Know Your Audience

Your audience can be catorized into several types.
Learn how to recognize them and how to deal with them.


There are people who enjoy magic for the entertainment value.
They would rather not know how the magic is done.
They know that learning the secret would spoil the effect.
For these I say - Don't disappoint them
- give them the entertainment they enjoy

There are people who want to believe that it's real magic.
For these I say - Don't disappoint them either.
- make everything you do look like real magic
There are also people who don't like to be fooled.
- they MUST know how it's done.
- they'll burn holes in your hands with their eyes.
- they'll try not to blink for fear of missing the "trick"
For these I say - Be careful.
- don't embarrass them.
- don't call attention to them.
- don't try to fool them.
- avoid them if you can.
- be prepared - they come in all ages.
- learn to recognize these people immediately- and guide your performance around them.
And you also have the non-believers - the "I'm not interested" type.
- they think that magic is for children
- it's beneath the dignity of an adult to watch.
For these I say - Entertain the rest of the audience.
- You just may win these non-believers over with the entertainment.
Finally - there is one more type that you have to learn to deal with.

The heckler.
- they're jealous of the attention others are paying to you.
- they want the attention aimed at them.
- they'll try to expose you as a fraud
- that want to show everying that you can't do "real" magic.
- in order for them to have the spotlight on themselves, they need to bring you down.
For these I say - Play to the better side of your audience.
- Don't let the heckler pull you down to their level
- Don't let the heckler break your character.
- Focus your attention on the rest of the audience
- Focut your attention on your performance


Know your audience.
Learn what they like.
Give them what makes them happy.

It's part of being a Professional entertainer
Mysterio

Cold Audience

 "a Cold Audience" - That sounds like a strange Title, doesn't it?
But let me explain what it is and how to deal with it.

If you have ever done or thought of doing restaurant magic, street magic or any type of show where the audience did not come to see magic - then you have dealt with or will deal with a "Cold Audience"

As I mention in an another post - you have to "Know your Audience"
Not everyone in a "Cold Audience" has come to see magic - nor do they all necessarily enjoy magic.

You have no way of knowing the types of people in a "Cold Audience"
And you don't know how they will react to your special talent. (aka "of being fooled")

Some people can't stand to be fooled - they can't stand to not know how you did whatever you did.

Some will persist in trying to discover your secret.

   "Let me see those cards"
or
  "Let me try that"
or
  "I think I know how you did that"

As I've said before - you have to know how to deal with the different types of people in your audience.
And, you have to know that in a moment's notice.

I like to try to diffuse the potential situation before it has a chance to get started by letting the audience know right up front that what I will be doing is technically just "TRICKS"

But, if they want to - They can witness the beauty of Magic.

I want them to know that I am there to entertain them.
I am there to show them something that they don't see in everyday life.

For adults I let them know that if they wish, they can experience the imagination they had when they were children.
For many - imagination is something that got lost somewhere between being a child and being a grown up.
Reality was too important to spend any time imagining.
I also want the audience to experience a mental sigh of relief, so that during the time they watch my show, they will be mentally relaxed.

Afterall, entertainment is meant to divert one's attention from the serious side of life to a relaxed and enjoyable state.

I believe that if you go in to any entertainment career with this sort of attitude - and believe it - that you will win your audiences over. 

Of course, you still need the talent that goes with the show - so it's up to you to polish your act, develop your character, and win your audience over with performance charm.

Be sincere in your desire to entertain and it will show.

Imagine - if you can win over a "Cold Audience" - just think of what you can do when your entire audience has come to see and experience a Magic show!


~ Mysterio ~

Professional Approach to your clients

Some thoughts on the business side of magic.

A simple fact - In order to succeed as an entertainer, you have to be able to please your audience.

Pleasing the audience should start to happen from the first moment of contact between you and your client.

Give them every reason to love you and no reason to say NO.

When dealing with potential clients - it is extremely important that you allow them to fully see your character as a magician – not as a business man. It will either guarantee you that they look upon you favorably - and hire you --- OR --- they will send you a signal that you should learn from. If you can't sell yourself to your customer - you won't succeed. Change your character and choice of magic to fit the client’s expectations - and you will succeed.


Once you have a feel for the venue ( occassion, location, setting, time of day, size of audience, age of audience ) consider routines that fit the occasion. Customize your act to be a perfect fit for the client’s entertainment need.

Plan for a follow-up meeting to show them how you would fit in – How you would entertain the audience.
Bring some tested "audience pleasers" - that can't lose. Woo them and wow them at the same time. After all, you are a magician and that is what they expect. Give them a sample Program or poster - and walk them trough your basic routines - like audience participation, special tricks, and lessons taught (Kelso)

A favorite card trick

If you enjoy working with cards - and are not a super-slick finger flinger, you just may enjoy the entertainment value of this card trick.  It requires practice, but no difficult slights.
I have enjoyed this routine for almost 30 years - having seen it performed by a fellow magician, Tom Ogden, at the Tannen's Magic Camp in the summer of 1978.  I enjoyed it so much that I set out to learn it well enough to perform it for the enjoyment of those who wish to watch,

Watch and enjoy.

Later, I will post the instructions on how to perform it - along with some side notes on what to watch out for when performing it.

Thanks for showing interest in my magic.  It's why I do it.

Here - then is a 3 minute routine that uses 4 cards from an ordinary deck.

~ Mysterio ~