician. You guys wanna see something?" You should say something along the lines of maybe "Hey, wanna see something really cool?" or something like that.... Try not to introduce yourself as a magician or you will just come off as gimmicky.

-Doug

 

[iwannayoyo]

If you want to you could also do dlites, and hope someone comes up to you

 

[Toad]

idk what to say. keep trying, i guess. or beg for them to watch.

 

[MentalAlex]

First of all, recognize the fact that approaching people to show them magic doesn't work the same without a camera crew. Camera crew = you must be good, almost despite your skill level.

How you've seen it done on TV won't work for you, because you were watching through that camera.

Here is a novel idea, and one I don't see mentioned too often. TALK TO THEM LIKE HUMAN BEINGS!!!!

People don't like to be used, and from the sound of it, that's what you are doing. You are using them to test your tricks on.

That's crap.

Opening with flourishes or quick visual magic is also crap. You are hiding behind your cards and props.

How about this...

You walk up to someone, and start an actual conversation with them. After a bit, You ask them what they do for a living, they tell you, they ask you what you do, you say you're a professional magician. "Really? a professional magician you say? Could you show me a trick?" "SURE!" and away we go....

See what happened there? You didn't thrust a deck of cards into his face and tell him to pick a card, You made ACTUAL HUMAN CONTACT, like a real person!

You see, he is now your friend, and as you said earlier, it is much easier to do magic for your friends...

 

[PjPinsonnault]

This is a hard thing to become comfortable with if you really love magic, but performing magic for strangers like you're trying to do, without being a part of the event or venue, is not a great way to expect people to experience magic.

Let me ask you a few questions:
1) How old are you?
2) How were you dressed?
3) Pretend I'm sitting by myself looking bored. What would you do/say when we make eye contact?

Magicians often mistake their friends/family audiences as being the same as performing for a real public. It's not. Your wife/roommate/parents/siblings will either be overly critical, which will scare you away from performing, or overly nice, which will curb your self-criticism.

The public doesn't want to help you get better. They want to be entertained. I've learned from working many places that "entertained" might mean simply hearing a story without any effect to accompany it.

Don't become discouraged from this experience. It's not at all uncommon. I do look forward to your answers to my questions. They'll help us help you.

Pj

 

[PjPinsonnault]

One more thing; flourishing to get people's attention is a slippery slope, in my opinion.

If you finish your flourish only to see them turn and walk away, you can't expect them to want to see more. They saw you do something candidly and they might have even been entertained by it. To expect them to want more isn't fair to them.

If you then approach them, you run the risk of a response along the lines of "I was watching what you did, but I'm all set, thanks. I just never saw that before." And that's fair for them. Not for you.

Instead, I'd bring a friend along. Stand near a group and start performing for your friend. Don't be overly loud, but really perform for him. If people look on, invite them to watch. If not, finish the performance and walk away. Rinse and repeat.

Eventually you'll get people to watch. Then run with them. I've gotten several bar gigs this way.

Pj

 

[owen.christian]

My friend and I went to do street magic at the farmers market. I was just doing some springs with my cards and my friend was doing the Hummer card. People came up to us and watched, then I asked them if they'd like so see some magic. That worked.

 

[Phenomena]

This is a hard thing to become comfortable with if you really love magic, but performing magic for strangers like you're trying to do, without being a part of the event or venue, is not a great way to expect people to experience magic.

Let me ask you a few questions:
1) How old are you?
2) How were you dressed?
3) Pretend I'm sitting by myself looking bored. What would you do/say when we make eye contact?

Magicians often mistake their friends/family audiences as being the same as performing for a real public. It's not. Your wife/roommate/parents/siblings will either be overly critical, which will scare you away from performing, or overly nice, which will curb your self-criticism.

The public doesn't want to help you get better. They want to be entertained. I've learned from working many places that "entertained" might mean simply hearing a story without any effect to accompany it.

Don't become discouraged from this experience. It's not at all uncommon. I do look forward to your answers to my questions. They'll help us help you.

Pj

1. 21
2. casually, was hot out so i had a tshirt and shorts/flip flops

my brother was there with a camera, but wasnt holding it up until we actually got someone to perform for, so it didnt really attract anyone..
3. It depends, like i know i picked my targets wrong, as now that i look back on it, i took the cards out and did one fancy thing, and had a few people sitting at picnic tables looking right at me, and instead of going to them i went to some person walking in circles. I just chose my targets wrong.

as for what i would say, i tried a few things
how are yuou, mind if i show you something?
do you have a minute?
can you help me with something? etc

as i said the older people were far less interested than the younger teens..probably because they were preoccupied with kids of their own or something

wasnt the bets location either...one part of the field had a concert playing, then about 100 yards away was the rides/fairground, which is where i was, it was loud, lots of people...

 

[coorothecrow]

wat cyril did on 1 of his street performances was the hummer card. that attracts pretty good

 

[PjPinsonnault]

Derren Brown had a great way of putting this question into context in Absolute Magic: Imagine you were at this event and someone dressed just like you came over and asked you one of those three questions. Someone you didn't know. What would you say?

