Impromptu Show…

I’m still reading John Carney’s book Magic by Design.  I wrote about in previously in this blog post.   I’m really enjoying this book and I like his approach.  In the beginning John say’s that these are his theories and whether you follow them or not, at least they made you think about why you do … Continue reading “Impromptu Show…”

I’m still reading John Carney’s book Magic by Design.  I wrote about in previously in this blog post.  

Magic by Design by John Carney

I’m really enjoying this book and I like his approach.  In the beginning John say’s that these are his theories and whether you follow them or not, at least they made you think about why you do the stuff you do. 

In the book he mentions having an impromptu show you can do.  Not just a few impromptu tricks, but tricks that you’ve practiced and know inside and out.  Material that’s you treat like the stuff that’s in your show, you know the script, you can do the sleight of hand under fire.  

If you’ve hung around me, you know I have a 3 trick show on me at all times.   These are three tricks that live in my wallet and are good go.  I started doing this after I had read Ken Dyne’s book The Impromptu Mystifier.  

You don’t have to do the three tricks just because someone asks,  like some sort of trained monkey.  However when you need them, you’ll be good to go.  My impromptu set will play close up or in a cabaret setting.  


The moral of the story is: you are a magician, you should be able to amaze anytime!

Always Have a Trick in Your Pocket…

One thing that I often hear magicians say is that they never perform for people unless they are paid.  That’s bunk.  Personally I usually have a deck of cards in my pocket, not because I want to show people tricks, but it allows me to practice when I have unexpected downtime.   Stuck in the … Continue reading “Always Have a Trick in Your Pocket…”

One thing that I often hear magicians say is that they never perform for people unless they are paid.  That’s bunk.  Personally I usually have a deck of cards in my pocket, not because I want to show people tricks, but it allows me to practice when I have unexpected downtime.

 

Stuck in the drive thru line at the bank…I can bang out a few practice false shuffles.

 

Recently I was picking my agent up at the airport in Billings, MT and her checked luggage as well as about 30 other people’s luggage were left behind in Seattle.  That meant a long wait (over 2 hours!) to file their baggage claims.

She had taken my banner as “carry on” to the plane.   So I popped up the banner and did a show for the people waiting!

 

It really made a difference in the people’s day!   Also the trick that I’m doing in the above video was published in an issue of Vanish Magazine from a couple of months ago.

 

In addition to a deck of cards that’s usually in my pocket, I have an impromptu show that lives in my wallet.  This show is short at about 15 mins, but it’s got a beginning, middle and end.   This isn’t just a series of tricks, it’s a show. I highly recommend you have show you can do from you wallet.  It doesn’t need to play for 500 people, but a good, solid 10-15 mins of close up.  The book The Impromptu Mystifier is what got me to put this show together and in it the author gives a great frame work for how to structure the show.

 

I’m not saying you should force your magic on anyone, but you also never know when you’ll be in a position to perform.

Louie