Non-English Speaking Spectators

[Anthony Bass]

Hey, everyone. Today I had my first encounter with a non-english speaking spectator. It was tough, I have to admit, but I got through it.

I was at the mall performing for people in the food court, and then I went to a massage therapy place that was set up on one end of the mall. I was sitting on a couch with a couple friends of mine, and I did a signed card color change for one of my friends, and it caught the eye of one of the massage therapists (who was either Korean or Japanese), so he came over and started watching. After the end of the color change routine, I asked him if he would like to see some magic, and he said "Yes.", so I assumed he spoke english. I showed him an ACR, and Waving The Aces, and of course it was with a signed card. This is where things got tough.

When I do an ACR, I get the spectator to sign the card, and at the end I say "You can keep the card, it's yours, it has your name on it." So I said that to him, and he just stood there holding the card, expecting to see more magic. So I made a motion trying to tell him he could keep it (not very easy), and he put it in his pocket, thinking I would do an effect involving the card inside his pocket. He stood there eagerly expecting more. So I did Stigmata, and after that, I walked away without another word except for a poor attempt to say thank you in Japanese.

So in conclusion, performing for a non-english speaking spectator is WAY harder than I expected. But it was a cool experience.

 

[manipulator]

cool man. I have performed for spanish speakers before. i did oz pearlman's blindsided. they were pretty amazed. I have figured out that you need to do real visual tricks to non english speakers.

 

[Dex]

Me it was in Tunisia, in a restaurant for the bar server who knew no other english words exept for "please, fanta, coca, wine, beer, thank you, water and 1 2 3"
So I did a visual effect (Printing by Dominic Duvivier) and somehow is reaction was way bigger than what I usually get with the routine.
I'm still wondering whether it's because he wasn't used to magic or because of the fact that I wasn't speaking (so more visual presentation, and a purerer effect)

 

[harapanong]

Living in Singapore, you get to perform in many languages... I have performed in English, Mandarin (performed close up shows in China), Japanese (only once), and even some Chinese dialects (to my grandma).

And of course, performed in Singlish.

- harapan. magic!

 

[Dizzi]

Fringlish is better! There is an entire town in my area that speaks fringlish But I've yet to perform for someone in a different language...but I think I've done it to someone who was deaf (Either he was deaf and mute, or just mute, iI don;t know) but he seemed pretty amazed/.

 

[Anthony Bass]

Fringlish is better! There is an entire town in my area that speaks fringlish But I've yet to perform for someone in a different language...but I think I've done it to someone who was deaf (Either he was deaf and mute, or just mute, iI don;t know) but he seemed pretty amazed/.

I have a family member who is deaf and mute, and he's really fun to perform for. It's easier to perform for him than for a non-english speaker though, cuz everybody does sign language with him. So I can at least interact with him.

 

[y2john]

I find it just as easy performing to those of a foreign language as those of the same, different approach, but magic is something that can be universally appreciated with no need for words to even be muttered.

Now approaching them is a different matter lol

 

[Anthony Bass]

I find it just as easy performing to those of a foreign language as those of the same, different approach, but magic is something that can be universally appreciated with no need for words to even be muttered.

Now approaching them is a different matter lol

Performing isn't hard, but I was talking about trying to tell the guy to keep the card. It was tough.

 

[conjure_pitch]

I have never been lucky enough to get the chance to do that.

 

[y2john]

Performing isn't hard, but I was talking about trying to tell the guy to keep the card. It was tough.

Yeah, this can be troublesome but is much easier if you lead them along phsyically... like get them to hold out there hand, place card on and then take there other hand and place it on top.
Also you have to communicate in a more visual way, like if I want them to take a card and to not let me see it I will over exagerrate looking away/closing my eyes during the selection, and if I want them to keep ahold of it I kinda lead them along in hiding it etc.

 

[Anthony Bass]

Yeah, this can be troublesome but is much easier if you lead them along phsyically... like get them to hold out there hand, place card on and then take there other hand and place it on top.
Also you have to communicate in a more visual way, like if I want them to take a card and to not let me see it I will over exagerrate looking away/closing my eyes during the selection, and if I want them to keep ahold of it I kinda lead them along in hiding it etc.

Yeah, telling them not to let you see the card is simple. Thanks for the advice.