“Find out insider secrets of performing strolling magic.”

An Interview with Magician Jim Pace.

Interviewed By J.L. Siefers, Learn-Great-Magic-Tricks.com

[J.L.] What kind of tricks do you use when doing strolling magic?

[Jim] I will use coins, cards, mini linking rings, rubber bands, string, glassware, watches, fingertips, napkins, table knives, dollar bills and pretty much anything that will reset immediately.

[J.L.] How do you approach a group of people?

[Jim] My methods differ depending on how I feel about the table. Sometimes I will just hand a piece of flash paper to someone in a group. I will take it back…not saying a word then light it on fire, where it turns into a silver dollar. Sometimes I will take my handkerchief and ask who ordered the glass of water. I will produce a bottle of water then set it down on the table for people to see, I say “..no…that is not it, this is!” I produce a glass of water. I want them to know that I am the magician right away. I really do not like asking for permission to perform my magic. That in mind if you would like to carry the same thoughts…be careful, not every one likes magic. You must learn how to read people before you become seemingly reckless.

[J.L.] Does your approach change if there are children in the group?

[Jim] Yes, depending on the age. From 5 years and up I will pluck a coin from the air and proceed to do Miser’s dream and place them into the parents open hands. Every once in a while I will take one from the kids ear or elbow and then once I have their confidence I will make a shower of coins fall from the kids nose. It always gets a laugh and laughs are important in this field.

[J.L.] What advice do you have for the opening effect?

[Jim] The magician’s opener should be short and visual. Your table should know who you are within the first moments of your approach.

[J.L.] What advice do you have for the closing effect?

[Jim] A closing effect should be strong and visual. It should also represent who you are or the establishment from where you are working, such as a business card trick, or a card trick that spells the name of the restaurant you are at. Perhaps the Hot Leads wallet although not a trick could be used as a closer. It is visual and your client will remember you for the rest of their lives.

[J.L.] How do you dress for strolling magic?

[Jim] Either a tux, a sport coat and nice slacks, or a vest and shirt with nice black pants.

[J.L.] How do you market yourself to get strolling magic jobs?

[Jim] Lao Tzo once said …” The longest journey begins with a single step…” Just start doing it. Go into restaurants, have a meal, ask questions. You will get some no’s. Go to the places that you least like to work at first. By the time you get to the one that you like you should have a Yes in your favor. A restaurant gig will book you more shows than you need. Try them first. Agents also work well for gigs in the non restaurant field.

[J.L.] What do you do when it is clear the group does not want to see magic?

[Jim] Leave.

[J.L.] How long do you perform for a group?

[Jim] Restaurant or strolling? I would suggest that every trick is part of a three phase routine where each builds on the other but each could be stopped at any time for many reasons.( food arrives, Uncle Edward from out of town) Not more than two minutes at each trick, and each trick visual.

[J.L.] What kind of effects do you recommend that don’t require a table?

[Jim] Rope magic, mini linking rings, Misers dream, and multiple card selections from people around the table (eight cards are selected lost and then found each in a different matter.)

[J.L.] What kind of magic tricks do you avoid when doing strolling magic?

[Jim] Pick a card tricks. In strolling situations many people have a drink in their hand and often food in the other. If there is a card trick involved it would be from a glanced at card.

[J.L.] What kind of performer is best suited for strolling magic?

[Jim] The performer who is not shy and enjoys being around crowds

[J.L.] What kind of outs do you use when things go wrong?

[Jim] I do not pretend that a mistake never happens. I say oops and laugh an obvious mistake off. Many times the audience is unaware that anything has gone wrong. Most the time it is only you.

[J.L.] How do you handle the issue of tips?

[Jim] I do not solicit tips. I will never turn a tip down and I will encourage tips by performing magic with their money. I have a friend who wears a badge for his tips. it reads ” I am Dyslexic will work for spit!” I enjoy his badge

[J.L.] Do you pass out your business card or do other things to get more jobs while performing strolling magic?

[Jim] If you are not passing out cards, then you are not getting work. Pass them out at any chance. You are your best salesman. Did I mention my Hot Leads wallet as a way to pass out business cards in a way that the client will always remember?

