First Post - Street Magic Question

[Robert//Livingston]

Hey guys, had a family get-together today and tried out some tricks that I've been working on for a while. I've been wanting to go and perform on the streets and see what reactions I might get. I've pretty much been performing musically for most of my life, and have always been into magic but only recently (6 months or so) started learning and performing it.

So far I have a pretty simple routine.

A basic sandwich
Escape (coin trick)
and ending with THREAD.

What do you guys think about it? I've also practiced the Biddle trick relentlessly and playing with simple color changes.

Anyways, this is my first thread on Theory11 and can't wait to read some responses.

 

[Blindside462]

Hey guys, had a family get-together today and tried out some tricks that I've been working on for a while. I've been wanting to go and perform on the streets and see what reactions I might get. I've pretty much been performing musically for most of my life, and have always been into magic but only recently (6 months or so) started learning and performing it.

So far I have a pretty simple routine.

A basic sandwich
Escape (coin trick)
and ending with THREAD.

What do you guys think about it? I've also practiced the Biddle trick relentlessly and playing with simple color changes.

Anyways, this is my first thread on Theory11 and can't wait to read some responses.

Alright

A little story before I answer. I've been into magic on and off for about 4 years and have barely had real world experience. I've performed a few tricks for small groups and at school weekly with 1 trick but that would be it. There is nothing like the experience of performing for real people it's great. kontents ( a member on this thread) , I met up with him in San Diego less than a week ago and he has been into magic for 8 months and he performs like a little Daniel Garcia..he even looks like him haha.

Try out effects that get their signature on a card or have them holding something.

I think you should definitely perform effects that INCLUDE the spectator is some fashion that picking a card. I've been performing A TON for people here in San Diego these past for days and I can tell you the effects that have been playing big for me.



Carbon Paper (by Jay Sankey on Wayne Houchin's Art of Magic)
2 card transpo
French Kiss (by Wayen Houchin on his Art of Magic)
Ambitious Card (Great and you can customize your ambitious card routine however you want it)
2 card monte (something I just performed yesterday, seriously try it)
Coin to spectator's shoulder (I think Greg Wilson has material on this)

The Biddle Trick is great. Get them to hold the deck so when the card vanishes and there are only 4 cards..they can spread the cards and see their card.

A triumph effect plays very well.

These are tricks that are great for standing-street magic.

 

[Robert//Livingston]

Awesome, thank you for your response!

On the note of getting into the spectators hands I've been working on 'Witness' by Lee Asher and also looking at LIT.

Just hoping the good people of Alabama take well to street magic..

 

[Blindside462]

Awesome, thank you for your response!

On the note of getting into the spectators hands I've been working on 'Witness' by Lee Asher and also looking at LIT.

Just hoping the good people of Alabama take well to street magic..

They are great effects.

Witness is a great transposition effect, try not to do 2 transpo like effects with the same spectators. I wouldn't recommend doing the same kind of effects over again with different methods. But witness is a great alternative along with LIT. Basically adding a variety for yourself. So you can choose between the two.

Do you want to do LIT to these spectator's..or Witness? Just I advise not to do both.

Just like French kiss is pretty much the same effect as 2 card transpo. I just do which one I feel like floats my boat

 

[Robert//Livingston]

Ah, I see. I was planning on doing the hit and run with my audiences, maybe 3 tricks at most depending on how they enjoy it.

Building up to a big finish hopefully, like a routine of Biddle, Witness, Thread. Or throwing in a cool coin vanish.

Mostly not trying to overstay any welcome I can get =P

 

[Blindside462]

Ah, I see. I was planning on doing the hit and run with my audiences, maybe 3 tricks at most depending on how they enjoy it.

Building up to a big finish hopefully, like a routine of Biddle, Witness, Thread. Or throwing in a cool coin vanish.

Mostly not trying to overstay any welcome I can get =P

No that is totally cool. When I was performing at the mall these past 2 days a couple times I only did 2 effects. But make sure not to make the meet and greet all about the tricks. Make sure to talk to your audience and connect with them.

Where you from?
Come here often?
What do you guys do for fun?...(they talk) ....Oh that's very nice, I like doing magic for fun, would you like to seem something cool?

Even though I've done this I've been shot down once, you get those people that say....NO...Not interested no matter how friendly you are.

Let me tell you the mall I've seen is one of the worst places to do magic. People are sometimes just trying to go from point a to point b and leave.

Scout out your spectators, take out a deck and dripple or spring your cards and casually look around. If you see someone looking at you and they seem a bit interested go up and make conversation, break the ice, then after you are in depth of conversation ask if they like magic or want to see something cool.

"Do you like magic?"

"Yes!! I do!"

"Cool, what kind of magic have you seen?"

"blah blah"

"If you wouldn't mind, would you like to see some magic?"

"sure!!"

Be polite and courteous

 

[AlfieWhattamMagic]

Ive made a simple list of some tricks you should look into....

Ultimate Transporsition
2 Card Monte
Ambitious Card Routine
Biddle Trick
Invisible Deck
Self Tieing Shoelace
A levitation effect like Trantula or loops
Spongeballs
Phrophet/Extreme Burn/Hand out 500

 

[Mr.MadMan]

This is all good advice and all but if you are starting the best would be to get a magic buddy. If you can't just go and start out with 1 effect. Get a hang of it, your hands will shake, you wont know what to say etc. Just get a hang of it, though always have another effect up your sleeve just incase you get an awesome group.

