If you are always stuck performing for a measly two people, and the passers by, are well, just... passing by, you may want to change that. If you want people to stop, watch, and stay, read this, some tips will definitely help you!
Drawing a crowd is not an easy task, you have to have a routine that consistently amazes, and gets better as it goes along. If you have a routine which consists of an unvaried series of effects, people will quickly lose interest and decide to leave the crowd. You may want to check out some threads on routining in the forums, I know there are tons.
To draw a crowd, the effects must generate a lot of energy. You want people to be loud after the tricks are shown, so that it attracts people to turn their heads and watch the magic. If you have ever driven passed a car accident, you must have turned your head to see what was going on. Why is that? Because it is so blatantly plastered in your line of sight, you are compelled to look, it is in human nature to look at a disaster or an accident, we MUST know what's going on. That is why if screams are present, passers by will be COMPELLED to look, it's what humans do.
Let's say you have a crowd, there is no guarantee that they will stay the full length of your routine, in order too keep everyone interested, you must get everyone involved with the magic, not just your original spectators, if everyone is involved, they will be more likely to stay, and attract even more people. Crowds attract crowds, people just don't want to be left out of that crowd, they want to be part of the action, not another brick in the wall (thank you Pink Floyd). If you watch some of David Blaine's or Criss Angel's videos, you see the crowd start to grow because of the atmosphere that David or Criss creates.
If you are looking to attract a crowd, you are going to want to have tricks that involve audience participation, and a lot of it! Each time you need a participant, use someone different so they feel accepted in this "crowd of magic". Acceptance is all they need, if you acknowledge each and every one of these different spectators, they will feel accepted and will feel noticed, so once again, will be compelled to stay, they are part of the act now, not just spectators.
These were small tips, I encourage everyone to write their own tips and I encourage everyone to search for articles regarding presentation, and routineing to attract the biggest crowds possible!
Mitchell
Drawing a crowd is not an easy task, you have to have a routine that consistently amazes, and gets better as it goes along. If you have a routine which consists of an unvaried series of effects, people will quickly lose interest and decide to leave the crowd. You may want to check out some threads on routining in the forums, I know there are tons.
To draw a crowd, the effects must generate a lot of energy. You want people to be loud after the tricks are shown, so that it attracts people to turn their heads and watch the magic. If you have ever driven passed a car accident, you must have turned your head to see what was going on. Why is that? Because it is so blatantly plastered in your line of sight, you are compelled to look, it is in human nature to look at a disaster or an accident, we MUST know what's going on. That is why if screams are present, passers by will be COMPELLED to look, it's what humans do.
Let's say you have a crowd, there is no guarantee that they will stay the full length of your routine, in order too keep everyone interested, you must get everyone involved with the magic, not just your original spectators, if everyone is involved, they will be more likely to stay, and attract even more people. Crowds attract crowds, people just don't want to be left out of that crowd, they want to be part of the action, not another brick in the wall (thank you Pink Floyd). If you watch some of David Blaine's or Criss Angel's videos, you see the crowd start to grow because of the atmosphere that David or Criss creates.
If you are looking to attract a crowd, you are going to want to have tricks that involve audience participation, and a lot of it! Each time you need a participant, use someone different so they feel accepted in this "crowd of magic". Acceptance is all they need, if you acknowledge each and every one of these different spectators, they will feel accepted and will feel noticed, so once again, will be compelled to stay, they are part of the act now, not just spectators.
These were small tips, I encourage everyone to write their own tips and I encourage everyone to search for articles regarding presentation, and routineing to attract the biggest crowds possible!
Mitchell
