Connecting With Your Spectators

Michael Kras · Connecting With Your Spectators

My personal thoughts on the subject.. I would love to hear yours.

Connection is a very important part of magic for me. Whether it's something spectators can relate to or just becoming their temporary friend, I believe it is crucial to a successful performance. Let's look at it further.

For one, connection drastically lowers the chance of your spectators being against you. If your friendly and personal with them, they will respect you and enjoy what you are doing. Doing this makes spectators feel as though you and they have been long-time friends and trust me, they won't try ANYTHING. However, remaining disconnected with your performances may evoke the wrath of such common factors as jealousy, annoyance, or arrogance. They may try to steal the show or worse, get a little more than rude and touchy.

Another factor of performance that is purified by connection is fun! Let them know you're having fun, and they will have fun! What next? Have fun along with them! Joke with them, ask them to relate to non-personal situations for an effect (Example: "Have you ever flicked a card so hard that all of the ink on the card flew off like a butterfly in flight?") and the performance will be 100x more fun.

Thirdly, this provides for a more intimate relationship with your audience. Magic is so much more powerful when it is really personal. If you do not connect, feel free to stand behind the table and attempt a Coin Matrix routine in midair (if anyone has a method for this, let me know). It will feel like they are watching a television show, one which, while entertaining, is not particularly engaging. To get into their box and "dare I say it, outer personal space, begin by asking them their name. Repeat it out loud, shake their hand, and introduce yourself as well. Now you are free. You've met, and you can now do so much more to make the magic so much more powerful. For example, in a recent video, you can see me physically touch my spectator. I wouldn't have even dreamed of doing this if I hadn't initiated a two-way introduction prior to performance! Not only does this factor do everything aforementioned, it also lets the spectator know "Hey, I'm not some snobby entertainer. I'm just like you and I'm here to have fun!"

My final point.. using connection to FLIRT. Ah yes, it can be done. Once you've connected, you can do a ton of things with the ladies that will include a hint of sexy flirting. For example, I know of a magician who does a great fork bending routine. When he does it, he's established enough of a connection to actually put his arm around a girl and have her bend the fork with her own mind! Bold, surely, but with enough connection anything can happen. You can hold hands to get a "mental connection" during a mentalism effect or put your hand on their shoulders... even staring deeply into their eyes to look inside their mind. It's all great!

What are your thoughts on the subject?

BrianMillerMagic · Re: Connecting With Your Spectators

Michael Kras

Unethical, yes. Fun, yes!

Ethan the Emazing

Michael Kras

Michael Kras

Would love to hear more thoughts!

MH

"Have you ever flicked a card so hard that all of the ink on the card flew off like a butterfly in flight?"

I don't see how this can connect people. It might work for you, but personally, I would think the line is too patronizing- the universal answer is "Of course not! Why the hell would that happen?"

Connection and rapport involves listening on the part of the performer. Most magicians don't talk with their audience, they talk at them. In your video, you seem to do the same thing. Granted, it was a larger audience than what would be practical for the approach.

After a performance, if you actually get to talk with the audience during it, both sides should know more about each other. I talk about psychology, trickery, conditioning, etc. when I do close up. I listen to the anecdotes that I receive in return, and many times learn something new. I never use rote 'patter' that doesn't genuinely reflect my personality and views. A script is useful, but using someone else's script (like all the Gypsy Thread and Triumph guys) doesn't get me anywhere. The only exception to this is a script that is necessary for the effect.

Craig Browning

A handful of things need be said here...

a.) If you want to learn how to be in control of your audience/participants and cultivate genuine communication skills then there are two courses you need to invest into right now; Kenton Knepper's WONDER WORDS (as a primer) followed by Paul Brook's new ALCHEMICAL TOOLS. I'll warn you, both require YEARS of practice and dedication but they do pay off in the long run and allow you to learn how to create MAGICK vs. doing Tricks.

b.) When it comes to the unethical & immoral use of magic and related psychologies by a huge majority within our ranks... get used to it. They're all fine and dandy when it comes to attacking someone like myself that does Tarot & Palm Readings for being unethical and yet, they see nothing wrong with being a sleaze, doing some bad card tricks, the sponge dildo, etc. as a means of getting into someone's pants (and trust me boys, you can be targeted just as quickly (if not quicker) than the ladies... the magic world is rife with gay and bi-sexual individuals, many of whom are the more famous of the lot, so be forewarned).

Anything and everything can be abused it is up to the individual if or not they will use what they know as a weapon or means of trespass. I know of magicians that run cons and flim-flams constantly when working the carnival lots, some more so than others. I am all to familiar with the razzle's used by "Psychics" working the streets or fairs and have even shared some of their tricks and approaches in material I've put on the market BECAUSE IT WORKS even when used legitimately. But when it comes to the pursuit of sexual favors I find the far too many of our fellows forget about the ethics and morals they love to scream about in these forums or in public gatherings... it's kind of like a Sunday go'n to meet'n Christian and how they think all those commandments and laws are for everyone but them.

Connecting With Your Spectators

Re: Connecting With Your Spectators