Visions, The Online Journal of the Art of Magic

I've got a new "cyber-pupil." By that I mean that I've agreed to help out a less experienced magician via the Internet. He loves magic and wants to get better and get out there and perform, but he's been frustrated with trying to "find himself" as a performer. The old books typically tell you "Just be yourself," while the new books rarely even address the topic. He asked for my advice in this regard. Following is my (edited) response.

Regarding the "Be Yourself" advice... I think people have oversimplified that to a point where it is useless as they comprehend it. What Vernon (and others) was saying is not to adapt some put-on personality that doesn't fit you. For example, I've seen 14 year-old kids doing routines by the old masters word-for-word: "Don't get me started on marriage!" "Working for a living was giving me the blues" etc. Now done right (or even unintentionally), this can be very funny, but obviously, it doesn't ring true.

So, if you are not a doctor or lawyer, don't present your magic as if you are delivering a speech to the AMA or trying to win a case in court. If you are not a naturally funny, goofy guy, don't try to emulate a Jay Sankey or David Williamson or Bill Malone. Be yourself, but be a bigger, better yourself. Emphasize your strong points, and don't bring up your weak ones unless you can use them in a presentational application: "I'm so hen-pecked, that when my wife asked me if I could make big money for her in magic, I instantly did this without thinking" and a coin turns into a jumbo coin, etc.

I say bigger and better for an important reason. If you are feeling a bit blue, or your stomach's a little sour or you have a hangover, you can still perform at full capacity in a lot of jobs. An assembly line worker can stand there frowning and groaning and still get as much work done as on a day when he's feeling fit and perky. But a performer has to be Mr. Happy and Mr. Energy. You have to be a bit more commanding in your presence than the average shmoe, or no one will be interested in watching you. The problem is, a lot of guys go too far with this, and they go way over the top, so it is very insincere and phony, like a used car salesman who is acting like he's your best friend and is interested in every detail of your life because he wants you to buy from him.

My performing persona is simply me, as if I was having one of the best days of my life. You ever have one of those days where everything just seemed to be going your way and all was right with the world? You're happy, you're excited, you're not stressed, and you're enjoying life. IMO, THAT is how you should be when performing in a formal show.

Now when you're just doing something impromptu for folks who don't know you're a magician, that's another matter. It would seem weird if you were "on" like that, unless that's more or less your usual personality (it is mine--I'm a class clown, center of attention, life of the party kinda guy). This is when you're friends and acquaintances will go ballistic. You aren't "Mr. Magic" about to do a show for them. In the course of the events that are happening, you start out sharing something interesting with them and then hit them over the head with a moment of astonishment that catches them off-guard and completely surprises them. If you are "on" when you start in this case, they will smell that something's up, and the impact will likely be diminished.

But of course, this is a different situation than when you are "doing a show." You don't have this luxury when you've been introduced as "the entertainment." When you're introduced like this, you'd better be entertaining, most especially if you are getting paid to be! That's where being your "bigger, better self" comes in.