Tony writes: 'Today I arrived at a gig with all my gear, went inside and it felt pretty quiet considering I was there to perform at a party. It turned out I had arrived a week early!

I laughed it off and told I'd be back next week and they didn't make a big fuss of my mistake. But the problem I have now is that I'm double booked for next week because I already have a gig next week in the same time slot. So what do I do now? Ask them to change time so I can fit in both gigs? Cancel the other gig? Arrive late for one of them? I don't know how to deal with this without looking thoroughly unprofessional.'

Getting double booked

You wouldn't be the first or last entertainer to make this mistake. However, It's vital that you keep an active system going to track your bookings. Getting the date of a gig wrong can not only make you look unprofessional, but it can reflect badly on your client too, especially if they had advertised you being at their event.

Mistakes with gigs can happen, so don't give yourself too hard a time about it, but you need to make sure both clients are happy, even if that is at your expense. It's your fault that you got double booked, so find a replacement magician to cover for one of the events. You may have to subsidize their fee, but it's worth it to keep your commitments and your good name.

The phone call before the magic gig

Around a week before a gig, I recommend that you phone the client to double check the details and confirm any last minute changes or issues. This is a perfect safety net, for mistakes like the one you encountered.

Use an online calander or booking system

Set up a dedicated calendar for bookings using an online service which will allow you to access it both from your office and when you are on the road. Apple or Google have excellent calendar services that you can use for free. Make sure you take a photo of your contract for each booking, and clip it into the calendar for that date, so you always have all the details of the gig at hand. There are also commercially available booking and contact systems for magicians that you can use. Although they can be expensive, as you get busy, they may be a great option to keep track of everything. Booking systems also help with recontact reminders, which can bring you much more work.

Tips for Magicians – Getting More Applause

by Dominic Reyes 1 Comment

By Dominic Reyes

Tips for Magicians – Getting Better Applause

As far back as ancient Rome, performers have requested applause from their audience by shouting “Plaudite!” it shows very clearly that performers have always sought approval from audiences. For a close-up magician, wanting more applause isn't just an ego (although a little pride and acknowledgment of a job well done isn't a bad thing), applause is also of great benefit as a form of 'social proof' to other spectators that something good is coming their way. It's the traditional version of the Facebook 'like', spreading the message that the magician is worth watching.

The problem with close up magic

Close up magicians perform for small groups, often in an informal situation. The group of spectators is often surrounded by other groups of people not participating in the magic show. This can inhibit or tone down the level of applause that spectators feel comfortable giving. In a formal show, people understand that applause is expected, if they have enjoyed the show, but in a close up setting hey may not understand the same rules apply. How can a close up magician adjust for that, communicate what's expected, and softy draw spectators to act as they would if they were in a larger audience? Here's 4 tips to help you get more applause and better reactions at the end of your close-up show.

1) The climax

Make sure that the final trick you perform ends on a very strong climax. The energy should build up and finish with a 'bang'. I don't mean you need to shoot fireballs out of your sleeves, but rather that suspense takes place as a series of events conclude with a surprising magical ending. You are looking for the last trick you perform for the group to have a thrilling climax rather than presenting them with a puzzle or mystery to 'mull over'. There's nothing wrong with strange mysteries or leaving something 'hanging', but if you are seeking to end on a strong round of applause, then go for as much energy in the final moment as possible.

2) Don't to a Dynamo Magician Impossible

The trend at the moment is to walk off, right at the end of the magic tricks climax. You see it often on TV. However, the camera remains with the spectators, so in reality, the performance doesn't end when the magician walks off. If you do it in real life, you end at THAT moment and it's a killer for applause. Wait a while. Take a bow. Only leave once the applause starts to slow down.

3) Take a bow

Bow with your hands sleightly raised from your body. Don't make a big thing of it, but if your hands are a little outstretched to the sides as you bow, it's a subtle cue to applause. However, resist at all costs, the urge to clap yourself 🙂

4) Confirm applause

If one or two people start to clap, make eye contact right away with a big smile and say "Thank you". That will help get everyone joining in.

Do This: Try taking a bow at the end of your last trick. Do it with a big smile. Don't feel embarrassed, it' what you are supposed to do as a performer. Although it seems the norm for close-up magicians, people still find it odd that many magicians just walk off after showing a trick. It's fine to signal the end of your show with a bow and take applause.

Magicians Patter – How to Avoid Being Boring

by Dominic Reyes Leave a Comment

By Dominic Reyes

Why your magicians patter should only tell the spectators things they don't know already.

What makes up a good magicians patter? It should be interesting, entertaining, and move the plot of the magic trick along. There's one thing that magicians love to add into their patter and scripts. We just can't help ourselves.. but we don't need to tell our spectators things they already know.

'I have a deck of cards in my hand.'

'I'll place the lid back on the sharpie pen.'

'I'm going to cut the rope in half, at the middle.'

Your audience already knows this. They can see it! Resist the temptation to fill up your presentation with a running commentary of things that should already be obvious. It's boring and looks like you are giving yourself instructions as you perform. Stating the obvious as a form of magician's patter is lazy. It doesn't move the magic trick forward and does nothing to entertain the spectators.

When you give a commentary about the magic tricks you perform, it should be to highlight unusual objects, create a story or setting, or focus attention on a part of the tricks mechanics that is important for the spectators to remember.

'The three coins in my hand are very, very old…'

'The blade will enter the deck to pierce it's heart..'

'You must hold the playing card tightly as if your life depended on it..'