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Dear John

How do I create a unique performing style for my magic act?

First published 5th April 2007

Question:
I have always enjoyed magic and ideally would like to make it my living - but in order to succeed, do I have to develop a David Blaine or Kris Angel-style act to suit today's market?

Answer:
I chose this week's question for two reasons. Firstly because, with a flash of lightning and a puff of smoke, the thought suddenly appeared in my head that we have never done a Dear John on magic. But also because you could take the above question and replace the word 'magic' with any other performing art and the names mentioned with whoever is the current flavour of the month in that other profession and, hey presto, you would have one of the reasons why so many performers at the beginning of their career come across as unoriginal, when they should actually be fresh and new. The problem with modelling yourself on the latest big name is that by the time you get your act together you may well be just a copy of someone who is now last year's thing - and even your role model, if they have any sense, will have adapted the image you are seeking to duplicate and have moved on to something different. With some keys to the much better (although longer term) strategy of developing your own thing, here are two different magicians who are very much in demand for their individual and unique performance styles.

What the experts say:

Jack Bryce

A member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, and twice winner of the Grant Cup for Close-up Magic, Jack has been performing interactive magic and intricate sleight of hand for more than 20 years. Along with corporate and private functions - including wedding receptions, trade fares, university and college proms, and private and office parties - it is a measure of the quality of Jack's work that he is one of the acts chosen to do the all-important meet and greet sessions at The Stage's own Showcall Showcase events.

"Although I make my living from magic, I would be doing magic even if I wasn't earning money from it. For me, it's not just my profession, it's my hobby and my passion. My grandfather used to make his own magic tricks while my dad was interested in card tricks. For me, close-up magic is the area I most like working in, because it involves a lot of sleight of hand and requires people skills. I would encourage anyone aiming to start out in the business to experiment with the many different types of magic, from stage illusions to close-up, to find the magic style that suits them best. It is also important to find the style you enjoy most, because it should go without saying that, in order to master that style, you are going to have to put in a lot of practice.

"When I started out, most of the tricks had to be learned from books, and you had to practise them on yourself. These days there are a lot of DVDs and websites you can go to, where you can see tricks performed and learn the secrets. I think they can be useful, but there is also a danger that if you are just copying someone on a DVD, you become a clone of that person, instead of adapting the trick to your own style.

As I've already said, it's your own personality and ability to entertain which is just as important as the technical expertise. I'd recommend joining a good magic club as a useful way to improve on both. You'll also find that being around magicians who are serious about what they do will either inspire you to practise more, or convince you that the one area of magic which is not an illusion is the dedication and practice it takes to do it properly."

Romany

Described by Time Out as "a flamboyant hybrid of Bette Midler and Mary Poppins... a fascinating razzle dazzle mix of magic, original comedy and intelligent glamour", Romany is an original, zany and theatrical magical artist who performs internationally for cabaret, corporate and society events. She is Magic Circle Stage Magician of the Year.

"Magic is just one of my skills. I also sing, dance and compere, and it was while learning circus skills, during a rest period when I injured myself, that I first saw magic performed.

I realised instantly that magic was not only something I would be good at, but that, within the format of a magic show, I could use my other abilities to create a whole entertainment experience for the audience.

"As Jack says, the key to successful magic is using your unique personality and being entertaining, as opposed to just stringing tricks together. Yes, it is still unusual for females to work in the magic field, but this can be both an advantage and a disadvantage. On the one hand, you stand out more, but on the other, you have to be as good as the best of the boys to win respect. Putting in the time and effort to do that pays off though. Not only am I increasingly getting booked for the top public speaking, compering and corporate spots, but just recently I have been performing with the Royal Ballet, while I was chosen to perform for the Queen at her 80th birthday party. Although I love doing what I do, behind the glamour there is still the hard work that goes in to constantly learning and practising to keep me on top of the game. Anyone, male or female, who seriously wants to get into this game needs to be committed to putting in the same effort."

John sums up

I deliberately tried to pick two very different (although, of course, equally excellent) performers for this topic, but it is perhaps not surprising that there are some very common themes in both their responses. For me, the point about being entertaining - not just showing off how technically excellent you are - is relevant not just to magicians or speciality acts, it is also worth remembering if we are actors, singers or comics. As a career coach, it is ironic how many times I hear about the 'actor's actor' or the 'magician's magician', or indeed the 'advice columnist's advice columnist' and the name mentioned is often someone who is either only known to a few people in the business, or has left whatever industry they were involved in and moved on to other things. I'm not saying that mass success necessarily indicates greatness, but I think it is worth all of us remembering that ultimately our job is to appeal to audiences of 'real people' and not just our peers - and certainly not just ourselves. Balancing passion for our business and, at the same time, making that expertise appear effortless and entertaining to others is a trick that can take a lifetime of trial and error to master.

* Jack Bryce may be booked via www.showcall.co.uk

* Romany is available at www.romanymagic.com

* Feedback/queries are welcome to dearjohn@thestage.co.uk

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