What To Ask Yourself: Learning A New Trick
So, you just bought a new trick and thought, where do I go from here?” Instructions are included, of course. Hopefully, a video of its performance is available for it, too. Especially nowadays. When I got started in magic, there were only printed instructions. I usually found that the printed word on how to perform the trick was all too brief and had very little written instruction on how to present it.
When you get started, no matter the instructional material provided, here are some questions you should ask yourself every time you learn a new magic trick. These questions, combined with the instructional content you consume, will help elevate your experience as the student, while also becoming a more mindful performer.
What do I say, and how do I say it?
We all usually begin with a simple narration of the trick; however, this can be a little too much. You don't want to overshare, like recitations of the obvious. But this is a place to start. All of the great magicians that ever performed used humor in their presentations much of the time. That, combined with brevity, makes for a punchy pace. Shakespeare said it best, "Brevity is the soul of wit." Writing down a good presentation for yourself is an art on its own.
How long should the presentation be?
A good rule of thumb is to practice running through the steps of performing a trick while timing yourself. As you become more proficient at it, you'll develop the ability to speed up or slow down your presentation as needed. Not all audiences are alike, and you want to be responsive and adaptable to an audience's patience level and attention span. Once you get comfortable, start scripting yourself. From here, you can edit. If a trick has a presentation included, learn it first before then adapt it in your own style. Build on what works and explore how to make it unique to you.
Who is my target audience? Children, adults, or both?
Let me explain with an example. I love card tricks and did one with the theme of playing poker. I asked someone in the audience, "Do you like to play poker?" The expectation I had was that he would likely say, "Yes. I love poker." Unfortunately for me, he said, "I don't know a thing about the game and have never played in my life." Well, there was a trick that wouldn't resonate with him, and I chose to segue into something else entirely. You can take chances like that, but it can be awkward or jarring, depending on how you handle it. Know who your audience is as much as you can upfront, and plan for what will be good for them. Also, a good reminder to be ready with a variety of tricks so you can adjust accordingly.
What is the best platform for performing this trick?
Are you going to perform on a big stage with many onlookers or a smaller stage with fewer people? How close are people to the stage? Will I be performing close-up within a few feet? Am I performing impromptu or quick shtick (aka walk-around magic)? It's essential to think about the platform for your performance. There is a time and place for every trick, not a time and place for a trick. Planning for the platform then leads you to decide the order of a routine. Is this good as an opener for the show? Middle? Closer? Know the platform then plan the flow accordingly.
Many considerations should be thought through when learning a new trick, but I think these questions are critical to your success. To get the most out of any magic trick you take time to learn, it is equally important you understand when to use it. The illusion must be performed at the right moment for the right length of time, and that is related to the audience and platform.