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I have spent a good portion of my career studying what makes one performer stand out from another. While this quest has not turned up any definitive answers on exactly what makes one performer stand out from another I do know for sure what ingredients don't go into it.

I know that it isn't always about talent. I have seen some of the best and most talented technical magicians and within minutes forgotten their names.

Talent is important and becoming the best you can is a goal that we should all be striving for. However, I have found out that some of the least talented guys are some of the richest. I am not saying this out of spite or jealousy but out of fact. In our business we worship the top sleight of hand guys but I have seen many of the best perform for the lay public and get mediocre responses. Often I have seen the worse magicians on a late night talk show, flashing moves and botching up palming, but killing the audience anyways.

The magicians that had the least skill had something more important than talent.

They were able to connect with the audience in a real and personal way. This connection that some performers seem to make is not something that is easily identifiable. The performers that seem to have it seem to be born with a personal charisma that seems to outshine all others in the field. They seem to be larger then life and have an inner sense of vibrancy and excitement that others just don't seem to have.

This is not in anyway a call for mediocrity and an excuse for poor performance. The skill of standing out and being memorable is as much a part of performing as knowing how to do a coin vanish or a double lift. I am just suggesting that you look beyond your technical skills and search for the qualities that you have that set you apart from other people.

Some qualities that people connect with are:

1) A big smile
2) An infectious laugh
3) Intelligence
4) A quick wit
5) Kindness
6) Larger than life personality
7) Honesty
8) Easy going personality
9) warm eye contact

The trick, as I see it, is to find a few things that people seem to like about you and concentrate on them and make them your performing focus. These are the things that people will remember.

And being remembered is sometimes, sadly enough, not all due to talent.

Rich