Reacting to an audience members objection to magic
As my first real post on this Blog I thought I would share an experience from a wedding event I entertained at just this weekend
I entertain at a lot of weddings and as much as they are all different they can be very similar
It is very easy to go onto auto pilot as a magician and not react to your audience
I believe not going on auto pilot is one of the ways to keep every performance fresh and as unique as it can be.
What happens when a person you approach makes it abundantly clear they do not want to watch magic,they do not like magic and would prefer it if you walked away?
I have had this happen on many occasion over the years for many reasons
- Some people do not like magic
- The group could be in deep conversation about business (Bad Timing)
- Family members have not seen each other for years and want to chat
- Some people think they do not like magic!!!!!!!
I would like to concentrate on the last point
I had a wonderful experience just last weekend where I approached a couple at a wedding reception who were stood on their own
They could have not been more pleasant as I struck up conversation but when it became apparent I was a magician the wife in the couple seemed to withdraw and shrink into herself visibly
I feel it is so important to observe your audience and their reactions to anything you say or do
This lady was so friendly to start with and then decided she really didn't want to watch any magic as "she didn't like to fuss"
Do I stay or walk?
On many occasions I would have walked and thanked them for their time and searched out a new audience
On this occasion though I just had an inkling that the husband wanted me to do something and also the lady might actually enjoy something she didn't have to be involved with
My gut instinct was right I coaxed her in slowly and at the climax of the routine I did she had a beaming smile and started to gush on how the magic was just "wonderful"
As a magician I do not see audiences as a challenge and am not a particular fan of any kind of challenge magic but if you are pleasant and conversational most people do want to watch good magic
In the case above I got so much satisfaction from the way this lady changed after watching one magic effect.Her husband later told me she was painfully shy and he had never seen her come out of herself like that before.
As Magicians we carry a great power and responsibility.If you wanted to you can make people look silly with sarcastic remarks and glib comments but as magicians we can make people feel so special even if it may be for a short time.
I am so glad I did not walk away from this couple at the weekend because that would have been the easy thing to do.
In assessing the situation and using experience I think I created a moment of magic not just for the spectator but for myself as a performer
Have a magic day
Carl
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