[Took a break from blogging for the last month to devote my time to writing a short book. I wanted to have something to give to meeting and event planners offering my tips on how to get the most magic for their money.
Too often, I've found, event planners give great thought to the venue and the food and the decor and the music, but forget to consider how the magic is going to fit in. So I hope to describe, from a magicians point of view, the elements that allow for a successful magic performance.
After spending my time at the keyboard, I've usually exhausted my quota of words and have few left for blogging, but tonight I am compelled to share a short story...]
I mentioned in an earlier post the importance of performing the right magic for the right audience, particularly when performing strolling or walk-around (or table-hopping) magic.
One of the most difficult situations to successfully navigate is when you find yourself performing for a young couple on a date. This can be a very delicate situation for two reasons:
First, the couple is more interested in talking with each other, than talking with a magician. And second, because the gentleman is trying to impress his date, he will not enjoy being fooled, and he will not enjoy it if his date is overly impressed with your abilities.
If, as a professional magician, you ever encounter couples on dates, it is a good idea to have something in your arsenal of magic to address this situation.
What can you do that won’t make your performance a pointless intrusion? What can you do that won’t cast anyone as a loser for failing to uncover your method?
My recommendation: The Anniversary Waltz.
Those in the trade will know that this was a creation of Chris Carter’s and that it was greatly popularized by Colorado magician Doc Eason. It’s perfect for couples celebrating their anniversary, but I seldom wait for such a rare occasion; I use it anytime I detect a romantic connection.
The plot is this: Each person selects a card and signs their name on the face of the card with an indelible marker. The cards are lost in the deck. Then HE finds HER card, SHE finds HIS card, then two cards find each other. And finally, when held between their hands, the two cards permanently fuse together (back to back) with his card and signature on one side and her card and signature on the other side.
The couple is left with a memento that illustrates their two lives coming together.
And that’s the brilliance of this particular presentation — it’s a piece of magic that is about them (not you). And after all, that’s what they’re really interested in anyway.
So what prompted this post?
Last night I was reminded of the power of this piece of magic when I performed the Anniversary Waltz for a young couple.
At the conclusion, he blurted out, “Can we REALLY keep this card?”
And she said, “I’m so happy I think I’m going to cry!”
Powerful magic indeed.
The man who popularized the Anniversary Waltz, Doc Eason