Your approach should mirror that which you'd hope a performer would use on you. If you'd say no to your own approach, it needs reworking.

I asked about clothing because I had a feeling you dressed "as the masses," which is fine at a party but not so much with the lay-folk. Most people, especially those older than you, expect a polished performer to be dressed to impress. You don't have to be in suit and tie on a hot day, but shorts and tee shirt with flip flops doesn't really shout "POLISHED MAGICIAN COMING!"

I'm telling you this to make an optimistic point. The fact that you're out trying to perform tells me you're probably ahead of most of the magician-crowd whose audience is a small round camera sitting on their computer desk; you're trying to work with a crowd.

Look at it this way: you weren't booked by an event planner, so the only person who noticed the rejections is you. Ok maybe your entourage, but so what? Better to have days like that now, rather than when you're on the clock and the hiring agent sees you bombing over and over.

Good luck, man. It's not easy, but it's a hell of a job!

Pj

 

[PjPinsonnault]

My friend and I went to do street magic at the farmers market. I was just doing some springs with my cards and my friend was doing the Hummer card. People came up to us and watched, then I asked them if they'd like so see some magic. That worked.

I don't doubt this can work. I just feel it's a tad like begging.

Even the example I gave is in the same vein. Bills need to get paid!

It's been a long time since I've worked anywhere I wasn't hired to, though, so maybe it's me that's out of touch.

Pj

 

[KatieKenner]

Well here is some advice, as I am fearless when it comes to approaching anybody.

In a street setting, like on the Las Vegas Strip for example:

-Make sure you don't come off like you are selling anything.

-Be Confident

-Sometimes phrases like "Hey do you like magic?" "Wanna see something cool?" or "Wanna see a magic trick?" often intimidate people walking to get from point A to point B. (If you do bar/restaurant work, those lines work a little better)

-If you have a camera its OK to tell them that you are filming something for a website, youtube, school project and you need their help (people usually like to help with anything) ... even if you aren't, a little white lie never hurt anything.

-Don't get discouraged or mad. That effects your attitude for someone who might actually want to watch you.

-Practice, Practice, Practice. The best way to practice this is just to start saying hi to random people on the street. I promise that its going to be OK, not like you have to stop and chat with them, or do a magic trick every time; just a simple "Hello" "How are you?" "Have a good day" as you are in the mall, in your downtown area, at Disneyland or the beach can make you seem like you are more approachable and it can polish your "People Skills" in the mean time.

** Side note on last blurb: I saw Danny Garcia earlier this week, it seemed like every person he passed, he would greet and didn't do a single magic trick the whole time. I think this is one of the main things that makes him a great street performer, he is approachable and a genuine nice guy.

Anyway, just some thoughts. Hope this helps.

Love,

Katie

 

[Mat La Vore]

First of all, recognize the fact that approaching people to show them magic doesn't work the same without a camera crew. Camera crew = you must be good, almost despite your skill level.

How you've seen it done on TV won't work for you, because you were watching through that camera.

Here is a novel idea, and one I don't see mentioned too often. TALK TO THEM LIKE HUMAN BEINGS!!!!

People don't like to be used, and from the sound of it, that's what you are doing. You are using them to test your tricks on.

That's crap.

Opening with flourishes or quick visual magic is also crap. You are hiding behind your cards and props.

How about this...

You walk up to someone, and start an actual conversation with them. After a bit, You ask them what they do for a living, they tell you, they ask you what you do, you say you're a professional magician. "Really? a professional magician you say? Could you show me a trick?" "SURE!" and away we go....

See what happened there? You didn't thrust a deck of cards into his face and tell him to pick a card, You made ACTUAL HUMAN CONTACT, like a real person!

You see, he is now your friend, and as you said earlier, it is much easier to do magic for your friends...

MentalAlex nailed it.

I agree 100%.

 

[heavymetalholic]

i realized that when im out with someone filming me, people say yes way faster then when there is no camera, but Katie got a GOOD point there.

 

[Mat La Vore]

i realized that when im out with someone filming me, people say yes way faster then when there is no camera, but Katie got a GOOD point there.

Katie is also a young beautiful woman. I doubt she has very much trouble getting random guys to stop and talk to her.

 

[BrianationX]

Opening with flourishes or quick visual magic is also crap. You are hiding behind your cards and props.

I respectfully disagree
I show them A flourish and they are immediately interested
If you show them before they say no then theres no way of getting rejected
I think Greg Called it "Guerrilla Magic"
Go up to someone perform a quick visual Flourish and there you go.
It also has to do with the person
I myself
Am very charismatic
and get accepted 98% of the time.

 

[MentalAlex]

My words were oversimplified to keep my reply brief.

"Guerilla Magic" and the like can be done very well, and unbeleivably entertainingly. I just wouldn't recommend it to someone having trouble getting people to watch their magic, or having problems doing approaches. Someone doing so would be using it as a crutch, not an option, as you most likely do.

Once you have layed the groundwork of charisma, you can weild this notion as a tool to great effect. Not to mention, the charisma will impact your entire performance, and people's general perception of you.

I meant no disrespect.