Hey guys, I was thinking about magic (always do) and I decided to write a thread on what I think is the most important part of performing.
[size=+2]Rapport...the connection[/size]
All right, I think a problem with magic now days (there are a lot) is that people forget what magic is really about. Simply put, it's about entertaining. It's not about showing off, it's about bringing people some entertainment.
I think it's important when performing to build a rapport with your audience. What is rapport? Rapport: relationship; esp., a close or sympathetic relationship.
Another way of explaining it Rapport is one of the most important features or characteristics of unconscious human interaction. It is commonality of perspective: being "in sync" with, or being "on the same wavelength" as the person with whom you are talking.
But why? Think about it... when you are just performing a trick, there is no closeness with you and your audience. To them, you are some stranger that came to them and said "Hi! Wanna see something cool? Watch.... look how fast my hands move."
You want the audience to feel attached to you. If that sound creepy, let me explain some more. You want the audience to feel like you're best buds with them. Your a nice guy, who is genuinely interested in them. People like it when people like them, they feel accepted and that feels good. You want to be on a first name basis with your audience. Make them feel comfortable.
I saw Aaron Fisher live once, and just watching him in a closeup setting was great. He is a master at interacting with his audience. He makes the scene very lively, and has everybody laughing and enjoying themselves within minutes. I would recommend learning from his performances if you ever get a chance to see him perform.
Yea, yea, this is all fine and dandy, but how do you do that?
[size=+2]Audience participation...choose wisely[/size]
All right, audience participation is essential in magic. You want rapport right? You don't want the audience to think of you as an alien, wasting their time with a boring "trick". Audience participation can help greatly with this.
You as a performer need to be engaging. You need to talk with them, laugh with them (depending on the situation and your performing style), and let the magic happen to them, not happen to you.
A good example...Tivo 2.0 and Here Then There. For those of you who know how these work, you will know what I mean. I would much rather do Here Then There, because the magic happens to the audience. Tivo 2.0 happens to you. And while Tivo 2.0 is much more visual, Here Then There is much more magical.
I think it's a good idea before buying and effect, to really think about it, and see if there is something with the same principle, but happens to the audience. Think of Captured by Justin Miller. It happens to the audience, instead of something like Factory Sealed.
[size=+2]Enjoy yourself[/size]
Another very important issue is enjoying yourself. Too often I see a magician just going though the actions of a trick, rattling off their "planned" patter, with no "ummmf" or believability to it.
You have to enjoy yourself while performing. If you don't show any passion while performing, people will notice. If you don't enjoy what your doing, neither will the audience. People who say the performer doesn't matter and only the audience are incorrect. Here is a great post about this sort of thing.
It's your magic, enjoy it.
[size=+2]Don't be the trick monkey[/size]
Don't perform every time someone says "Show me a trick". When you do that, they will begin to take it for granted, and it won't be special when you perform for them. While this doesn't have to do with connecting with your audience, in a way it does. It cheapens your magic when you become the "I'll do a trick whenever you ask me to" thing. If you make your magic something special, and only perform on your terms, it seems more special, and entertaining. Not just something they can see whenever they want to.
Don't get me wrong, you can oblige when someone asks you to perform, in fact, that's a great way to start performing, instead of you coming to them. Just make sure you don't become the "Trick Monkey".
[size=+2]End[/size]
These are things to think about, and I recommend you do so seriously. I think the connection is really the fulcrum of magic and performing.
Peace
[size=+2]Rapport...the connection[/size]
All right, I think a problem with magic now days (there are a lot) is that people forget what magic is really about. Simply put, it's about entertaining. It's not about showing off, it's about bringing people some entertainment.
I think it's important when performing to build a rapport with your audience. What is rapport? Rapport: relationship; esp., a close or sympathetic relationship.
Another way of explaining it Rapport is one of the most important features or characteristics of unconscious human interaction. It is commonality of perspective: being "in sync" with, or being "on the same wavelength" as the person with whom you are talking.
But why? Think about it... when you are just performing a trick, there is no closeness with you and your audience. To them, you are some stranger that came to them and said "Hi! Wanna see something cool? Watch.... look how fast my hands move."
You want the audience to feel attached to you. If that sound creepy, let me explain some more. You want the audience to feel like you're best buds with them. Your a nice guy, who is genuinely interested in them. People like it when people like them, they feel accepted and that feels good. You want to be on a first name basis with your audience. Make them feel comfortable.
I saw Aaron Fisher live once, and just watching him in a closeup setting was great. He is a master at interacting with his audience. He makes the scene very lively, and has everybody laughing and enjoying themselves within minutes. I would recommend learning from his performances if you ever get a chance to see him perform.
Yea, yea, this is all fine and dandy, but how do you do that?
[size=+2]Audience participation...choose wisely[/size]
All right, audience participation is essential in magic. You want rapport right? You don't want the audience to think of you as an alien, wasting their time with a boring "trick". Audience participation can help greatly with this.
You as a performer need to be engaging. You need to talk with them, laugh with them (depending on the situation and your performing style), and let the magic happen to them, not happen to you.
A good example...Tivo 2.0 and Here Then There. For those of you who know how these work, you will know what I mean. I would much rather do Here Then There, because the magic happens to the audience. Tivo 2.0 happens to you. And while Tivo 2.0 is much more visual, Here Then There is much more magical.
I think it's a good idea before buying and effect, to really think about it, and see if there is something with the same principle, but happens to the audience. Think of Captured by Justin Miller. It happens to the audience, instead of something like Factory Sealed.
[size=+2]Enjoy yourself[/size]
Another very important issue is enjoying yourself. Too often I see a magician just going though the actions of a trick, rattling off their "planned" patter, with no "ummmf" or believability to it.
You have to enjoy yourself while performing. If you don't show any passion while performing, people will notice. If you don't enjoy what your doing, neither will the audience. People who say the performer doesn't matter and only the audience are incorrect. Here is a great post about this sort of thing.
It's your magic, enjoy it.
[size=+2]Don't be the trick monkey[/size]
Don't perform every time someone says "Show me a trick". When you do that, they will begin to take it for granted, and it won't be special when you perform for them. While this doesn't have to do with connecting with your audience, in a way it does. It cheapens your magic when you become the "I'll do a trick whenever you ask me to" thing. If you make your magic something special, and only perform on your terms, it seems more special, and entertaining. Not just something they can see whenever they want to.
Don't get me wrong, you can oblige when someone asks you to perform, in fact, that's a great way to start performing, instead of you coming to them. Just make sure you don't become the "Trick Monkey".
[size=+2]End[/size]
These are things to think about, and I recommend you do so seriously. I think the connection is really the fulcrum of magic and performing.
Peace
Last edited by a moderator:
). The reason is simple, smiles great to portray yourself as a kind and noble guy and the "shaking hands" action is to subcounciously ask permission to join their social circle. Also, I like to be remembered as "That's Raul, a cool guy who does tricks" rather than "that guy does card tricks"
