The Merchant of Magic Team are often asked questions about how to create a performing persona as a magician. Many magicians that have yet to perform their magic tricks to an audience worry about how to present themselves in an entertaining way.
Dominic Reyes has recorded a short video, in which he talks about how to present yourself in an authentic way, yet maintain a professional and entertaining persona as a magician:
4 Quick Tips on how to be yourself when you perform as a magician:
1) Most magicians, unless they have a specific character that dictates their performance, just need to be themselves. An energetic, happy, and enthusiastic version of yourself.
2) Try to avoid stock jokes and one liners, they usually come across as fake, unless they have been cleverly built into your presentation in a way that perfectly matches your personality.
3) Assume that the group of spectators already loves magic, and can't wait to see you perform. Appraoch with a sence of fun an excitment about the magic you are about to show them.
4) Remember that a close up magic presentation is really a conversation. Your smiles and eye contact are just as important as the magic trick you are showing. People want an interaction with someone they like, far more than the trick itself. Your personality needs to be authentic, so it feels genuine. It's very easy to spot a fake persona.
Thanks Dominic, I found this post very interesting and gave me some structure and something to think about as I develop my magic. I realise from your posts that as I learn magic from the beginner level I need to develop this "performer image" of myself so that when I am in front of an audience this personna will be an integral part of my magic. This is why I think the DVDs of the Ultimate Self Working Card Tricks are so good in helping develop the perfomer as well as their magic.
Thanks Dom for this blog. As someone who is making the moves to go professional, I'm finding this kind of stuff very helpful! I had a great working example of this when I was at my best mates wedding last week. I wasn't there as a performer, but it was fantastic what happened. My mate was telling a family member about my magic….hence, well you know waht was said next! Before long I had a crowd of guests and staff around me, and I performed for 45 minutes! Because this was unplaned, my real "me" came out and everyone loved it!…