Some of the best lines come from nothing!
When performing I always try to have a friendly, natural relaxed approach that appears to be quite unscripted.
The truth is I plan and rehearse every routine I perform a great deal.
The thing that makes every performance of the same effect unique is the way you interact with the audience.This can only be done if you listen.
Over the years I have tried to develop a skill for taking in all the activity going on around me when I am performing which can create some little gems.
An audience does not always think you are listening as they make comment to the person stood next to them when you are half way through a routine.
When you react in a friendly way magic can become more conversational and personal for the spectators. This makes them feel more involved resulting in them investing more attention into your performance.
By listening as well as talking you will open your mind to some well rehearsed ad libs and even the odd new line that comes from nowhere.
A couple of examples from this weekend came when performing at a wedding and a corporate event
Corporate Event
With five people on stage ready to perform my version of the black ball game (Kurotske) I always go down the line and ask names and pass comments if we have met earlier whilst I was performing Close Up Magic.This is to relax spectators and also build trust and rap poor establishing that this ill be fun and nobody will be made to look silly.
On going down the line I established the first spectator was called Andy (do they call you andy because you live around the corner?) Then I found spectator number five was also called Andy!
Without missing a beat I announced we had an Andy sandwich!!!! and the other spectators were the meat in the sandwich!!
"Have you ever been in and Andy Sandwich before?" Etc Etc
(by the way all the helpers were men I may not have used that line if a lady had been in the middle!!!)
The Andy Sandwich became a thing
People ran with it as being amusing and funny
After the show as I was leaving a member of the audience asked me how I managed to arrange to get two people called andy at each end of the line!!!!!! (True)
This is just one example of creating something from nothing by just listening
Wedding
Whilst performing my routine of The Baby Book by Stephen E Young and John Morton (which i can highly recommend) I was asked "How can you tell"
As this was being sold as a voice reading test I answered by saying "I could tell by the big pause"
As I was in a conversational relaxed state to perform I realised I had told a joke but had to give the punch line.
The spectator actually said "what pause"(thank you magic gods)
So I got the gag in of "the paws on the Teddy Bear"
I suppose you had to be there but I have now used this joke every time I have used the baby book since
Listen Listen Listen
By listening and formulating on the go you can create personal magical moments for your audience
Whether consciously or subconsciously they will feel that the performance was personal to them and not just the recital of a script
Have a magic day
Carl
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