Start with 1, build yourself up from there. People might not like what you are doing and if you keep them there for 3 effects it will do more harm than good. 1 GOOD effect choreograph it to the max then add another and then another.

Mikk.

 

[Robert//Livingston]

Thanks for all of the advice guys, I'll definitely look into some of the effects AlfieWhattamMagic suggested.

And yes, my heart seems to beat pretty fast just performing for family and friends, so I can imagine doing it for some random people.

 

[Sidekick]

I normally perform at school, so i dont know if this would help but what i do is I have 5 tricks example 2 card tricks, 1 coin,1 mentalism,1 levition and I like to also ask the spectator some times, whats you favorite type of magic and I give them the optitions, they like cards i perform cards. I just feel that it gives the spectator the idea that they are in control.

Also how about you start with thread, it will show that you are the real deal, so then they would ask for more effects. Again be polite try to connect, a method I did once of getting attention when It was my first time in the street, I flourished for a bit in the corner who ever looked interested I went to and performed. If you want to overcome nervousness try practicing harder and harder in till you know you cant fail. Most of all have fun, and when some one says no, dont try and presude them, it might work once but sometimes the spectator would find you annoying, just say OKAY and go on to your next spectator.

Good places to perform magic in my opinion are puplic squares and parks, people are out there to just have fun and rest, unlike shopping malls where people just want to buy their stuff and leave. Also try and evalute your self by looking at your spectator's reactions and their comments, then you could go home and fix something in your patter, if you have a problem that is, or change a way try and misdirect people. Dont let being nervous beat you, right now I have loads of work at school so I dont have time to perform at street but as soon as I am done i am going to go out and have fun.

EDIT: Just saw some one else talking about getting attention by flourishing, sorry, just shows its a great idea

 

[Liderc]

Cheers mate

LIT is a fantastic trick, i do it where i sign the card, and then after the trick they get to keep it with me name on it

Identity by Richard Sanders is another great trick, because the spectator gets to keep it with their name which is a strong thing in their mind

anything by Daniel madison is pretty much killer, off his Mystique dvd there are so many strong effects, also all his books have some killer stuff, i could list them forever

get some loops, you can get some insane reactions with them, floating a dollar, haunted deck, moving objects, it also lends you the ability to find their card in different ways. great for walk around magic


also remember you can get some insane reactions using a simple trick its how you present it, i take effects and i change the patter and presentation to match my style..

take Recon from Dorian Rhodell's Avenue DVD i take that a create this whole semi-mentalist mind control thing as i present the trick, which fist my style and gets some killer reactions

so the best thing for you is to find a style you like, and then find tricks that match your style, and also change around the patter and presentation of other tricks to fit your style...

 

[Robert//Livingston]

Unfortunately I haven't spent any time on flourishing, I always thought I'd rather be doing sleights and figuring out angles.

I've been trying to find Two Card Monte on here but no 1 on 1's or anything, so I need to learn that. It's pretty killer. Also Distortion looks like it would be awesome to add to my list.

Hopefully I'm going to try and get out this weekend and maybe get a video of some of the people I perform for and put it up for criticism.

For the video I'm thinking of doing Thread, Biddle, and end with Witness. That should get plenty of reaction, and those are the ones I've spent the most time practicing.

 

[Sidekick]

Unfortunately I haven't spent any time on flourishing, I always thought I'd rather be doing sleights and figuring out angles.

I've been trying to find Two Card Monte on here but no 1 on 1's or anything, so I need to learn that. It's pretty killer. Also Distortion looks like it would be awesome to add to my list.

Hopefully I'm going to try and get out this weekend and maybe get a video of some of the people I perform for and put it up for criticism.

For the video I'm thinking of doing Thread, Biddle, and end with Witness. That should get plenty of reaction, and those are the ones I've spent the most time practicing.

Well you get the idea, try doing something visual and when someone looks interested hop in there and do your routine. Also try to relate your tricks, like a sort of story. Example I have been working on a hustler routine, I would start with 2 card monte to show I am the real deal (the hook) then show how i can use my skill at poker games by doing Fan 2 C (can be found at dan and dave on demand service) by Paul Wilson then finish with something like blackjack production by dan and dave. Try and relate your tricks, you dont have to relate your routine everytime but in my opinion it makes the routine more interesting.

I believe ellusionist has 2 card monte, Link here:
http://www.ellusionist.com/kard-klub.html

search for it around magic shops I am sure there are other places

 

[Robert//Livingston]

So I went out for the first time today and got a little footage.

The routine I went with was 2 Card Monte, Four of a Kind, and Thread

Any comments would be great

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGu6tGHjNzk

 

[William Draven]

So I went out for the first time today and got a little footage.

The routine I went with was 2 Card Monte, Four of a Kind, and Thread

Any comments would be great

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGu6tGHjNzk

The patter needs work, but the heart is in the right place.

 

[Robert//Livingston]

Thanks man! That means a lot coming from an accomplished street magician.

 

[MillionaireMike]

Doesn't look like your first time at all... good work man!

 

[Robert//Livingston]

Thanks Mike!