The Magic of Joe Ferranti Close-Up Strolling and Parlor Magician serving Massachusetts.

Don’t Try This at Home…or Worse, Don’t Try this With Paying Clients!

Joe Ferranti      Cocktail Magician Boston Mass.

 

Think of the Jazz musician…now think of the Jazz Magician, hmmm? That’s what I’d like to do! …maybe not?

I have many magic friends in social media. They kindly share their experiences in the performance arena. Just recently a more than capable performer (Top Professional) told how he had improvised a performance with a borrowed deck of cards. He was not bragging, just telling what resulted in a non-prepped performance. Another well respected pro commented that this is the only way he performs. Unfortunately, these real experiences are usually misinterpreted by the less experienced, and the result can be disastrous. 

Just because someone else can do it, does not mean that You should attempt this. Do you really believe that you can borrow a pack of cards, go out unprepared and deliver a performance that a client will pay for, and be happy that they did? Why would you take such a chance? 

 Why does this bother me? Because I’ve seen the results of “Magicians” who fancy themselves capable of “Jazzing”, when they are clearly not. I wish those capable of Jazzing would give a warning, “this performance is by a trained professional, this is very dangerous…do not attempt this in your performances.”

 My caution will fall upon deaf ears. The cocky magician does not want to put in the work; he just goes out and “astounds the masses”. (Yeah…right!) Not the ones I’ve seen! They stumble on their words; they have no idea when the time is right to do the “Move/Sleight”.

 Our routines/tricks need structure. It’s your choice if you remember each and every word, despite what the Lazy ones say, this can sound fresh and new during each and every performance. It damn well sounds better than not having a clue. At the very least, have a basic frame work.

 As I said, I have heard the success of Magicians I respect, who can succeed in this type of performance, but here’s what you should know before you go out on the High Wire.

These pros have spent uncountable hours in practice, uncountable hours in performance situations; they have encountered things you cannot even imagine.

 I’m sure some will accuse me of being a robotic performer, no not at all. I do consider myself well-rehearsed and even so there are times we I have to go off script, it’s just a reality of Strolling Magic. Sometimes when performing a “Think of a Card” trick, a suitable ending may vary…S*it happens. So...maybe Mercury Fold??? Card under watch???…card in Altoid tin???… (Jonathan Kamm)

The lay person still reacts...“Damn, I only thought of that card!”

Truth be told, the card under watch, etc. are also well rehearsed, just not part of the original plan.

 If you want to "Jazz it" put in the hours...and take a good hard look inside, even then most of us should not attempt this for our paying customers.

 

Boston Walk Around /Strolling Magician www.ferrantimagic.com 339-927-4710