Souvenirs Anyone?

[RickEverhart]

I just thought I'd share something that most of you working guys probably already know, but even if some of the rookies take something away from this it will be worth it.

The other day I performed a variation of a Chicago Opener, but instead of just my colleague's card back changing color I had her finger prints "print" on the face of the card as well. The reaction was outstanding, I let her keep the card, and then went on with my day not thinking much of it because well....this is just typical of what "we" do as magicians. After you do it so many times you sort of forget the feeling that these spectators get when they are seeing real close up magic and experiencing it for THEIR first time.

The following day I walked back in her classroom and taped right next to pictures of her family, awards she had gotten as a teacher, etc. was the card with the finger prints. It had made that much of an impression that she kept it and actually hung it up as a reminder of the experience.

Fellas, don't forget that sometimes even though the magic might be wearing off for us, we can truly make a difference in somebody's day. Don't "half a**" an effect. Give them the full show and leave them with a souvenir to remember that experience.

 

[William Draven]

Exactly dead on Rick! We have GOT to remember that for us it may be the 6th show for the day, and the 1,000th time we've done a specific effect BUT for that lucky person you're in front of... it's their first time! Give them something to remember it by!

 

[Lyle Borders]

Best post I have seen in a while Rick. We forget that the magic is not about us. We don't perform to amaze ourselves. Magic would be pretty lame if that was the case. We perform to amaze others. I know people who still have bent up forks from my performances of Liquid Metal, and still talk about it several years after I performed it for them. I don't get that with other tricks. I think it is simply because of the killer souvenirs.

What does everyone else think?

L

 

[Jevonsp]

I gave this kid (maybe 6 or 7) a card with his signed name on it. Met him 3 years later. He still had the card and he was a magician! It really does matter. Rick, you really do have your finger on the pulse of magic!

 

[Justin.Morris]

Great reminder for me Rick. It's an easy thing to not think of when you're just trying to get to all the tables.

 

[Luis Vega]

Once I did magic for a girl in my restaurant..she was so freak out and told me how she thought magic was awesome, but she never had the luck to actually see it...she told me I change her life and that doing something like that must make me a special person that can changes people in a very visceral way...

then she gave a tip of 0.30 bucks... What the heck?

 

[MattTarrant]

My closer for the past while is my take on one of Daniel Madison's effect (a similar version was published recently called "Cannibal") in that I have a routine with a Signed King, which goes searching into a deck to find a selected card, 'eats' a piece of the card, then vanishes completely from the deck.

The signed king ends up in a gift wrapped present I gave the spectator at the start of my act, after ripping it in half - the 'eaten' piece is inside.

I produce the box to them at the very beginning as a 'gift' for allowing me to perform for them, and they get to take it home at the end of the day. Im sure its always a conversation starter.

 

[RickEverhart]

Great responses everyone. I was hoping to spark a little interest back on the board.