About the author:

J.L. Siefers has been performing great magic for years. He has shown hundreds of people how to successfully learn to do great magic tricks. Want to learn to do magic? Click now to get your FREE magic tricks!

Jim Pace has over thirty years of experience in strolling magic. Visit his White Rabbit Magic Company

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One of the hardest phobias, both to deal with and explain to your friends, is a bird phobia. Sure, everyone thinks they’re pretty. They sing their little songs, the have the lovely plumage, and they look nice on tree branches. But they’ve also got those talons, those beaks, and a set of nasty wings that they put to use in the most bizarre ways. A bird phobia is not uncommon, but it is very inconvenient when you want to go outside to mow the lawn or work in the garden. Let’s face it, the birds aren’t going anywhere and you need to conquer your fear of them if you want to leave the house without always nervously looking skyward. Hypnosis is one way in which you can finally put your bird phobia to rest and enjoy the outdoors.

Though when most people think of hypnosis as a way to quit smoking or make other people think they are chickens, it is actually a powerful tool for ridding oneself of phobias. Thanks to its ability to, in a way, reprogram the conscious mind through the subconscious mind, hypnosis can help you rid yourself of bothersome bugaboos such as a bird phobia.

Hypnosis uses a form of deep relaxation, not unlike meditation, to calm the subject into a state in which suggestion may be applied. These suggestions can be very powerful, as they tap into the subject’s subconscious mind to work through the roadblocks, such as phobias, that prevent us from fully enjoying all that life has to offer. Thus, a bird phobia can be conquered through the use of self-hypnosis tapes or by visiting a professional hypnotherapist.

If you want to finally put your bird phobia to rest, hypnosis may be your key to fully enjoying the outdoors. You don’t need to continually listen for bird calls, worrying just how far away those little terrors may be. Instead, you could simply appreciate the sounds of their songs, their brilliant colors, and their grace in the air. Hypnosis can turn your feathered fiends into feathered friends in very little time. If you want to give it a try, there are plenty of resources available. So start investigating your options and see what hypnosis can do for your bird phobia.

About the Author

http://www.about-hypnosis.com teaches you how to use hypnosis to improve your life. Hypnotism can help with weight loss, stopping smoking, fear of public speaking and more. You can also learn to hypnotize yourself.

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When a performer learns his skills, he knows that part of those skills is his ability to control his audience’s interest. This can be done through perfect incorporations of confidence, focus, projections, facial expressions, attention, etc.

Along with any performer, magicians know how important it is to have stage presence. In fact, it is the single most elusive factor that they need whenever they perform on stage or in any shows.

However, as simple as it may sound, acquiring or learning the art of stage presence is no easy job. Acquiring stage presence involves a continuous learning process, where every magician should gain knowledge on combining all the needed skills in order to hook the audience’s attention.

So for those who want to learn how to obtain stage presence, here are three easy steps that will definitely catch the audience’s interest and keep them glued to their seats:

1. A good performer knows the role

When it comes to performance, those who knows how to portray their roles best are those that are greatly applauded.

Why? Because they perform as if it is their true personality. In this way, the audience will be able to feel the reality that exudes from every move and every word that the performer delivers.

For magicians, owning the role is defined on how he defines his character. A good magician should know where he gets his “power,” convictions, thoughts, the things he has learned, etc.

2. Get real!

Stage presence is all about projecting reality. Even if 100% originality can’t be achieved, the important thing in order for a magician to gain stage presence is to appear as real as possible.

Even if it has been a well-known fact that magic is just an illusion, to create a realistic view on stage is one area that will put the audience in astonishment and admiration.

Moreover, even if all the tricks of a magician are copied from the works of others, it is still important to create an original work that will distinguish him from the others.

3. Love the craft

Stage presence is all about learning to love one’s craft. Therefore, magicians should learn how to love their craft by being knowledgeable on what they do. If the audience can see how expert the magician is, chances are, their attention will be more focused on the show.

Indeed, magic and stage presence is such an important combination in order to keep the audience completely glued to their seats.

About the author:

Preston Houer has been involved with the art of illusion and sleight of hand for over 30 years. Let Preston show you how to Have Fun With Magic. Visit His Site Today! http://www.have-fun-with-magic.com

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